Our Team (In alphabetical order)

Leslie Elgood, CEO

Leslie Elgood is the Chief Executive Officer for NMCC and President of the NMCC Board. She has served as a member of NMCC's managment team since 2005. She has 24 years of hands-on management and fundraising experience within higher education, cultural organizations, social services, religious and health care agencies. Leslie is focused on building non-profits with strong bottom line objectives that are directly engaged in the economic and social success of the region. She spends a good deal of her personal and professional energy working on issues central to the building of a sustainable economy for New Mexico.

Previously, Leslie served as Director of Development and President of the University of New Mexico Foundation. Prior to moving to New Mexico in 1999, she was Director of Development and General Manager for SFBS (Catholic Charities in N. California), and Executive Director of Sutter Hospitals (Foundation), California's second largest not-for-profit health care system. She also served as a program officer for the Mott Foundation in Flint, Michigan.

Leslie holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Michigan and a masters's certification in book publishing from New York University.

Email: leslie@nmccap.org

Zach Grafe, Analyst

Zach’s responsibilities include deal flow information management, financial analysis, and due diligence research of potential investments for the NMCC funds. He assists the Associate and Managing Director at all stages of the investment process, including managing portfolio company information.

Prior to joining NMCC, Zach worked with ACCIÓN International, a nonprofit microfinance company that provides capital and training to low-income entrepreneurs around the world. While at ACCIÓN, he worked with the Council of Microfinance Equity Funds, an industry association of microfinance equity investors. In the summer of 2006, Zach was chosen from a pool of applicants to intern with the NMCC Fund team.

Zach is a native New Mexican and is passionate about helping socially responsible businesses in the state succeed. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas A&M University with a BBA in finance.

Email: zach@nmccap.com

David Martinez, Southern New Mexico IMPACT Project Manager

David Martinez has been contracted to develop and expand NMCC’s IMPACT-NM model in the Southern New Mexico communities.

David was born in El Paso, Texas but was raised in Southern New Mexico.

Previously, David served as the first Mayor of Sunland Park, New Mexico. He also served for 6 six years as State Representative for District 34 in Southern New Mexico. He has been a member of the NM Judicial Standards Commission and the Sunland Park Planning and Zoning Committee. He is currently a member of the Sunland Park Chamber of Commerce and is Board President of the La Clinica de Familia Medical and Dental centers which provide services to the underserved colonias in Southern New Mexico.

David’s interests lie in creating local business networks and increasing sustainable economic development in the State of New Mexico.

David has a BA in Business from New Mexico State University.

Email: david@nmccap.org

Thad Porch, Managing Principal, Porch & Associates, LLC and NMCC Contract CFO

Thad serves as NMCC’s contracted CFO. Thad is also managing partner of Porch & Associates LLC, a certified public accounting firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Thad has twenty years of accounting and consulting experience, and has over nine years of experience in public accounting. In addition to his years at Neff + Ricci (Moss Adams), Thad has worked for KPMG Peat Marwick, Ernst & Young, and Houtman & Company. In addition to his public accounting experience, Thad has worked as controller and chief financial officer at several companies.

Thad received his Bachelor of Business and Masters of Accounting from the University of New Mexico. He is also a Certified Public Accountant, New Mexico. Thad is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the New Mexico Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Institute of Management Accountants and past Treasurer of the American Subcontractors Association.

Email: thad.porch@porchcpa.com

Christopher Madrid, Vice President, IMPACT- NM, Business Growth Services

Christopher is in charge of all IMPACT activities in Northern New Mexico. He assists businesses of all sorts and sizes to develop growth strategies and to find resources that will help them execute these strategies. He identifies companies that require IMPACT’s unique tipping point services and arranges to provide them. He counsels and supports entrepreneurs to succeed.

Raised in Northern New Mexico, Christopher went on to receive his Undergraduate and Law Degrees from UNM after serving a tour of duty in the Marine Corps. He practiced law in Santa Fe and later served as a prosecutor for several years until he was accepted to the University of Texas MBA program.

Christopher worked as an investment banker and as a consultant for Latin American corporations before returning to New Mexico to run a small business with 60 employees. His passion has always been to return home, start his own business and teach entrepreneurship. Christopher owns a Consulting and Development Company in Taos, teaches Entrepreneurship at UNM Taos, and is contracted to implement the Sirolli Enterprise Facilitation project in the Enchanted Circle Region.

Christopher has served on the New Mexico Human Rights Board, New Mexico Public Schools Insurance Authority and the State Workforce Development Board.

Email: cmadrid@nmccap.org

Wendy Saurman, Operations and Projects Manager

Wendy Saurman is the Operations and Projects Manager for New Mexico Community Capital. She has over 15 years of experience in a professional business environment. Her responsibilities include the implementation and maintenance of administrative and operation systems to support the organization. Prior to her work with NMCC, Wendy worked as an administrator of personal trusts and as a legal assistant. Her responsibilities have included all aspects of business operation including accounting, human resources, preparation of legal documents, and administration of legal trusts. Throughout her career she has met and exceeded expectations through an uncompromising focus on customer needs and relationship building.

As a native New Mexican, Wendy enjoys being involved in the community. She is a member of the New Mexico Alzheimer’s Association and has been a team leader and organizer of their annual fundraising walk. She also works closely with the New Mexico Association for Continuity of Care to help advocate for our elderly citizens.

Email: wendy@nmccap.org

J. Michael Schafer, Managing Director

Michael Schafer is the Managing Director for NMCC. Michael is an experienced equity investor, fundraiser and manager with exceptional skills and energy. He previously served as General Partner and Principal with the venture capital firm of Tullis-Dickerson & Company (Greenwich, Connecticut). While at Tullis-Dickerson, Michael established and directed the firm’s New Mexico operations, including sourcing, negotiating and managing investments in New Mexico and California. His long-standing contacts in the New Mexico and southwestern US business communities augment his extensive private equity business relationships.

Michael left Tullis-Dickerson in 2002 to become the Founder, President and Managing General Partner of Ventures UNC, the venture capital arm of the $1.4 billion asset management group of the University of North Carolina’s endowment. His previous experience includes directing business development activities at SunPharm and founding/managing The Woodlands Venture Partners.

As Managing Director of NMCC’s Fund I, Michael leads the Fund’s investment activities, directs portfolio company support, interfaces with the Fund’s limited partners, supervises the staff activities and directs the day-to-day operations of the Fund. He also assists in NMCC’s overall strategic growth.

Michael received his BS at Davidson College and his MBA at University of Michigan.

Email: michael@nmccap.com

Shyla Sheppard, Associate

Shyla Sheppard is an Associate with New Mexico Community Capital, where she has played an active role on the investment team since 2005. Ms. Sheppard focuses on early and expansion-stage investment opportunities across a broad range of industries. She assists the Managing Director in all aspects of the venture capital fund. Ms. Sheppard is active on the boards of Aero Mechanical Industries, American Clay, and Armed Response Team.

Ms. Sheppard also leads NMCC’s efforts within Native American communities. Through her various Board roles and volunteer activities, she promotes entrepreneurship and access to capital, youth financial literacy and education, and tribal business development. Her Board roles include First Nations Development Institute, Junior Achievement-NM Native American Initiative, the Stanford Club of New Mexico, and the Global Center for Cultural Entrepreneurship.

Ms. Sheppard obtained her BA in Economics from Stanford University. She was raised on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota and is a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes.

Email: shyla@nmccap.com