Change Comes Through Relationships.

Jazmine is a native New Mexican. She loves music, dancing, reading, and all the spicy foods. She remembers being a student and having absolutely no idea what to do next. So, she believes in Arches' mission - to connect talented and driven youth to their dream job! She believes that all youth should have experiences that open them up to a world of possibilities. Too often, she says, people settle for what is within their reach. Arches comes alongside to help extend their reach. For that reason, she is proud to sit with this team and work alongside any youth driven enough to join this program!

Marv is a Principal with Levanta Leding, a relationship-based lender providing high impact loans and financial coaching to borrowers. A native of New Mexico, Marv currently lives in Albuquerque with his beautiful wife, Barb. He enjoys fly fishing, squash (not the kind you eat), and hanging out with his six grandchildren. Marv is an Arches coach because he believes that every student has more potential than they can imagine. He maintains that all of us benefit from having multiple voices in our lives cheering us on, helping us dream, and helping us make good choices. Arches gives him the opportunity to be one of those voices.

Marissa is a self-proclaimed "cat lady" and works as an oncology nurse practitioner. In her free time, she enjoys baking, gardening, working out, traveling with her husband, and participating in her family's book club! Marissa is a native New Mexican, She says, "I love how friendly New Mexicans are. I love the open skies, the gorgeous sunsets, and the incredible weather." Marissa believes that Arches is an incredible opportunity for students to connect with businesses and professionals around Albuquerque that can open doors to opportunities for determining what you want to do with your life. One piece of advice Marissa would give to a student is: "Be open to new ideas for your career path. I started out as a business major and quickly realized that I was not passionate about that path. I took a leap of faith, went to nursing school, and eventually ended up becoming a nurse practitioner. Being open to studying new things or trying new experiences could lead you to your passion and eventually, to a career!

Ashley is a native New Mexican who loves music, her family, and chocolate. She is passionate about seeing students discover their career paths. She believes that every student deserves opportunities to walk in any door of any organization and feel welcome. Her hope is that Arches students will discover their unique talents and realize that the world needs their contribution.

Jon is a proud father of three and husband to his beautiful wife, Katherine. They live in the East Mountains, pursuing an active lifestyle in God's creation. Jon is a pilot for the New Mexico Air National Guard and Southwest Airlines. In his free time, he's most often found outdoors mountain biking, hiking, hunting, or fishing. Jon is intentional about living a life of purpose and believes in chasing your passion. He is an Arches coach because he has been blessed with the gift of mentors and guides in his life to show him the way, and he aspires to help others on their journey. "Be the change that you wish to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi

Shawna loves getting to know new people, going on hikes with her husband and dog, and being with her adult children and grandson. Shawna and her husband ended up in New Mexico because they work for the collegiate division of the Navigators. UNM had been a national priority to send full-time staff for about 7 years and they felt like this was where God was leading them. Shawna loves the mountains, the culture, and the climate. of New Mexico. Since they've never lived in this part of the country, they also love the new, beautiful places to visit. Shawna became an Arches coach because she loves the vision for helping students gain confidence and realize nothing is too difficult for them to achieve. Joining Arches gives a student an opportunity to meet professionals in the occupation they want to pursue. If Shawna could give a student one piece of advice, it would be, "Don't feel like you have to know your entire future right now. You may start down one path and realize there's something different that interests you more. That's ok. No experience you have along the way is wasted."

Doug is a trainer/developer of future leaders and works with the Navigators on UNM's campus. He and his wife, Shawna, have three adult daughters, two of which are here in Albuquerque. Shawna and Doug have lived here over three years and enjoy walking their dog, Adobe, finding really good coffee, and hanging out with friends and family. Doug is an Arches coach because he believes that every hard-working student should have the confidence and skill to pursue their dreams of a career and life that fits their passions and strongly-held beliefs!

Nancy is a New Mexican by choice, having moved to Albuquerque more than 35 years ago to take a job on the city desk of the Albuquerque Journal. She was on the "five-year plan," thinking that would be about enough. But they don't call it the Land of Enchantment for nothing. The outdoor spaces of the state fueled her sense of adventure and the diverse culture sparked her curiosity. She became an avid cyclist (all bikes are awesome), hiker, rock climber, and skier. Cooking, Native American culture and art also became strong interests of hers. The mountains took her in; she got married and had a daughter. For Nancy, most of the past 30 years, have been defined by writing, editing and family. Journalism is work that is never the same day twice and the opportunity to talk with folks from all walks of life has given her the view that everyone's story matters. Her career has also shown her that there are people who are willing to help -- all you have to do is muster the courage to ask. She hopes to share her sense of adventure and curiosity with Arches students and help them find a life that sets them on fire. As Hunter S. Thompson once wrote, “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”

Kendall is a dad, husband, and connector. He is a jack of all trades, master of none,and an enjoyer of all sports. Kendall owns a franchise in Albuquerque called Visiting Angels, a home healthcare company, and has been running it for almost 8 years. He joined Arches because of the power of connection. Kendall says, "Everything I have or ever wanted to have was because I met or had someone introduce me to the right person, system, company, or way. I love working with Arches and am excited to be on this journey in connecting the dots for young people in Albuquerque."

Katherine is a wife and stay-at-home mom of three teenagers. She loves to teach yoga, mountainbike, rock climb, ski, sew, and paint. Katherine believes in the value of Arches and is a coach partially because she would have greatly benefited from having an Arches coach as a teenager. She loves the idea of having kids interview people in the profession they are considering, and exploring all of the possibilities before they have started to go down a specific path.