Kari Lynn D. Martinez
By LORA ARCINIEGA
Being raised in a community where your history connects to every part of your present, it is difficult to find the courage to leave. It is similarly difficult to forge a path and stay. Questa del Rio News is committed to highlighting different members of our community, both those who have created their paths and planted their own roots in the community that raised them, and those who have pursued lives outside of the community—through our Representando series. This series is dedicated to those who are Representando communities in northern Taos County, in various facets of life.
Kari Martinez was born and raised in Questa, attending school within the Questa Independent School District, until she transferred to the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) for her freshman and sophomore years, between 2005-06. She returned to Questa and graduated from Questa High School in 2007. “I always wanted to be in the military and liked the structure. My family came from the military, and I grew to love that environment.” Upon high school graduation, Martinez moved to Albuquerque to pursue more opportunities.
Martinez grew up in a very family-oriented home where she was able to develop her love for the outdoors and the freedom to get her hands dirty was instilled. Oftentimes, she would find herself gaining invaluable work skills early in life in assisting her mom, Louise Gallegos, at St. Anthony’s Parish Office, and also working with her dad, Dean Martinez, on cars and home improvement projects. “I was never afraid to get my hands dirty or do things that only guys do. If I didn’t know how to do something, I’d ask my dad or try and figure things out on my own.”
While growing her expertise and in various career fields, she attended college a few times but found it wasn’t the right fit for her. “I could never find time to study and never really had the money to be successful at college. I was always working to try to make ends meet.” Her eagerness to learn growing up helped pave the way for her to find an alternate route in the pursuit of happiness.
Martinez took advantage of her varietal adeptness, taking any job she could while living in Albuquerque. “I learned many different skills in different areas of the workforce: from HR roles, to being on job sites with my dad working in construction. If I didn’t know how to do something, I’d figure it out. One way or another, I was going to get the job done.”
Martinez finds her upbringing in Questa shaped her future outcomes. “I was blessed enough to grow up in Questa where my love for the ‘country’ way of life grew into what it is today.” This served Martinez well when she recently purchased some land in Peralta, New Mexico, and created a homestead for her and 5-year-old daughter, Isabella, that she and her dad remodeled.
“My upbringing has taught me to work hard and enabled me to create my own ranch—The Glitter & Glam Ranch.” The ranch was named by Isabella. It currently houses goats, a lamb, and a ranch dog, and provides lots of space for Isabella to run and have some of the same freedoms Martinez had when she was a child. Isabella is currently taking horse riding lessons at Serenity Stables in Los Lunas and participating in kids’ rodeos.
Currently, Martinez serves as a program manager for J.G. Management Services on a support contract for the Los Alamos field office.
Martinez attributes her success to her family, friends, and daughter, who are the main driving forces in all she does. One person she credits much of her success and determination to is Liz Vialpando-Poe, a Questa native and former Representando candidate, who is credited with playing an instrumental role in Martinez’s career path. “She has been a mentor to me in the workforce and has been an inspiration in all she has accomplished. Without her guidance, I would not have had the privilege of holding some job positions and gaining invaluable work experience and knowledge.”
“My story is proof that you don’t always have to take the college route to achieve success,” Martinez says. “Growing up in rural Questa, I developed a strong work ethic and admiration for the simple things in life, which has carried me along the path towards my own American Dream. Despite financial challenges and the struggle of moving from job to job, I never let obstacles define who I am. I took on every opportunity, taught myself new skills, and refused to quit.” Martinez believes that “you grow through what you go through, and success is just waiting for you to make it happen, one way or another.”
