2025 HIVE Pollinator

Sierra Duran is the President of Rio Grande CPA a local accounting firm providing tax, accounting and consulting to individuals, small businesses and nonprofits throughout the US. Her goal is provide quality financial information and have long term relationships with her clients making small ongoing impacts for long term benefits. She grew up in Alamogordo NM, went to collect at NMSU where she obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Accounting. She has been a Certified Public Accountant and practicing accounting for over 20 years including time working at 2 of the largest Public Accounting firms in the U.S. She lives in Taos with her husband and three children, dogs, cats, horses, chickens and cows.

Seth got his start in entrepreneurship making and selling jewelry at farmers markets as a kid. He later went to CU Boulder where he got a degree in finance and developed a love for tech startups. While still in college, Seth developed a marketplace app that raised equity investment and was selected to participate in the country's most selective startup accelerator program, Techstars. Following Techstars, Seth was employee #33 at a tech startup that became one of the top 500 fastest growing companies in the US, leading the company's sales team as its top revenue performer. Now in Taos, Seth is pursuing art and he's passionate about supporting local grassroots entrepreneurship.

Alissa, award-winning entrepreneur and recent graduate from UNM is best known for her product, Hot Seat, an alarm system that prevents children from being accidentally left in a hot car.
Since founding her company, Alissa has received national recognition and accolades including Glamour Magazine Women of the Year, American Business Award, Teen Business top 20, Albuquerque Business 40 Under 40, and Albuquerque Business Inno Under 25 and more. Alissa has continued to grow with the launch of Alissa’s newest product EasyFlo, an eco-friendly baby bottle designed to reduce plastic waste associated with making a baby bottle on the go.

Alissa is also an ambassador for Technolchicas, an organization that promotes young Latinas to explore careers in STEM. She recently wrote and released her first Children’s book “The Inventive Adventures of Alissa” inspired by her own adventures in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Allen Scott Tafoya, is an enrolled member of the Santa Clara Pueblo of New Mexico, where he grew up.  That experience and continuing personal growth has resulted in a deep appreciation and respect of his culture, and the culture of all indigenous peoples.  He currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his wife Karen and adult son, Jesse. 

He has 30 years of pastoral ministry experience to various tribes of Native American people in New Mexico, his own included, as well as in Texas & Montana.  During those years he simultaneously worked in other areas such as non-profit organizations, operating his own auto glass business and as a school bus driver.  He continues to lead in Native American ministry efforts statewide. 

He describes his current calling this way.  “Born out of my desire to become a better pastor by being a better leader, I took the opportunity to earn a Doctor of Ministry degree. As part of completing that degree, I was introduced to professional coaching, which resonated with me deeply.  I soon earned my Associate Certified Coach certificate, and in January of 2011, I decided to begin a professional coaching practice, eventually naming it Truth Dancer Coaching.  I also heard about John Maxwell forming a team of coaches, speakers and teachers!   I jumped in, grateful and excited to become a Founding Partner of the John Maxwell Team in August of 2011, possibly the first Native American on the team!  Today, I am actively engaging with our Native American people’s leadership development through coaching and other methods with individuals and organizations.”