About Us
Therese Rodriguez’s story begins in Santa Fe, where she was born as the seventh of eleven Quintana children. At a very young age, her family moved to Carlsbad and this is where her journey as a lifelong learner and community advocate took root. Beginning with Head Start, she laid the foundation for her education, eventually earning a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of the Southwest and a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from New Mexico State University.
Therese’s life is deeply centered around her family. She and her husband Eddie Rodriguez, have nurtured a close-knit family including: their two sons, Jermaine and Jayce, and daughter Cathy, along with their daughters-in-loves, Jessica and Leslie. Therese finds immense joy in being a grandmother to Dexter, Mina, Belle, and Cole.
Therese began her professional journey in 1995 as a teacher for the Carlsbad Municipal Schools (CMS). Her dedication to nurturing young minds soon led her to Monterrey Elementary, when in 2009, her leadership skills were recognized and she was promoted to principal. In 2012, Therese was tasked with improving Pate Elementary School. She and her team worked hard (and played hard) and successfully transformed the school. In 2015, Therese took on the role of Human Resources Director for CMS and after 25 years of service, she retired in 2020.
Therese’s life of service includes volunteering for Relay for Life, Class Act, and Saint Edward Catholic Church. Therese’s commitment to helping others is woven into the fabric of her family life. As her sons and daughter grew up, she was always involved as a PTA parent and a team mom. She also included her children in philanthropic activities to show them that giving back is as important as succeeding.
Today, Therese channels her energy into being a passionate Community Advocate. She is a founding board member for Inspired by Science and for Leading Educators through Alternative Pathways (LEAP). Her commitment to community involvement also extends to serving on the boards of the Carlsbad Prep Academy, the Carlsbad Foundation, Halagueno Arts Park, SENMCAC, and the Carlsbad Boys & Girls Club. Therese also volunteers for Faith, Hope, and Love, just another example of her dedication to giving back to her community.
Therese’s most recent initiatives, along with Ekta Bhakta, include bringing an expansion of the Hobbs’ nonprofit organization, MyPower, to Carlsbad. MyPower Mentoring Circles offers 5th-grade girls a 12-week structured empowerment and self-esteem program. Therese is also behind the Women for a Better Carlsbad organization. She, Ekta, Kat Davis, and Jen Watson are building a program that is dedicated to empowering local women through community engagement, education, and volunteer opportunities in Carlsbad.
Kathleen Davis, known as Kat, is the Executive Director of Carlsbad MainStreet, a non-profit dedicated to revitalizing downtown Carlsbad, NM, through economic initiatives, community events, and support for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Over the past four years in this role, Kat has led efforts to reinvigorate Carlsbad’s downtown after the COVID-19 pandemic and achieved state authorization for the Pearl of the Pecos Arts and Cultural District. Recognized as one of Carlsbad’s “40 under 40” in 2021, she also graduated from the Leadership Carlsbad class in 2024.
Born and raised in Ireland, Kat brings a global perspective shaped by extensive travel in the United States and worldwide, fueling her passion for fostering a sense of place and community uniqueness. She is highly involved locally, serving as President of the newly chartered Carlsbad Community Lions Club and a member of various organizations, including the Carlsbad Downtown Lions Club, AAUW, Rotary, Carlsbad Area Art Association, and boards for the Carlsbad Museum, Civic Center, and Halagueno Arts Park.
Together with friend and chef Andrea Armstrong, Kat co-founded “The Power of SHE,” a group aimed at empowering women in the community, the two friends saw a need for better networking and fellowship amongst women in our local community. The group hosts bi-monthly networking events and annual women’s empowerment brunches. She looks forward to furthering this work already started through the Women for A Better Carlsbad initiative.
Jennifer Watson is the Business Manager at Fiddler’s Inn, bringing over a decade of experience in hospitality management. Born in Texas, Jennifer has lived across the United States and has proudly called Carlsbad, NM, her home for the past six years. Reflecting on her love for the area, she notes, “The people here are amazing, and I love the sense of community.” She graduated from New Mexico State University with bachelor’s degree in business with minors in marketing and management.
Jennifer is an active leader in Carlsbad, serving on various committees, including the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, the Tourism Committee, the Christmas on the Pecos Committee, the Leadership Committee, and the NRA Committee. She is the Chairperson for the Ambassadors and serves on the Executive Board of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, she is a dedicated member of the Assistance League of Carlsbad, where she contributes to programs focused on supporting local children. Most recently, she became a founding member of Women for a Better Carlsbad, an organization dedicated to empowering local women and fostering active engagement within the community. Her commitment to volunteering exemplifies her dedication to fostering a vibrant, supportive community.
Jennifer has been recognized with the Carlsbad “40 Under 40” award, and under her leadership, Fiddler’s Inn received the Carlsbad Chamber’s 2023 Small Business of the Year award. She is currently part of the Leadership New Mexico program and is an alumna of Leadership Carlsbad.
Passionate about travel and hospitality, Jennifer enjoys spending time by the ocean, hiking, and attending concerts and music festivals. Her background includes work on cruise ships and experience as a private pilot, further underscoring her adventurous spirit. Carlsbad is fortunate to have Jennifer as a dedicated resident, leader, and community advocate.
Ekta Bhakta was born in Carlsbad, New Mexico, and raised in a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. She is the daughter of her beloved parents, Bharat and Pravina, and she is the younger sister of her brother, Arpan. Ekta loves football, especially Cincinnati Bengals football; in fact, she travels often with her family to cheer on their team!
She returned to her birthplace fourteen years ago, where she has now expanded her own family, and established deep community roots. Raising her two children, Ariana and Aryan, with their father, Milan, ignited a passion in her to help enhance the quality of life for all residents, especially her family and friends. She feels that her contributions to the various organizations she is involved in are a small piece of the puzzle that make Carlsbad a wonderful place to live, work, and play. From a young age, Ekta has believed in the philosophy that a unified community is a thriving community. Her name itself means “unity,” and she strives to exemplify that every day.
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor’s degree in Government and double minors in Spanish and Business, Ekta’s career path exemplifies her dedication to both business excellence and community service. Ekta’s professional career in hospitality management spans over a decade, working every position on the front line to leading a team. Under her leadership, the hotel consistently achieved excellence in customer service and business growth, earning prestigious Quality Excellence Awards. Her leadership capabilities are further evidenced by her role as the former CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Carlsbad, where she led a team focused on youth development and community enrichment while navigating through the effects of a global pandemic.
Ekta currently serves as the Community Relations & Charitable Giving representative, for the Salado Isolation Mining Contractors (SIMCO), the managing and operating contractor for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). In this role, Ekta facilitates stakeholder engagement, community partnerships and giving to support area non-profit organizations and economic development.
Ekta has continued building her leadership credentials through programs such as Leadership Eddy County and Leadership New Mexico Connect. Known for her empathetic leadership style and ability to unite various stakeholders, Ekta has spent much of her time actively shaping the Carlsbad community. Her approach to leadership emphasizes the importance of speaking up kindly, courageously, and effectively to create positive change.
Her commitment to community service is exemplified through her extensive leadership positions, including serving as President of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce; President of the Rotary Club of Carlsbad; a member of the Carlsbad Community Foundation Board; and the Committee for Carlsbad Kids. Her current positions include being the Denim & Diamonds Committee Chair for the Assistance League of Carlsbad; Board Member of Carlsbad MainStreet; Secretary of the Southeast New Mexico Foundation Board; Connect Curriculum Committee Chair; Secretary of the Leadership New Mexico Board; and a member of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Leadership Committee and the Governmental Affairs Committee, where she continues to drive positive change in the community. She is also a regular volunteer for United Way food distributions and a member of the Community Impact Council. Ekta most recently collaborated with Therese Rodriguez to expand the My Power youth mentoring program from Hobbs to Carlsbad.
Recognized as one of Carlsbad’s 40 Under 40 dynamic young leaders, she has earned numerous accolades, including the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Jack Knittel Presidential Award and Ambassador of the Year Award.
Ekta brings a unique perspective to her community work, blending cultural awareness with local engagement, making her particularly effective in building bridges between diverse community groups and social circles. “Every organization that I am involved in gifts me the opportunity to help unify the community of Carlsbad!” Ekta looks forward to bringing women from all walks of life together to be a more informed, inspired, and impactful community.