HECHO STAFF
Camilla Simon
Camilla Simon is the Executive Director for HECHO. She is passionate about elevating Latino voices in local, state and national conservation efforts, especially when it comes to accessing public lands.
Since she joined HECHO in November 2014, she has worked to broaden the definition of a conservationist, and elevate the importance of Hispanic/Latino generational ties to the land and what that knowledge can add to public policy debates around access to the outdoors and conservation of land, water, and air for future generations. To support this, she has led many advocacy efforts that brought Hispanic/Latino perspectives to the forefront of national conservation campaigns. Camilla also has cultivated a prolific guest blog series featuring Hispanic/Latino stories of connection to the outdoors, stewardship of natural resources for future generations, and conservation leadership.
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In 2018, Camilla was instrumental in envisioning and forming a mutually beneficial partnership between HECHO and the National Wildlife Federation to collaborate authentically and intentionally lift up our aligned conservation missions to build a conservation movement that engages all communities in protecting the natural world for future generations. Through this partnership, Camilla is leading HECHO through the joint development and implementation of collaborative projects with the Federation family that bring financial resources, build capacity, and increase visibility for Hispanic/Latino conservation leaders across the nation.
Prior to joining HECHO, Camilla managed the distribution of over $20 million annually in conservation funds at a major foundation, aimed at increasing the capacity of local, regional, and national nonprofits. She also started the foundation’s first composting program to dramatically reduce landfill waste. She has also worked on a number of programs to connect children with nature.
Camilla graduated from Pacific University in Oregon with a degree in creative writing and literature; and then summa cum laude in environmental law and policy from Vermont Law School. From 2014-2021, she served as Treasurer of the board of the nonprofit Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards, which provides trail maintenance jobs, teaches traditional tool skills to new generations of stewards, and assists the recreating public. In 2020, she was appointed to the Virginia Board of Conservation and Recreation. Camilla lives in Virginia with her husband and two daughters, and is enjoying getting to know the outdoors on the East Coast after living most of her life in the west.
Daniela Zavala
Daniela Zavala is the Communications Director for HECHO. Daniela is an Emmy-Award-winning journalist and communications professional with a deep passion for the great outdoors, where she enjoys camping, hiking and making short films of natural wonders in the United States and abroad.
In her role with HECHO, Daniela is responsible for developing compelling messages and communications strategies to engage target audiences and advance the organization’s policy, advocacy and education campaigns. Her goal is to protect public lands, promote climate justice, inspire more Latinos to get outdoors as well as to get them involved in conservation. She believes in the importance of connecting more people to nature as a key step to create a strong front to defend public lands and wildlife.
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Prior HECHO, Daniela worked as a multimedia journalist for Univision Arizona, where she was committed to inform, educate, empower and give a voice to the Hispanic community. She covered a variety of news stories, including environmental issues in Arizona, impacting in particular the underserved populations. Her journalistic work made her a recipient of six Emmy awards and nine nominations.
Daniela has also worked as a national correspondent for “Azteca América” based in Washington D.C., and as a correspondent for "CNN World Report" on CNN International and "El Mundo Informa" on CNN En Español from Venezuela, where she is originally from.
Besides her work as a journalist, Daniela has broad experience in leading successful communications and public relations campaigns across Latin America and Brazil. She worked as a Public Relations Director for A&E, History and Biography channels, as well as a Communications Manager for Warner Channel.
Since 1997, Daniela has traveled solo to over 80 countries. In some of these world adventures, she has seen first hand different kinds of environmental issues, from the melting snows of Kilimanjaro caused by climate change and the massive deforestation in Madagascar due to the slash-and-burn practice, to wildlife at risk such as the mountain gorillas in Africa. Daniela has reported independently about these stories and issues through articles and short documentaries she produces herself.
Daniela has a Masters degree in Communications, Journalism and Public Affairs from American University.
She now lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her son and husband, with who she often explores and enjoys the great outdoors on the weekends!
Bianca “Modesta” McGrath-Martinez
Bianca “Modesta” McGrath-Martinez is the Program Manager for HECHO. Modesta first developed a passion for nature during her year abroad in Reykjavik, Iceland, where she was immersed in a very unique and remarkable environment. Her experience in Iceland sparked a lasting curiosity about the natural landscapes in her own country that followed her to Los Angeles, California, and Denver, Colorado. After years of being involved in conservation in the United States, she saw a clear lack of representation of Latinx and Hispanic communities in outdoor recreation, environmental policy and the movement as a whole. Modesta is motivated to bridge the gap between those communities and environmental decisions that will affect the people that live there. She hopes to bring her experience in program management, program coordination, and capacity building to contribute to the growth of HECHO. Modesta hopes that her contribution to HECHO will lead to increased access to and protection of our public lands.
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Prior to working with HECHO, Modesta spent three consecutive years as an AmeriCorps VISTA working primarily in youth education. While living in Los Angeles, Modesta worked for Compton YouthBuild, a non-profit that provides workforce development opportunities and an accredited high school diploma to youth and young adults. After moving to Denver, Modesta began working with Colorado Trout Unlimited to manage and build up recreational and STEM-based youth programming to connect youth in Colorado to issues revolving around the state’s precious water systems and the species that inhabit those waters. In her free time, Modesta volunteers with Latino Outdoors as the Program Coordinator for the Colorado Chapter. As a Latino Outdoors volunteer in Colorado, Modesta works with fellow Latino Outdoors leaders to provide opportunities to Colorado’s Latinx and Hispanic communities to be able to connect with each other and their land. She is eager to enhance the experiences and passions of the community through a supportive learning environment.
Modesta was born and raised in Southern Maryland. She graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a degree in Global Studies, with a focus on Environment, Health, and Development and a minor in Geography.
Modesta currently lives in Westminster, Colorado and works out of the National Wildlife Federation’s Rocky Mountain Regional Office.
José Gaona
José Ignacio Gaona is the National Policy and Advocacy Manager for HECHO. José is a community advocate who has organized with the Latinx/Hispanic community across the United States. His connection to the outdoors, conservation policy, and environmental justice are rooted in his small town upbringing on the Northern California coastline nestled between the Redwood Forest and the Pacific Ocean.
Before joining the HECHO team, José was the national policy and advocacy manager for the League of United Latin American Citizens or LULAC, the country's oldest Latino civil rights organization.
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José immigrated to the United States with his family from Mexico at age four, and settled in Fort Bragg, CA. José was introduced to community work through his local Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs where Beach Cleanup Days were an early part of his community work. José served as a trustee on his local school board, and was the first Latino to do so in his district. He also served on the board of directors for the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project in California before relocating to Washington D.C.
In D.C., José worked with the Latino Student Fund, Latinos for a Secure Retirement, the Latinx History Project, and LULAC in service to Latino and Queer Latinx communities. In service to his community, José's work has led him to engage communities across the United States on a range of critical policy topics including climate change, economics, immigration, health, housing, LGBTQ issues, and voting rights.
Max Trujillo
Max Trujillo is the Senior New Mexico Field Coordinator for HECHO. Max was born, raised, and educated in Las Vegas New Mexico which is situated in the Southeastern portion of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Being one of eleven children, a major component of Max’s upbringing included hunting and fishing not so much as a form of recreation, but a form of sustenance for the family. During the countless outings into the mountains and streams of Northern New Mexico Max developed a profound love of our public lands. While the family was not fortunate enough to enjoy the ownership of any significant amount of land, it was instilled in him that by virtue of his citizenship, he was an equal and rightful owner of millions of acres of public land. This experience has made Max a fierce advocate for the conservation and protection of public lands. Max also owns a small business and serves as San Miguel County Commissioner District 3.
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Max was one of the original contributors to the formation of HECHO. He has also worked with the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. During his time with NMWF and HECHO Max played an integral part in the permanent protection of millions of acres of public lands including the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, Organ Mountains, Desert Peaks National Monument, Chimney Rock National Monument, Columbine Hondo Wilderness, and the Sabinoso Wilderness. Working along side of many leaders in conservation, Max has created a legacy for future conservationists to aspire to. Access to our public lands has always been a priority for Max and he has lead the charge to keep our public lands public in spite of threats of privatization of these lands.
Realizing that there is a gross underrepresentation in the conservation arena for people of color, Max’s work with HECHO will ensure that all stakeholders regardless of color, ethnicity, or origin must and will have a seat at the table when it comes to conservation and preservation of our public lands.
ADVISORY BOARD
Rebecca Chavez-Houck, ADVISORY BOARD CHAIR
A Utah native, Rebecca Chavez-Houck holds a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication and a Master of Public Administration (MPA), both from the University of Utah. She represented Salt Lake City’s District 24 (Downtown, Capitol Hill, Guadalupe & the Avenues neighborhoods) in the Utah House of Representatives from 2008-18, focusing primarily on public policy related to health and human services as well as voter engagement and access. Her leadership appointments included: House Minority Whip (2014-16) and House Minority Assistant Whip (2012-14).
She now provides leadership coaching and community engagement consulting through her public affairs firm, Aspira Public Affairs, LLC.
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Rebecca’s passion for social justice advocacy and desire to develop progressive public policy was forged in the multicultural community of Bingham Canyon, where her parents met. Rebecca’s compassion for the less fortunate, pride in cultural diversity, commitment to the environment, and support for our public education system was undoubtedly shaped by her parents’ influence.
Rebecca served as a public affairs staffer for a number of local Utah nonprofits from 1985 to 2007 and cultivated a parallel “career” as a volunteer for nonprofits ranging from Envision Utah to the ACLU to Planned Parenthood Association of Utah. She teaches nonprofit administration courses as adjunct faculty in the University of Utah Master of Public Administration program.
Rebecca and her husband, Martin Houck, live in Salt Lake City’s Avenues area and have two children, Erica and Michael.
Sen. Mo Denis
Nevada Senator Mo Denis has been serving as a state representative for ten years. Born to immigrant parents from Cuba, Mo was raised in Las Vegas from an early age and was taught to care for and respect his community. He has done just that for nearly 20 years having served in the PTA, library board, as an assemblyman and most recently as state senator. Mo advocates for families and community members on key issues like education, tax reform, economy and consumer advocacy. His heart and energy are focused in fighting on behalf of his constituents and his five children and wife of 31 years, Susan.
Kent Salazar
Kent Salazar is a lifelong resident of New Mexico and an avid hunter and outdoorsman who has been supporting conservation efforts on local, state, and national levels for the past 20 years. Kent has served on the New Mexico State Game and Fish Commission and currently serves as the western vice chair of the National Wildlife Federation Board. He also serves on the Valles Caldera Trust Board, appointed by President Barack Obama, in addition to the HECHO Board.
Lenore Loroña Stuart
Lenore Loroña Stuart has served as a member of the Yuma County Board of Supervisors in Arizona for 15 years; and serves as the Chairwoman of the National Association of Counties Immigration Task Force. She was formerly the President of the County Supervisors Association of Arizona. During her tenure she helped shape public policy and represented all of the counties and county supervisors in the state. Among her many contributions to preserving public outdoor recreation areas, Lenore was a member of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Board, under the Direction of Charles Flynn, that helped transform an unusable wetlands area into a beautifully restored and easily accessible riverfront.
Lenore is a fifth generation Yuman. Her back ground is rich in local history. Her great grandfather, Jose Maria Redondo, was well known in Yuma history as a rancher and entrepreneur in early Yuma. He was a member of the Territorial legislature, a Yuma County Supervisor and the second Mayor of Yuma. Lenore is married to G.W. Stuart, Jr.
Viviana Reyes
Viviana Reyes is the Innovation Manager for the Latino Community with the Girl Scouts– Arizona Cactus-Pine Council. In this capacity, she helps develop strategies for engaging Latina girlsand their families in Girl Scouting. Viviana believes in empowering young girls to discover their leadership capabilities through enriching experiences such as skill building programs, community service projects, and environmental stewardship. She and her daughter, Vida, enjoy exploring their state through their many adventures.
Rock Ulibarri
Rock Ulibarri hails from one of the original 36 families that settled in Las Vegas, New Mexico and Rock is part of the 7th generation of his family born in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. With a back fence that borders a national forest, Rock has spent his life roaming the outdoors and going backcountry hiking and horseback riding.
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Rock is a former San Miguel County Commissioner for District 1 and former educator. He spent many years as a middle school teacher and continues to use his expertise to teach youth leadership at the community college for at risk youth, teach grassroots organizing and nonviolent resistance at United Well college, and guide students into the backcountry to teach Leave No Trace wilderness practices.
Rep. Donald Valdez
Representative Donald Valdez is a 5th generation San Luis Valley Native and multi-generational rancher, tending to land he and his family cultivated in La Jara Colorado. Conservation has always been important to Rep. Valdez, who joined the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service.
He works closely with local farmers and ranchers, as well as community representatives and government partners, fine-tuning his skills in the conservation of water, soils, plants and ecosystem management. Rep. Valdez enjoys spending time at his family ranch where he grows small grains, alfalfa, and helps to oversee a cow/ calf operation.
Rep. Mark Archuleta Wheatley
Mark is serving his seventh term as a member of the Utah House of Representatives. Since 2004, he has been serving the constituents of District 35 which encompasses South Salt Lake and Murray, Utah. Rep. Wheatley’s legislative assignments include the Higher Education Appropriations Standing Committee; Business and Labor Committee, Judiciary Committee; Administrative Rules Committee and the Native American Liaison Committee.
A graduate of Westminster College with a degree in Human Resource Management, Mark was named 2007 Alumni of the Year by Westminster College for his work and involvement in serving his community. Mark has 15 years of experience working for Salt Lake Community College serving as an administrator for several educational programs.
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Mark was awarded the Cesar Chavez Peace and Justice Award from Utah Coalition of La Raza and a special recognition award from Centro de La Familia. Mark is the Vice President of Membership for the National Hispanic Caucus of Hispanic Legislators. He has served on Governors' Hispanic Advisory Council; Hispanic American Festival; Mexican Civic Center; SOMOS President, U.S. West Cooperation; National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers; and the Board of Hispanic Caucus Chairs
Mark has been married to Josie Valdez for 32 years. They have two sons, Mark, and Carlos. They are the proud grandparents of 4 terrific grandchildren.
Maria Stillman Farrington
Maria Stillman Farrington has worked in the non-profit social services at the executive level with equity in education as a main focus. Her last position was as the CEO of Holy Cross Ministries. There she was able to address immigration issues with a staff of five lawyers. Services also included those given to Spanish speaking families with emphasis on pre- and post- natal care. Maria has also done work with the Utah state legislature for the past 30 years. Maria retired from full time employment and is currently consulting in non-profit issues. Besides her work with HECHO, she is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Salt Lake Community College, and on the Board of Girl Scouts of Utah. She was married to Bob Farrington and has two grown sons, but four grandsons which she considers ‘icing on the cake’. She continues to explore the outdoors hiking, camping and visiting as many National parks as possible.
Maribel Castañeda
Maribel Castañeda is a passionate coalition builder with over a decade of experience in local and state government working in areas such as education, community development, and constituent engagement. She is currently the Manager of the Confluence of States supporting a network of 17 state offices of outdoor recreation and the Coordinator for Our Virginia Outdoors, a coalition focused on promoting Virginia's outdoors for all. She previously served as the Director of Appointments and Director of Latino Outreach for Governor Northam. Maribel is an avid outdoors enthusiast from Harrisonburg, Virginia and grew up exploring the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She loves camping, hiking, and running.
Jose Witt
Growing up in southern Nevada, Jose has deep ties to the Mojave Desert. After a career in finance, he began working in conservation where he has over a decade of experience in. Jose is the Mojave Desert Landscape Director at The Wilderness Society where he works with partners across the landscape to shape public lands policy and supports campaigns that maintain the ecological integrity of the Mojave Desert.
Jose serves on the board of Friends of Nevada Wilderness and President of the Nevada Wildlife Federation. In his free time, he enjoys long backpacking trips with his wife and dog as well as other alpine adventures.