Margie Salazar has been named the 2026 Remarkable Woman for El Paso and will represent the community at a national awards ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee, as part of Nexstar Media Group's nationwide initiative.
The Remarkable Woman Program recognizes women who lead and inspire through professional achievement and community impact. Salazar was selected from local nominations for her leadership in financial services and long-standing commitment to philanthropy.
She began her career as a part-time bank teller and rose through the ranks to become the first woman to serve as CEO of FirstLight Federal Credit Union, with a focus on expanding accessible services and supporting community programs across El Paso and Dona Counties, as well as Fort Bliss.
Salazar also helped establish the First Light Community Foundation about a decade ago. The organization supports local students through scholarships--about $50,000 awarded annually--and has expanded to include financial education and housing assistance.
The Foundation recently launched a Home Match Program to help qualified residents build savings for a down payment. Salazar said she plans to use funds associated with the Remarkable Woman campaign to grow these efforts, with an added focus on supporting small businesses and developing new programs for underserved populations.
As the El Paso honoree, Salazar will join 124 other local finalists in Nashville for an awards dinner and ceremony, where one participant will be named Nexstar's national Remarkable Woman of the Year.