Lynda Hayes

President



Lynda moved to Las Cruces and joined our club in 2016. A native Californian, in her early career she tried banking and secretarial jobs, then helped found The Legendary Ambush Country Band, where she was a lead singer and bass player for ten years. Once out of the band she worked at a manufacturing company in Concord, California, and decided to go back to school to earn her BSBA while working full-time. She went on to positions in Marketing, Real Estate, and Customer Support. She’s passionate about the importance of education, and after serving as Treasurer for three years is honored to serve as President. She's delighted to work with a wonderful group of women making a difference in others' lives. She enjoys traveling, reading, golfing and theater.

Diana Davidson

Treasurer

As a retired educator, Diana  knows the importance of education. After 27 years in the classroom, she joined SI-Las Cruces in 2016 to help young women finish their educations. “These women have overcome many obstacles to obtain an education and SILC provides them with the extra help they need to achieve their educational goals,” Diana says. “It has been a very rewarding experience to belong to an organization with like-minded women.” Diana also is a board member of the Amador Hotel Foundation and volunteers for the Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary. She enjoys hiking, quilting and traveling. 

Margo Bencomo

President-Elect

Margo was born and raised in New Mexico and has lived in Las Cruces since 2003. After many years working in the non-profit sector and for various government agencies, she decided to become self-employed. She has owned and operated Busy Bees since 2005, a company that provides help with household chores –large and small -- that clients cannot do themselves or simply do not have time to do. She recently started an AirBNB business, and in Summer 2022 published a book on Beatles fandom. She has two grown children and three grandchildren and feels blessed that they all presently live in Las Cruces. 

Christine Hyde

Secretary

Christine is involved with Soroptimist of Las Cruces to fulfill its mission of economically empowering women and girls in southern New Mexico through education. Christine has a background and skills in the hospitality and information technology sectors. She spends her spare time volunteering, visiting extensive family and friends in the southwest and west coast, traveling, and outdoor activities.

Chris Sheppard

Public Awareness Director

Chris has lived, worked and traveled all over the US and a variety of places overseas. Chris’ diverse career has included sales and project management in the vertical transportation industry, management of a Georgia visitors bureau, and most recently working in the New Mexico film industry in numerous roles. All of this change has led to her to a diverse perspective, and a focused understanding that education of women is the best way to make lasting, generational change in the lives of women and their families. Chris joined Soroptimist of Las Cruces to work to turn this focus into actions. 

Joan Dormody

Archivist

Joan had a rewarding career as a college instructor and advisor at Dona Ana Community College for 25 years. She loved using her two degrees in nutrition to help students and their families understand the importance of a healthy diet. Being a retired educator, she believes in the Soroptimist mission and vision of helping women and girls reach their full potential and achieve economic empowerment through education. Joan is active in her church, her neighborhood HOA and enjoys cooking, hiking, biking, and traveling with her husband, Tom.

Jean Alba

Delegate

Jean was born in Massachusetts, but grew up in the “secret city” of Los Alamos, New Mexico. Her elementary school teaching career spanned 33 years in three states. In retirement, Jean volunteered for the Mesilla Valley Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Mesilla Valley Hospice. She is currently a volunteer “actress“ for Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is the mother of four grown kids, grandmother to seven, and great grandma to two! Jean says, “I enjoy the comraderie we share in Soroptimist & our goal of helping young women.”