Hobbs, NM – The JF Maddox Foundation is proud to announce the launch of the seventh cohort of the Maddox Leadership Institute (MLI). Thirty-three local leaders have been selected to participate in the nine-month program designed to strengthen leadership skills and inspire positive change throughout Lea County.
“Supporting leadership development is central to our mission at the JF Maddox Foundation,” said Mayra Lovas, Vice President of Grants and Director of the Maddox Leadership Institute. “We are excited to welcome this new class of leaders, and we look forward to the impact they will make in our community.”
The Maddox Leadership Institute equips participants with the knowledge and skills to become action-oriented leaders who can address challenges and seize opportunities within their communities. Over the course of the program, participants will explore topics such as understanding leadership and Lea County, effective communication, conflict management, cultural awareness, generational differences, and more. The group will meet monthly from August 2025 through April 2026.
MLI is open to residents across Lea County who are committed to service and eager to strengthen their leadership capacity. Past graduates of the program now serve in leadership roles such as city fire chief, school superintendent, and executive directors of nonprofit organizations.
The program is facilitated by faculty from the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Georgia, which specializes in community-based leadership education and development.
2025 – 2026 Maddox Leadership Institute Participants
| Alejandra Cano | Nor-Lea Hospital District | |
| Brittany Embry | United Way of Lea County | |
| Brian Byrd | Hobbs Municipal Schools | |
| Chantel Bennett | Occupational Therapist | |
| Colton Owens | Trustpoint Promotions | |
| Cristina Wilhoit | Lea County | |
| Daisha Strasner | Arapahoe Oilfield Services | |
| Daniel Hernandez | EOG Resources/Paleta Bar | |
| David Blackwood | Christian Center Church/Lea County Commission for the Arts | |
| Dee Patel | Curry Bites | |
| Monique Moreno | Starbucks | |
| Evonna Rodriguez | Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital | |
| Jordyn Titus | Option, Inc. | |
| Jorge Guerra | Global Green Insurance Agency | |
| Judith Perez | WESST | |
| Praxi Brown | Lovington Chamber | |
| Kelvin Gryder | XCEL Energy | |
| Kim Davis | Southern Honey/Davis Power Solutions | |
| Kimberly Jimenez | Nor-Lea Hospital District | |
| Kristy Hughes | Hobbs Municipal Schools/CTECH | |
| Lionel Fermin | Lea County | |
| Lou Maldonado | City of Hobbs | |
| Nichole Chambers | Guidance Center of Lea County | * |
| Pam Quinones | Lovington Municipal Schools | |
| Perla Carrasco | Pettigrew & Associates | |
| Pete Salcido | Downing USA | |
| Philip Mathews | Devon Energy | |
| Quentin Griffin | Opportunity House | |
| Reanna Alarcon | City of Hobbs | |
| Rosie Insilan-Munoz | Lea County | |
| Sarah Puckett | Small Business Owner | * |
| Shannon Pickering | PDAP- Counselor/LADAC | * |
| Sheila Babb | Safety & Environmental Solutions, Inc. |
* Not Pictured
For more information about the program, please contact Mayra Lovas, JF Maddox Foundation Vice President of Grants, at 575-393-6338 ext. 140 or mlovas@jfmaddox.org or visit our website www.jfmaddox.org.
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