Heather Benavidez, mother, wife, and humanitarian is proud to be the newest CEO of The Arc of New Mexico and is delighted to have the opportunity to fulfill the mission of this great organization.

A proud public servant for over 20 years, Ms. Benavidez served in both local and state government. Her service began in the Thirteenth Judicial District Court in the clerk’s office and culminated in the development and management of the Foreclosure Settlement Facilitation Pilot Program to help New Mexicans save their homes. She served as Chief of Staff for the New Mexico State Treasurer’s Office, collaborating with the Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer to manage thirty employees to protect and invest the state’s money. Her tenure in the Treasurer’s Office was enriched by advocacy work, including providing financial literacy education to youth transitioning out of foster care, creating, and managing ABLE New Mexico accounts for individuals with disabilities, and assisting with the development of a retirement savings account program for employees of small businesses and the self-employed. Ms. Benavidez was the first municipal judge elected in Rio Communities, upon incorporation in 2013, and was appointed to the Valencia County Magistrate Bench by Governor Lujan Grisham in 2020. She’s a member of the DWI Planning Council and chairs the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board of Valencia County. She also chairs the 100% Community Housing Taskforce and is a member of the Los Lunas Rotary Club. She has a B.A. in political science and Spanish and Master of Public Administration from the University of New Mexico.

She resides in Albuquerque with her husband, Metropolitan Court Judge Joshua J. Sanchez, and they have a daughter studying business at Arizona State University.