Board of Directors & Leadership Team

Joshua Orozco, chairman of FirstLight Federal Credit Union, is a Las Cruces native and NMSU graduate with both bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration. With over 20 years of experience in Santa Teresa, he has focused on recruiting businesses and driving economic growth in the border region. He is a founding member of the Border Industrial Association and serves as VP of Strategic Development. He also founded the Santa Teresa Charitable Foundation, supporting education in southern Dona Ana County. A FirstLight member since 2008, he served on the Supervisory Committee before joining the Board of Directors in 2021.

Barbara Walker is a seasoned technology professional with more than 35 years of experience in the computer industry, specializing in management, software development, systems analysis, project management, and strategic planning. She built a distinguished career with Cisco Systems, contributing to technology innovation, networking solutions, and enterprise initiatives since 1998. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Barbara has played a significant leadership role in the El Paso community, co-founding BizTech for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and serving on numerous civic and technology advisory boards. She is also a recognized thought leader, having written extensively on technology and education and co-authoring published work on community connectivity initiatives. Barbara's contributions have earned her multiple honors, including induction into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame and the BizTech Technology Hall of Fame. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Enrique (Rick) Bernal III, Director of Cybersecurity & Infrastructure at El Paso Electric, leads the organization's enterprise-wide strategy and operations for both Datacenter Infrastructure and Cybersecurity across IT and OT environments. He oversees the security of corporate and operational technology systems, including data protection, threat and vulnerability management, and incident response. Since joining El Paso Electric in June 2012, he has held multiple leadership roles including Information Security Manager, IT Operations Manager, and Sr. IT Consultant. Before his tenure at El Paso Electric, Rick served as the Director of Network Services at Varay Systems. Even earlier, he held the position of Vice President of Information Technology at FirstLight Federal Credit Union. Rick earned a Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso and possesses professional designations, including Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). Beyond his professional responsibilities, Rick volunteers on the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Board of Directors, the FBI Infragard Members Alliance El Paso Board of Directors as President and the Energy Sector Chief, and is also a member of CommUnity en Accion. A proud native of El Paso, TX, he remains deeply rooted in his community.

Renee Jimenez, is a respected architect and community leader with more than 30 years of experience shaping transformative public architecture projects throughout the Southwest. She served as President and CEO of MNK Architects from 2012 to 2026 and currently serves as Studio Leader, focusing on design excellence, client collaboration, and mentorship. Renee has led major educational, municipal, and aviation projects, including significant work for the El Paso and Ysleta Independent School Districts and El Paso International Airport, while championing sustainable design as a LEED Accredited Professional. A dedicated civic leader, she serves on the boards of FirstLight Federal Credit Union and CREEED and has been recognized as one of El Paso Inc.'s Women of Impact for her contributions to the community.

Melissa M. Lopez is a licensed attorney and Executive Director at Estrella del Paso (formerly Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services). Born and raised in El Paso, she is a graduate of UTEP with a bachelor's degree in political science and a minor in Professional Writing and Rhetoric, earned in May 2004. Ms. Lopez attended the University of Texas School of Law, graduating with a Doctor of Jurisprudence in May 2007, and returned to her native El Paso to work as a Staff Attorney at Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services. For the past 18 years, she has been a practicing immigration attorney, and for 13 years has led Estrella del Paso as Executive Director. Ms. Lopez has been an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, serving as a local liaison to the national chapter for over 18 years, and was recently appointed as an Advisory member for FirstLight.

Gilbert Moreno, Lead Strategist and Consultant for Prestige Consulting Services, has extensive experience in delivering effective and practical solutions to small business concerns. Dr. Moreno has over 27 years consultative career assisting entrepreneurs in effectively managing organizational change and growth. He served as a clinical professor in leadership development at the University of Texas at El Paso and contributes to STEM educational research and curriculum development. Dr. Moreno graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a degree in mechanical engineering. He also received a master's degree in operations research from the University of Notre Dame and a doctorate from UTEP in education leadership, with a concentration in STEM educational reform, entrepreneurship, and community outreach.

Cynthia Henry is an accomplished legal executive with extensive experience in regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and energy policy. She currently serves as Vice President, General Counsel, and Interim Corporate Secretary at El Paso Electric, where she oversees legal strategy, advises executive leadership, and coordinates board governance activities. In addition, she leads the company's FERC compliance program, guiding regulatory implementation and ensuring adherence to federal energy regulations. With a strong background that includes leadership roles at Xcel Energy and earlier work as an attorney with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Cynthia brings deep expertise in regulatory affairs and policy development. She has a proven track record of advising organizations on complex legal and compliance matters while developing strategic policy responses. Cynthia holds an Executive MBA, a Master of Laws in Computer and Communications Law, and a Juris Doctor, and is licensed to practice in New York, Washington, D.C., and England and Wales.