News | New Mexico State Treasurer's Office

Mark F. Valdes, Deputy State Treasurer
Most recently, as Assistant State Treasurer in Douglas Brown's administration, Mark Valdes was a major part of the effort to restore order, integrity, and public confidence to the State Treasurer's Office. This task included major personnel changes; agency reorganization; and implementation of new policies, procedures, and internal controls based on forensic audit recommendations and a mandate to establish an environment of full transparency and disclosure.
In his nearly 30-year career in government, Valdes held previous positions as Deputy State Investment Officer for the State Investment Council, Director of the State Board of Finance, Senior Fiscal Analyst for the Legislative Finance Committee, Analyst for the House Taxation and Revenue Committee, Special Projects Director for Santa Fe Community College, Budget Coordinator for the Department of Higher Education, and Internal Auditor for the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Valdes, a resident of Santa Fe, holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

Orlando Romero, State Cash Manager
Before joining the State Treasurer's Office executive team, Orlando Romero served as Director of Operations for the Office of Workforce Training and Development where he was responsible for all administrative support services, program audits, and performance measurement reporting.

Romero's previous positions include Administrative Services Director for the Department of Regulation and Licensing, Director for the Pueblo of Pojoaque Tribal Realty Department, Chief Clerk and Chief of Staff for the Public Regulation Commission and State Corporation Commission, Director of Special Projects for the Pueblo of Pojoaque, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Governor's Office, Deputy Secretary of the General Services Department, and as Program Director for the Department of Finance and Administration's Local Government Division.

Romero holds Bachelor's degrees in Business Administration/Accounting and Business Administration/Economics. He is a Santa Fe resident.

Joelle Mevi, Chief Investment Officer
Joelle Mevi is a government finance professional with an extensive career in both the private and public sectors specializing in financial accounting, cash management, and investing public funds. Her governmental experience is at both the local and state levels.

Prior to employment with the New Mexico State Treasurer’s Office, Mevi was employed by the City of Santa Fe as Chief Financial Analyst, Cash Manager, and Investment Officer for 12 years. Mevi, a Santa Fe resident, holds a Government Finance Manager certification and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration.

Arthur L. "Larry" Castillo, Chief Financial Officer
Before joining the State Treasurer's Office, Larry Castillo previously served as Accounting Manager for the Bernalillo County Treasurer's Office, Physical Plant Director for the University of Albuquerque, and as Accountant/Grant Administrator and Paymaster for the City of Albuquerque Transit Department. Following his retirement from the State Highway and Transportation Department where he was a Transportation Planner, Castillo assisted the Albuquerque Public Schools as a licensed substitute teacher.

A U.S. Navy veteran, Castillo holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration.
He resides in Albuquerque and serves as a member of the City of Albuquerque Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee.

Clarence L. Smith, Chief Operations Officer
Joining the State Treasurer's Office from the private sector, Clarence Smith worked in the construction management industry, serving as President of a successful family business for more than 25 years. A member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 611, Smith is also Secretary of the Albuquerque NAACP.

Smith holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and resides in Albuquerque.