Mike Madden – President (2020-present)
Mike was born and raised in Chicago, graduated from Purdue in Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering. His ‘inner gypsy’ led him to adopt a school-teacher’s schedule, doing contract engineering for 9 months, then taking the summer off. His first 6 summers were spent bicycle camping, logging 25K miles. In an effort to leave the roads, slow down, and be closer to nature, his next 5 summers were spent hiking the AT, PCT and CDT. The gypsy was satisfied. So at 33 he moved to So Cal, and stayed there 22 years, retiring from Boeing in 2005. He chose retirement in NM because of the four seasons, strong sun, mild temps, blue skies, wide open spaces, and relatively few people… a place where one could make a difference.
Cliff Giles – Vice President (2020-present)
Grew up in and around Lubbock, Texas. Moved to Albuquerque in 1969 with wife Joyce and two sons. 43-year career in science and technology management with USAF, EG&G, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. Retired since 2006. Enjoyed lots of business and personal international travel. Commercial pilot (SEL) with instrument rating. (Commuted to Los Alamos by air.) Loves hiking, snowshoeing, and downhill skiing. FOSM member since 2018. Assumed webmaster responsibilities in 2021.
Jeff Young – Treasurer (2024-present)
Jeff has lived in New Mexico for most of his life and has been a resident of Sandia Park since 1992. After graduating from Lovington High School, he went on to an accounting degree from Abilene Christian University and then an MBA from New Mexico State University. After a brief tenure with General Dynamics in San Diego, Jeff came back to New Mexico and started a career at Sandia National Laboratories. Jeff retired from Sandia in 2021.
Jeff started the Sandia Mountain Snowshoe Race and is the author of 4 books on the outdoors. He is an avid hiker, mountain biker, hunter, fly fisherman, trail “jogger”, downhill and cross country skier. He is a volunteer hunter education instructor, volunteers for the New Mexico Youth Hunter Education Challenge, and the East Mountain Food Pantry among other things. He and his wife love exploring New Mexico and are most comfortable somewhere in a tent on New Mexico’s public lands or at home in the East Mountains. Jeff has two sons, Canyon, who is the Wilderness and Trails Program Manager for the Sandia Ranger District, and Cody who is a project controller at Sandia National Laboratories.
Jeff and Patti are life members of the Friends of the Sandias.They are extremely fond of anything with green chile on it.
Silke Bletzer – Secretary (2021-present)
Originally from Germany, Silke grew up hiking and skiing in the mountains in Europe. Work took her to New York, until her husband Michael and she decided to move to the SW following his research here. Since moving to Albuquerque ten years ago, hiking buddies have taken her exploring the local mountains. After losing trails a few times, particularly when covered in snow, she got interested in local trail maintenance and joined FOSM and the NM Volunteers for the Outdoors. Silke has worked in the US and in Germany for Bayer Healthcare, the College Board as well as several Salesforce implementation partners. When not in front of the computer, she enjoys outdoor activities in the mountains and on the water.
Sam Beard – All Projects Chair
After high school joined the USAF and trained as a Russian linguist in Texas and Monterey, CA. Stationed in England near London three years. Earned degrees in physics from Mars Hill Junior College and N. C. State University. Retired in 2003 from Sandia National Laboratories after 37 years in the Aerothermodynamics Group. Moved to Albuquerque with Edwina in 1965. Developed an interest in cross country skiing and published a trail guide in 1979 with a second edition in 1988. Began developing ski trails on the Sandia Ranger District as a volunteer in 1970. Was a founding member of the N. M. Cross Country Ski Club, N. M. Volunteers for the Outdoors, and Friends of the Sandia Mountains.
Jenny Blackmore – At large
Jenny grew up in Minnesota but left for the mountains as soon as she could, living in Boulder for many years before retiring from REI and moving to ABQ in 2015. She immediately fell in love with the Sandias, where she enjoys cross country skiing, trail running, climbing, hiking and building trails. She started volunteering with FOSM in 2017 and served as leader of the FOSM trail construction crew from 2021 through 2023.
Jamey Browning – Maps and signage
Jamey was born and raised in Carlsbad NM. He moved to Albuquerque in 1980 after graduating with a degree in engineering. He had a 42-year career in satellite and aircraft embedded flight computer design and in program management. Jamey has worked at Sandia Laboratories, Gulton Data Systems, SBS Technologies, and General Electric Embedded Systems. After retiring the first time, Jamey worked as Chief Technologist for Retirement Extender, a local financial management firm. He has also served as both a member and later, as chairman of the governing council for a local school.
Jamey started volunteering for Albuquerque Open Space in 2014 and developed a love for
hiking the Sandia Mountains. He joined FOSM in 2018 and has been a regular member of the
Monday trail maintenance crew since 2021. Jamey has logged over 2,700 miles of hiking,
mostly on local trails. His Interests include hiking, skiing, woodworking, and cartography. He
has created trail maps for the FOSM snowshoe race, Sandia Nordic Ski Club, and Sandia
Mountain Natural History Center. Jamey is currently volunteering as cartographer for the
Sandia Ranger District.
Sim Cook – At large
Moved to Albuquerque from Arizona in 1953. Graduate of NMMI, UNM, and Baylor University College of Dentistry. Completed an internship in the US Army at Womack Hospital, Ft. Bragg, during Vietnam and served 5 and a half years. Had a 42-year career in dentistry and solo private practice. Served on the Maxwell Museum Board of Directors at UNM. Seven Years with FOSM. Interests are downhill skiing, mountaineering, fly fishing, cycling, golf, and hiking. My wife, MaryJane, is my biggest supporter and encourager!
Byron Garner – At large
Moved to New Mexico, from Memphis, in 1988 to continue a 40-year career in Allied Health and has been hiking, fishing, CC skiing and exploring the Southwest ever since. After retirement in 2015 from UNMH, he was introduced to FOSM and began volunteering for trail-maintenance projects. Additional volunteer work has been doing trail maintenance for the New Mexico Cross Country Ski Club In the Jemez since joining them in 1989. When not on the trail, he can be found pursuing other interests, which include reading, cooking, travel, guitar, and a life-long fascination with railroads.
Susan Gregory – At large
Susan joined the United States Air Force directly out of high school and worked as an avionics technician on RF-4C aircraft based in England. After completing her enlistment, she returned home to Billings, MT and began working as a television broadcast engineer. Susan moved to Albuquerque in 1987 to work at KOB TV as the station’s mobile satellite uplink engineer. For five years she traveled across New Mexico and other areas of the Southwest providing satellite communications for KOB and other stations around the country.
Susan earned a degree in environmental engineering from New Mexico Tech in 1996. She went on to work as an aerospace manufacturing manager and as an environmental and energy consultant before retiring in 2023 from the United States Space Force as a satellite systems engineer.
In addition to supporting FOSM trail maintenance teams, Susan volunteers weekly with the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center based in Cedar Crest. She is an avid hiker, mountain biker and long-distance cyclist. Susan also supports New Mexico animal humane organizations and is involved with rhino conservation efforts in South Africa.
Joe Meade – At large
Over Joe’s Forest Service career, he oversaw a Public-Private Partnership Strategy to grow Agency partnerships and expand investments in the Forests and Grassland stewardship. Joe is a champion for growing relationships that encourage shared stewardship. They are essential for achieving social, economic, and ecological outcomes.
Joe has a deep passion for recreation that started on the Deschutes National Forest as an interpreter at the Lava Lands Visitor Center, now a National Monument. Joe’s 40-year natural resource career spanned five Forest Service Regions, the Washington Office, four Forests, two Ranger Districts and a USDA Sub-Cabinet executive assignment.
Joe was the National Director for Recreation, Heritage and Volunteer Services for 4 years, National Partnership Director for three years, Forest Supervisor on the Chugach NF in Alaska for seven years; Regional Director of Recreation, Heritage & Wilderness Resources in the Southwest Region (R3-Arizona and New Mexico) for 5 years; and Recreation Developed Sites Program Leader for 7 years in the Washington Office.
Past programs Joe directed were recipients of four top honors at the President’s Cabinet level, receiving USDA’s highest Departmental honor, the Silver Plow, for efforts in government reinvention. His program leadership has been recognized by non-governmental organizations, receiving national awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects, The American Planners Association, Wilderness Inquiry and Partner’s Outdoors (American Recreation Coalition).
Joe pursues life with a passion, at work and at play. In retirement he enjoys most types of outdoor and cultural recreation, including: FOSM Volunteer, snow skiing, horseback riding, hiking and cultural eco-tourism. Joe and his wife live in Corrales NM where they tend their alpaca, chickens and cats on their Hacienda de Reza.
Steve Roholt – At large
Steve is a native of Wisconsin and has lived in Albuquerque since 1979. He has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Wisconsin, Doctor of Dental Surgery from Marquette University, and completed a residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He practiced Oral Surgery in Albuquerque from 1979 until his retirement in 2016. Steve has been a FOSM member (Life) since 2014. He enjoys spending time with his two children, and two grandchildren. He has been married to his wife Sue for 42 years. His other interests include fly fishing, hiking, downhill and cross-country skiing, and road and mountain cycling. He loves trail building and maintenance in the Sandias.