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BUSINESS OUTLOOK

CLASS OF 2014 ERIC BEGAY

Market President U.S. Bank Gallup As a resident and business leader in Gallup, Begay would like to see improvement in the economy of rural towns and communities in the state. One of the main reasons he joined Leadership New Mexico is to build partnerships and a network with leaders in the state to tackle the hard issues facing rural communities. Begay believes the establishment of the MainStreet Program that helps promote local small business in New Mexico is one of the most important accomplishments in our state within the past five years. He also is passionate about access to education and the effects of the increased costs of health care as it relates to those living and working in rural areas. Begay hopes to gain a deeper knowledge of ongoing issues that affect public education, health care and the business environment in New Mexico through his involvement in the Core Program this year.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

IAN ANDERSON

President & Publisher Albuquerque Business First Albuquerque Anderson says, I am inspired by those who incessantly challenge others to think long and hard about the way they have always done things; the ones that can lead disruption successfully and repeatedly to force change. Being relatively new to the state, he joined the Leadership New Mexico Core Program to gain a better understanding of the issues facing the state and to work with leaders from a multitude of business sectors across New Mexico. Andersons vision is for New Mexico to fully leverage its existing talent from research labs and universities to become the hub for innovation and startup activities across the Southwest. He explains, We are starting to see glimpses of how great things can develop when we put our heads together and collaborate in order to achieve a common goal. If we can become addicted to that collaboration and achievement, we will be in business.

MICHAEL BRANDT

Associate Director Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos Brandts inspiration comes from leaders who are selflessly motivated to devote their time and lead by example to improve their schools, their communities and the lives of others around them. He became interested in Leadership New Mexico to learn more about the interrelationships between economic development, job creation, education,crime, health, environmental impacts and poverty within the state. These factors represent significant challenges that must be resolved for the state to grow and prosper. While there is no single, simple solution, as a state we must learn to better leverage our technical excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to solve problems in these areas, says Brandt. He envisions New Mexico as a home to a vibrant economy in which our citizens are healthy, educated, employed and live in safe communities. To realize that vision, the state needs to invest time and resources in the development, education and success of our students.

DEBORAH BREITFELD
Business Development Director Brycon Corp. Rio Rancho Breitfeld defines leadership as a combination of skills, knowledge and performance with the ability to motivate a team to perform at its best. She is a strong supporter of economic development and job creation in New Mexico. She believes the state needs to continue building the infrastructure to be competitive, including tax structure, workforce, transportation and support mechanisms. Breitfeld considers other attributes of New Mexico to be the high-tech laboratories, outstanding higher education, low cost of living and excellent quality of life. We need to maximize the strengths of our highereducation programs that are creating jobs and training the future workforce. The state has done a great job with the film and tourism industries, says Breitfeld. She believes this combination will provide job opportunities to keep those same graduates in New Mexico while expanding industry sectors across the state. Breitfeld states that an unexpected outcome of participating in the Leadership New Mexico Core Program is the depth of the personal relationships created while in the program.

RACHEL BUSTOS, P.E.

President Burn Construction Co. Las Cruces Bustos finds inspiration as a leader from her father, stating: He taught me the value of hard work and to have integrity and passion for what I do. He taught me to lead by example and motivate others to have the same qualities through my commitment to my job and my community. Bustos would like to see New Mexico become a state that affords its residents the opportunity to succeed from the first stages of learning as children to providing secure jobs that will allow families to prosper. She believes one of New Mexicos strengths is its diversity in industry and that New Mexico needs to strengthen its economy by allowing these various industries to grow. Bustos states: Leadership New Mexico has brought to light some of the issues our state is currently dealing with. I see myself wanting to become more involved in my community and state to try and make a difference.

EILEEN CHAVEZ YARBOROUGH

KENT CRAVENS

Executive Director Cibola Communities Economic Development Foundation Grants Yarborough is inspired by bringing people together to work toward the common purpose of successfully implementing positive change to spur growth, specifically in rural New Mexico. She believes by doing so, the rewards can be life-changing. Citizens benefit from job creation by having the ability to provide for and support their families. The business community benefits from increased sales and profitability because an employed workforce has income to spend in the community. The community as a whole benefits from an increase in economic wealth to provide, deliver and expand services and improvements to enhance the quality of life. Yarboroughs vision for New Mexico is to be a welleducated, progressive, innovative and competitive state. She would like to see New Mexico implement methods and programs to engage youth in rural communities by creating opportunities for them to pay it forward; to live, work and give back in the communities where they grew up or were raised.

Director, Governmental Affairs New Mexico Oil & Gas Association Santa Fe Cravens is committed to improving New Mexicos future economic landscape. His vision for the state is to become a place where innovative and traditional forces work hand-in-hand to create a stronger foundation using a broad cross-section of available natural resources, talented and capable citizens and the combined experience of our diverse cultures. In the oil and gas industry, Cravens sees promise in the states economic growth as it moves in the direction of relieving regulatory burdens on business and industry in favor of real solutions with tangible benefits. We need to grow our economic base, find ways to provide incentives and encourage those willing to take risks so that New Mexico is more competitive than surrounding states, says Cravens. Through his involvement in the Core program, he hopes to gain a more complete understanding of the fabric of the quilt we call New Mexico. Each community has an individual heartbeat and it is fascinating to understand their differences and participate in a plan to strive toward common ground that would serve everyone in some way.

TONY DRAKE

Vice President AirStar Inc. Bloomfield Drake is inspired by those who cannot help themselves the mentally ill, domestic-violence victims, incarcerated individuals and those living in poverty. He believes they need understanding, respect and sometimes an honest helping hand. He sees New Mexico as a place where everyone has the opportunity to grow in mind and ability. Drake plans to contribute to this vision by working with groups and individuals throughout the state, leading those in need to the right path and obtaining the help needed from people that care about them. Drake plans to apply his Leadership New Mexico experiences to help those less fortunate become productive members of the community and to help those with no hope to achieve success in education and in the workforce. Drake states: People need to be educated more about job opportunities. The government should make it easier for businesses to develop and grow. All decisions should be made with the good of the state in mind.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

CLASS OF 2014 TERRI FORTNER

Nurse Practitioner Across the Mind Mental Health Services Farmington Fortners vision for New Mexico is reflected in this quote from Thomas Edison: Vision without execution is hallucination. Her vision for New Mexico is to make the change it needs today. She believes New Mexico is a great place to live and work and that we need to appreciate all the wonderful people and resources in our state; to belabor the point of what we dont have is defeating. She is inspired by her husband who has pursued his education against all odds. Fortner states: He sees the best in all people and situations. He continues to inspire me to be a part of the bigger solution for making our town, state, and country a better place to live, work and raise families. Fortner has seen the highs and lows of the states economy and believes that New Mexicos biggest strength is its resourcefulness and resiliency to continue to find solutions for improvement. I believe New Mexicans need to keep moving toward the goal of improved education, health care and economic development, says Fortner. Leadership New Mexico has provided her with a greater ability to apply what she has learned.

BUSINESS OUTLOOK

DEANN EATON

Chief Executive Officer Haverland Carter Lifestyle Group Albuquerque Eaton would like to see more awareness of the benefits both fitness and education have on New Mexicans, stating, It would be great if everyone valued a well-used library card and a well-worn pair of walking shoes. She considers education, inadequate career opportunities for our college graduates and high poverty levels to be the top three pressing issues facing New Mexico today. Eaton explains: My involvement in the Leadership New Mexico Core Program will raise the bar for me of what one person can do to make a positive difference in New Mexico. I have been inspired by the level of philanthropy throughout the state. It has been exciting for Eaton to learn about issues in New Mexico outside her industry. Working for a large organization that has a strong focus on the local senior population, she believes it is not somebody elses job to help others it is my job too! Eaton is very hopeful for New Mexicos future, starting with the Spaceport, the building of new hospitals and the expansion of our universities and colleges across the state.

SHANE GOEMMER

Manager & Member Goemmer Land & Livestock LLC Willard Goemmer is a leader in his small rural community, fighting for the rights of ranchers and farmers who are on the front lines dealing with issues plaguing rural New Mexico. The issues range from economic development, border security and lack of infrastructure for power transportation to protecting New Mexicos precious water resources all of which are needed to sustain New Mexicos agriculture industry. Goemmers vision for New Mexico is to see it become more open to business growth, focusing its priorities in line with supporting our economy and less on politics and special interests. He feels it is important to be involved in what is happening around him. The opportunity to learn and share with others from different industries and backgrounds is invaluable, says Goemmer. Participating in Leadership New Mexico provides the opportunity to become a better person and leader through learning from others. There is always room for improvement in life, he says. From this experience, he expects to contribute more to becoming a change agent for farm and ranch issues.

ANDREW GONZALES
Mayor Pro-Tem Taos Gonzales vision for New Mexico is to become the Land of Enhancement. He would like to see a greater investment in our educational system to help the state grow and become self-sufficient in the most advanced industries, as well as capitalizing on the growing businesses within our state. Gonzales says: Our focus above all should be to build upon the most powerful assets we know. Having an educated state would make us a powerful state. New Mexico has many strengths, including its national labs and more than 300 days of sunshine a year, which offers an endless opportunity of harvesting renewable energy. The biggest challenges I see facing our state is the lack of a qualified, educated labor force and the ability to bring the high-tech, high-demand employers to the state, he says. Gonzales plans to apply the training and education acquired through the Leadership New Mexico Core Program to continue to push for youth in the state to pursue higher education and to get our public schools on board with a unified teaching philosophy, stating, I will continue to work in every way possible to help foster that change and help create those opportunities.

DAVID GONZALES, M.D.

Vice President of Clinical Affairs Presbyterian Medical Services Santa Fe Leadership is the ability to inspire people to follow you and share in a common goal, according to Gonzales. He believes leaders in the business community should work together to implement a statewide mentorship program between its educational institutions and businesses, providing internship opportunities throughout the state for students to be exposed to different career fields. Gonzales is an advocate for mentorship programs that build selfconfidence and communication skills, inspire students to attend college and help them complete their degree. For Gonzales, health care is another major issue facing the state. Working in the health-care industry, he considers the expansion of the Medicaid program as one of the top accomplishments in our state over the past five years. It will help improve the health of our state and encourage people to take an active role in their health care, says Gonzales. Through the Core program, he hopes to gain a better understanding of cultural, social and economic issues facing the states regions, and build relationships with state leaders and experts.

KEVIN GREER

Chief Operating Officer Laguna Development Corp. Albuquerque Greer is inspired by leaders whose actions match their words, whether or not someone is watching. Greer believes programs such as the Leadership New Mexico Core Program will provide leaders throughout the state with a better understanding of New Mexicos challenges and opportunities. Both participants and speakers in the program have helped him make better-informed decisions. He considers New Mexicos toughest challenges to be poverty and education. Greer states, If all we did was concentrate on the education of our youth, it would go a long way in curing a lot of ills and secure more economic development to the state. Greers vision for New Mexico is for the other 49 states to model after New Mexicos success in education reform and business development, stating, New Mexicos strength is its people. Our state has a strong sense of heritage and community.

DEBRA HAALAND
Member, Pueblo of Laguna Tribal Administrator Pueblo of San Felipe San Felipe Pueblo

J.T. HALLBECK

Agent Empire Insurance LLC Alamogordo Hallbeck envisions a state that involves educated citizens in productive and well-paying jobs, building a foundation on existing industries such as agriculture, tourism and natural resources, but also attracting advanced industries in order to build a moresecure future for the state. He is inspired by people who are willing to question established solutions and include as many people as possible in the discussion process. Hallbeck sees the experiences and education received through the Leadership New Mexico Core Program as an opportunity to become more involved in economic development within the state and to mentor young people to become entrepreneurs, stating, We need to work on increasing the education level of our young people and retain our college graduates, focusing efforts into economic development with homegrown enterprises and attracting outside companies to New Mexico. Hallbeck considers the diverse and hardworking populations in New Mexico as an important asset to creating a great place to live, raise a family and run a successful business.

Haaland defines leadership as having the ability to identify problems,work corroboratively with others to offer solutions, respond to inquiries quickly and articulate expectations clearly. She considers the top three issues facing New Mexico to be education, economic development and the environment. Her vision for New Mexico is to have a plan in place to ensure that its natural resources (i.e., water, land, air) are viable for future generations. Haaland is an environmentally conscientious individual who believes she can contribute to a more sustainable environment and lives her life by example. On a daily basis, her goal is to reduce, reuse and recycle. Haaland likes the idea that Leadership New Mexico travels across the state and believes this knowledge will help her to become a better citizen, stating, I am gaining specific knowledge about issues facing the state and have enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the people who are making decisions on the front lines. I find it most rewarding when we are working together to make our state a better place.

BUSINESS OUTLOOK

CLASS OF 2014 BILL HERBST

Chairman & Treasurer Bridgers & Paxton Consulting Engineers Inc. Albuquerque When asked what inspired Herbst to become a leader, he stated, Each of us has the ability to make change, but leaders are ordinary people that take their passion and vision, step out of their comfort zone and turn it into action for common good. He would like to see New Mexico focus on education reform, decrease its dependence on government funding and embrace its diverse heritage, culture and traditions. Herbst believes we can do better if we work to find common ground to address the issues facing our education system. We cannot attract, develop and keep businesses without a solid education system, says Herbst. A great example of that is the education and experiences taught through the Core program. Herbst says, Leadership New Mexico promotes building relationships with leaders outside normal business circles while educating participants on the issues facing the state. I now have connections that allow a dialogue with those knowledgeable on most any topic that affect my business and more importantly that affect our state. It has opened doors for me to make a positive difference.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

ADAM HARRINGTON

Chief Financial Officer, Safety Director & Owner HB Construction Albuquerque Harrington states that leadership is hard to define because it is not derived from a title, position or rank; it comes from within and is something you have to live everyday by example. His vision for the state is a place where every person has a real chance to prosper in a safe, constructive environment. Harrington describes the inability to retain college graduates in New Mexico, difficulty in attracting outside investment in our economy and resistance to change as the top issues facing our state. We need to look at our faults and be able to change for the better no matter how difficult or painful it may be, says Harrington. He joined the Leadership New Mexico Core Program to get more involved in the issues that affect our state as a whole and use that knowledge to help educate others.

AL HERNANDEZ

Senior Commercial Lender Los Alamos National Bank Los Alamos Hernandez defines leadership through one of his favorite quotes by John Quincy Adams: If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. His vision for New Mexico is a prosperous and evolving state with jobs, a sound education system and resources to assist those in need. To accomplish that, he would like to strive for performance and excellence in our educational system to create an educated and qualified workforce, to attract new jobs to the state and evolve the state economically. Hernandez is motivated by the Leadership New Mexico Core Program because of his passion for the state. He left New Mexico twice to pursue career opportunities elsewhere and each time returned because of his desire to see New Mexico prosper. This program will assist him in his banking career by providing him with additional tools, knowledge and education needed to contribute to New Mexicos progress and tackle issues such as high poverty throughout the state, education reform and job creation.

DAVID HUGHES

Chief Executive Officer Affordable Solar Albuquerque Hughes considers challenges to be fun and says, fun inspires me. Hughes believes New Mexicos challenges are fixing its poverty levels, high-school dropout rates and dependence on government funding. He would like to see New Mexico help parents raise healthy and productive young people and sees this as fundamental to making positive change within our state. Hughes believes New Mexicos people are its greatest asset, stating, Sixty-five percent of New Mexicos GDP is labor costs, so our biggest strength is people. The best way to leverage this asset is to make New Mexico an attractive place to live, move to and invest in. To improve the future of our state, Hughes continues, Businesses need support to grow and diversify our states economy from the overreliance it has on government funding so it can provide good-paying jobs. Hughes sees himself applying the experiences and education gained through Leadership New Mexico to seek and support allies to implement a positive change in New Mexico. Hughes vision is to increase high-school graduation rates from its current level to 97 percent.

BEVERLY IDSINGA

Executive Director Dairy Producers of New Mexico Roswell Idsinga believes leadership is engaging and motivating others to achieve and accomplish greatness. She envisions the future of New Mexico as a flourishing, dynamic leader in modern agriculture. Coming from an agricultural background, I think its amazing that we have relatively few dairies in New Mexico. However, those dairies are innovative and are constantly required to do more with less. New Mexico is the leader in efficiency in the United States and consistently in the top ten in milk and cheese production, exclaims Idsinga. She would like to see more recruitment efforts throughout New Mexico to bring additional dairy businesses to the state and expand biomass projects to all areas where there are clusters of dairies. She feels New Mexico needs to be more engaged and involved in its thriving, yet diminishing, agriculture industry and to realize how important the industry is to the state and its economy.

AUBREY JOHNSON

Vice President New Mexico Operations PNM Albuquerque Johnsons grandfather and father taught him the value of leadership through family, commitment, and in his words, delivering on what you said you would do. Johnson considers one of the main challenges facing our state is discord, stating, New Mexico needs a vision of success that much of the population can get behind. There is wonderful diversity within the state, but in many ways rather than being a strength it becomes a weakness. We need to form stronger coalitions that focus on driving improvements for the many, rather than the few. Johnson feels he can contribute to this vision by embracing business and commerce. We need to challenge the status quo and empower current leaders to take the necessary risks to move the state forward, says Johnson. Through the Leadership New Mexico Core Program he expects to learn more about issues in New Mexico that are not visible from the surface, and respectfully challenge the leadership of the state to focus on bringing more industry to the state.

JEFFREY KALLIO

Director, Business Management Operations Sandia National Laboratories Albuquerque Kallio describes leadership as actions that come from the heart and soul complemented with being visionary, passionate, creative, flexible, inspiring, innovative, courageous, imaginative, experimental and independent. He believes his work has provided efficient and effective business processes to support national security that have significantly impacted the states gross domestic product dollars flowing into New Mexicos economy. Kallio considers tourism to be one of the top accomplishments in our state, explaining that, New Mexico has numerous outdoor, recreational and artistic destinations that continue to draw vacationers from other states and countries. Our tourism dollars benefit both large retail enterprises and the small mom and pop businesses. Leadership New Mexico has provided him with an educational structure to work with a diverse group of leaders and businesses across the state. The program incorporates invaluable opportunities to discuss New Mexicos economic challenges and issues.

GREG KRAUSE

Executive Vice President Jaynes Corp. Albuquerque Krause is inspired by the young leaders he sees emerging in the construction industry and within his own organization, in his community and throughout the state. He believes that through programs like the Leadership New Mexico Core Program, leaders and future leaders across the state can work together to create a strong bond of continuity. I want to continue to learn more about the other industries in the state and improve the bond of friendship acquired through Leadership New Mexico, says Krause. His zealous attitude about the independence of our state motivates him to push for the state to be united as one. He explains, In New Mexico, there is a mindset that any feat can be accomplished just based on the willingness to succeed. The sheer size of our state, its culture, heritage and diversity breed a strong desire to make things happen for ourselves and for the families in New Mexico.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

CLASS OF 2014 SABRINA MARTIN

Chief Operating Officer & Administrator Rehabilitation Hospital of Southern New Mexico Las Cruces Martin is inspired by positive outcomes in health care, specifically in-patient rehabilitation. Martin explains: Seeing a patient walk out our front door and return to their life after a catastrophic health event motivates me on a daily basis. I am consistently inspired to lead our team to achieve even higher outcomes and reach more people in our community that need our services. Her vision for New Mexico is to sustain a positive reputation for being culturally diverse while becoming a competitive state for business opportunity, education outcomes and financial stability. I believe business owners need to partner with elected officials and the education system to provide the support and guidance in driving the necessary changes that impact positive outcomes, says Martin. Her involvement with Leadership New Mexico allows her to participate in a more purposeful manner, stating, We need to come together as communities and support the efforts to improve our education system, grow businesses and provide an educated workforce.

BUSINESS OUTLOOK

JASON LOTT

Superintendent & State Coordinator National Park Service, Bandelier National Monument Los Alamos Lott describes leadership as recognizing the need for implementing positive change, stating, It is motivating others to do the right thing at the right time. He would like to see a shift in the way the country perceives New Mexico. Our state is a well-established national tourism destination with unique cultures, art and architecture, world-class hunting and fishing and internationally ranked golf courses, says Lott. He expects to implement an extensive long-term national campaign to promote New Mexico and will continue to work to enhance partnerships and opportunities to endorse the national parks, public lands and statewide recreational opportunities. His participation in the Leadership New Mexico Core Program allows him to expand his network and exposure to successful state-level leaders, have a better understanding of state issues and resources, learn new leadership styles and strategies and obtain additional education to become a more-informed, better citizen of the state. Lott states, Leadership New Mexico has a list of alumni with a demonstrated track record of success.

BOB McCARTY

Director of Operations & Chief Financial Officer Technology Ventures Corp. Albuquerque McCarty defines leadership as understanding where ones passion lies and having the confidence to step up, step out and help others accomplish much more than they could accomplish on their own. He joined the Leadership New Mexico Core Program because he recognized the value of the program pulling together diverse individuals from across the state that share a passion for helping New Mexico realize its full potential. As New Mexicans, we can embrace our cultures but not be limited by them; the diversity of our state is one of its greatest assets. My contribution is to help others realize their potential in themselves, their regions and their organizations, he says. McCarty describes one of the biggest accomplishments in the past five years as the implementation of the single-factor sales tax. It helped level the playing field for recruiting enterprises to the state. The recent budget challenges in Washington have helped us recognize that significant dependency on federal revenues is not sustainable, McCarty says.

MINDA McGONAGLE

Owner McGonagle Government Relations Albuquerque McGonagle considers the people, history, landscape, natural resources and technology infrastructure as valuable assets to the success of New Mexico. She is inspired by the potential in New Mexico, stating: In every situation there is the possibility for acceptance, understanding, expansion, correction and healing. It is my hope that I can assist in bringing people and resources together that make a positive difference in the future of our wonderful state. Leadership New Mexico has provided McGonagle the opportunity to travel to communities to get a better understanding of the states foundational structures and issues, providing her with a more meaningful and accurate perspective. Everything is shifting and expanding; being part of this program is rewarding, educational and fun, she says. McGonagle envisions a state where people focus on how to make things work. She would like to see a state that is not afraid of change. She wants New Mexico to be a state where its youth flourish as part of a healthy, vibrant economy against the backdrop of its rich heritage and strong communities.

JEFF MITCHELL

Maintenance Manager ConocoPhillips Farmington Mitchell believes that education, economic development and increasing expenses related to health care are the top three issues facing New Mexico today. New Mexico has experienced slow economic development. We need to find better ways to bring more industry to our state, he says. His vision for New Mexico is to utilize the states abundant resources to enhance economic development. To realize that vision, the state needs to expand tourism through better communication concerning the availability and accessibility of its public lands and increase resource development by pursuing oil and gas shale-play extraction in a responsible manner. Mitchell plans to contribute his time and talent to network with others across the state to generate a strategic approach to reach these objectives. He hopes to gain a broader understanding of what drives the overall economy in the state and gain clarity on what we can do collectively to improve the states financial health.

DOUG MORSE

President Dions Pizza Albuquerque Morse states, I have had the great pleasure of being inspired by many people in my life, starting with my family, my co-workers, the founders of Dions to the many young people who work for us. They have challenged and pushed me to take risks, learn new things and be curious much like a child finding his or her way through this great world. He is motivated by people who are committed to doing the right thing even when others are not looking. Morse is passionate about the strengths in New Mexico. The state has a rural appeal with many larger cities offering comparable amenities and activities. New Mexico has a deeprooted, family-oriented culture perfect for families to raise their children, states Morse. He believes the business community can build upon these assets to promote, preserve and protect the state, while offering incentives to responsible, long-term businesses that will provide stable employment opportunities and improve the states economy and its communities. He urges more attention be brought to health care for rural and low-income families, quality education and attracting and maintaining more industry in the state.

JOE NEVINS

Maintenance Group Deputy Director 58th Special Operations Wing Kirtland Air Force Base Nevins believes leadership is communicating a vision for the organization and leading the team toward reaching that goal. Leadership includes listening and accepting creative ideas from others, setting priorities and making the tough decisions that are best for the team. As a leader in the community, Nevins would like to see New Mexico prepare the next generation of students within the various levels of education with improved science and math skills, as well as new technology. We need to make sure everyone has the opportunity to improve their education, either through college courses or technology and trade schools, he says. His vision is to see the state lead the nation in education reform and become less dependent on federal funds. Nevins is inspired to be part of the Core program. He said, I wanted to become more aware of the issues as well as the challenges of our great state and see how I can contribute. By interacting with leaders from across the state and representing several organizations, I have a better perspective on different approaches to solving tough issues.

EMILY RANSONE

General Manager Goodmans Interior Structures Albuquerque The purpose of Ransones company is to change our community. Ransone is inspired by this vision, stating: It is the reason we get out of bed in the morning. We are not just about furniture; we are about making New Mexico better. She envisions New Mexico as a place to unite its communities by creating an innovation buzz that harnesses its cultural assets to attract young educated talent. To do that, New Mexico needs to find a way to create its own recipe for success using its resources, cultural heritage, beautiful landscape and pride to push the state forward. Ransones experiences and education in the Leadership New Mexico Core Program will help her leverage connections to attract and keep businesses in the state. Her connections through the program provide a great opportunity to help get the brightest minds together to create and implement a plan for economic growth. Ransone considers education improvements, growing business and educational partnerships and improving our tax incentives to be the top three ways in which to attract and keep good talent in our state.

BUSINESS OUTLOOK

CLASS OF 2014 CARLOS RUIZ

Executive Vice President Occam Consulting Engineers Inc. Santa Fe Ruiz defines a leader as a person who listens, evaluates and executes ideas to achieve solutions, visions, objectives and conflict resolution. He considers New Mexicos undeveloped land as economic opportunities to develop ecotourism, cultural, archeological and anthropological tourism, including space tourism, throughout the state. Our state is rich in natural gas and oil, which, with a responsible and ecological approach, can be exploited for the benefit of New Mexicans, says Ruiz. He also believes New Mexicos proximity to Mexico is another strong asset stating, Our location offers lots of open, undeveloped land with great potential for clean industry with a stateof-the-art commercial, international and intermodal port of entry to boost commercial transportation between the two nations. Ruiz plans to provide facts and leadership on the information obtained through the Core program to peers, subordinates and associates. He urges the community to get involved in working with political leaders to implement economic development policies that work responsibly with sensitivity to the environment.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

DARLENE ROSPRIM
County Clerk Eddy County Carlsbad Rosprims vision for New Mexico is for the nation to realize and appreciate the amazing people, beauty and diversity of our great state, along with the many amenities it offers. She describes the states top three accomplishments within the past five years to be New Mexicos progression in health care solutions, decreased spending at the state level and its efforts to become more business friendly. Rosprim prides herself in promoting New Mexico when visiting other states. She defines leadership as the ability to understand and use the assets of the people around you and is motivated by the opportunities Leadership New Mexico offers its participants, stating, You meet a wide variety of leaders throughout the state which I believe has strengthened me as a leader. Rosprim hopes to gain more confidence in becoming a better leader for her community and state, exclaiming, I have definitely grown as a person and made friendships that will have lasting benefits.

CYNTHIA SCHULTZ

President Bradbury Stamm Construction Inc. Albuquerque Schultz describes leadership as surrounding yourself with the right people and then providing them with the ability to excel. Collaboration, creativity and diversity is what makes New Mexico unique. I believe that for New Mexico to achieve its full potential, all of the communities in the state need to work together, says Schultz. We must have an understanding of how we complement each other and how we can be stronger as a team with diverse talents and resources. Although concerned with water resources and health care, education is her top concern. Schultz does believe, however, that New Mexico really has stepped up by providing improved educational facilities in many communities. The state also has worked together to decrease its percapita water use by conservation and developing a growing infrastructure for reclaimed water. Schultz hopes to gain a better understanding of the diversity and unique makeup of our state and to learn how to work together for a better New Mexico through the Leadership New Mexico Core Program.

ERIC STEBBINS

Capital Planning Manager Intel Corp. Rio Rancho Stebbins would like to see New Mexico become a national role model for creating growth opportunities through innovation and collaboration. He states: We need to form a common problem statement that leaders can rally around. Once we agree on the what, the next step is the how. That is where the really tough work lies, and it will take many partnerships and compromise. Stebbins believes New Mexicos unique demographics and geography set us apart from the rest of the nation. We need to better leverage our states rich cultural and creative heritage, strong research and technology assets, vibrant military and government presence, natural resources and geography that inspires tourism, recreation and art. New Mexico has the opportunity to connect those assets to provide a road map for the rest of the country on how to maximize diverse talents into a powerful force for positive change. Leadership New Mexico has broadened Stebbins understanding of New Mexicos strengths and challenges across multiple issues and he plans to use that awareness to volunteer his time to help drive solutions.

J. BRAD STEWARD

President & Shareholder Pulakos CPAs PC Albuquerque Steward believes great leaders influence and inspire others to do great things. His vision for New Mexico is a productive community of citizens that values diversity, encourages excellence, possesses the courage to venture toward new ideas that empowers the state to be self-reliant and rewards success at all levels from education to entrepreneurship. Steward considers his participation in the Leadership New Mexico Core Program as an investment to help him increase his knowledge of the state. He plans to use the experiences provided in the program to identify and obtain detailed knowledge of the common goals and objectives to help move the state forward, stating: We, as New Mexicans, are too dependent on federal and state government. We have lived with political influences that have been well-intentioned, but that have had unintended consequences. Steward believes New Mexico has had success in supporting the states military bases, recent reductions in existing regulations governing oil and gas production and drilling and prudent management of agriculture, wildlife and other natural resources.

PATRICIA SULLIVAN

Assistant Dean, College of Engineering New Mexico State University Las Cruces Sullivans vision for New Mexico is to create an atmosphere that fosters commitment and a sense of pride among New Mexicans to make the state a place we are all proud to call home. She says: Throughout my life, I have been blessed to have been supported, encouraged and mentored by my parents, my family, colleagues and others in leadership positions to lead a life that will positively affect others. As a result, I strive to champion initiatives that have a lasting impact and provide opportunities to create effective partnerships that will enhance the quality of life for the next generation. She believes that one of the biggest strengths in New Mexico is its ability to readily engage dedicated individuals from a variety of backgrounds and geographic regions. We have many assets that should be more effectively leveraged to build and strengthen our economy. The ability to better connect resources with common goals would provide the state with greater support of basic quality of life needs including education, health care and critical infrastructure, says Sullivan.

JIM WEDDELL

Vice President, Advertising & Marketing Albuquerque Publishing Co. Albuquerque Weddell envisions the future of New Mexico as a state where various cultures come together to drive a growing economy that utilizes and enhances all of the states resources. He defines leadership as a united effort within a group of individuals to accomplish a shared vision, finding the strengths and abilities of those members to work together toward a common goal. Weddell considers the top three issues facing New Mexico to be education, health care and poverty, which is why he has decided to participate in the Leadership New Mexico Core Program. He states, Leadership New Mexico has allowed me to get a first-hand look into the challenges facing the state. Weddell is proud of the efforts state government has put into improving educational opportunities, the emerging film industry in the state and also the United States-Mexico border trade efforts that attracted the Union Pacific rail hub to Santa Teresa. He sees these as major accomplishments that have impacted and stimulated the economic growth in our state.

RUSSELL WILLIAMS
Head of Technical Services URENCO USA Eunice Williams thrives in being part of a successful team. I am inspired when I feel my leadership role played a vital part in the companys success, he says. Williams believes New Mexicos strength is in its desire to diversify the types of businesses operating throughout the state. New Mexico continues to work hard to attract new businesses by actively courting and offering appropriate incentives. He considers the biggest challenge in the state to be the aging of its population. We need to attract young professionals into the state by offering challenging opportunities with competitive pay and benefits, suggests Williams. Through increased economic development in the state, his vision for New Mexico is to be a recession-proof economy, which would require the attraction and retention of businesses in all sectors of the economy. Williams continues, I can contribute to this vision by providing the leadership necessary to ensure we are the location of choice for future expansion by my company.