Albuquerque Press Women and Friends

Sonya Chavez

Sonya Chavez, the U.S. Marshall for New Mexico will speak to Albuquerque Press Women and Friends at their regular meeting on Monday, January 14 at 11:30 a.m. at Mimi’s Restaurant (4316 The 25 Way). Chavez is the first female to serve in the capacity of U.S. Marshall in New Mexico. The U.S. Marshall’s Service is the oldest law enforcement agency in the United States. Among other duties the Marshall’s Service protects judges and hunts violent fugitives.

Chavez spent 22 years with the FBI before her appointment as U.S. Marshall. Much of her professional career in the FBI was centered on investigation of the largest and most violent street gangs in the country. She spent several years in Chicago working on complex investigations. In 2006 Chavez returned to New Mexico as leader of the FBI’s violent gang and southwest border initiatives. She also oversaw the Division’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative.

Before joining the FBI Chavez worked as a television news reporter and anchor for CBS and NBC news affiliates, was the director of marketing at the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and press aide for Governor Bruce King.

Albuquerque Press Women and Friends are a group focused on people who work in the field of communications. Meetings of APWF are open to everyone, but non-members will be charged an additional $5 at the door. No reservations are required and attendees order from the menu.

NM Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino

NM Senator Mark Moores

Albuquerque Press Women and Friends are getting ready for the 2019  session of the New Mexico Legislature with an inside look from state senators Mark Moores and Jerry Ortiz y Pino at 11:30 a.m. on December 10. The group meets at Mimi’s Restaurant (4316 @ The 25 Way).

Mark Moores of Albuquerque has served in the New Mexico Senate since 2013. He represents District 21 which includes Albuquerque. Moores serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Senate Rules Committee where he is the ranking member. He also serves on the Interim Health and Human Services Committee as the ranking member. Moores owns a healthcare business. He served on the staff of the late Congressman Steve Schiff and as a chief-of-staff for Lt. Governor Walter Bradley in the Johnson/Bradley administration.

Jerry Ortiz y Pino is a four term state senator from District 12, which is downtown Albuquerque and the historic neighborhoods surrounding it. He is a social worker by profession, having retired in 2008  after forty two years of work in child protective services, community mental health, employee assistance and a variety of education and administrative positions in both the private and the public sectors.

Ortiz y Pino is a native New Mexican, from a family that has been in Santa Fe for 325 years, and has lived and worked in Albuquerque since 1977.  He chairs the Senate Public Affairs Committee and sits on the Rules Committee.  During the interim he will chair the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee.  He is married to Donna Bruzzese, a family therapist in private practice.  Between them they have seven children and twelve grandchildren and they have, for twenty five years been involved with the Friends of the Children of el Salvador which supports over forty high school and college students’ educations in that Central American country.

Everyone is welcome at Albuquerque Press Women and Friends. Non-members will be charged an additional $5. Attendees purchase their own meals from the Mimi’s menu. No reservations are required.