Michael Manuelito

Senior infrastructure, operations, utility, broadband/telecommunications, and program-management leader with 20+ years of experience directing complex capital programs and operational organizations across tribal, public-sector, consulting, and investor-owned utility environments. Combines executive leadership with hands-on experience in fiber and network infrastructure, electric and water utilities, public works, portfolio governance, federal grants, procurement, contracts, regulatory coordination, land access/rights-of-way, environmental review, budgets, and organizational development. PMP-certified leader experienced partnering with executive and tribal leadership, government agencies, utilities, engineers, consultants, contractors, and community stakeholders to move infrastructure from strategy and funding through delivery and operations.

Director at JNET / Pueblo of Jemez (2026-06 – Present)

• Lead assessment, stabilization, and development of a tribal broadband operation, spanning organizational strategy, multi-million-dollar grant portfolios, budgets, staffing, field operations, NOC readiness, customer-service readiness, and long-term business sustainability.
• Advise Tribal Governors and administration and coordinate with legal, finance, state broadband officials, contractors, and technical teams on infrastructure priorities, grant feasibility, policy, risk, and operational decisions.
• Evaluate major broadband investments for technical, financial, engineering, environmental, permitting, contractual, and organizational readiness; translate findings into executive briefings, budgets, resolutions, and recommendations.
• Establish operating procedures, accountability structures, procurement priorities, and management processes supporting fiber construction, installations, network operations, billing, customer support, and transition from grant-funded construction toward sustainable operations.

Broadband Director at Santa Fe Indian School (SFIS) (2024-11 – 2026-06)

• Directed a federally funded, multi-tribal regional broadband and capital infrastructure program across tribal jurisdictions, engineering teams, contractors, consultants, and regulatory agencies.
• Managed multi-million-dollar program budgets and federal funding compliance, including governance, forecasting, reporting, procurement, contracts, schedules, scope, and risk.
• Led regional fiber route planning and changes involving rights-of-way, land access, environmental review, permitting, tribal engagement, cost, and schedule; coordinated environmental assessment and regulatory processes.
• Led RFP development, consultant/contractor management, negotiations, executive reporting, and operating frameworks supporting long-term infrastructure sustainability.

Director of Project Management – Broadband & Energy at Tribal Ready (2023-10 – 2024-10)

• Directed concurrent broadband and energy initiatives for tribal and public-sector clients, integrating project planning, grants, budgets, schedules, procurement, regulatory requirements, and stakeholder engagement.
• Led grant-development efforts contributing to millions of dollars in infrastructure funding and translated funding requirements into executable project strategies.
• Directed RFPs, contract negotiations, consultant coordination, reporting, and project-management standards across a multi-project portfolio.

Operations Project Portfolio Manager at Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) (2023-06 – 2023-08)

• Managed governance and performance visibility for an enterprise utility project portfolio valued at more than $500 million, including financial tracking, forecasting, performance reporting, risk, and executive decision support.
• Led RFP development, contract review, and coordination for major infrastructure initiatives, improving visibility into project performance and organizational risk.

Executive Director at Pueblo of Acoma Utility Authority (2022-01 – 2023-12)

• Directed integrated water, wastewater, electric, and telecommunications utility operations, with responsibility for personnel, contractors, budgets, infrastructure planning, regulatory compliance, service delivery, and capital priorities.
• Partnered with tribal leadership and stakeholders on capital improvements, operational policy, resource allocation, infrastructure risk, and long-term utility sustainability.

Associate Director at Cognizant (2021-01 – 2022-12)

• Led client-facing, cross-functional delivery teams supporting utility and digital-transformation initiatives, aligning technical delivery with business objectives, schedules, budgets, and stakeholder requirements.

Director of Public Works at Pueblo of Laguna (2020-01 – 2021-12)

• Directed public works operations involving roads, water, wastewater, facilities, and community infrastructure; managed capital projects, operating budgets, staff, and service-delivery priorities.
• Advised tribal leadership on infrastructure planning, community needs, regulatory considerations, capital improvements, and resource allocation.

Project Manager Consultant at Arizona Public Service Company

GIS Program Manager at Entergy

GIS Practice Lead at Osceola Consulting

IT Project Manager at New Mexico Gas Company

IT Project Manager (Contract) at Cohesive Solutions

ISP Manager at Pueblo of Laguna Utility Authority

BBA in Business Management – University of New Mexico (2027)

AAS in Electrical Engineering – ITT Technical Institute