Leadership

Christopher Munoz

Chief Executive Officer

Chris Munoz has served as the chief executive officer (CEO) for Tigua Inc. (TI) since 2020. Munoz is also the first tribal member to hold his position as CEO. Munoz has gained experience with TI for the past 11 years in various roles.

As an active and contributing member of the Tigua Nation, all of Munoz’s efforts with TI ultimately aim towards enriching and advancing the lives of his Tigua community. TI is projected to accrue $200 million in revenue by 2024.

He is also an active member of the Native American Contractors Association (NACA), providing efforts in Washington, D.C., for lower-48 tribes and contracting success.

Munoz received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Human Resources Management and Personnel Administration from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Peter Banfield

Chief Operating Officer

Peter Banfield serves as Tigua Inc.’s Chief Operating Officer. With over 20 years of experience working for top firms such as Price Waterhouse, Deloitte, and Booz Allen Hamilton, Peter is an expert in strategy and global operations transformation, having built operational excellence practices and led large-scale business transformations in both public and private sectors.

He has worked with the Office of the President of the United States Executive Office of Councils, the Department of the Army Secretary of the Army, and the Internal Revenue Service Office of the Commissioner, as well as private-sector companies in various industries such as Oil and Gas, Electronics Manufacturing, and Power Generation.

Later in his career, Peter joined two boutique consulting firms where he directed the development of new capabilities and go-to-market strategies, ultimately leading to their growth and sale. Peter's passion for helping solve complex social issues led him to join the American Diabetes Association as the Senior Vice President for Business Operations Integration and Strategy, where he led the first buy-side acquisition of a privately held corporation to enhance ADA's portfolio of clinical outcome initiatives and the enterprise's 5-year strategic plan.

More recently, he worked as the SVP of Global Operations for a privately held consumer electronics and technology holding company, leading a global transformation that involved establishing far shore (Philippines) and near shore (Guatemala) business process outsourcing companies.

Peter is a graduate of the University of Southern California and holds certifications as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Master Black Belt, as well as a Project Management Professional.

David Ramirez

Director of Business Development

David Ramirez serves as Tigua Inc.’s Director of Business Development, bringing a wealth of experience in driving business growth and fostering valuable partnerships. As a former Army officer with a Bachelor of Science degree from West Point and an MBA from the Marriott School of Business at BYU, his military background further enhances his multifaceted skills and underscores his commitment to continuous learning. With a proven track record of success in both the government and private sectors, David excels at identifying growth opportunities. He adeptly implements effective business development strategies, leveraging his extensive experience in technology consulting and international manufacturing. His keen market insight and client-focused approach enable him to align the company’s offerings with customer demands, ensuring continued success and expansion. In his role, David brings genuine dedication to cultivating opportunities. This undoubtedly will contribute to Tigua Inc.’s growth and success.

Beyond his professional achievements, David is also a dedicated father. He cherishes every moment spent building lasting memories with his daughter and shares his love for travel. His desire to explore new places and cultures underscores his balanced and dedicated approach to life.

Ray Resendez

Director of Operations

Ray Resendez, IV is Tigua Inc.’s (TI) Director of Operations, overseeing our local and nationwide operations and partnerships. Resendez brings a wealth of knowledge from his 10 years of serving in the U.S. Army to the successful execution of TI’s partnerships with federal and DOD agencies. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree, he furthered his education by earning an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from UT El Paso. Resendez’s time in the military cultivated strong leadership skills in his various roles, such as mechanized infantry executive officer and battalion logistics officer, in which Resendez mentored, trained, and oversaw the operations and resources for hundreds of troops. His logistical oversight also involved overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets. He also served two tours in Iraq, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008-2009, as an Army officer, and in 2010-2011, as a contract officer in support of government and national contracts.

Resendez is instrumental in maintaining and increasing TI’s successful engagement in the IT, construction, and facilities maintenance industries; executing excellent customer relations; managing multi-million-dollar contracts with strategic precision; and developing new business opportunities.

Since his return to El Paso, TX in 2013, Resendez has owned and operated a BBQ business that caters across the El Paso region. His company has grown to include mobile food truck and hard-stand concession sales. He has also been a member of a voluntary program for “at-risk” youth in the El Paso region in the Socorro District’s alternative middle and high schools since 2013, where he occasionally provides speeches and mentorships.

During his former military service and volunteer engagement, Resendez has been passionate about developing his motivational speaking skills, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, and growing through adversity. Resendez is married to Dora, and has four children, Esteban, Ileani, Zoe, and Ray Resendez V.

Dr. Amanda Sanchez

Director of Corporate Development

Dr. Amanda Sanchez is an accomplished professional with a distinguished career in corporate development, organizational leadership, and community service. As the Director of Corporate Development at Tigua, Amanda expertly oversees a myriad of essential functions, including performance management, career progression, and training and development. With an unwavering commitment to employee support and growth, Amanda plays a pivotal role in fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.

Amanda's extensive professional journey has been marked by impactful contributions to various organizations. Before joining Tigua, Amanda served as the Organizational Development Manager at Franklin Mountain Management, where she exhibited her expertise in shaping organizational structures and enhancing operational efficiency. Prior to that, her role as the Global Corporate Training Manager at Helen of Troy showcased her adeptness at designing and executing comprehensive training programs that facilitated professional growth and excellence within the workforce.

With a rich background in education and training, Amanda's influence extends beyond the corporate realm. She has served as the Employment Services Director for PRIDE Ascend, an organization dedicated to empowering individuals through employment opportunities. Amanda's dedication to education is further highlighted by her roles as Adjunct Faculty at both the University of Phoenix and Park University, where she imparted her expertise and knowledge to the next generation of leaders.

Amanda holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English & American Literature from The University of Texas at El Paso, a Master of Arts degree in English from Sul Ross State University, and a Doctor of Management with a focus on Leadership Development from The University of Phoenix.

Amanda has always had a passion for serving the El Paso Community and as such, she previously sat on the Board of Directors for the Borderland Rainbow Center, and she currently sits on the Board of Directors for Family Service of El Paso, The El Paso Center for Children, and The El Paso Coalition for the Homeless. Amanda remains a staunch advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and community.

Dr. Lonny Wright, D.M.

Director of Human Resources

Dr. Lonny Wright, D.M., serves as the Director of Human Resources for Tigua Inc. and is also a Professor at UMGC where he teaches Program and Career Exploration in Business. Additionally, he is a faculty member at Saint Leo University, where he teaches Principles of Management and Human Resource Management. Prior to his current roles, Dr. Wright worked at Balfour Beatty Communities as the Facilities Maintenance Director at FT Bliss, Texas until November 2022. He also served as the Alternate Project Manager for CMI Management LLC at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Artesia, New Mexico. In addition, he served as the J1 Deputy Director for Joint Taskforce North.

Dr. Wright has a wealth of experience and has held various positions throughout his career. He was the PRIDE Ascend and Academic Affairs Director for PRIDE Industries and spent 32 years on active duty, retiring as a Command Sergeant Major in 2008. As CSM Wright, he served as both the United States Army Infantry School CSM and the Infantry Center CSM before deploying to Iraqi. CSM Wright’s last duty assignment was as the USASMA CSM before retiring.

Dr. Wright obtained his doctoral degree from Colorado Technical University, where he pursued a concentration in Organizational Development and Change. He is also a graduate of the United States Army Sniper School. His interests lie in the areas of industry and education partnerships, transition program development, change management, and management consulting. He is an Organization Development Professional with the International Society for Organization Development and Change, as well as a member of the Associated Schools of Construction, Association for Career and Technical Education, Counsel for Exceptional Children, and Texas Council of Administrators of Special Education with a concentration in disability transition training.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, Dr. Wright is an active volunteer. He served as the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee for First Light Federal Credit Union and served on the Council for the International Association for Continuing Education and Training Standards Development.

Dr. Wright is married to Mrs. Linda Willer-Wright and has 3 children and 7 grandchildren.

Melinda Anchondo

General Manager, Tigua Smoke Shop

Tigua Smoke Shop’s success has been spearheaded by General Melinda Anchondo, who started working at the shop 16 years ago as a cashier. She worked her way up to overseeing all its functioning, accruing knowledge, experience, and building relationships with vendors. Anchondo’s hard work and dedication is reflected in the smoke shop’s success as an economic driver for Tigua Inc. and the tribal community.

Anchondo is actively pursuing an Associates in Business Administration degree from Southern New Hampshire University to expand her managing capabilities.  Anchondo enjoys working with and building relationships with her staff and encourages their career growth. A 3^rd-generation Native El Pasoan, she is happily married to Sergio and has 3 sons, Andrew, Jacob, and Michael.