About Us: Board of Directors Biographies
|
Jackson Ellison is Vice President for Corporate Compliance and Chief Privacy Officer for Presbyterian Healthcare Services in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He holds a BS degree in Business Administration from the University of New Mexico. In his current position, Mr. Ellison is responsible for organizational regulatory compliance and ethics for a large statewide integrated healthcare system. As an ethics and compliance officer, he has received significant specialized training, including: Certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC), corporate ethics, medical products regulatory approval and compliance, healthcare joint ventures and regulatory compliance, Medicare Fraud and Abuse, IRS Coordinated Exam Program (CEP) audits, anti-trust and anti-kickback legislation, anti-patient dumping regulations, False Claims, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Mr. Ellison participates in a number of community and professional pursuits, among them serving as a Quality New Mexico Examiner; member of the Internal Audit Committee of TriCore, a member of the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA), and a life member of the New Mexico Military Institute Alumni Association.
John Ackerman is the retired Rust Professor of Business Ethics at the University of New Mexico, Anderson Schools of Management. Having spent most of his career in the utility industry, Mr. Ackerman retired in 1994 as President and CEO of the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM). A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Mr. Ackerman holds a B.A. in Secondary Education from the College of Santa Fe, a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from UNM, and a M.S. in Utility Management from New Mexico State University. A leader in the community, Mr. Ackerman has served as Chairman for numerous boards, including: the United Way of Central New Mexico; the Albuquerque Association for Children with Learning Disabilities; St. Pius X High School; Albuquerque Community Foundation; the Menaul School Board of Trustees; Presbyterian Healthcare Systems, the Museum of Natural History and Science and as a charter member of the National Navajo Museum and Library Foundation. Mr. Ackerman received the New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Award, the UNM Zia Award, the UNM and NMSU Centennial Distinguished Alumni Award and the New Mexico Ethics in Business Award (individual category) in 2000.
Jackie Baca is the President of Bueno Foods, a New Mexico based, family owned and operated company. A native of Albuquerque, Ms. Baca holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Master's degree in Business Administration, both from the University of New Mexico. Under her leadership, Bueno Foods, has earned an excellent reputation for quality products and service, as well as a desirable place to work. Ms. Baca has cultivated a strong corporate culture that demonstrates concern for the welfare of its employees and the broader community - instituting programs that provide educational opportunities for minority and economically depressed persons. Ms. Baca has served on numerous community boards over the years. She was inducted into Junior Achievement’s New Mexico Business Hall of Fame and has been the recipient of many other awards including, the New Mexico Restaurant Association 2005 Executive of the Year and the YWCA’s 2004 Woman on the Move Award, and the first large business to receive the New Mexico Ethics in Business Award in 2000.
Randy Van Vleck is the General Counsel at the New Mexico Municipal League, a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing and serving New Mexico’s cities, towns and villages. He provides legal representation for the League and the New Mexico Self-Insurers' Fund. Mr. Van Vleck. has a Bachelor's degree in political science from Loyola University in Chicago and a Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law. In his role at the League, Mr. Van Vleck drafts model ordinances, and provides analysis of ordinances drafted at the municpal level. He responds to inquiries from elected and appointed officials, attorneys, legislators, other adminsitrative agencies and members of the public concerning all aspects of municipal government including administration, personnel, municipal finance, elections, planning and zoning and risk management. Mr. Van Vleck trains municipal lawyers across the nation and trains municipal and elected officials in New Mexico on topics including: ethics for municipal court judges, evidence for municipal court judges, personnel management, planning and zoning matters and trial practice. Among other appointments, Mr. Van Vleck has previously served as City Attorney for the City of Rio Rancho, NM, Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Division for the State of New Mexico and Deputy Chief Bar Counsel for the New Mexico Supreme Court.
Josh Parsons is the Center Business Manager for Sandia National Laboratories’ Stockpile Resource Center. He holds a B.B.A. in Marketing Management from the University of New Mexico and a M.B.A. in Corporate Finance from the University of Notre Dame.
In his current position, Mr. Parsons is responsible for the business operations for the Stockpile Resource Center, including assuring high-quality budget management, financial analysis, project management, performance and compensation administration, staffing processes, space and other business management activities.
Mr. Parsons participates in a number of community and professional pursuits, among them serving on the 2010 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and United Way of Central New Mexico’s Community Fund Panel.
Lisa Pillar is the Chief Financial Officer at United Way of Central New Mexico. Ms. Pillar has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as the New Mexico Society of CPA’s. Ms. Pillar has experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. She has worked in the records management, home building, advertising, and healthcare industries. She was named as one of 5 top performing Chief Financial Officers in the not for profit sector by New Mexico Business Weekly in 2007. Ms. Pillar has served on the Board of Directors for the New Mexico Project for Financial Literacy as well as the finance committee of the Chaparral Girl Scout Council. She also volunteers as a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico.
Bettye Pressley is a retired non-profit executive, most recently serving as the Executive Director of the Presbyterian Ear Institute. Ms. Pressley received a B.A. degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. She participated in a Red Cross-sponsored program, Partners in Leadership at Harvard University. Prior to her work with the Ear Insititute, she was CEO of the Mid-Rio Grande Chapter of the American Red Cross and held several positions in chapters in Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the national headquarters, spanning a twenty year period. She was an administrator for Seattle Public Schools and a program manager for the Commission on Vocational Education for the state of Washington. Ms. Pressley has been active volunteer in the Albuquerque community. Her service on community boards includes having served on committees supporting the New Mexico Ethics in Business Awards. Under her leadership, the Mid-Rio Grande Chapter of the American Red Cross received the award in 2001. In addition to the Ethics Alliance Board, she is also a member of the Lovelace Women's Hospital Board.
Sharen Ramirez is a Senior Vice President with Wells Fargo Bank. A native New Mexican, Ms. Ramirez attended the University of New Mexico and is a graduate of the Western States School of Banking at the Robert O. Anderson School of Management at UNM and the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington in Seattle. With over 25 years in banking, Ms. Ramirez works with nonprofit organizations, the government/public sector, educational entities and title companies, her experience includes commercial lending, consumer lending, sales management, branch management, marketing and portfolio management. Ms. Ramirez’ active community work has included serving on the Women in Philanthropy Council and in numerous other capacities for the United Way of Central New Mexico. She is a founding member of E3, a program for executive directors of nonprofits. She serves as a board member of WESST Corp, and has worked with the Samaritan Counseling Center on the New Mexico Ethics in Business Awards.
In 2001 Karen joined the PNM Resources Ethics & Compliance Program. She is a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional through the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics and is a sponsoring partner associate of the Ethics and Compliance Officer Association. Karen leads a cross-functional team in providing support to over 2,000 co-workers in 4 afflilates across 2 states. The team works together to promote ethical standards and provde resources to employees and other company stakeholders. A B.S. in Education from Auburn University has provided Karen with diverse opportunities in government service and the private sector, including minor league basketball. She currently volunteers with the PNM Community Crew, United Way of Central New Mexico and the local Boy Scouts of America council. She has been a supporter of the New Mexico Ethics Alliance from its inception through service on the steering committee, implementation team and as chair for the programs and membership committees.
Sarah Smith is the Rust Professor of Business Ethics at the University of New Mexico, Anderson Schools of Management. In this capacity, she teaches fulltime such courses as "the Ethical, Political and Social Environment of Business" and "Ethics in Organizations" and devotes innumerable hours to Anderson School service work and other outreach efforts within the business community. Formerly Director of Ethics and Compliance at PNM Resources, Ms. Smith has served in previous positions as in-house counsel for PNM, Gas Company of New Mexico and in private law practice in Albuquerque. She is originally from Alamogordo, New Mexico and a graduate of Austin College in Sherman, Texas and the University of New Mexico, School of Law. Ms. Smiths' involvement in the field of business is extensive - with past memberships and active participation in the Ethics and Compliance Officers Association, the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics and currently as a member in the Society of Business Ethics. Her work in the community has included multiple volunteer roles with the United Way of Central New Mexico, member and chair of the Samaritan Counseling Center's Board of Directors, member and chair of its Ethics in Business Awards selection committee, and other charitable and philanthropic endeavors.
D. F. “Duffy” Swan is the President and COO of French Mortuary, Inc. and the French Family of Companies. He was born in Spokane, Washington but graduated from Sandia High School and the University of New Mexico with a BA in Political Science. He has attended executive summer programs at both Harvard and Wharton. Mr. Swan devoted 35 years to the telecommunications industry, eventually becoming Vice President and CEO for USWEST-New Mexico. He retired from USWEST International in 1997 but returned to the telecomm industry in 2000 when he became Vice President for the rural, domestic VALOR Telecomm. Mr. Swan also served two different periods as UNM’s Director of Development and President of its Foundation. He is active on several community boards and was the 2002 recipient of the New Mexico Ethics in Business Award.
Jill VonOsten is the Executive Director of the New Mexico Ethics Alliance. Prior to joining the Ethics Alliance, Ms. VonOsten’s career had been dedicated to organizational development and community capacity building. She has extensive experience in the management of non-profit organizations and local government divisions, as well as the principal partner in a business consulting firm. She holds a BA in Sociology from Western State College of Colorado and an MBA from the University of New Mexico, Anderson School of Management. Ms. VonOsten is active in her community and has volunteered to serve on numerous boards and commissions representing varied interests such as domestic violence prevention, education, environmental stewardship, and health and human service. |