Community Leadership Council
SOMOS ABQ Community Leadership Council
Co-Coordinators
Christopher Brennan, Talent & Hospitality Coordinator
Gabriela Estala-Lopez, Community & Families Coordinator
Edgar Hernandez Gutierrez, Communications & Design Coordinator
Amy Maestas, Artistic & Experience Coordinator
Maurizio Romero, Partnerships & Sponsorships Coordinator
Tucker Yates, Operations & Production Coordinator
Co-Directors
Cailyn Kilcup, Experience Director
Julia Mandeville, Artistic Director
Chris Schroeder, Development Director
David Silverman, Managing Director
Jesus (Zeus) Zamora, Creative Director
SOMOS ABQ Co-Founders
Cailyn Kilcup, Julia Mandeville, Stephen Segura, Chris Schroeder, David Silverman
Co-Coordinators
Christopher Brennan, Talent & Hospitality Coordinator
Christopher Brennan grew up in Downtown Albuquerque and has a passion for our community. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame in Peace Studies and served in the Peace Corps in Nicaragua from 2011-2014. In the spring of 2023 he received his Executive MBA from the University of New Mexico. He has worked in healthcare workforce development for over a decade and currently works for the New Mexico Primary Care Association as the Workforce Coordinator.
Chris is also the lead singer and guitarist for the well-known NM band Revíva. He has previously performed at Somos ABQ, bringing valuable insight from a local artist’s perspective to provide the best experience possible for local talent. As the Talent and Hospitality Coordinator, his goal is to help showcase the amazing artistic talent that represents the City of Albuquerque. His experience on stage and knowledge of the community will assist in making the celebration a comfortable and positive experience for our local artists.
Gabriela Estala-Lopez, Community & Families Coordinator
Gabriela Estala-Lopez was born and raised in New Mexico and is a proud UNM Alum. Her passion for community work began during her time as an AmeriCorps Public Ally apprentice at Global Ties ABQ, where she discovered her interest in reproductive health care and justice.
Gabriela joined Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains as a Raiz Community Organizing Specialist, focusing on expanding reproductive health care and advocacy within Latinx communities across New Mexico. In 2022, she was honored as the Planned Parenthood Federation of America Advocate of the Year. Currently, she is the first Director of Development for Dar a Luz Birth and Health Center and has a strong commitment to supporting NM families and children.
Throughout all her work, she has a deep passion for event planning. She owns a small business called Eventos Encantados that is dedicated to planning weddings and community events that bring people together to celebrate and find joy. Currently, she organizes, hosts, and DJs the monthly Queer Latin Dance Party at the ABQ Social Club, combining her love for community building with her love for music and dance.
Edgar Hernandez Gutierrez, Communications & Design Coordinator
Edgar Hernandez Gutierrez, sometimes known by the stage name Edgar Wonder, has been a professional multi disciplinary creative since 2017. Albuquerque became home for him as a child in 2005 when his family moved here from the El Paso.
He’s an innovator with exciting ideas that lift up Albuquerque culture. Edgar has won multiple New Mexico Music awards for his music production for Mew Mexico artists working with amazing established Albuquerque acts like Felix Peralta, JD Nash, Micah Thunder. He has won a “best original composer” award from the international 72-
hour film contest. Edgar has also conceived numerous original events that include Albuquerque’s premiere Songwriter Contest, and the Musaic Fest. Most recently he aided in organizing the nationally recognized Southwest Chocolate and Coffee Festival.
Edgar Wonder has been a professional musician and has traveled all over the Southwest playing with touring acts from country to Latin music. Edgar is a kind and humble leader in his community, working with and educating musicians and the youth to inspire an abundant music and arts culture in Albuquerque.
Amy Maestas, Artistic & Experience Coordinator
Ayemurs (aim-ers) is a printmaker from Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has been working with various art forms throughout her life, and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art from the University of New Mexico in 2016 where she focused in printmaking. Her initial attraction to print was the multiplication process and being able to produce multiple originals quickly. She began her print journey with intaglio techniques but quickly shifted into lithography while attending UNM.
Ayemurs currently creates work in her home studio in mostly linoleum relief printing, and some photo polymer lithography. Her work is heavily influenced by mythological or legendary creatures, pop culture and street art culture. She strongly believes that people should have constant and affordable access to art, and produces mainly open editions or prints on up-cycled textiles so that others in her community can obtain artwork easily.
When she is not creating work in her personal practice, Ayemurs is a Teaching Artist with several non-profit groups, providing printmaking classes to all ages around her community. Her goal for education is to create an open and judgment free space and community for any individual to participate in the world of print, no matter their skill or education level.
She is also a full time licensed permanent cosmetic artist, esthetician and nail technician with Lorenco’s Salon, where she uses her artistry to provide high end services to clientele from all over New Mexico.
Maurizio Romero, Partnerships & Sponsorships Coordinator
Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Maurizio has fallen in love with the rich culture and artistic nature of our unique state. After he graduated from Central New Mexico in Digital Media Design, Maurizio pursued photography in the dance music scene, and filmmaking where he developed his career as a Location Scout and Manager working for major companies such as Paramount+, Netflix, HBO and other major production companies.
Maurizio also created ASTRL Entertainment with his business partner Adam Sorrell. Fueled by their passion for the local music and entertainment scene, they set out to create a platform for the next generation of creatives here in New Mexico, integrating with ASTRL Clothing, founded by Adam. Over three years, they’ve integrated fashion, music, art and entertainment into their brand to showcase local New Mexican Culture and Artists. They’ve proudly been able to work with 75+ local artists.
For New Mexico. Created by New Mexicans.
Tucker Yates, Operations & Production Coordinator
Tucker Yates is a music promoter in the Albuquerque area with 14 years of experience. In that time, he’s had the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse array of extremely talented local and national touring musicians at the top of their class, simultaneously platforming and promoting up and coming local artists on the same stage with these illustrious contemporaries.
Through the network of business contacts developed in conjunction with Sister bar, Tucker and his team have curated an impressive entertainment offering that’s earned a distinct reputation for quality and authenticity. Tucker is honored that all these collaborators and shared efforts have afforded him the opportunity to increase access to and enjoyment of life-changing musical experiences for people in Albuquerque for nearly half his life.
He’s excited for the opportunity to create more positive experiences for the community with this new group of SOMOS collaborators. He’s certain he can learn so much from this team, and he’s happy to share what knowledge he’s gained through his experiences in the music industry.
Co-Directors
Cailyn Kilcup, Experience Director
Cailyn Kilcup is a culture cultivator in the professional world and passionate small business advocate. With a degree in International Business from the University of Denver and a career background of supporting female artisan entrepreneurs on the global stage, she brings a collaborative and community-centric lens to her work.
Currently, Cailyn is the Vice President of a family of firms in the Commercial Facilities Industry: FacilityBUILD, Keers Remediation, and New Mexico Drone Ventures. Cailyn fosters industry-wide collaboration between Design + Construction and aims to boost company culture and employee appreciation throughout small businesses in New Mexico. Cailyn believes in the power of people and knows that building pathways to personal fulfillment within organizational teams creates positive ripples throughout families and communities.
Cailyn extends this heart-centered approach to her role as Co-Founder and Experience Director at SOMOS ABQ. With deep reverence for Burque’s collective beauty and brilliance, Cailyn believes the experience of art, beauty, and wonder are human rights that should be accessible to all. Through her work at SOMOS ABQ, Cailyn seeks to build bridges of inspiration and magic within the community that can catalyze collective elevation and advancement.
Julia Mandeville, Artistic Director
Julia Munroe Mandeville is an award-winning cultural worker, curator, writer, civic artist, and grassroots organizer whose portfolio spans more than two decades. With the dream that we can make a joyous, just, and peaceful future by and for all, Julia builds open public programs for lifelong learning, creative expression, self discovery, and collective impact.
Together with her collaborators, Julia has resourced thousands of artists and activists of all ages, by co-creating hundreds of platforms and re-distributing more than $10.5m into the hands of makers. Currently, she serves as Co-Founder and Artistic Director of SOMOS ABQ, Chief Programs Officer of Harwood Art Center, and Founder and Co-Director of Mirror Bridge. She holds a 2024-25 Catalyst Fellowship with Women’s Impact Alliance, and she’s an Invited Full Member of Democracy & Belonging Forum, Othering & Belonging Institute – UC Berkeley. For these efforts, and among other recognitions, Julia’s peers named her the recipient of an Americans for the Arts Emerging Leaders Scholarship Award; Albuquerque Business First 40 Under 40 Award; and National Philanthropy Day AFP-YNPN New Mexico Outstanding Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year Award.
At home where the Sandias and Manzanos meet, Julia lives and makes in Albuquerque, on Tiwa Lands, with her beloveds James and Iris. New Mexico taught her belonging, and through all of her work, Julia nurtures a reality where every member of our community is supported to find that sense of awe, solidarity, and meaning.
Chris Schroeder, Development Director
Chris Schroeder stands at the helm as CEO of Real Time Solutions, a cutting-edge software company nestled in the heart of Albuquerque, New Mexico. With a tenure spanning over two decades, Chris has been a cornerstone in the company’s journey to innovation and success, truly embodying the spirit of resilience and creative ingenuity. Chris’ leadership style is deeply rooted in collaboration and mentorship, fostering a work environment that encourages innovation, continuous learning, and mutual respect.
A proud alum of the University of New Mexico, Chris holds a degree in Philosophy. His educational background, paired with his unwavering passion for technology, has enabled him to steer Real Time Solutions through the ever-evolving landscape of the software industry, ensuring that the company not only adapts to change but also thrives in it.
Chris is a firm believer in giving back to the community, actively engaging in various local initiatives, including as Co-Founder and Development Director of SOMOS ABQ and as a Board Member of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, ITS New Mexico, and West Central Board. Chris is invested in nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators; his journey has been significantly shaped by the invaluable guidance and support received from mentors throughout his career, a gift of knowledge and empowerment that he is eager to pay forward.
Chris resides in Albuquerque with his daughter Abigail, cherishing the balance between a rewarding professional life and a fulfilling personal life as a “Girl Dad”.
David Silverman, Managing Director
David Silverman leads Geltmore, LLC (a family-owned real estate development firm) in its retail development pursuits and Downtown Albuquerque revitalization efforts. He is responsible for marketing space within the existing Geltmore retail portfolio and facilitating lease transactions. David is also charged with structuring joint venture partnerships, arranging financing, and coordinating development and redevelopment activities. He is also Qualifying Broker of Geltmore Real Estate Advisory Team, LLC.
David takes great pride in being a steward of his community and has served on the Boards of NAIOP NM, Albuquerque Community Foundation Future Fund, and Downtown ABQ Main Street Initiative. He is most proud of his involvement being one of the Co-Founders of SOMOS ABQ and continuing to serve as its Managing Director, on its Management Consortium, and on its new Community Leadership Council.
David is married to his wife Shelley, and they live near Downtown with their two children, Morris (7) and Bailey (4).
Jesus (Zeus) Zamora, Creative Director
Jesus (Zeus) Zamora is the owner and operator of Sister bar in Downtown Albuquerque which opened in 2012. With over a decade of experience in event production, Zeus is deeply passionate about music and committed to enhancing his community. Sister bar has established itself as an important venue for live music and cultural events, contributing significantly to Albuquerque’s vibrant scene.
Zeus combines his industry expertise with a community-focused approach, creating engaging experiences that bring people together and celebrate local talent. By blending his love for music with his commitment to community development, Zeus hopes to drive positive change and make a meaningful impact on the city he calls home, including through his role as Creative Director of SOMOS ABQ.
With a multifaceted lens on entrepreneurship, growth, and culture building, and in addition to his work with Sister bar and SOMOS ABQ, Zeus also co-leads Slow Burn Coffee Roasters and Sparky’s Subaru Specialists,
He is joyfully making his home and family in New Mexico.
Co-Founders
SOMOS ABQ was co-founded in 2017 by (left to right) Chris Schroeder, Stephen Segura, David Silverman, Cailyn Kilcup, and Julia Mandeville.