Board of Directors

Ray holds an A.A in Hospitality, Travel, and Tourism Management, a B.S. in Business (with a public sector concentration) and is a Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP. Ray began his career in the events industry in and has spent the last 17 years leading teams in destination management, event operations, entertainment booking/production, venue sales & marketing, and facility operations.

Ray is a member in good standing of several professional hospitality organizations including Meeting Professionals International (MPI), International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), and the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE). In addition to serving on the board of directors for the New Mexico Hospitality Association (NMHA) Ray sits on the board of Visit Albuquerque, Greater Albuquerque Hotel & Lodging Association (GAHLA) and the Petroglyphs Homeowners Association. He is also on the Executive Committee for ESPN’s Isleta New Mexico Bowl.

Damen Kompanowski joined the Sheraton Uptown as General Manager in September 2011.
Immediately Damen became very involved in the community and sits on several boards including GAHLA & Visit Albuquerque.
Prior to joining the Sheraton Uptown, Damen was General Manager of the Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites, The Gateway Marriott DIA, The Curtis Hotel Denver Downtown, and the Marriott Mt. Laurel, NJ. Damen also held the position of Regional Director of Operations and Sales that oversaw 26 Fairfield Inn’s By Marriott in the Midwest.
In 1995, Mr. Kompanowski earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration / Hotel Management from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He also has a Culinary of Arts degree.

Damen started his career 32 years ago in the kitchen at a Marriott in his hometown of Chicago. Through his travels he has come to love the Southwest looks forward to enjoying many more years in this part of the county.

Ceela McElveny, Treasurer

Visit Albuquerque

McElveny has been the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Visit Albuquerque since 2019. In this role, Ceela provides strategic direction to a dedicated in-house team of marketing professionals responsible for promoting Albuquerque as a world-class destination; increasing visitation and overnight stays; and developing and supporting the local hospitality industry. She has broad experience in communications planning, branding and advertising, publications management, message development, media and public relations and project management. Ceela earned recognition from the American Society of Association Executives as a Certified Association Executive and has previous experience in executive-level positions with national and local nonprofit organizations, including strategic and operations planning, government affairs, development of policies and procedures, and oversight of contracts and corporate compliance.

Amy Miller brings over 28 years of experience in the hospitality industry and is currently the General Manager for the Courtyard Las Cruces at NMSU. She is very active in the local community and a graduate of NMSU HRTM. She has a vast knowledge of the hotel industry, the Marriott Brands, and is also the Onboarding and Marriott Peer Advisor for Total Management Systems (TMS). Amy has been successful as the 2008 General Manger of the Year with La Quinta Hotels and currently sits on the NMSU HRTM Board of Advisors and Las Cruces Public Schools Readiness Committee.

With a family background in the hospitality industry, Nate has served as the General Manager for the Classic Desert Aire Hotel in Alamogordo (formerly the Magnuson) since 2017. Prior to that, he worked for Groupon and in the public relations and cruise industry.

As a resident of Santa Fe New Mexico, Paul is dedicated to providing the absolute best customer service experience for all of his clients.

Accent Chauffeured Transportation and Santa Fe Valet and Limousine Service were founded to fill the need for professional chauffeured ground transportation throughout New Mexico. The company offers a wide range of services, including: airport Transfers, limousine service, opera shuttles and transfers, dinner shuttles, valet parking services, and charity auctions.

Edward Pulsifer is the Director of Sales, La Fonda on the Plaza. A Native New Mexican, Ed was born and raised in Albuquerque and has over thirty-five years of hospitality experience entirely in New Mexico.

Ed's experience includes thirty-five years of hospitality sales and marketing experience ranging from single property branded hotel, Convention and Visitors Bureau and multiple property Independent hotels. He has worked as Director of Sales and Marketing, Vice President of Convention Sales and Marketing, Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Vice President Sales and Marketing, Heritage Hotels and Resorts.

Ed has previously served on the NM Hospitality Association board, serving as Board Chair in 2015. He has served on the NM Department of Tourism- North Central Region Board Member for the past 12 years; serves on the Santa Fe Community College- Current Advisory Committee Member for Hospitality Tourism Program; is a NM Hospitality Association- NM Tourism Hall of Fame Inductee April 2019; and was the NMHA 2016 Hospitality Professional of the Year

Ernie has served as the executive director of the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce since September 1995. She is responsible for the coordination of the chamber’s program of work, tourism and special events, membership development, government affairs, and community development.

In addition to chamber work, Ernie is very active in the community, serving on numerous boards and committees not only locally, but also statewide. Ernie is married to Ron Kos and they have three children and eight grandchildren.

Dora Dominguez, is the Director of County Business and Economic Development for Sandoval County. Prior to joining Sandoval County, Dominguez was the Senior Economic Developer for the City of Albuquerque since 2015.

Prior to working for the City of Albuquerque, she served as the Director of Office of Business Advocacy for the State of New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD).

Dominguez serves as a board member on the Eastern New Mexico University Foundation; board member Sandoval County Economic Alliance and chairs the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA) economic development professionals committee.

As the Director of Marketing, Sales, and Public Relations for the Sandia Peak Tram and TEN 3—and a lifelong New Mexico resident—I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my deep-rooted passion for our state and all it has to offer.
My journey in New Mexico’s ski industry began nearly 20 years ago, working with the UNM Ski Team fundraising events. Soon after, I began coordinating the annual Ski Hall of Fame Banquets in partnership with Ski New Mexico. I earned my Master’s Degree in Business with a focus on Organizational Development from UNM’s Anderson School of Management in 2011.
With a love for skiing and outdoor recreation, I was fortunate to join the Sandia Peak Tram and Ski Santa Fe in 2017. In 2024, my team was recognized with a Cumbre Award from the New Mexico Public Relations Society for the Tram 2024 Video Series project. While my primary role is marketing for these companies and measuring our statewide impact, I remain actively engaged in supporting and promoting our state’s tourism and hospitality industry in other ways.
I continue to coordinate the annual Ski Hall of Fame Banquets with Ski New Mexico. Additionally, I serve on the Marketing Committee for Ski New Mexico (SNM) and the Marketing Task Force for the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA). I’m thrilled to join the Board of Directors for the New Mexico Hospitality Association (NMHA), a role that will allow me to collaborate with hospitality leaders who share my love for New Mexico while working to strengthen the industry across various sectors.

Joy Rice has nearly a decade of experience promoting Santa Fe as a premier travel destination through her work at TOURISM Santa Fe. In her role as Marketing Manager, she has led successful citywide campaigns and special promotions that have elevated Santa Fe’s visibility and increased visitation. Prior to her role at TOURISM Santa Fe, Joy led marketing efforts for the International Folk Art Market, one of Santa Fe’s signature tourism events. She is proud to serve on the board of the New Mexico Hospitality Association and stay connected to the people and places that make New Mexico special.

Matt Robinson is a longtime resident of New Mexico and currently resides in Gallup. His professional background is varied between private and public sector positions, including work in Deming as a newspaper journalist; grant administration, film and public relations roles with the County of Luna; and legal assistant at a law firm. In Deming, he also served on several boards, including the Deming Public Schools Board of Education, and non-profit boards addressing issues related to domestic violence, cancer treatment and prevention, animal welfare, and a community foundation. In 2022, he moved to Gallup and began his current role overseeing the City of Gallup Tourism Office. He has worked to expand Visit Gallup’s “hub and spoke” approach to promoting the region to tourists while bolstering relationships with partners and community members.

Michelle Dressler is a seasoned hospitality professional with over two decades of experience in the industry. Her career has been marked by a talent for revitalizing under-performing hotels and a passion for building cohesive and diverse teams. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Marquette University and is a Certified Hotel Administrator. She has a rich history of leadership, having served as General Manager at various hotels, where she has been responsible for daily operations, budgeting, overseeing renovations, and mentoring new managers.

Michelle’s tenure includes key roles at Peak Hospitality, Holiday Inn & Suites, Howard Johnson/GreenTree Inn, Holiday Inn Express Balloon Fiesta Park, and others. She is known for her hands-on approach in handling sales and marketing, especially for smaller hotels, and her dedication to guest satisfaction.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Michelle has contributed significantly to the community. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Albuquerque Hotel & Lodgers Association, where she also held the positions of Secretary/Treasurer and President. Additionally, she has been a board member for Visit Albuquerque and the IFMA NM Board of Directors.

Michelle’s diverse experience, leadership skills, and commitment to excellence make her a valuable asset to any team. Her journey in hospitality continues to inspire those around her as she mentors and shapes the future leaders of the industry.