NMCTR Board
Our Board is made up of community members who donate their time on a volunteer basis. They provide oversight and governance and recognize their responsibility with donations of both time and money. We are proud to enjoy 100% participation from the Board for financial contributions on an annual basis.
Shelley Phelan
President
Shelley was born and raised in New Mexico, spent 17 years in Dallas, and returned to NM in 2002. She has a degree from Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and a Bachelors in Marketing from NMSU. Shelley spent many years in retail, advertising and marketing and worked for the Dallas Morning News before relocating to Santa Fe. NMCTR is one of many community organizations She has been involved with through the years including CASA, Many Mothers, Habitat for Humanity, SFIS and Boys and Girls Club. She is also NMCTR Volunteer Coordinator and assists with lessons and horse care. NMCTR gives Shelley the opportunity to combine “my love for horses with my desire to help those in need.”
Chris Swanson
Secretary
Chris was born and raised in rural Indiana. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from DePauw University and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. Chris lives in Los Alamos, where she moved in 2016 to begin work on labor relations at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Prior to this, Chris did union work with classified school employees in California, followed by years of work as a mental health and social work professional serving a broad range of populations. Outside of her deep commitment to her career, Chris is passionate about environmental issues and spends as much time as she can outdoors. In addition to being an avid hiker and an amateur photographer, Chris enjoys competing with her dogs in K9 Nose Work.
Andrea Antillon
Board Member
Andrea has practiced law for over twelve years. She has a LL.M. in Taxation and focuses on real estate, taxation, and natural resources. She has represented private companies, public companies and private equity funds, both on national and international matters. Andrea has worked with many nonprofits, helping to get them organized and advising board members on duties and responsibilities. In addition to working as an attorney, Andrea is an avid horse woman. She got her start playing horse polo at Stanford University and has ridden ever since, working on ranches in Montana and Wyoming, guiding trail rides through Teton National Park, taking jumping and dressage lessons, participating in ranch sorting, and training horses.
Nancy Desiderio
Board Member
Nancy grew up in Albuquerque. She earned a B.A. in political science from Swarthmore College. After living in AL and WA, Nancy returned home for good. She and her spouse, Mike, moved to Pecos, N.M., and she commenced law school at the University of New Mexico. After graduating, Nancy worked for the U.S. District Court in Santa Fe, and was on the Board of the Pecos Valley Medical Center. Nancy is the oldest of eight children, six adopted. Her parents became treatment foster care parents when she was in high school, giving her experience with people facing physical, mental, emotional, and financial challenges. Nancy is a rider with the NMCTR program, keeping her mobile despite having multiple sclerosis. She and her family love working at the barn and taking care of the NMCTR "herd."
Zella Kay Cox
Board Member
Zella moved to Santa Fe from Chicago in 1996. There, she was a member of the Board of Thresholds, an organization dedicated to providing services to individuals with behavior and/or mental disorders. The organization was focused on assisting individuals who were homeless and mentally ill, helping them find housing, treatment and appropriate employment. In Santa Fe, Zella has worked with organizations addressing the issues of literacy, high school drop outs, and juvenile justice. She also served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for nine years and subsequently joined the Board of the Child Advocacy Network which oversees the CASA programs throughout New Mexico. Zella looks forward to assisting us with community outreach and public relations.
Tim Reeder
Board Member
Tim was born and raised in Ohio, moved to New Mexico in September 2011 and is currently working for the New Mexico Department of Health as an Emergency Preparedness Specialist. Tim has an extensive background in Public Relations and Commercial Photography, owning his own firm for 23 years. He worked on national political campaigns and dealt with international commercial clients, retiring in 1999. Career #2, he returned to college, at age 42 and became a professional firefighter and paramedic in Cincinnati, OH which prepares him for his current career. He and his wife Suzy, who is a NMCTR volunteer, currently reside in Santa Fe and raised two beautiful daughters.
Advisory Board
John Berkenfeld, Ret. Executive Director, El Rancho de Las Golondrinas
Deborah Lamal, Advisor
Marilyn Miller, Advisor
Don Miller, Advisor
Mike Phelan, Deloitte Consulting, Advisor
