Chamber takes Cruces to the capitol

bottom line
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Las Cruces Convention Center
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President and Chair Columns...............2
Legislative session recap ......................3
Governmental Affairs Issues .................4
Small Business of the Month ................5
Junior Leadership ..............................6
Leadership Las Cruces .................... 6-7
Business of the Month ........................8
Business After Hours ..........................9
Nonprofit of the Month .....................10
Agriculture Column ...........................10
Conquistadore Column ......................11
Ribbon Cuttings ................................12
New and Renewing Members ............13
Calendar and Statistics .......................14
Briefs ...............................................15
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The Greater Las Cruces Chamber of
Commerce provides more than 50 events
and programs each year to promote
the growth of area businesses and the
economic success of the region.
Chamber takes Cruces to the capitol
For the past 60 years, the Chamber has
served as the largest and most active
business advocacy organization in the
Mesilla Valley. In 2010, the Chamber
received a four-star accreditation from the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce for best
practices amongst chambers of commerce.
The focus of the Greater Las Cruces
Chamber of Commerce’s advocacy trip to
Washington, D.C. in late March was sequestration and its impact on the local economy.
The chamber team met with seven individuals from the Department of Defense
(DoD) and five members of New Mexico’s
federal delegation during the two-day trip,
and the message was the same – cutbacks
are here to stay – at least until the end of
fiscal year 2013.
From the DoD perspective, one area that
remains a possible obstacle to White Sands
Missile Range (WSMR) test mission is the
proposed Sun Zia transmission line. This
line, which will run through New Mexico
and Arizona and ultimately deliver power to
Southern California, has been in the planning stages for a number of years.
Its location, as it pertains to the proximity
of the northern border of the range, has still
not been determined. Several options have
If you are interested in becoming a
member of our growing organization,
contact Vice President of Development
Troy Tudor at 524-1968 or
[email protected].
GREATER LAS CR UCES
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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Financial status topic of many discussions
been discussed, including one that would
have it track through the range itself and
one that would put it in the call-up area of
the range. At issue is any location that would
negatively affect testing, either in progress
or testing being contemplated by the DoD
based on new military intelligence.
That brings the issue of BRAC (Base
Realignment and Closure) into the discussion. Nothing has been decided, but 2015
and 2017 are frequently mentioned as possible years for a new round of BRACs.
The majority, if not all, of the individuals the chamber team met with felt WSMR
was probably safe from BRAC action due
to its unique combination of size, restricted
air space, current infrastructure and ability
to meet clients’ testing needs. It was intimated that it would be very bad timing for
any change, i.e. the Sun Zia Line, that could
negatively impact the base’s capability.
The chamber has been following the
Sun Zia issue for a long time, and will do
all it can to ensure nothing interferes with
WSMR’s overall mission as implemented.
Another impact of the sequestration
cost savings could be on the frequency of
Network Integration Evaluation (NIE) exercises. While these could be scaled down
from twice annually to once a year, the DoD
is deriving benefits from these tests and will
involve more branches of the service to participate formally on a go-forward basis.
Feedback on developing a regional stance
on local bases, one that our three areas – Las
Cruces, El Paso and Alamogordo – are already working on, was discussed. Further
efforts on this subject are currently in the
planning stages.
On a similar advocacy trip to D.C. the
week before the Las Cruces visit, the El Paso
Chamber of Commerce delegation summarized a message from the capitol seemingly consistent with that of the Greater
Chamber.
Board
Members
Chair of the Board Leslie Cervantes
Las Cruces Public Schools
Chair Elect Mike Beckett
COAS Books
Past Chair Richard Haas
Steve Newby Architects & Associates
Treasurer Brandy Darden
Century Bank
Secretary Terra Van Winter
New Mexico State University
At-Large Member Kelly Duke
MountainView Regional
Medical Center
Member Events Janet Green
& Services New Mexico State University
Governmental John Hummer, chair
Affairs Steinborn & Associates Real Estate
Military Affairs/ Savonne Griffin, chair
Aerospace FirstLight Federal Credit Union
Community Stella Shelley, chair
Development Shelley Eye Center
Board Members Marci Dickerson
Dickerson’s Catering
Rico Gonzales
El Paso Electric
Kiel Hoffman
Pioneer Bank
Margie Huerta
Doña Ana Community College
Jaki McCollum
FIG Publications
Phillip Rivera
Memorial Medical Center
Matt Rush
New Mexico Farm & Livestock
Bureau
Council of Stacie Christiano
Conquistadores Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Southwestern New Mexico
Legal Counsel John Darden
Darden Law Firm
Advisers Miguel Silva
Las Cruces City Council
Karen Perez
Doña Ana County Commission
Davin Lopez
Mesilla Valley Economic
Development Alliance
Monte Marlin
White Sands Missile Range
Lend a hand Time is noticed
O
ne of my favorite quotes
comes from philanthropist Michael Milken,
who said, “There’s no substitute
for rolling up your sleeves and
working with the people who can
make a difference. They get the
benefit of your participation and
you gain a direct understanding
of the real problems and potential solutions, which makes you a
more informed giver.”
Getting involved in our
community means getting
involved in the lives of others
and seeing the importance
of giving back. Through the
LESLIE CERVANTES
Greater Las Cruces Chamber
of Commerce, there are many
opportunities to get involved and make a real difference in our
community.
The Conquistadores are the goodwill ambassadors for the
chamber. You will see them at every ribbon cutting and most
chamber events. The chamber needs support on a variety of
committees and assistance with golf tournaments and other
special events.
Our most recent involvement was the Bataan Memorial Death
March, a challenging 26.2-mile trek through the desert of White
Sands Missile Range, conducted in honor of the heroic service
members who defended the Philippine Islands during World War
II. We had a great number of volunteers participate in this event.
On Saturday, April 27, there are some great events you may
want to consider participating in. The March of Dimes 5K walk,
held at Young Park, is an event to raise funds and awareness about
the issue of premature birth. That same day is Comcast Cares Day,
this year held at Doña Ana Elementary School, in the community
of Doña Ana, north of Las Cruces. Annually, more than 1,000
volunteers come together to beautify a school and celebrate as a
community.
We are all in this together to make our community better and
to lend a helping hand where it is needed most. Business support
is an important piece as partners and sponsors to the success of
every event in this community we love and call home. Thank you
for your participation and support.
Chamber
Staff
Troy Tudor
Vice President of Development
Liz Banegas
Office Manager
Cyndi Armijo
Billing & Database Assistant
Jeanette Ambriz
Administrative Assistant
Alissa Levey
Communications Coordinator
I
t seems that every other
month, I get the chance to
say thank you to an individual or group that has gone
above and beyond in support of
our efforts.
This time, the thank you goes
out to the group that traveled to
Washington, D.C. as part of our
advocacy efforts.
Much like our annual board
retreat, the participants took
time from their busy schedules
and paid their own way to be
a part of the trip. You can read
about the trip itself on page
1 – this column is really about
BILL ALLEN
the unselfish nature of chamber
members who want to make a difference.
This year’s team composed of Keith Beck ( Jacobs Technology),
Bill Connor (El Paso Electric), Savonne Griffin (FirstLight
Federal Credit Union), Kiel Hoffman (Pioneer Bank), Bruce
Jackson (Virgin Galactic), Eric Montgomery (Mesilla Valley
Economic Development Alliance), Ben Woods (New Mexico
State University) and myself, spent four full days in support of our
area. That is four days they could have spent with their families,
but they chose to be a part of something that will provide a return
for our community.
When you look at the businesses these folks represent, you can
see that their attendance is not based on any material benefit that
they could derive from being there. The benefit is indirect – it is
for our community.
You are probably tired of reading about the impact that
White Sands Missile Range has on our local economy, but the
$2.3 million per day that the base contributes to Las Cruces is
something to be preserved at any cost.
That is the reason that the group traveled to D.C. – to help
keep our community what it is. While we received good feedback
on WSMR, it was couched in such a way that I was glad that we
were there making our presence known.
Please join me in thanking the people who continue to support
Las Cruces.
Bill Allen, President/CEO
Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce
Leslie Cervantes, Chair of the Board
Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce
Stan Rounds
Las Cruces Public Schools
Bill Allen
President/CEO
FROM THE PRESIDENT
FROM THE CHAIR
bottom line
the
Bulletin
T H E
L A S
C R U C E S
2005 Las Cruces
“Business of the Year”
PUBLISHER
Richard Coltharp
PUBLISHERS EMERITI
Jaki McCollum
David E. McCollum
EDITOR
Rachel Christiansen
DESIGN
Rachel Courtney, manager
Theresa Montoya Basaldua,
art director
Ramon Gonzalez
Jessica Grady
Steven Parra
Rafael Torres
ADVERTISING
Claire Frohs
Shellie McNabb
Jorge Lopez
Pam Rossi
DISTRIBUTION
Alyce Bales
CONTRIBUTORS
Stephen L. Wilmeth
The Bottom Line, the official publication of the Greater
Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, is a copyrighted
publication that is designed, produced and distributed
monthly by the Las Cruces Bulletin, 840 N. Telshor
Blvd., Suite E, Las Cruces, NM 88011. Content of
The Bottom Line is submitted and authorized by the
Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce located at
505 S. Main St., Suite 134. Articles and columns in
The Bottom Line may not reflect the opinions of the
Las Cruces Bulletin. Inquiries regarding editorial content
or advertising may be directed to the publisher at
575-524-8061.
GREATER LAS CRUCES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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Administrative Professionals Conference
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 This full day conference offers participants various
topics to help improve their professional skills.
8:30am-4:30pm
Breakout sessions will include:
Fee: $149
DACC Workforce Center
2345 E. Nevada Ave.
2 s April 2013 s THE BOTTOM LINE
• Conflict Management
• Introduction to Mediation
• Quick Tips for Excel
• Making PowerPoint Work for You
• and much more!
FOR INFO AND
RESERVATIONS CONTACT
CUSTOMIZED TRAINING
PHONE: 575-527-7776
TO REGISTER:
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CONTINENTAL
BREAKFAST AND
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LEGISLATIVE RECAP
What the 60-day session yielded for the state
Listed below is a recap of the actions at the recently completed 60day session in Santa Fe. The chamber supports Cabinet Secretary
Jon Barela’s New Century Jobs
Agenda and the majority of the
items passed in the session were
part of this initiative.
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of several bills heard and passed
in committee. Though this final
bill passed late in the session, each
piece of the larger bill was heard
and debated throughout. The
chamber is pleased that it passed
both houses with overwhelming
support.
The bill includes:
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THE BOTTOM LINE s April 2013 s 3
Business organizations take a stance
Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce keeps community informed of pro-jobs legislation
As part of the growing commitment to
governmental affairs and issue advocacy, the
Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce
(GLCCC) publishes a Governmental
Affairs Positions page.
The Chamber is working to ensure the
Mesilla Valley is a pro-jobs environment
and will help identify pro-jobs elected officials that are assisting in that goal. Each
month, this page will contain the Chamber’s
pro-jobs scorecard for elected officials with
voting information on ordinances at the city
and county level.
This monthly page will also highlight
positions taken by the Chamber as well as
the Association of Commerce & Industry
(ACI) – which serves as the state chamber
of commerce – and the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce.
ACI takes positions of importance to
the statewide business community, while
the U.S. Chamber addresses national business issues, and, often, the GLCCC takes
similar positions. However, GLCCC positions must be specifically authorized by the
Chamber Board of Directors.
The U.S. Chamber’s Center for Capital
Markets Competitiveness (CCMC) works
toward advancing America’s global leadership in capital formation by supporting
capital markets that are fair, efficient and
innovative.
U.S. Chamber of
Commerce positions
Saturday, March 23, marked the third
anniversary of the passage of the health
reform law, and consumers and businesses
– especially small businesses – are still
uncertain and skeptical about how the law
will affect them.
Without knowing what taxes, fines,
fees and rules they’ll be subjected to, and
without understanding how to comply with
the hundreds of pages of regulations – many
that have yet to be finalized – it’s hard for
business owners to plan.
As we know, the law’s priority was
to expand health care coverage to more
people and to cover an extensive litany of
services. Ironically, in order to pay for this
massive coverage expansion, the law assesses
taxes and fees at nearly every opportunity
which perversely will make access to
affordable coverage more elusive.
While many of these taxes may sound
like industry taxes, the truth is they will
all be borne by consumers one way or the
other. Perhaps the most expensive of all of
these fees – the Health Insurance Tax – will
cost consumers more than $100 billion in
the next 10 years. This surcharge will drive
up the cost of health care for families and
undermine the very goal of expanding access
to coverage.
In addition, the law mandates businesses
with 50 or more full-time equivalent
employees to offer health coverage or
potentially pay steep penalties. This
requirement is not only unlikely to achieve
the objective of forcing all employers to
provide federally prescribed coverage, but
instead will have the opposite effect by forcing
many employers to drop coverage, lay workers
off and stop expanding their business.
While these and other uncertainties
remain, one thing is certain – outright repeal
of the entire law is not a realistic option.
However, efforts to mitigate the harm to
business and alleviate the burdens and
mandates continue, as legislation has been
introduced in Congress to address these
two key provisions. First, the “American
Job Protect Act,” is legislation to repeal
the employer mandate, and secondly, the
“Jobs and Premium Protection Act” which
would repeal the increased tax on insurance
providers.
For more information on these issues,
educational
resources, talking
points,
communications tools and to understand how
the law will affect your business, visit http://
www.uschamber.com/issues/healthcare-toolkit.
City of Las Cruces Noise Ordinance
City of Las Cruces One Stop Shop Concept
Commissioner Duarte-Benavidez
D
D
Commissioner Scott Krahling
City of Las Cruces Minimum Wage Increase Resolution
-
Commissioner Karen Perez
CLC/DAC Support Annual Funding for MVEDA
Doña Ana County Noise Ordinance
City of Las Cruces Security Alarm Ordinance
Commissioner Dolores Saldana-Caviness
Resolution for Expanded Informed Consent Legislation
Commissioner Billy Garrett
City of Las Cruces Impact Fees (public safety)
Mayor Pro-Tem Sharon Thomas
City of Las Cruces Delay of Impact Fees (parks)
Councillor Gil Sorg
City of Las Cruces Delay of Impact Fees (roads, drainage)
Councillor Nathan Small
Resolution for Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument
Councillor Olga Pedroza
City of Las Cruces Night Sky Lighting Ordinance
D
D
D
C
C
D
C
C
Councillor Greg Smith
City of Las Cruces Dust Ordinance
Councillor Miguel Silva
The Chamber is working to ensure the
Mesilla Valley is a pro-jobs environment
and will help identify pro-jobs elected
officials that are assisting in that goal.
Each month, this page will contain the
Chamber’s Pro-jobs scorecard for elected
officials with voting information on
ordinances at the city and county level.
Mayor Ken Miyagishima
Discussion Item
Pro-Jobs
Pro-jobs scorecard for City of Las Cruces & Doña Ana County elected officials
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
-
-
-
-
-
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
-
-
-
-
-
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
-
-
-
-
-
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
-
-
-
-
-
Y
N
NA
Y
Y
Y
Y
-
-
-
-
-
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
-
-
-
-
-
Y
Y
Y
NA
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
-
Y
Y
-
Y
Y
-
Y
Y
-
Y
Y
-
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Vote estimated for Spring 2013
C
Vote estimated for Spring 2013
Y: Yea vote, N: Nay vote, NA: Abstained from vote or not present, -: Vote not held
Note: All future ordinances and resolutions will be reviewed by an independent economist to determine the impact on jobs in the community.
4 s April 2013 s THE BOTTOM LINE
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE MONTH - APRIL 2013
Amaro Winery
‘Cheers’ meets contemporary wine bar
402 S. MELENDRES ST. R 527-5310 R WWW.AMAROWINERYNM.COM
By Rachel Christiansen
Trendy, colorful, chic – not the typical
words used to describe a centuries-old industry of the Mesilla Valley.
Yet that’s the atmosphere that greets you
when walking into Amaro Winery, an inviting place for the modern-day wine drinker.
But according to co-owner Kelly Allen,
it doesn’t matter if you’ve never had a sip of
wine in your life, or are a connoisseur – you
can be comfortable in your own skin at the
tasting room.
“We are not wine snobs,” Allen said. “It’s
very comfortable, and that’s what we want
it to be.
“Our goal, when we opened, was to
have a place that enhances the education,
the knowledge and the experience of New
Mexico wines.”
Under the direction of co-owner
Benjamin Maier, who has cultivated the finest grapes in the area for the past 15 years,
the two families merged in 2009 to open
their “dream business.”
“We wanted to set ourselves outside the
box and be urban,” Allen said.
Although located in the middle of town
at 402 S. Melendres St., all of Amaro’s wine
is produced and bottled on site.
“People will come in and ask, ‘How do
I taste this?’ or ‘What does this go with?’”
Allen said. “I just say you can taste it how
you want and you can drink it with what you
want.”
For those who want the “expert’s advice,”
however, Allen said they’re willing to dish
that out as well.
The Allens and the Maiers poured their
hearts into the business’ opening, turning
the location of what was once a dilapidated
lumber company into the bright and comfortable wine bar it is today.
Family friends for many years, Allen’s experience in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism
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Amaro tasting and sales operation manager Kaleen Lackey pours customer Roger Sellers a glass of
Zinfandel on Thursday, March 28.
Management (HRTM) paired with Maier’s
expertise in winemaking, Allen said the fit
was a natural one to turn what was both of
their father’s dream into a reality.
With the delicate economy in mind, as
well as emphasizing green building, they
created the interior and exterior environment by using recycled and repurposed materials.
“The floors are original, the doors are all
from Habitat for Humanity … some of the
furniture came from either my house or my
grandmother’s house,” Allen said.
The feel of the tasting room, however, is
one of sheer modernity – simple, efficient
designs featuring bright purple and red walls
accent the feeling that you’ve left traditional
Las Cruces.
Sip on a glass while sitting on the
winery’s patio to enjoy the mild weather
and fruits of the earth, and you’ll remember
exactly where you are.
A fair amount of local flare can be found
within the business as well, as Allen said
they are all about embracing the local community through displaying the works of local artists.
Art and jewelry from the community
surround the bottles of Chenin Blanc,
Gewurztraminer, Malvasia Bianca, Cruces
Sunrise, Amour, Dolcetto, Tempranillo,
Cabernet
Sauvignon,
Montepulciano
d’Abruzzo, Zinfandel and dessert wines on
the shelves to take home and enjoy.
The tasting room often hosts live music,
wine and cheese pairings, special events, release parties and other cultural events. You
never know what new friends you’ll make
on a Friday or Saturday night at Amaro.
Tastings of what the winery has to offer
can be purchased for $7, and full glasses of
your favorite can be purchased for $4 to $6.
Bottles range in price, but none cost more
than $18.
The tasting room is open from 1 to
8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to
6 p.m. Sundays.
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THE BOTTOM LINE s April 2013 s 5
GOOD MORNING LAS CRUCES
LEADERSHIP
Leadership class kicks off
Business leaders get a taste of what will come
The Leadership Las Cruces Class of
2013 met and held orientation Friday and
Saturday, March 15-16, at La Posta de
Mesilla.
In addition to meeting one another, the
group received a history overview of Las
Cruces from a living history panel, learned
individual communication styles and worked
on team-building exercises.
Also during orientation, Leadership Las
Cruces Alumni were invited for lunch, as is
tradition.
This interaction provided the new class
an idea of what former attendees have experienced and a little of what they can expect
this year.
The first Good Morning Las Cruces networking event of 2013 brought in a full crowd at La
Posta de Mesilla Wednesday, March 13. The keynote speaker was Doug Martin, the new
head football coach at New Mexico State University. Martin talked a about his team and
the upcoming 2013 schedule, as it will be an exciting year to catch great football at Aggie
Memorial Stadium.
One-on-One
Business Assitance
FREE SERVICE PROVIDED BY
CITY OF LAS CRUCES
s Identify opportunities to get your
business where you want it to be.
s Connect to your target market to identify
opportunities to promote your business.
s Referrals and introductions to local
business resources.
s Information about the City’s business
s Access to the City’s public records,
including land ownership, zoning,
business registrations, construction
permitting, and more.
sDemographic and market data.
related processes and regulations.
s Assistance understanding and negotiating
through City processes.
s Access to a strong network of economic
development partners with specializations
to benefit the specific needs of each business
City of Las Cruces Economic Development Office
s%CON$EV LASCRUCESORG
6 s April 2013 s THE BOTTOM LINE
During the lunch, La Posta was filled
with graduates – all of whom are proud to
have been a part of the program. There also
happens to be a friendly rivalry between the
classes as to which class was the best.
As is custom during the leadership orientation, the class split into seven groups of
four, and are assigned a topic within the community – economic development, health care,
community topics, state/local governments,
military, agriculture and education.
It is each group’s responsibility to design
what fellow classmates will experience the
month their subject comes up on the calendar.
Stay tuned for monthly reports on what
this year’s class is learning.
Economic development
is topic for March class
Junior Leadership learns what it takes
After an introduction into what
economic development is, the Junior
Leadership class of 2013 learned some
of the nuances a business might consider before a specific site is selected.
Jake Redfearn, of NAI 1st Valley,
discussed commercial real estate and
the influences of zoning, location and
general business interests.
He cited specific examples of two
types of businesses that focus on daily
traffic patterns, where one company
preferred to locate on the side of the
road where they would reach people
going to work, and another company
preferred to locate on the side of the
road where they are more likely to catch
those heading home.
The class then used that background
information as well as demographic, real
estate and general area asset descriptions to develop responses on behalf of
Las Cruces to sample companies – acting as junior economic developers.
In this way, the class was able to
learn more about the selection process
and how important data is to the location selection process. They were also
able to see how the region’s academic
pursuits – graduation rates, technical/vocational trainings, degree-level
achievements – can influence how a
business perceives the area as a possible
location.
Kiel Hoffman of Pioneer Bank presented six issues that influence an individual’s ability to be hired. He cited
company policies that deal with interac-
tions on social media, credit worthiness,
appropriate attire, tattoos and other
subjects.
The class learned that decisions
made today might influence the career
field they choose as they begin to examine post-high school life goals.
Virgin Galactic’s Spaceflight Safety
Assurance Officer Jeff Peters followed
the presentation by introducing the
class to the company’s rigorous safety
programs and initiatives as it moves
closer to its first commercial launch.
For many of the students, this was
the first intimate informational session
on what Virgin Galactic was doing and
what it meant for their future opportunities in Las Cruces as the commercial
space industry continues to grow in
New Mexico.
Finally, continuing with the rocket
science theme, students toured the
NASA Johnson Space Center White
Sands Test Facility with staff of Jacobs
Technology. During the tour, they visited the Remote Hypervelocity Test
Laboratory where they learned about
testing that is used to simulate orbital
space debris that places all spaceflight
and other space operations at risk.
Students were able to see the damage very small objects can create on bulletproof vests, actual space shuttle tiles
and other objects while at the laboratory. The students also were introduced
to crossover research done for the medical field due to the oxygen system work
at the NASA facility.
2013 LEADERSHIP CLASS
Karen
Altamirano
Laura
HuybersPierce
Joshua Orozco
Michael Jasek
NMSU
Dean of Students
Laura
Reynolds
Eric Fraass
Georgia Lane
Gift Baskets by G
Owner
Sherri Rials
April Tate
Las Cruces Public
Schools
Assistant Director Human Resources
Tim Hargrove
Tiffani Bradley
Brian
Rodriguez
Raymond
Taylor
Christopher
Sanders
Lidia Trujillo
Estela Sauceda
George
Vescovo
Pioneer Bank
Mortgage Loan Officer
Rachel
Christiansen
Las Cruces Bulletin
Features Editor
Citizens Bank
Senior Vice President
Paul Heiberger
Postitve Enery Solar
Technical Sales Expert
Anna Henke
NMSU Marketing
Publications Supervisor
Mellow Honek
Sunspot Solar Energy
Managing Member
Comcast Spotlight
Local Sales Manager,
Southern New Mexico
Bradbury Stamm
Senior Project Manager
Billy Massie
El Paso Electric
Senior Engineer,
Efficiency Specialist
Belinda Mills
Las Cruces Sun-News
Multi-Media Marketing
Executive
Anthony
Moreno
KRWG-TV
Host/Producer, KRWG
TV/FM
Border Industrial
Alliance
Project Manager
Las Cruces Real Estate
Qualifying Broker
Manpower
Branch Manager,
Greater Las Cruces and
Southern New Mexico
Jaynes Corp
Project Manager
First American Bank
Mortgage Loan Officer
City of Las Cruces
Customer Service
Supervisor
Kenna Stubbs
Stubbs Engineering
Business Manager
Jay
Sundheimer
Memorial Medical
Center
Assistant Chief Nursing
Officer
Travis Tarry
US Bank
Vice President, District
Manager
American Document
Services
CFO
Jacobs Technology
Director, Facilities
Engineer & Operations
Support
MountainView
Regional Medical
Center
Administrative Assistant
Vescovo Toyota
of Las Cruces
President / General
Manager
Maria Villa
City of Las Cruces
Governmental
Accounting Supervisor
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THE BOTTOM LINE s April 2013 s 7
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT OLIVE GARDEN
Chuck Saari and Nancy Wright with Wright Jewelers, Deborah Quackenbush with Hester Agency,
Stanford Locke with Uplead and Susan Palmer with Mesilla Valley Mall.
Sharon Reese with the White Sands Missile Range Historical Foundation, Mary Beth Rinehart, Anna
Mae Evans and Darlene Stalder with Pioneer Bank hang out at the Business After Hours at Olive
Garden Thursday, March 28.
Misha Poerio, Chris Gurule and Crystal Holguin with Holiday Inn Express
Karen Thompson with
Convergys and Crystal
Ramos, Jessica Valdez
and Steven Martinez
with Allstate Express
Leslie Cervantes with Las Cruces Public Schools, Russell Hernandez with Olive Garden and Troy Tudor
with the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce.
8 s April 2013 s THE BOTTOM LINE
Lupe Rios with
Sagecrest Nursing &
Rehabilitation Center
and Sylvia Lauer with
Doña Ana Title Co.
BUSINESS OF THE MONTH - APRIL 2013
AT&T
See what all the buzz is about
2808 N. TELSHOR BLVD., LAS CRUCES, NM 88011 t 532-5997 t WWW.ATT.COM
By Rachel Christiansen
Mobile gadgets have evolved to become
the toys that cross the generational divide –
both kids and adults like to play with them.
In a continuously evolving technological
world, it is essential for network providers to
be on top of their game when it comes to the
services they render.
Mobile Internet has also become central
to so many people’s lives, and innovation
within the industry is the only thing that
can guarantee the best possible experience.
When telecommunications company
AT&T opened its doors in Las Cruces in
2007, their aim was to do just that – here
and everywhere in the nation.
From 2009-12, AT&T invested nearly
$175 million to enhance speeds, reliability
and performance for its customers in New
Mexico – nearly $20 million of that was invested in Las Cruces, according to Veronica
Gallegos, the Las Cruces AT&T store manager.
“2013 has been a great year, and we are
proud to have expanded our 4G LTE foot-
The Las
Cruces AT&T
is located
at 2808 N.
Telshor Blvd.,
and is open
from 10 a.m. to
7 p.m. Monday
through Friday,
10 a.m. to
6 p.m.
Saturdays and
noon to 6 p.m.
Sundays.
print to Las Cruces,” Gallegos said.
AT&T customers now benefit from
nearly 50 wireless network upgrades in
six key categories in Las Cruces that took
place during 2012; activating new cell sites,
adding capacity, upgrading cell sites to provide fast 4G LTE mobile Internet speeds,
deploying high-capacity Ethernet connections to cell sites and adding or upgrading
Distributed Antenna Systems, which boost
wireless coverage and capacity in buildings
and at major venues such as convention halls
or sports arenas.
AT&T now has the nation’s largest 4G
network and fastest 4G LTE network.
So what does all of that mean for those
who don’t know the acronyms and numbers
involved in the cell phone world?
Smartphones, tablets and other Internetyielding devices will be fast. Super fast.
Internet queries – anything from trivia
questions, looking up an actor, checking
Facebook and Instagram – can all be done
within seconds, or before you’ve even gotten
through that first cup of coffee.
“We offer mobile solutions that help
The team at the Las Cruces AT&T store include, (back row), store manager Veronica Gallegos, retail
sales consultant Henry Castillo, sales support representative Max Gonzalez, sales support representative
Eric Chavez, retail sales consultant Hollie Hedger (front row) sales consultant Ernie Duran, assistant
manager Anthony Ortiz, financial representative Amanda Alarcon and small business account manager
Carlos Medina.
keep our customers connected while on the
go wherever they go,” Gallegos said. “We
also offer accessories to protect those devices, keep them charged and other mobile
solutions for entertainment, health, fitness
and fun.”
Walking into a telecommunications provider doesn’t have to be the intimidating
thing it can seem like, either.
When a customer comes into AT&T,
Gallegos said they can expect a friendly
smile from the minute they walk in the
door.
The latest and greatest in smartphones
and tablets from all major operating systems
can be seen as well.
“Our retail representatives will work
hard to make sure to satisfy our customer’s
mobile needs,” Gallegos said.
AT&T’s credentials prove its worth – as
it outranked its competitors in “PCWorld’s”
most recent 13 market speed tests.
If it’s still intimidating, AT&T guarantees a team of employees dedicated to making the customer experience a positive one.
“We look for people that want to be a
part of an innovative, creative and fastpaced industry, and who are striving for
excellence,” Gallegos said. “We look for
people who are talented, driven and excited
about technology and the way it transforms
communication.”
What can the world expect next from
AT&T?
“We are always continually planning and
deploying network enhancements to improve service in the future,” Gallegos said.
THE BOTTOM LINE s April 2013 s 9
NONPROFIT OF THE MONTH - APRIL 2013
March of Dimes of Southern New Mexico
MAILING: PO BOX 2066, MESILLA PARK, NM 88047 t PHYSICAL: INSIDE PTS OFFICE SYSTEMS, 2840 N. TELSHOR BLVD., LAS CRUCES, NM 88011 t 523-2627
t WWW.MARCHOFDIMES.COM/NEWMEXICO OR WWW.NACERSANO.ORG (SPANISH LANGUAGE SITE) AND WWW.MARCHFORBABIES.ORG
Mission:
The mission of the March of
Dimes is to improve the health
of babies by preventing birth
defects, premature birth and
infant mortality. The March of
Dimes is inspired by all babies
– those born healthy and those
who need our help to survive and
thrive.
They are the millions of
reasons behind our urgent
mission and why, every day, we:
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information to families with a
baby in intensive care;
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to find treatments and
preventions for the serious
problems that threaten our
babies.
Purpose:
The March of Dimes helps
moms have full-term pregnancies
and healthy babies. If something
goes wrong, we offer information
and comfort to families. We
research the problems that
threaten babies and work on
preventing them.
Key goals:
Prematurity Campaign:
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premature birth in the U.S. to
9.6 percent or less.
t #Z"DIJFWFBOJOUFSJN
goal in the U.S. of an 8
percent reduction in the
premature birth rate for every
TUBUFGSPNUIFCBTFMJOF
Newborn Screening Tests:
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heart disease (CCHD) to
the Recommended Uniform
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Mexico that all babies are
tested for.
Folic Acid Education:
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1, advocate for the use of
fortified grain products by
local producers of tortillas
and other corn-based
QSPEVDUT/PFEVDBUF
women of childbearing age
and health care providers
about preconception care and
the importance of folic acid
consumption; No. 3, distribute
multivitamins containing folic
acid to low-income, high-risk
women; and No. 4, increase
public awareness about folic
acid through targeted and
varied media opportunities.
History:
Originally founded by
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to find a cure for polio. Original
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Roosevelt called on all
Americans to send their dimes to
the White House to fund polio
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were sent to the White House,
and comedian Eddie Cantor
coined the phrase “March of
Dimes – highlighting our history
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#JSUIEBZPGUIF.BSDIPG%JNFT
Key people to know:
National President – Dr.
Jennifer Howse became
president of the March of
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1990. Under her leadership, the
March of Dimes has doubled its
revenue and achieved impressive
mission results for mothers and
infants, including the successful
national folic acid campaign, the
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recently the fifth consecutive
year of decrease in the national
rate of prematurity. Her many
contributions were recognized by
the scientific community through
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Academy of Sciences Institute of
Medicine.
Southern New Mexico
Directoro#FDLZ)PSOFS
Southern New Mexico Board
of Directorso
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Chairman
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Development Chair
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The Gila River water controversy
State senator seeks solutions
By Stephen L. Wilmeth
The controversy surrounding the Gila
River water embroiled in the war of words
in the press is a matter of great concern for
New Mexico – notwithstanding the compulsory environmental dedication by the
print media, the fate of that water has real
consequences.
The Arizona Water Settlement Act
(AWSA) set forth the right for New Mexico
to use 14,000 acre-feet of water beyond current use levels from the Gila River. In terms
of commercial uses of water, that water has
a present value to New Mexico of up to $9
million per year. That is a huge sum of money to the counties of Catron, Grant, Hidalgo
and Luna directly impacted by the debate.
The debate isn’t predicated over the right
for New Mexico to pursue the capture of the
water, nor is it driven over the extraction of
water from the river.
Gila River water will be used beneficially.
It will either be used in Arizona where it has
been used for years or it will be extracted in
New Mexico where it has been disallowed.
The debate is driven by the environmental
ideologue agenda that intends to disallow
beneficial use in New Mexico and is silent
to the ultimate use of the water downstream
in Arizona.
In this case, downstream users in Arizona
are fully supportive of the all things green
agenda and hope that New Mexico is unable to overcome the bureaucratic quagmire
it faces in the matter. They know a deadline
looms and, if off stream storage is not permitted, capitalized and built, the use of the
water will revert legally to Arizona where
its lawful, permanent use will be welcomed
with open arms.
The antagonism is directed at the state
of New Mexico and the Gila water users
who dare suggest that the water be removed
from in-stream Gila flows that Congress
has deemed as their right of possession. This
is a passion play of grand proportions.
Any location, any logic and any reasoning for capture of the water will be challenged by the extrinsic resource cartel. They
will challenge, they will sue and they will
care less that the water is enjoyed by our
neighbors to the west.
State Sen. John Arthur Smith
(D-Deming) put forth an issue bill discussing the possibility of constructing a pipeline
to route that water out of the Gila basin.
Smith’s intention was to make sure New
Business Banking Made
5 LOCATIONS IN
LAS CRUCES
10 s April 2013 s THE BOTTOM LINE
Events and activities:
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event – March
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t )JHI)FFMTGPS)JHI)PQFTo
November
t .PVOUBJO7JFX3FHJPOBM
Medical Center – New
1BSFOUBOE/*$61BSFOU
Support Group – 10:30 to
11:30 a.m. every Wednesday,
.PVOUBJO7JFX8PNFOT
Resource Center
Future plans:
More than 4 million babies
were born in the United
States last year, and the March
of Dimes helped each and
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research, education, vaccines
and breakthroughs. In local
communities across the country,
we’re helping moms take charge
of their health, and supporting
families when something goes
wrong. The March of Dimes
also acts globally: sharing best
practices in perinatal health and
helping improve birth outcomes
where the needs are the most
urgent.
Mexico does not lose the right to that precious water, but the scope of his bill was not
intended to resolve all of the technical issues
of such an effort.
As time for resolution shortens, the
state must be cognizant of the alternative to
trade Gila River water for Colorado River
water. That would maintain current Gila
flows and Colorado River water would be
wheeled through the Chama Diversion for
downstream beneficial use through existing
infrastructure and facilities. The cost would
be nothing. The risk, as expressed by Gila
River users, is that they would never enjoy
the benefits of the water if it is diverted.
If, however, they could retain the ownership of the water and market it through
a conditional, finite period of time, perhaps
they could ultimately see their own impoundment built.
The water could them revert to their own
vision and enjoyment of use. Will something
happen? As long as Smith is involved, there
is hope.
Easy!
WWW.CITIZENSLC.COM
-AINLOCATION3-AIN3Ts,AS#RUCES.-s
,/""9-ONDAY&RIDAY
$2)6%50-ONDAY&RIDAYs3ATURDAY
CONQUISTADORE CORNER
Conquistadores
support history
H
istory was
honored
Sunday,
March 17, during
the annual Bataan
Memorial Death
March.
A group of
Conquistadores and
FirstLight Federal
Credit Union
employees met before
the sun came up
and ventured over to
White Sands Missile
Range to volunteer
their time and show
STACIE ALLEN
support to the local
individuals and the
many who have
traveled across the county to be part of this event.
We have manned water station No. 2 for many years.
Again this year, we cut up thousands of oranges and
bananas and poured thousands of cups of Gatorade –
which we handed out to more than 5,800 marchers,
runners and walkers.
It was a great inspiration to see a variety of people –
men, women, children, civilians, soldiers and many with
physical restrictions and disabilities compete in this race.
Nothing stops them! We are lucky to have had a small part
in this event and spend the day showing our support.
Kari Shepan, our special events chair, did an amazing
job coordinating all of the details and recruiting
volunteers. Thank you to our hard-working, participating
Conquistadores and some of their family members: Terry
and Mike Gaume, Mary and Jerry Iadicicco, Ron Salak,
Sarah Stegall, Troy Tudor, Leslie Martinez and son Clay,
Don Buck, Rick Altamirano, Jodie and Tommy Brdecko,
Lorna Harris, Doug Boberg, Derek Boberg, Lupe Rios,
Kayla Bassing, Grant Buck and Audrey Valdez.
A big thank you goes to the FirstLight Federal
Credit Union employees who volunteered with the
Conquistadores. Thank you to Savonne Griffin for inviting
your FirstLight Federal Credit Union colleagues to be part
of this each year and we look forward to volunteering with
you all again in 2014.
I am sure the time, energy, smiles and cheers each one
of these volunteers gave during this event had a positive
impact on all of the participants.
We are here to support each other and our American
history. I am honored to be part of this group!
The Conqusitadores and
FirstLight Federal Credit
Union volunteers get
going early with generators
Sunday, March 17, in
order to be ready for the
first batch of runners at this
year’s Bataan Memorial
Death March.
The volunteers from
the Greater Las Cruces
Chamber of Commerce and
FirstLight Federal Credit
Union pose with a Bataan
survivor the day of the
march.
Stacie Allen,
Chair of the Council of Conquistadores 2013
Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce
Volunteers man both sides of the road as the runners approach.
THE BOTTOM LINE s April 2013 s 11
RIBBON CUTTINGS
LAS CRUCES
YOUTH BASEBALL
ORGANIZATION –
March 14, 1875 E. Hadley
– Vice President for 13-14
division Steve Delgado
holds the proclamation
while President Robert
Gonzalez cuts the ribbon.
CLEAR VUE
PROFESSIONAL
WINDOW CLEANING &
HOME SERVICE – March
11 – Operations manager
Frank Bueno holds the
proclamation while Owner
Peter Cruz cuts the ribbon at
a ribbon cutting held at the
Greater Chamber’s office.
UNITED RV – March 8, 700 Stern Drive – President and Owner Bryan Lamey holds the proclamation
while Director of Marketing Ann Lamey cuts the ribbon.
12 s April 2013 s THE BOTTOM LINE
UNITED WAY – March 8, 225 E. Idaho Ave., Suite 24 – Board members Marianna Lappin and
Collin Reynolds hold the proclamation while CEO Mike Zaragoza cuts the ribbon.
New Members
Advantage Home
Solutions LLC
Lawrence Flores
525-8183
Cornerstone Baptist
Church
Doug Cowan
532-0902
Las Cruces Arts
Association
Lois V. Smith
652-3485
Las Cruces Youth
Baseball Association
Robert Gonzalez
640-1797
Lovelace Health Plan
Deirdre Whitt
505-727-5683
United RV Las Cruces
Ann Lamey
528-2800
Renewing Members
Accent Real Estate
Marti Wells
Darden Law Firm
John Darden
Allied Burglar & Fire Alarms
Inc.
James W. Neely
Doña Ana Arts Council
Kathleen Albers
American Linen Supply of
New Mexico
Michael Lutz
Doña Ana Community College
Margie Huerta
Duggan, D. E.
Dan Duggan
American Medical Response
Joaquin Graham
El Paso Electric Co.
Susan Sandell
First American Bank in Las
Cruces
Joe Bullock
Las Cruces Symphony
Association
Lonnie Klein
First New Mexico Bank of Las
Cruces
Donna Stryker
Mathers Realty
Van Bullock
FirstLight Federal Credit Union
Savonne Griffin
G. Sandoval Construction Inc.
Nicole Black
Americom Automation Services
Inc.
Justin Pelayo
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Kerry Luther
General Mailing & Shipping
Systems
Kristen Briggs
Applied Technology Associates
Larry Lloyd
Familia Dental
Courtney Gilles
Hester Agency - Allstate
Kayla Bassing
Asombro Institute for Science
Education
Stephanie Bestelmeyer
Families & Youth Inc.
Jose V. Frietze
KVIA-TV 7
Michael Sepulveda
Las Cruces
LABOR MARKETS
Quick
Facts
Sierra Alta Ranch LLC
Tom Mobley
Sonic Drive-In Restaurant
Barbara Stammer
SportClips
Rod Reyes
Mesilla Valley Snacks
Bill Jensen
Stull Real Estate
Karen Stull
New Mexico State University Foundation Inc.
Dennis Prescott Ph.D
Truck Farm
Jim Hawman
OfficeMax
Scott McClanahan
Village at Northrise
Judy Tipton
Options Home Care Services
Yoletta Bustamante
Rehabilitation Hospital of
Southern New Mexico
Pam Suarez
Western Heritage Bank
Cindy Bennett
Your Host ... New Mexico
Joanne Bess
HOUSING PRICE INDEX
Employment
Jan. ’13
Jan. ’12
% change
Las Cruces
85,159
84,697
0.05
Statewide
793,600
790,100
0.04
U.S. (in thousands)
132,644
130,657
1.5
Unemployment Rate
Dec. ’12
Dec. ’11
Difference
Las Cruces
6.8%
6.7%
(0.1%)
Statewide
6.5%
6.6%
(0.1%)
(All Sources)
U.S. data
7.8%
8.5%
(0.8%)
Permits
Valuation
Source: New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
Las Cruces
New Mexico
United States
3rd Quarter
2012
159.11
284.39
315.57
3rd Quarter
2011
166.89
289.03
315.68
% change
Feb. ’13
Feb. ’12
% change
385
$465,751
490
$425,199
(21%)
9%
(4.7%)
(1.6%)
0%
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency
BUILDING PERMITS
Las Cruces Area
Source: City of Las Cruces
2013 SOUTHWEST NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE GUIDE
NOW AVAILABLE
ON NEWSSTANDS & AT THE LAS CRUCES BULLETIN
s&AXs.4ELSHOR3UITE%,AS#RUCES.-
THE BOTTOM LINE s April 2013 s 13
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SCHEDULE
APRIL 2013
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Greater Las Cruces
Chamber of Commerce
1
2
3
4
8 a.m. Junior
Leadership –
Chamber
7
14
8
9
15
16
11:30 p.m.
Small Business
Workshop –
Columbus Center
21
22
23
24
6
11:30 a.m. White
Sands Missile
Range Spring
Golf Tournament
– WSMR
10
17
5
11
11:30 a.m.
Spaceport
Update
Luncheon –
Las Cruces
Convention
Center
12
13
8 a.m.
Leadership
Las Cruces
– Memorial
Medical Center
18
1 p.m.
Economic Forum
– KRWG-TV
5:30 p.m.
Business After
Hours – Wright
Jewelers
25
19
CHAMBER BY THE NUMBERS
The Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce
is the primary advocate for the Greater Las
Cruces business community, dedicated to
fostering growth and opportunity by focusing on
communication, education and participation.
FULFILLING THE
COMMUNITY NEED
The following statistics from the past 30 days indicate
the number of individuals interested in learning more
about the Chamber by visiting the website. Those
who have visited the site inquired about relocation
advice as well as the approximate number of member
business referrals by Chamber staff members.
9,965
79
89
20
people have visited the Chamber’s website.
people have inquired about individual relocation.
26
27
referrals have been issued for members.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
28
29
30
Looking ahead
Friday, May 10
Golf Classic
Wednesday, May 8
Junior Leadership Graduation
Thursday, May 23
Business After Hours
April 1
April 3
April 4
April 5
April 8
April 11
April 11
April 11
April 16
April 17
April 17
April 17
April 23
4 p m. ................Las Cruces Day in Santa Fe Committee
4 p.m.......................Conquistador Executive Committee
4 p.m..............Issues & Governmental Affairs Committee
7:30 a.m. ........Military Affairs Committee, MV Hospice
Noon ..........................................Retention Committee
9 a.m. ........................... Commercial Space Committee
11 a.m. ............................Events and Benefits Committee
4 p.m....................... Candidates & Elections Committee
3:30 p.m....................... Finance & Executive Committee
7:30 a.m. ........Education Committee, Housing Authority
11 a.m. ....................................... Small Business Council
4 p.m................Marketing & Public Relations Committee
4 p.m............................................... Board of Directors
*All above meetings are held in the Chamber boardroom unless specified otherwise.
High-quality, Reliable, Award-Winning Products
Local Service and Support for all Office Environments
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575-524-4384
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CHAMBER MEMBER BRIEFS
Carson joins Steinborn &
Associates Real Estate
Steinborn & Associates Real Estate is
pleased to announce that Reese Carson has
joined the growing company of Steinborn
Inc. Realtors.
Carson has been an active citizen and
banker in the Las Cruces community since
1996.
“I chose Steinborn & Associates Real
Estate because they have many resources
including a dominant market share, broad
network of referrals and a significant
Internet presence,” Carson said. “The brokerage provides the finest national affiliations available to assist me in networking
for my clients.”
Carson will be responsible for the leasing, purchasing and selling real estate in both
residential and commercial divisions. He is
based in the 141 Roadrunner Parkway, Suite
141, office and can be reached at 644-2467.
County seeks applicants
to serve on airport
advisory board
Applications are available for residents
of Doña Ana County willing to serve on the
Airport Advisory Board for the Doña Ana
County Airport at Santa Teresa.
The Airport Advisory Board comprises
seven members serving staggered three-year
terms. The Airport Advisory Board meets
monthly or as needed to identify issues of
airport importance related to safety, growth,
development and administration. Board
members work closely with the airport manager, county engineer and planning director,
as well as a representative of the Doña Ana
County Attorney’s Office.
The Airport Advisory Board is charged
with periodically reporting to the Board of
County Commissioners about issues of concern and then making recommendations for
future operations.
All meetings of the Airport Advisory
Board comply with the New Mexico Open
Meetings Act.
The application form seeks information
related to interest in serving, knowledge
of aviation and/or airport issues and other
general information about the applicant’s
qualifications to serve. Licensed pilots are
encouraged to apply. Deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Friday, April 12.
To request an application, call Doña Ana
County Airport Manager Vernon Wilson
at 644-2358 or email him at vernonw@
donaanacounty.org.
US Department of
Labor offers grants
The U.S. Department of Labor announced on March 11 the availability of
approximately $6 million in grants for the
third round of the Workforce Data Quality
Initiative. These funds will enable up to six
additional states to build or expand longitudinal databases that link workforce and education data, enabling them to improve the
performance of workforce programs.
Grantees will be expected to use these
longitudinal databases to conduct research
and analysis aimed at determining the effectiveness of workforce and education
programs, and to develop tools to inform
customers of the publicly funded workforce
system. This grant opportunity stems from
the Obama administration’s focus on access
to high-quality data and is related to the
U.S. Department of Education’s Statewide
Longitudinal Data Systems grants to build
longitudinal education databases.
To find out more about the Workforce
Data Quality Initiative, visit www.doleta.
gov/performance/workforcedatagrant09.
com.
dents and researchers alike. The Morgan &
Claypool Synthesis Collection 3 and 4 will
add 125 titles and provide a valuable source
of information and an ideal introduction to
new fields. With these acquisitions being
electronic in nature, more students, faculty
and researchers will have increased access
to these resources and be able to download
PDF versions of the titles.
For more information, contact Johnson
at [email protected] or 646-7251.
McKee Foundation
gives $11,500 to
NMSU Library
The Outdoor Industry Association
(OIA) has released figures quantifying the
economic impact of outdoor recreation in
all 50 states, with a separate report for each
state that tallies direct spending, jobs, salaries
and tax revenue. This data demonstrates that
outdoor recreation is an important driver of
state economies, supporting jobs, businesses
and communities.
In New Mexico, according to the study,
Americans spend $6.1 billion on outdoor
recreation, supporting 68,400 New Mexico
jobs, generating $1.7 billion in wages and
producing $458 million in state and local tax
revenue. New Mexico offers spectacular outdoor recreation opportunities at treasured
destinations, including Santa Fe National
Forest, Elephant Butte Lake State Park and
many others, providing the types of outdoor
experiences that produce these economic
benefits.
The New Mexico State University
Library has been awarded an $11,500 gift
from the Robert E. and Evelyn McKee
Foundation of El Paso. The gift will be used
for the purchase of current engineering reference materials, which will build the collection to better serve the needs of not only
NMSU’s engineering students, but also faculty and researchers within our region and
the state.
Engineering librarian Paula Johnson
said the gift will enable the library to offer electronic engineering resources that are
critically needed in this field. With the rapid
advancements in engineering, the acquisition of current resources is critical to stu-
Study shows outdoor
recreation drives New
Mexico economy
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THE BOTTOM LINE s April 2013 s 15
16 s April 2013 s THE BOTTOM LINE