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Women in Powerful Places
by Connie Thompson
Photos by Geistlight Photography
There are many successful women in New Mexico, a unique area rich in
natural resources, culture, and family ties. New Mexican women seek
to make a difference in every day life, not only in the business
world, but in the lives of their families and communities as well.
In our high desert culture, contribution, commitment, and life are
inextricably linked.
 Jackie Baca is president and owner of Bueno Foods. She had just
returned home from the grocery store when she took the call for the
interview with New Mexico WOMAN. She sounded like a woman in her
twenties, although as we talked, it became obvious that she has
years of expertise behind her. She has used her experience with
adversity to become a stronger woman, more effective in her business
and community.
As the middle daughter of five children, Jackie was taught from an
early age about the importance of serving others. Her parents
encouraged their children to pursue professions that helped people.
“My mother was a teacher and counselor for thirty years. She worked
hard at home and at work. My dad taught me that dignity comes with a
good job. His favorite quote was, ‘Give a man a fish and you feed
him for a day; teach him to fish and you feed him for life.’ He
taught me about having a sense of responsibility— whether I wanted
to or not. It was important to him to be involved in his community
whether it was by providing food to church fiestas or to election
volunteers on voting day. He loved politics and business.”
Jackie began her professional journey while in college, working with
her father and her uncle who founded Bueno Foods. While earning her
MBA, she began putting her ideas into action at Bueno. Her greatest
challenge came when her father passed away and left her with the
responsibility of managing the company. Jackie was only 32 years
old.
“I wasn’t ready, and yet, my father’s influence was everywhere. That
gave me the strength to make Bueno Foods the best it could be.”
Jackie and her brother Gene have created a working environment that
recognizes and nurtures the talents of women, minorities, and
individuals who haven’t had traditional opportunities. “Our company
culture has been to promote employees from within and help them to
grow and develop their skills. We have countless examples of
employees starting as janitors or seasonal workers and moving up
through the ranks. More than half of our 240 jobs are supervisory/
managerial, sales, technical, accounting, and administrative. We
have no minimum wage jobs.”
Like her father, getting involved in the community is one of
Jackie’s passions. The list of organizations she has committed to is
long, and her hand has touched many lives. She believes that every
woman can help create opportunity for others, whether it’s by
supporting organizations that share similar values, by working to
build a strong business community, or by becoming involved in
politics. “It’s important for women to make their voices heard.
Politics affect all of us every single day. Decisions at the
legislative and judicial level can make the difference between our
kids having to leave the state to get a good job or not,” she says.
“The key to addressing our state’s social ills is to improve our
economy— so that all New Mexicans benefit. And the best way to
strengthen our economy is to nurture small business and to support
legislation that does not impede its growth. Small business means
jobs and jobs mean opportunity and quality of life.”
By expanding distribution and sharing her family’s rich culinary
heritage outside our state, Jackie has increased sales and jobs
along the way. The number of jobs has increased five-fold since her
tenure began and the average pay rate per job has increased by 28
percent since 1995, proving that growth leads to more and better
jobs. “Sometimes people think of business in a negative way. What
they forget is that businesses are the lifeblood of a community.
Businesses create the jobs and the opportunity for a better life.”
A true New Mexican woman may or may not have been born in New
Mexico. Being New Mexican is about more than a birthplace, it is
about a mindset. When you talk with Edna Lopez (formerly from Texas
and California), and hear the warmth and kindness in her voice, she
sounds like someone you want to be friends with forever. At the time
she answered the call for this interview, she was babysitting
several grandchildren. Their laughter could be heard in the
background and Edna seemed relaxed and happy to talk. She has five
sons and nine grandchildren. Family is everything to her.
As CEO, president, and owner of COMPA Industries, a management and
staffing company serving government and technical industry markets,
Edna takes business seriously. When asked about the challenges of
working with family, she responded: “Four of my sons work with
me—Michael Lopez works with our contract in Washington D.C., Armando
works with Sandia National Laboratories, and Daniel and Samuel work
at the corporate office in management of the IT Department.” “It is
hard.” She continues, “I fire them from time to time…” There is
silence, then she bursts into laughter. “Just kidding,” she says.
“My sons are very capable men and it is very rewarding to work
together. They support and encourage me and work for the continued
success of COMPA.” Her great sense of humor and strong faith help
her through tough times.
She is passionate about her involvement in the community and belongs
to organizations such as the National Association for Women Business
Owners (NAWBO). She has served as president of the Hispanic Women’s
Council (HCW). Such associations have increased her awareness of how
women can make a difference in many urgent political causes in New
Mexico. She is also a New Mexico national partner of Women Impacting
Public Policy (WIPP).
“Every woman has a voice and they can share that voice by voting and
getting involved,” Edna says. “Hispanic women are appearing in new
fields and in different businesses. Public policy impacts our
businesses every day—benefits, health care, EEO issues, tax issues,
government contracts for women, and access to capital are just a
few. Women leaders in government inspire me. And there are many,
like Heather Wilson, Patricia Madrid, and Tina Cordova who are the
trailblazers for all of us.”
 Edna has always possessed a strong commitment to help others fulfill
their potential. Through her leadership, COMPA Industries has
donated more than $20,000 to a scholarship fund for students at the
high school her late husband attended. She believes that, “It is
important to pass on the gifts you have received.”
One very strong mark of the Hispanic women’s business community,
evidenced by these two women, is that you can be sure a New Mexico
woman is willing to help you—to serve, to lead, and to be your
friend. And these women are learning, as Jackie Baca says, “There
are 15.6 million women business owners with 26 million employees (or
voters) across the nation. Just think about the power we’d have if
we came together as a group to influence policy!”
Jackie Baca, Bueno Foods
bjackie@buenofoods.com
www.buenofoods.com
Edna Lopez, Compa Industries
ednal@compa.com
www.compa.com.
About WIPP
Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) is a national, bi-partisan
public policy group that advocates on behalf of women in business to
strengthen their influence in the legislative process, create
economic opportunities, and build alliances with other small
business organizations. The collective voice of WIPP makes a
powerful impact on Capitol Hill and with the Administration.
Women Impacting Public Policy began four years ago with a
teleconference call between eight women. The organization now has
506,000 members. Edna Lopez and Jackie Baca are among 10 of New
Mexico’s national partners of WIPP. Other national partners are:
Joan Schleuter (founding partner and national membership chair) Gail
Darling, Denise Baker, Linda C. Majors, Phyllis Boverie, Robin
Dozier-Otten, Samantha Lapin, and Terri Giron-Gordon. To learn more
about WIPP contact:
www.wipp.org.
Connie Thompson is a writer, director, and producer of creative,
corporate, and motivational video scripts, articles, and press
releases. Contact her at (505) 994-1977 or at
multimediasavvy@aol.com.
 Women's Voices
A Venue for Women's Opinions
by Alicia M. Ramirez
When most people hear the word "feminist," the image of radical
bra burners of the 1970s pops into their heads. But for Charlie
Romney-Brown it is much more. "It's an equal playing field for all,"
she says. The former Georgetown University women's studies
professor, who now resides in Santa Fe, has provided a venue for
women from all walks of life to express their ideas and their
opinions on all matters. Women's Voices has been just that place for
the past three years and now has more than 150 members.
 The group's members are Democrats and Republicans and are of all
races and a variety of ages. "We are inclusive rather than
exclusive," she says. Charlie wants to provide a forum where women
can educate and support each other. Each week Women's Voices meets
in members' homes to discuss issues from financial planning to
violence against women. Charlie also tries to provide speakers from
near and far, such as Gail Sheehy, author of the best-selling
Passages and Harriet Lerner, author of the best-seller Dance of
Anger, author Sally Denton, and First Lady of New Mexico, Barbara
Richardson.
Women's Voices does not just provide a place to talk about political
and social issues, it also provides support. As a result of the
group, smaller sub-groups have formed as support systems. Charlie
says that there are several members who have bonded to each other
because of the loss of their children and others who have stuck by
each other through difficult divorces. When women hear speakers or
meet other women with similar causes or experiences, they are more
willing to open up and share, thus making new friendships. The
mission of Women's Voices is to enrich women's lives through
education, dialogue, and outreach.
In 1990, Charlie formed a similar group called Defining Destiny in
Washington, D.C., where the group grew to more than 500 members.
When asked to compare women in the group in the 1990s to today's
group, Charlie Brown said that a variety of women's biographies
began to open doors. She said it was much harder then, for older
women to accept some of these concepts, put the old way of thinking
behind them, and realize that they have the same opportunities as
men.
She says that in today's Women's Voices, women are not afraid to
argue with each other on any matter. "They enjoy a good rousing
discussion. They come with an open mind and are willing to challenge
each other." Charlie was raised in a strict Mormon community outside
of Salt Lake City, where she says women were treated as second-class
citizens.
After leaving an arranged marriage and her community, she made it
her life's goal to fight for women's rights and for equal rights.
She considers herself an activist for the rights of children, the
environment, and world peace. Charlie believes it is each person's
responsibility to value each element of the world.
 Charlie finds it easy to recruit women to join the group and express
themselves. She takes her cue from the words of Margaret Mead, and
says, "A few good women can change the world, and that is the only
way it will happen."
Charlie has hopes of starting a similar group in Santa Fe for
younger members and their issues. She also plans to start a Women's
Voices chapter in Albuquerque in January of 2006. As for the regular
group, it will resume
meetings September 19. Meetings are held on Mondays from 4:30 p.m.
to 6:30 p.m. For more information on Women's Voices, contact
womensvoices@earthlink.net
Alicia Ramirez has a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication from
New Mexico State University. She is currently a part of the New
Mexico WOMAN staff. She can be reached at
heygals@nmwoman.com or (505) 247-9195.
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Hispanic Women "At The Top"
by Dana Herrera
The saying goes, “leaders are born, not made.”
In the case of Rebecca Vigil-Giron, Patricia Madrid, Analee Maestas,
and Maria Estela de Rios, leadership is a unique combination of
innate strength, life experiences, and family support. As Hispanic
leaders in New Mexico politics, education, and business, these women
overcome obstacles and embrace challenges. While their leadership
abilities began within, all four acknowledge they could not have
risen to the top without a little help from friends, mentors, and of
course––La Familia.
Hispanic Women are Political
 When asked to describe her job, New Mexico Secretary of State
Rebecca Vigil-Giron says, “Everything!” Vigil does not limit herself
to her constitutional duties of overseeing elections, state and
countywide. Every day Vigil-Giron receives phone calls asking for
help. Those who call include veterans looking for their social
security checks, neighbors trying to resolve disputes, and even a
mother looking to get her road paved for her disabled son. “I do a
lot of referring,” says Vigil-Giron.
“When it comes from the Secretary of State they move on those
issues.” Going above and beyond her job is all in a day’s work.
Through it all, family keeps her motivated. “My family is very
extended,” she says. “I know all my second and third cousins.”
Oftentimes, extended family will visit her office to show support.
“They are so proud of my position,” she says. Her father, Jose
Vigil, was her best friend. Though he passed away three years ago,
people in her hometown of Taos still speak of him. “He taught me how
to talk to people and treat everyone the same,” says Vigil-Giron.
Vigil-Giron leads by example. As a Hispanic woman in politics, she
holds herself to high ethical standards in her personal and private
life. Every year Vigil encourages women to be a part of politics by
lecturing for organizations in and outside New Mexico. Though
politics is still a male-dominated world, Vigil tells young women,
“No! This is my world.” In the coming years, she hopes Hispanic
women embrace their language and learn it well. “Everyone else out
there is,” she says. As a participant in Hispanic and women’s
organizations too numerous to name, Vigil-Giron would like to see
young Hispanic women in higher paid positions. One piece of advice
Vigil-Giron has for women pursuing politics is to be aggressive. “We
need to be aggressive in raising money for our campaigns,” she says.
 Political powerhouse Patricia Madrid— New Mexico’s first female
Hispanic attorney general—“was one of a handful of women graduating
from law school.” Elected attorney general in 1998 and again in
2002, she says that today “the law is a very accessible field for
young women.”
As a role model for young women, Madrid gives back to the community.
“I take every opportunity to encourage women to be involved in the
political process.” For two years running Madrid sponsored a
“Justice for America” Forum. The forum teaches young women the “ins”
and “outs” of running and supporting women for office. “Within the
next decade we need to elect a woman President of the United States,
“ she says. On a local level, Madrid hopes to see a woman governor
and senator in New Mexico.
Madrid’s leadership abilities and community contributions have not
gone unnoticed. The Latina Lawyers Bar Association, the Hispanic
National Bar Association, and the NM Commission on the Status of
Women have all honored her. “I have always had a love of the law,
policy, and the political process,” says Madrid. Tackling challenges
and problem solving keeps her job interesting.
Through her successes, family remains a source of inspiration. The
Hispanic woman Madrid admires most is her mother, who supports her
in the good and bad. “She reads the newspapers everyday and still
enjoys debating policy with me,” says Madrid. “Running for political
office is not easy,” she says. “When you lose, it’s your family and
friends that help you through.”
Hispanic Women Believe in Education
 Analee Maestas’ high school counselor told her she “was not college
material.” As a young Hispanic woman, Maestas was pushed to take
classes such as typing to train for a secretarial career. Not one to
give up a dream, Maestas gathered family support. “My inspiration
was my mother,” she says. Her mother, who had only a seventh grade
education when she married, went on to obtain a university degree.
Today, Maestas holds two M.A.s and a Ph.D. in Special Education. Her
current position is with the nonprofit organization Youth
Development Inc. (YDI) as vice president of education support and
executive director of the National Hispanic Child & Family
Development Institute. Starting with a staff of zero, Maestas
currently oversees 300 people. Maestas admits, “A lot of my work is
based on my roots, where I came from, and how I
can provide mentorship and modeling to other Hispanics.”
As if directing two programs were not enough, Maestas also founded
La Promesa, a charter school for students devoted to grade level
proficiency.
On a national level Maestas recently became involved with an
initiative specific to Hispanic families. “There is an achievement
gap between Hispanic and traditional students,” she says. “We need
to address the issues surrounding this gap.” Maestas has firsthand
experience with the obstacles facing Hispanic children. “I was a
Spanish-only speaking child,” she says, “and there was no bilingual
education.”
Maestas is proud of her ability to provide Hispanics with a chance
for education. With four daughters, Maestas looks at leadership in
terms of modeling lifelong learning. “My daughters know I haven’t
finished learning,” she says.
Hispanic Women Succeed in Business
This year, Orion International Technologies, a small New
Mexico-owned company that has provided research, engineering, and
scientific support to government agencies, celebrates 20 years of
success.
 As vice president of Orion and president of Orion
Information Technologies, Maria Estela de Rios remembers the days
when government contracting consisted of smoke-filled and men-filled
rooms.
De Rios did not expect to end up at the business end of technology.
She holds degrees in both math and chemistry, but it was her
negotiating skills that ultimately led to a career as one of the
first women in government contracting. “Women are great in business
and technology,” says de Rios. “We have an innate ability to gather
information from all sources and put it together in an interesting
way.”
Mentors such as Dr. Lydia Villa-Komaroff of the National Science
Foundation modeled for de Rios how successful Hispanic women can be.
Along with many others, de Rios and Villa-Komaroff were founding
members of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native
Americans in Science (SACNAS). SACNAS recently celebrated their 30th
a n n i v e r s a r y.
Outside SACNAS, de Rios consistently gives to Hispanic arts and
contributes to scholarship funds. Along with her husband, Miguel
Rios Jr., president of Orion, the couple is grateful for all the
awards and recognition their company has received over the years.
Overall, they see business as a family endeavor. With 300 employees,
de Rios feels “that is 300 families to make successful.” The pair
embraces the values of strength and fortitude passed down by their
parents. De Rios hopes those values will continue as a legacy for
her two daughters. The couple is expecting their first grandchild
later this year.
Hispanic Women Promote Leadership
As true Hispanic leaders, Rebecca Vigil-Giron, Patricia Madrid,
Analee Maestas, and Maria Estela de Rios continue the tradition of
bringing others with them to the top. Regardless of what their
professional backgrounds are, these women are dedicated to the
success of young Hispanic women in New Mexico and beyond. As role
models for young Hispanics, they acknowledge that success does not
come without support from those who have walked the path before.
Most importantly, all four prove that Hispanic women can lead
without sacrificing
their cultural beliefs and family values.
Contact information:
Rebecca Vigil-Giron:
(505) 827-3600
secstate@state.nm.us
Patricia Madrid:
Media Relations, Sam Thompson
(505) 222-9174
Analee Maestas:
Cell (505) 242-7306
(505) 264-5431
Maria Estela de Rios:
Personal Assistant, Irene Sanchez
(505) 998-4000
Dana Herrera is the editor of abqARTS magazine. She is a Lena M.
Todd award recipient for her creative non-fiction short story,
“Super Genius.” She will begin graduate school at UNM this fall.
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