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Celebrating 18 years of trailblazing women shaping New Mexico's technology ecosystem, recognizing innovation, mentorship, and community impact.
2026 Women in Tech Honorees
A spotlight on the women who are transforming our technology landscape.
Tammy Byrd
Tammy is a driven, results-oriented professional with 33 years of experience delivering IT products, services, and support solutions. Her career as an IT Sales Executive began in 1992 with Silicon Graphics (SGI), a leader in high-performance computing and 3D graphics. She later continued in a similar role at Sun Microsystems, gaining deep expertise within the MFG/OEM environment. After 13 years on the MFG side, she transitioned into the IT Reseller community, and for the next 7 years, would hold the role as Vice President of Sales, delivering vendor-agnostic solutions to her customers.
For the past 12 years, as the Founder and CEO of Total Asset Managers, LLC (“TAM”), Tammy has organically built and led her own multi-million-dollar organization. She takes pride in being an energetic, customer-focused leader with a proven track record of providing exceptional data center products and services. Her passion for customer service, combined with developing high-performing team members, has enabled her to cultivate strong relationships and consistently exceed customer expectations. By leveraging industry-leading tools and top engineering talent, she’s created an organization dedicated to delivering reliable, innovative, and cost-effective solutions.
Toni Balzano
Toni Balzano is the Vice President of Strategy and Communications at Q Station, a space innovation hub where she leads a dynamic team dedicated to accelerating space and tech innovation into the Air Force Research Laboratory and U.S. Space Force, while cultivating the growth of emerging and established space companies to strengthen America’s space superiority.
With more than 15 years of experience supporting AFRL’s tech engagement and STEM initiatives—previously as co-owner of ImPRonta Public Relations—Toni brings a rare blend of strategic insight, creative execution, and deep-rooted expertise in media, government, and innovation ecosystems. Her career began in television news, where she earned honors from the New Mexico Broadcasters Association and led an Emmy-winning team. She later directed media and corporate relations for Technology Ventures Corporation, a Lockheed Martin affiliate, advancing tech commercialization from national labs.
Toni also served as New Mexico’s Deputy Cabinet Secretary for both the Economic Development and Tourism Departments under two governors, spearheading landmark initiatives such as the completion of Spaceport America and launching the state’s journey into commercial space enterprise. At Q Station, Toni leverages her decades of experience in media relations, tech transfer, and economic development to forge strategic partnerships and unlock opportunities across the space and its adjacent industries—driving innovation, collaboration, and impact.
Casey Anglada DeRaad
Casey Anglada DeRaad is the CEO and Founder of NewSpace Nexus, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of New Mexico’s space industry and uniting the region’s and nation’s space ecosystem. With more than 30 years of leadership experience in space technology, economic development, and strategic partnership building across government, industry, and academia, she has been a champion for innovation throughout her career. A former senior Air Force leader, Casey established and directed AFRL’s Tech Engagement Office, managing an $80 million annual portfolio and creating major collaborations that advanced technology transfer, workforce development, and public–private partnerships.
Under her leadership, NewSpace Nexus has convened and aligned statewide and national stakeholders to expand New Mexico’s role in the rapidly growing commercial space sector—helping drive more than $100 million in company wins and increasing national recognition of New Mexico’s space capabilities. She has led influential space industrial base forums, launched co-innovation hubs, and advanced initiatives in semiconductors, energy, advanced computing, and advanced manufacturing. A lifelong advocate for STEM education, Casey has supported thousands of students and built strategic university partnerships that strengthen New Mexico’s workforce pipeline. Her work continues to shape the state’s emergence as a premier hub for commercial space innovation.
Jennifer Gaudioso
Jennifer Gaudioso is Director of the Center for Computing Research at Sandia National Laboratories, where she oversees approximately 300 staff, postdocs, and student interns, and stewards a diverse research portfolio spanning fundamental science to state-of-the-art applications. An accomplished leader with expertise in developing strategic research visions and driving innovative solutions, she excels at aligning scientific pursuits with organizational missions and translating complex technical challenges into meaningful real-world impact. As Program Executive for NNSA’s Advanced Simulation and Computing Program at Sandia and Director of Sandia’s DOE Advanced Scientific Computing Research portfolio, she provides strategic leadership connecting cutting-edge computing research to national security missions. She serves on Sandia’s AI Board of Directors and co-directs the Computing and Information Sciences LDRD investment area. Dr. Gaudioso’s leadership established Sandia as a critical contributor to the U.S. government’s response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, earning her team a DOE Secretary of Energy Award. She holds a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Cornell University and is the 2025 recipient of Bard College’s John and Samuel Bard Award in Medicine and Science.
Heather Ingram
As Accenture’s Client Account Leader for New Mexico, Heather Ingram brings deep expertise and a heartfelt commitment to the communities she serves. A proud New Mexican native, her leadership is grounded in understanding what matters most to residents and ensuring that innovation truly benefits people across the state.
Heather’s approach centers on listening to New Mexicans and collaborating closely with local partners. She leads with empathy and purpose, driving solutions that extend beyond technology. In partnership with the New Mexico Health Care Authority, she helped launch the state’s first Unified Portal, streamlining access to vital benefits and services and making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Her stewardship of New Mexico’s consolidated customer service contact center ensures families receive efficient, compassionate support from people who genuinely care.
Heather stands out for her ability to balance cutting‑edge technology and AI solutions with the needs and values of New Mexicans. She believes innovation matters only when it is accessible, relevant, and rooted in community priorities. Recognized as a Woman of Influence by Albuquerque Business First in 2020, she actively mentors others, advocates for women in technology, and supports local nonprofits and civic organizations. Heather’s vision is clear and powerful: to harness technology as a force for good, delivering lasting, people‑centered change that uplifts her home state and all its communities.
Darshana Kanabar
With over 30 years in technology across public and private sectors, Darshana Kanabar specialized in turning fragmented efforts into unified, strategic results. Working in health, education, revenue and manufacturing, she applied analytical skills, solution-oriented thinking, and big-picture perspective to roles in operations, oversight, project management, security, fiscal management, and organizational change.
For the past 18 years, Darshana has focused on strengthening New Mexico’s public sector. As Deputy CIO for the NM Taxation & Revenue Dept., she played a key leadership role in major modernization efforts—including statewide systems for motor vehicles, oil and gas, and property tax—oversaw the department’s first full PCI compliance and other initiatives to expand digital services, enhance customer experience, improve operations, security, and compliance.
She lead IT operations, while working hard to make sure her team felt supported and could work together; her division consistently earns the highest cultural survey scores.
Previously, Darshana helped establish the first statewide EPMO, guiding strategic plans and oversight of $300M in technology investments and $90M annually in procurements. Her earlier work included implementing health information exchange/e-Reporting, enhancing trauma registry and immunization systems, corporate training, software development and compliance.
Service and mentorship are core to who Darshana is, striving to guide emerging leaders toward grounded leadership, thoughtful purpose, and meaningful impact.
Anna Llobet
Dr. Anna Llobet is a Senior Experimental Physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) with more than 30 years of research experience advancing the fields of materials science and national security. Her scientific work spans neutron, proton, X-ray, and muon scattering, as well as shock physics, to elucidate the structure–property relationships that govern material behavior under extreme conditions. Most recently, her research has focused on experimental work and advanced hydrodynamic predictions that support LANL’s mission to ensure the safety, reliability, and effectiveness of the nation’s nuclear deterrent. Her scientific contributions are reflected in more than 6,400 citations across open-access publications.
In 2016, Dr. Llobet founded the Summer Physics Camp for Young Women in NM, a two-week program, free of cost to the NM families, designed to inspire and empower underrepresented minorities across New Mexico and Hawaii to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and engage with the National Laboratories. In the summer of 2025, nearly 30 former campers had secured LANL internships, establishing the camp as a powerful model for STEM outreach, workforce development, and mentorship.
Dr. Llobet’s dedication to scientific excellence, education, and community service has earned her numerous honors, including the 2022 NMNWSE IMPACT! Award, 2022 LANL Community Relations Medal, and the 2018 LANL Individual Distinguished Performance Award.
Veronica Martinez
Veronica Martinez is a distinguished technology sales leader at HP, Inc., with more than 14 years advancing customer success across acquisition, enterprise, federal, and public sector markets. Rising from individual contributor to leading high-performing teams, she is known for strategic influence, stakeholder alignment, and optimizing technology investments to accelerate organizational transformation.
Veronica’s impact extends well beyond her professional sphere. As a proud native New Mexican, she exemplifies the principle “Together we rise by lifting others” and is deeply committed to mentoring both youth and women through hands-on experiences and active community involvement. She is a cofounder of NM Sol, an organization dedicated to fostering leadership and discipline through initiatives such as providing toys for children battling cancer, significant support during the Hermit’s Peak Fire, and ongoing mentorship for youth athletes. The guiding principle, “Never give up—you can achieve whatever you set your mind to,” shapes these efforts.
In her role as head coach with NM Sol, USA Track & Field program, Veronica and her team focused on building a strong foundation for young athletes. They provided guidance in life leadership skills, motivation, self-confidence, teamwork, and collaboration, all contributing to the development of effective leaders and individuals who embody a “Never give up” mindset.
Through NM Sol and collaboration with HP, Inc., Veronica played a pivotal support role in obtaining a technology grant that supplied equipment for the “Next Gen – Future Tech Warriors” program. Beyond this grant, Veronica and NM Sol have broadened opportunities for STEM education and scholarships, further increasing access for young learners.
Currently Veronica is actively involved with the Children’s Cancer Fund of New Mexico and currently serves on the NMAA Foundation Board which continue to provide scholarships for youth in the state of New Mexico to assist in attending college and universities.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Veronica mobilized efforts to produce masks, collect essential supplies, and support underserved communities across the state. Her sustained community leadership earned the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (Albuquerque Division).
Veronica resides in Rio Rancho, NM with her husband of 26 years, Carl. Together, they have four children—Akira (24), Nathaniel (22), Zoe (20), and Luciana (17)—all of whom continue to live in New Mexico, maintaining strong family ties to the region’s roots and traditions. The family values spending quality time together and appreciates the many outdoor opportunities that New Mexico provides.
Veronica’s motto is “We rise together as one,” reflecting her belief that team strength, not individual effort drives success.
Margaux Mizell
Margaux Mizell is a Senior Production Operations Manager at Meta, currently leading hardware infrastructure maintenance and operations at the Los Lunas Data Center. With over 25 years of technology experience, Margaux is recognized for driving innovation, operational excellence, and compliance within hyperscale environments. Her career spans Big Tech, Big Data, Healthcare, and Financial Services, reflecting a versatile and impactful leadership style.
A proud graduate of the University of New Mexico, Margaux has held diverse roles ranging from Network Analyst to Senior Technology Manager and Director. She credits her success to the guidance of strong mentors, fueling her passion for empowering others and fostering team success. Margaux is committed to balancing her professional achievements with her role as a dedicated wife and mother, exemplifying her values of empowerment, mentorship, and personal fulfillment.
Misti Willock
Misti is the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Resound Networks, where she leads broadband business development, external affairs, and community strategy across an eight-state region. Her career has been dedicated to serving rural and Tribal communities — areas that are often vulnerable, low income, and historically left behind in technology investment. Ensuring these communities have access to reliable, high-speed internet is the mission that motivates her work every day.
For more than a decade, Misti has helped expand connectivity by guiding fiber and fixed-wireless deployments, securing public-funding awards, and navigating the regulatory, technical, and operational landscape that shapes broadband access. She is known for turning complex infrastructure challenges into clear, actionable strategies, and for building strong relationships with local leaders, state agencies, and national partners.
What drives Misti most is real-life impact: students who can finally complete homework online, elders who can access telehealth, small businesses that can compete, and families who gain opportunities that high-speed connectivity makes possible. To her, closing the digital divide isn’t just a technology issue — it’s a commitment to dignity, equity, and economic resilience for the communities that need it most.
— Thank You
2026 NM Women in Tech Sponsors
