1. travel
2. tourist destinations
3. mexico and central america

bottom line
the
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,UNCHEON
Thursday, Dec. 6
Las Cruces Convention Center,
680 E. University Ave.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
President and Chair columns ................2
Annual Awards Banquet.....................3
Governmental Affairs Issues .................4
Small Business of the Month ................5
Business of the Month ........................6
Military Update Luncheon...................7
Business After Hours ..........................8
Conquistadore Column ......................9
Las Cruces Day in Santa Fe ..................9
Nonprofit Spotlight ............................10
Agriculture Column ............................11
Ribbon Cuttings ................................12
New and Renewing Members ............13
Calendar and Statistics .......................14
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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.
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 4-star accreditation from the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce for best
practices amongst chambers of commerce.
If you are interested in becoming a
member of our growing organization,
contact Vice President of Development
Troy Tudor today at 524-1968 or
ttudor@lascruces.org.
GREATER LAS CR UCES
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
7 6 0 70)#!#(/!6%
LAS CRUCES, NM 88005
524-1968
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The Chamber’s 2012 Leadership Las Cruces program graduated a full class of 28 participants during the Leadership Training/Graduation Ceremony on
&RIDAY.OVATTHE#OLUMBUS#ONFERENCE#ENTER!PPLICATIONSFORTHE,EADERSHIP,AS#RUCESPROGRAMARENOWAVAILABLEATWWWLASCRUCESORG
ANDTHE#HAMBEROFlCE
Chamber graduates 28 leaders
Leadership Las Cruces 2013 now accepting applications
Leadership Las Cruces graduated 28
leaders who are taking their commitment to
the community to the next level on Friday,
Nov. 16.
The Greater Las Cruces Chamber of
Commerce’s premier nine-month leadership program, Leadership Las Cruces, walks
participants through the keys to the region’s
economy and provides them a network of
contacts and friends that will better prepare
them to serve as leaders.
The program begins each March with
an orientation session for class participants. During orientation, classmates get a
chance to know each other by participating
in several personality profile activities where
they can identify their distinct leadership
strengths and those prevalent in others.
Over the next seven months, the class
receives an in-depth look at the areas
of economic development, education,
military, health care, agriculture, regional
government, nonprofit organizations, art
and culture and law enforcement and
their effect on the livelihood of the region.
“The strength of the Leadership Las Cruces
program lies in its diversity. Each year we are
able to work 28 amazing people from a wide
variety of industries and organizations and
show them the strengths and opportunities
available in the Mesilla Valley,” said Joel
Courtney, Chamber communications and
leadership director.
During each day, the class hears from
key figures in the community, tours various
facilities and sees firsthand the innovations
and technology that continuously earn Las
Cruces and the Mesilla Valley recognition from publications around the nation.
See Leadership on page 3
,EADERSHIP
,AS#RUCES
28 participants selected by
application
$900 tuition with scholarships
available for small businesses and
nonprofit organizations
Applications available at
www.lascruces.org/downloads.php
or at the Chamber office, 760 W.
Picacho Ave.
Contact Joel Courtney for more
information at 524-1968 or
jcourtney@lascruces.org
Board
Members
Chair of the Board Richard Haas
Steve Newby Architects & Associates
Chair Elect Leslie Cervantes
Las Cruces Public Schools
Past Chair Margie Huerta
Doña Ana Community College
Treasurer Kiel Hoffman
Pioneer Bank
Secretary Terra Van Winter
New Mexico State University
Member Services Open
Member Events Brandy Darden, chair
Century Bank
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 Mike Beckett
COAS Books
Kelly Duke
MountainView Regional
Medical Center
Janet Green
New Mexico State University
Jaki McCollum
FIG Publications
Phillip Rivera
Memorial Medical Center
Robert Richardson
Bohannan Huston
Council of Sarah Stegall
Conquistadores Surefire Promotional Products
Legal Counsel John Darden
Darden Law Firm
Advisers Tracey Bryan
The Bridge of Southern New Mexico
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
Stan Rounds
Las Cruces Public Schools
Chamber
Staff
End of the year cheer A successful retreat
T
he end of 2012 is fast approaching and with it comes the end of
my term as chair of the board.
Hopefully, we will survive past the end
of the Mayan calendar and have an even
better year in 2013.
It has been a great year for the
Chamber with many successful programs
and goals met. Given a rather sluggish
economy, chamber membership remained
steady and we maintained one of the
highest retention rates in the country.
This year’s theme was connections.
The Chamber has made efforts to connect
with our counterparts in the community,
including both the Hispano and Green
chambers. We have also connected with
RICHARD HAAS
our local government and have active representation from both on our board.
Our community connection will strengthen next year as we move forward to our new home – the historic Armijo House. This project is working
to connect the Chamber to Downtown, to historic preservation, to historic
Hispanic businesses and to a sustainable building project – quite a package.
The Chamber continues its connection to education in our community
through Las Cruces Public Schools and the new Junior Leadership program, with The Bridge and its early college high school and our connection
with Doña Ana Community College that offers a business course to our
members.
A new connection this year is the job skills verification work keys program, a certification process to help employers and applicants find the most
suitable jobs.
Our advocacy connection remains strong and is supported by the
Government Affairs Committee. We continue to represent business interests in front of the city, county and state and will strengthen these connections as we move forward into next year.
We continue to connect to our military through a wide variety of programs and will continue to advocate on their behalf.
Finally, I would like to say what a great honor it has been to serve you
this year as chair of the board. We are very fortunate to have a dedicated
staff and board of directors who strive every day to better the Chamber.
Also, thanks to you, our Chamber members, for your participation.
I couldn’t have asked for a more positive group of people to work with
this year. I hope the Mayans are wrong, because I am certainly looking
forward to seeing you at next year’s events and once again connecting with
you.
Let’s stay connected.
bottom line
the
Liz Banegas
Office Manager
Joel Courtney
Communication and
Leadership Director
Cyndi Armijo
Billing & Database Assistant
Bulletin
T H E
I
want to personally
thank our board of
directors.
Again this year, they
spent their own money
and used their own time
to attend our annual
board retreat. I think
that shows the true
commitment that they
have to the organization.
At this year’s retreat,
we focused on just a few
strategic issues that will
enable us to grow as a
Chamber and deliver the
programs and services
BILL ALLEN
that you, our members,
have told us are
important to you. This work positions us to be even more
relevant to the business community for years to come.
We will now focus more on advocacy on behalf of
our members at all levels and economic development
initiatives for small businesses. In addition, we talked
about working with a couple of specific industries that we
think could use our support.
The remaining item discussed at length was the
Armijo House renovation project, which will come
to the forefront next year as we work on finishing our
capital campaign and begin the construction of our new
permanent home.
We were able to elicit great participation by
approaching things a little differently. Instead of working
around a large board table, we split into small groups,
giving each group an opportunity to present their
thoughts on each item we tackled. It was amazing to listen
to some of the ideas each group presented while working
independently.
One thing we found over the years is to have a
successful retreat, it is necessary to hold it outside of Las
Cruces. Going out of town requires dedication on the
part of all of the attendees and eliminates the possibility
of staying for a part of the meeting then heading out to a
work appointment. Great work was done on behalf of all
of the Chamber’s leadership who selflessly spent their own
money supporting our efforts that has set the stage for our
future.
Richard Haas, Chair of the Board
Bill Allen, President/CEO
Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce
Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce
Bill Allen
President/CEO
Troy Tudor
Vice President of Development
FROM THE PRESIDENT
FROM THE CHAIR
L A S
PUBLISHER
Richard Coltharp
PUBLISHERS EMERITI
Jaki McCollum
David E. McCollum
C R U C E S
2005 Las Cruces
“Business of the Year”
EDITORS
Joel Courtney
Rachel Christiansen
DESIGN
Rachel Courtney, manager
Theresa Montoya Basaldua,
art director
Ramon Gonzalez
Jessica Grady
Steven Parra
Rafael Torres
Mary Zawacki
CONTRIBUTORS
Stephen L. Wilmeth
ADVERTISING
Claire Frohs
Shellie McNabb
Jorge Lopez
Pam Rossi
Jason Scott
DISTRIBUTION
Alyce Bales
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 760 W.
Picacho Ave., Las Cruces, NM 88005. 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 524-8061.
GREATER LAS CRUCES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
81JDBDIP"WFt-BT$SVDFT/.ttXXXMBTDSVDFTPSH
High-quality, Reliable, Award-Winning Products
Local Service and Support for all Office Environments
s Copiers
sPrinters
sFax Machines
sNetworking IT
sPrint Management Services
sDocument Management Solutions
2 s December 2012 s THE BOTTOM LINE
2840 N. Telshor
575-524-4384
ptsofficesystems.com
Preparations under way 2013
Annual Awards Banquet
Chamber honors individuals, businesses and nonprofits
The 2013 Annual Banquet, which allows the Greater Las
Cruces Chamber of Commerce to honor the citizens and
organizations that make the Mesilla Valley a great place to
live and do business, has been set for Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at
the Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 E. University Ave.
The Annual Banquet is the major event in which the
Chamber inducts new officers and board members, outgoing board members are honored for their service and volunteers are recognized for their time.
In 2013, outgoing board member Rob Richardson will
be recognized for his years of service to the Greater Las
Cruces Chamber of Commerce. Incoming Board Chair
Leslie Cervantes will present to the membership her plans
for the Chamber in 2013 and beyond.
The title sponsor for the Annual Banquet is Las Cruces
Public Schools. Other sponsors that support this important event include The LNG Company and Las Cruces
Bulletin.
Awards will be presented to businesses and volunteers
in the following categories: Business of the Year, Citizen
of the Year, Nonprofit of the Year, Volunteer of the Year,
Conquistadore of the Year and Crystal Apple Awards for
the Teacher, Administrator and Rookie of the Year. The
three new awards from 2012 will be continued at the banquet: Small Business of the Year, which will be selected by
the Chamber, and the Firefighter of the Year and Police
Officer of the Year, which will be selected by the City of
Las Cruces.
Nomination forms for the Citizen of the Year, Small
Business of the Year, Business of the Year and Nonprofit of
the Year are included in the December issue of the Bottom
Line on pages 3, 5, 7 and 10, respectively. All nomination
Citizen of
the Year
Citizen of the Year: _______________________________
Address: _____________________________________
!NNUAL!WARDS"ANQUET
Phone number: _________________________________
When
Friday, Feb. 1, 2013
____________________________________________
Where
Las Cruces Convention Center,
680 E. University Ave.
Give specific examples for each.
Cost
$75 per person,
$750 per corporate table
____________________________________________
Contact
524-1968
2. Contributions and service for the welfare and betterment of the
Nominator (No anonymous nominations will be accepted): ___
Please write brief paragraphs on the following criteria.
1. Participation in community activities and civic enterprises
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
community ____________________________________
Register online
www.lascruces.org/downloads.php
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
forms are also available online at the Chamber website at
www.lascruces.org/downloads.php.
“The Annual Banquet allows us to say ‘thank you’ to the
many great people that support the Chamber and the community,” said Bill Allen, Chamber president/CEO.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and interested businesses should contact Troy Tudor, vice president of
development, at 524-1968 or ttudor@lascruces.org.
Tickets for the Annual Banquet are now available for
purchase at $75 per person or $750 per corporate table of
10. Register at the Chamber office by calling 524-1968 or
emailing relo@lascruces.org.
3. Leadership within the community
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
4. Cooperation with individuals and civic organizations
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
5. Previous awards
____________________________________________
Leadership
Continued from page 1
Applications are now being taken for
the 2013 class. Candidates for the
Leadership Las Cruces program are
selected from professional, educational, governmental, nonprofit and
business sectors within Las Cruces
and the Doña Ana County area. The
class size is limited to 28 participants.
An individual must apply in order to
participate in the program with full
support from their employer.
Leadership Las Cruces 2012 was
____________________________________________
sponsored by Memorial Medical
Center. Other sponsors for the year’s
program include Citizens Bank, U.S.
Bank and the Rehabilitation Hospital
of Southern New Mexico.
Tuition for the class is $900,
which includes all meals and travel,
and advance notice will be given of
any additional expense. To apply
for Leadership Las Cruces 2013 or
for more information, contact Joel
Courtney at 524-1968 or jcourtney@
lascruces.org or visit www. lascruces.
org/downloads.php. Applications are
due Friday, Feb. 1, 2013.
____________________________________________
The strength
of the Leadership
Las Cruces
program lies in
its diversity.
JOEL COURTNEY,
Chamber Communications
and Leadership Director
____________________________________________
6. Support of the strategic vision of the Chamber
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Please return nominations to the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of
Commerce no later than Jan. 1, 2012, by mail to P. O. Box 519,
Las Cruces, NM 88004-0519 or by fax at 527-5546.
*For additional space, attach to a separate sheet of paper.
THE BOTTOM LINE s December 2012 s 3
Business organizations take a stance
ACI, U.S. Chamber of Commerce lobby to resolve key issues
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.
This feature highlights 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
The U.S. Chamber is committed to pro-growth tax policies that
preserve America’s global competitiveness, and it opposes tax
increases that reduce businesses’
capital gains and dividends.
t -JNJU UIF UBY SBUF BU XIJDI
itemized deductions reduce tax
ability to grow, invest and create
liability.
jobs. The Chamber believes that
any tax reform should enable busi- t &YUFOEUIFFTUBUFHJGUBOEHFO
eration-skipping transfer taxes
nesses to compete globally, attract
BU UIFJS MFWFMT JF foreign investment, increase capimillion exemption and top rate
tal for investment and drive job
of 45 percent).
creation.
t *O BEEJUJPO UP UBY JODSFBTFT
on small business, the Obama
The facts
budget proposes almost another
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half trillion over 10 years of new
cluding taxpayers earning more
taxes on American businesses.
than $250,000 (married) and
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$200,000 (single) – would see
10 years on American comtheir taxes increase by more
panies operating globally by
than $1 trillion over 10 years
changing the deferral regime
under President Obama’s FY12
and the foreign tax credit rules,
budget proposal. The adminisboth of which currently keep
tration’s plan would:
American companies comt 3FJOTUBUFUIFBOEQFS
petitive in the face of double
cent individual income tax
taxation.
rates.
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creases
from,
for example, the
tion phaseout and limitations
repeal of the last-in, firstout
on itemized deductions.
(LIFO) accounting method
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and punitive taxes on the oil
and gas and coal industries.
The U.S. Chamber’s
pro-growth tax agenda
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and the administration to enact
a pro-growth tax agenda that
brings rates in line with global
competitors and makes compliance simpler.
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reform – the alternative minimum tax (AMT) to protect a
growing number of individuals
and businesses, including many
middle class Americans.
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that fosters job growth, competitiveness and innovation.
t 3FEVDF UIF CVEHFU EFm
cit through higher economic
growth, spending restraint and
entitlement reform – not higher
taxes.
Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce Watch List
Greater Las Cruces
Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber actively follows all
legislation at the local, state and federal
level that can effect the businesses in
the region. Many items on the watch
list are still in the preliminary stages of
development, but Chamber leadership
works with staff and elected officials
at all levels to ensure businesses and
the community are protected from
potentially harmful legislation.
Discussion Item
Status
Action
City of Las Cruces Dust Ordinance
Following
Awaiting final draft, expected before council within next 60 days
City of Las Cruces Vision 2040 Plan - Final
Following
Will continue to monitor next steps in plan implementation
City of Las Cruces One-Stop Permit Shop
Following
Continue to work on establishing follow-on committee
City of Las Cruces Night Sky Lighting Ordinance
Following
Reviewing alternatives and revisions to proposed ordinance
Federal Wilderness Designation for Organ and Potrillos Mountains
Taken position
Continue to review current status
City of Las Cruces Moongate Water
Following
Continue to review current status
City of Las Cruces Proposed Gas Rate Increases
Following
Continue to monitor gas rates proposed by rate payers group
City of Las Cruces Impact Fees
Following
Support implementation of numeric thresholds for implementation
City of Las Cruces Park Impact Fees
Following
Continue to monitor and evaluate
International Green Conservation Code
Following
Awaiting more information
State of New Mexico Spaceport Indemnification legislation
Defeated
Continue to support implementation
City of Las Cruces Security Alarm Ordinance
Taken position
Continue to support security companies’ revised ordinance
Doña Ana County Building Code Adoption
Following
Reviewing codes proposed for adoption by the County
What is the Watch List?
The Chamber’s Issues & Government
Affairs Committee is periodically tasked
with evaluation of proposed or spending actions by the various sectors of government,
including the federal, state, county and city
governments, as well as private groups that
recommend actions to government entities.
4 s December 2012 s THE BOTTOM LINE
These issues vary widely, and may include
new or revised regulations, codes, ordinances and legislation that may have an impact,
both positively and negatively, on the Las
Cruces business community.
These items are evaluated by the committee, and many times proponents and
opponents to the various issues are asked to
present their positions to the committee. On
items that include a near-term time element,
the committee will make a recommendation to the Chamber board of directors on
the research the committee has done, and a
recommendation for the Chamber board to
consider.
On long-term items, these issues are
placed on the Watch List to allow the committee to obtain further information or to
follow issues that can morph and change
PWFS NBOZ NPOUIT 3FHBSEMFTT PG UIF UJNF
element, however, the committee always
looks at every issue through the eyes of our
local business community and strives to provide information to the Chamber leadership
that can then inform the various government
entities of the impact on the businesses that
are the lifeblood of our community.
SMALL BUSINESS OF THE MONTH - DECEMBER 2012
Kosh Solutions
Providing great service at a great price
1021 E. AMADOR AVE., SUITE F t (575) 525-9144 t WWW.KOSHSOLUTIONS.COM
When Koert Council and Josh
Fristoe started Kosh Solutions in
2005, they were looking for the
freedom to be their own bosses
and enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Along the way, they have created a dynamic one-stop shop for
all of Las Cruces computer and
network needs.
“We started Kosh Solutions
right when the economy started
taking a downturn, and a lot of older clients said this is the worst time
to start a business,” Council said,
“but if you can make it through the
recession, you’re obviously doing
something right.”
Shared technical backgrounds
complimented by Council’s sales
and customer service skills and
Fristoe’s accounting and business
management skills, the two owners
found themselves perfectly poised
NOMINEES
January
Break an Egg
to go into business.
Council and Fristoe have
grown their business organically
through word-of-mouth customer
advertising and have expanded
their Las Cruces office at 1021
Amador Ave. to 12 employees, as
well as employing 14 more in the
Albuquerque office and the newly
opened Durango, Colo., office.
Offering a full range of technical
and management services, Kosh can
take care of any computer and technical needs from one-time sales or
repair work to ongoing voice-over
IP, networking and technical management services. The staff is fully
certified for Mac and PC computers along with Microsoft, Mac and
Cisco software.
“We want to provide the best
solutions possible for our customers with the best products, without
going out of scope or getting too
pricey,” Council said.
Council said the management
services were one of the most impressive offerings from Kosh, especially when customers take into
account the unlimited support for
no additional costs.
“People often don’t want to call
for help because they’re afraid they
will be charged for the call, but we
want to make our services more
like a utility, with one monthly
price,” he said. “We can do everything for a lot cheaper than a
business hiring their own fulltime IT staff, and most times we
can do a better job since we have
more knowledge because we have
so many employees.”
The latest expansion for Kosh
beyond the Durango location is
their foray into large-scale cabling.
Kosh Solutions,
located at 1021
E. Amador
Ave., Suite F,
was started in
2005 by Koert
Coucil and
Josh Fristoe.
While the company has always
provided customer cabling for
residential and local businesses,
Council said the company recently
acquired their contractor’s license
and a staff journeyman that allows
them to take on more projects,
such as the new Las Cruces SunNews building.
Kosh Solutions also is now certified in a full range of hospitality
and liquor point-of-sale software
and has the staff capability to support those customers anywhere.
2012 Small Business of the Year
Business name: ___________________________________________________
4. Professional development and advancement opportunities for employees
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Phone number: ___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Contact person in the business: ________________________________________
5. Demonstration of leadership in business community
May
Gift Baskets by G
Nominator (no anonymous nominations will be accepted): ______________________
______________________________________________________________
Please write brief paragraphs on the following criteria. Give specific examples for each.
______________________________________________________________
June
Heart of the Desert
Pistachios & Wine
1. Contributions to community welfare
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
July
Econo Pro Painters
______________________________________________________________
6. Support of the strategic vision of the Chamber
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. Participation in community activities
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
February
Wright Jewelers
March
Kelly Services
April
Zeffiro New York Pizzeria
August
No recipient
September
COAS Books
October
Barb’s Flowerland
November
LifeSupport Medical
December
Kosh Solutions
3. Promotion of business progress in community
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Please return nominations to the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce no later than
Jan. 1, 2013, or by mail to P. O. Box 519, Las Cruces, NM 88004-0519, or by fax at
527-5546.
*For additional space, attach to a separate sheet of paper.
THE BOTTOM LINE s December 2012 s 5
BUSINESS OF THE MONTH - DECEMBER 2012
Arbors of Del Rey
Caring for southern New Mexico’s elders and their families
3731 DEL REY BLVD. t (575) 382-5200 t WWW.VISTALIVING.COM
Cognitive decline can have a devastating
effect on the elderly and family members
who have to endure the effects alongside
their loved ones.
Many times, it can damage whole families, tearing them apart as they struggle to
care for someone while maintaining their
own jobs and personal responsibilities.
That is why Arbors of Del Rey specializes in caring for those with dementia,
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of cognitive decline. Their secure building and 24hour care provide the peaceful environment
for elders suffering from those effects while
the company strives to offer a place where
families can comfortably visit their elders.
Currently, Arbors of Del Rey is the only
free-standing assisted living facility that
specializes in dementia and cognitive decline in southern New Mexico. Its facility is
A resident helps prepare a salad for one of the
facility’s socials.
limited to 24 beds, which provides a closeknit community where each elder can get
the attention they need and deserve.
“We have set up our facility in neighborhoods that mimic our elders’ own houses,”
said Nicky Phillips, executive director for
Arbors of Del Rey. “We encourage our elders to live through the house, not just in
their rooms.
“We have a home-like atmosphere so that
our elders don’t feel like they’re in a health
care facility, and we try to get our staff to live
in our elders’ realities, and we hope this environment helps to slow the disease process.”
While Arbors of Del Rey employs 14
caregivers along with a full-time activity director to keep the elders on side busy and
happy, the stand-out care comes from the
entire staff, from management to the maintenance staff.
“We are very proud that we have a lot
of longevity in our staff, which is rare in the
health care industry and especially in caregivers,” Phillips said. “We have a core group
that has been with us for five to 10 years, and
that speaks to how we do things as a company and the care we provide for our elders.”
Phillips, who previously served as the
manager of the Alzheimer’s Association in
Las Cruces, has worked with the disease
for years, and she has seen what families go
through to place their elders in a facility and
to provide in-home care.
“I hope my knowledge and experience
can help the families on their journey with
this disease,” she said. “It’s an honor that
families have allowed me and my staff to
care for their elders.”
The facility doesn’t have set visiting
hours, because family members are welcome
at any time to come and visit their elders.
Because Arbors of Del Rey serves the entire southern New Mexico region, this helps
families that have to travel to Las Cruces to
have flexibility in visiting their loved ones.
Elders are able to use
Arbors of Del Rey’s
secure backyard just
as they would if they
were living in their own
home. The yard has
a concrete wandering
path with benches
available to enjoy the
outdoors.
Admissions Director
Michael Manzanares
husks corn with one of
the residents.
“We try to have a lot of activities with
our families to ease the process for them,”
Phillips said.
To help ease that transition for any family, not just those doing business with them,
Arbors of Del Rey offers a public support
group for family members at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month. at their facil-
ity, even offering respite care for those who
serve as caregivers themselves.
For those not comfortable meeting at
their facility, Public Relations Director
Michael Manzanares also hosts an informal support group at noon every Thursday
at the Sunset Grill at Sonoma Ranch Golf
Course.
One Source Federal Credit Union - Loans for the Holidays!
We can help you get the gifts you need for the loved ones on your
list! Come in and apply for a Holiday Loan from your credit union!
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s Rates as low as 5.75% APR*
s Loan term- 12 months
s Maximum loan amount- $1,200.00
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BIG NEWS...to share with all of our
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*APR is Annual Percentage Rate. Offer good on approved credit only. Rates and terms subject to change at any time without notice. Does not apply to existing OSFCU loans.Certain restrictions apply. See credit union for details.
6 s December 2012 s THE BOTTOM LINE
Chamber hosts Military Update Dec. 6
Brig. Gen. Gwen Bingham to speak on future of WSMR
White Sands Missile Range
held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
adds an economic impact of more
Thursday, Dec. 6, at the New
than $1.8 million each day to the
Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage
Las Cruces community.
Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs
From employee salaries to
Road.
purchases from local businesses,
The luncheon will feature a
WSMR is intrinsically tied to the
presentation from White Sands
success of the Mesilla Valley, and
Missile Range Commander Brig.
it is quickly becoming the testGen. Gwen Bingham. She will
ing hub for the Department of
speak on the new developments at
BINGHAM
the installation, including Network
Defense’s newest systems.
The second annual Comcast Military Integrated Evaluation, a series of semiUpdate Luncheon presented by the Greater annual field exercises designed to evaluate
Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce will be the Army’s network and field systems.
NOMINEES
January
Advanced Care Hospital of
Southern New Mexico
February
Las Cruces Toyota
March
City of Las Cruces
April
Mesilla Valley Mall
May
Radio of Las Cruces
June
Dion’s
July
Bank of the West
August
Directory Plus
September
Pic Quik
October
El Paso Electric
November
Mesilla Valley Maze
December
Arbors of Del Rey
Bingham assumed command of White
Sands Missile Range in September this year.
Prior to this post, she served in a wide variety of leadership positions throughout her
career, including service as quartermaster
general for the Army and the commandant
of the Army Quartermaster School at Fort
Lee, Va.
The Chamber’s Military Update
Luncheon is the final event of the
Membership Update Luncheon series,
which has included presentations on health
care, education, state government and commercial spaceflight.
“The membership luncheons allow us to
keep our membership informed about the
newest developments in the community that
effect business owners and employees,” said
Chamber President/CEO Bill Allen.
The Military Update Luncheon is sponsored by Comcast, Pioneer Bank, FirstLight
Federal Credit Union, Jacobs Technology,
El Paso Electric Co., Millennium Health
& Wellness and Las Cruces Bulletin. Other
sponsorship opportunities are still available for the event. For more information on
available sponsorships, contact Troy Tudor,
Chamber vice president of development, at
524-1968 or ttudor@lascruces.org.
Tickets to the Military Update Luncheon
are $20 for members or $40 for nonmembers. To register, contact the Chamber
office at 524-1968 or relo@lascruces.org or
register online www.lascruces.org.
2012 Business of the Year
Business name: ___________________________________________________
4. Professional development and advancement opportunities for employees
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Phone number: ___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Contact person in the business: ________________________________________
5. Demonstration of leadership in business community
Nominator (no anonymous nominations will be accepted): ______________________
______________________________________________________________
Please write brief paragraphs on the following criteria. Give specific examples for each.
______________________________________________________________
1. Contributions to community welfare
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
6. Support of the strategic vision of the Chamber
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
2. Participation in community activities
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
3. Promotion of business progress in community
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Please return nominations to the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce no later than
Jan. 1, 2013, or by mail to P. O. Box 519, Las Cruces, NM 88004-0519, or by fax at
527-5546.
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
*For additional space, attach to a separate sheet of paper.
THE BOTTOM LINE s December 2012 s 7
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS AT GALLERIA OF BUSINESSES
Brandy
Darden of
Century Bank,
Mary Beth
Reinhart and
Chamber
Billing &
Database
Assistant
Cyndi Armijo
check in
guests for the
Galleria of
Businesses
Thursday,
Nov. 1, at the
Las Cruces
Convention
Center.
Jenny Britton of Advocare networks with Jean Briley of Mesilla
Valley Hospice.
Conquistadore Don Buck catches up with Angela Tolliver of Protection 1.
Eldelisa Nava of LegalShield shares a laugh with Carlos Parra of
Restaurants de Las Cruces.
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1PTJUJWF
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BOETBWFE
POPVSUBYFT
8 s December 2012 s THE BOTTOM LINE
Karissa Doan of Pioneer Bank meets with Jason McWillie of Hard Hat Construction and Leslie
Martinez of FirstLight Federal Credit Union.
Marina Atma of Doña Ana Community College Customized Training
Program samples the drinks from David Hicks of the Las Cruces
Convention Center.
Patrick O’Boyle and Racquel Enriquez of Jason’s Deli offer a
sample to Lafe Gottschling of Bravo Mic Communications.
4DPUU'SBO
4PMBSQPXFSFETJODF"QSJM
3PPGUPQTZTUFNTJ[FL8
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-PBOT QSPWJEFE CZ &OFS#BOL 64" & #SJDLZBSE 3E 4VJUF 4BMU -BLF $JUZ 65 PO BQQSPWFE DSFEJU GPS B MJNJUFE UJNF 3FQBZNFOU UFSNT WBSZ GSPN UP NPOUIT *OUFSFTU
XBJWFE JG SFQBJE JO EBZT GJYFE "13 FGGFDUJWF BT PG +VOF TVCKFDU UP DIBOHF
$BMMVTGPSBGSFFRVPUF
CONQUISTADORE CORNER
Farewell for now
T
his is my last article for
the Bottom Line as chair
of the Conquistadores. It
is always so surprising to me how
quickly time passes.
It has been a busy year with
ribbon cuttings, chamber events,
planning for Las Cruces Day
in Santa Fe and recruiting new
Conquistadores.
At our Fall Quarterly, we inducted four more Conquistadores.
Janet Acosta-Clifton of
MountainView Regional Medical
Center and John Dick-Peddie of
First Savings Bank were assigned
to the Green Team.
Belinda Mills of the Las
Cruces Sun-News and Georgia
Lane, owner of Gift Baskets
by G, were assigned to the Red
It has
been an honor
to serve as the
Chair of the
Council of
Conquistadores
for the year
2012.
Team. Their commitment to the
Conquistadores and the Chamber
is appreciated.
The New Business
Scholarsship Program is in place
and will be offered in 2013.
Troy Tudor, vice president of
development of the Greater Las
Cruces Chamber of Commerce,
who authored this program, said,
“This is an initiative which aims
to encourage new businesses as a
part of our community culture and
increase instances of their success.
The mission is to increase the success of the business community by
addressing and nurturing local entrepreneurs and their new business
in any industry sector.”
This program will offer a
Business Partner Membership
to the selected applicant and will
include assistance and guidance in
utilizing resources offered by the
Chamber.
A few applicants will be
selected throughout the year
based on certain criteria such as a
business with four employees or
less, in business for not more than
two years, never been a member
of the Greater Las Cruces
Chamber of Commerce, provide
a fully completed application,
provide two letters of reference
or recommendation, be located
at a commercial address and
participate in an interview if
selected as a finalist. We are very
excited to offer this program
through the Conquistadores.
Further details can be obtained by
calling the Chamber at 524-1968.
It has been an honor to serve
as the Chair of the Council of
Conquistadores for the year
2012. As with any new position,
there is both the challenge and
opportunity to learn and grow
from the experience. I thank
SARAH STEGALL
the Conquistadores for the trust
and support they have provided
throughout the year.
Sarah Stegall
Chair of the Council of
Conquistadores 2012
Greater Las Cruces
Chamber of Commerce
LAS CRUCES DAY IN SANTA FE
Registration open for LCDSF Jan. 26-28
Early-bird registration special through December 31
Registration is now open for the 2013
Las Cruces Day in Santa Fe that gives Las
Crucens the opportunity to network and
lobby as a community at the state capital.
The event is scheduled for Saturday
through Monday, Jan. 26-28, 2013.
This year’s Las Cruces Day in Santa
Fe (LCDSF) continues the Legislative
Recognition Reception event added in
2011 as well as the traditional Legislative
Breakfast and Bruncheon and the popular visit to the Governor’s Residence.
The Legislative Recognition Reception will
invite all of the Doña Ana County state legislators to meet and network with Mesilla
Valley business leaders on the first evening
of the event.
The 2013 event will also feature the Las
Cruces Expo in the Roundhouse. Booths
for the LCDSF Expo are available for only
$100.
The host hotel for 2013 will be the
Eldorado Hotel & Spa, 309 W. San Francisco
St., in Santa Fe. Reservations can be made
at Eldorado by calling 800-955-4455, and
registrants should be sure to mention the
event by name to receive the group rate.
The LCDSF rate will be available on a
first-come, first-served basis. Shuttle service
will be provided to the Governor’s Residence
Reception on Sunday.
All other events will be held in the
Eldorado. Registration for Las Cruces Day
in Santa Fe is $125 per person, but registrations paid before Jan. 1, 2013, will receive
a $15 early-bird discount. The fee includes
admission to the Governor’s Residence
Reception.
No refunds or cancellations will be accepted after Jan. 11, 2013.
Sponsors for the 2013 Las Cruces Day
in Santa Fe include breakfast and brunch
sponsor MountainView Regional Medical
Center and the Governor’s Residence sponsors Comcast New Mexico State University.
The Legislative Reception sponsors are the
City of Las Cruces and Doña Ana County.
The Hospitality Suite sponsor is Memorial
Medical Center. Other sponsors include Las
Cruces Public Schools, El Paso Electric Co.
,AS#RUCES$AYIN
3ANTA&E
Saturday, Jan. 26
6 to 8 p.m. Legislative Recognition
Reception in the Eldorado Court
7 to 10 p.m. Networking in the
Eldorado Presidential Suite
and Las Cruces Bulletin.
Other sponsorship opportunities are still
available, and interested businesses should
contact Kiel Hoffman at 532-7520 for more
information.
Items for the Las Cruces Day in Santa
Fe goodie bags are being accepted at Pioneer
Bank, 3831 E. Lohman Ave. The donor of
the best prize will be awarded $100 in gift
certificates.
To register for Las Cruces Day in Santa
Fe, call the Chamber office at 524-1968 or
visit www.lcdsf.com.
Sunday, Jan. 27
Noon to 2 p.m. Legislative Brunch in
Eldorado Sunset Room
4 to 6 p.m. Reception at the
Governor’s Residence
7 to 10 p.m. Networking in the
Eldorado Presidential Suite
Monday, Jan. 28
7 to 9 a.m. Legislative Issues Breakfast
in the Eldorado Court
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Expo at the Rotunda of
the State Capitol
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lobbying at the
Rotunda of the State Capitol
NEW MEXICO’S EXPERTS IN
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE
FOR 20 YEARS.
505.345.7260 or 800.788.8851 www.NewMexicoMutual.com
SM
SM
THE BOTTOM LINE s December 2012 s 9
Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary
6890 %!',%2/!$s,!3#25#%3.- 88012s3!.#45!290(/.%805-5338
840 %,0!3%/2/!$s,!3#25#%3.- 88001s4(2)&434/2%0(/.%541-4942
7773!&%(!6%.!.)-!,3!.#45!29.%4
Mission:
We strive to be a leader in the care and
treatment of cats and dogs as companion
animals. By example and through outreach
efforts, we educate the public about how
to properly care for their pets. We practice
and advocate spaying and neutering to
reduce pet over population. We envision a
community in which all domestic animals
are properly cared for in loving homes and
where there are no more homeless pets.
Purpose:
We provide a safe and loving
environment for pets whose owners are no
longer able to care for them and for those
pets abandoned and found as strays. Our
goal is to find new homes for these pets.
Those not re-homed will live out their
lives at Safe Haven.
Key goals:
We plan to increase awareness of
the Safe Haven organization and draw
more prospective adopters of animals
to the location at Eagle Road through
increased appointments with the adoption
counselors at the facility.
By expanding overall capacity at the
sanctuary, there will be a larger number
of animals to select from and a greater
chance for a higher rate of turnover in
order to find more homes for more pets.
We also plan to increase the number of
foster homes, thereby providing a greater
./-).%%3
January
Child Crisis Center of Southern NM
February
Community Foundation of Southern NM
-ARCH
Salvation Army
April
Doña Ana Arts Council
-AY
Asombro Institute for Science Education
June
Las Cruces Home Builders Association
July
DACC Customized Training and Workforce
Development Program
August
Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc.
September
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern NM
/CTOBER
Cowboys for Cancer Research Inc.
.OVEMBER
Mesilla Valley Hospice Inc.
$ECEMBER
Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary
10 s December 2012 s THE BOTTOM LINE
chance for those pets needing more
attention and more focused interaction
with their human families in order to
make them more adoptable.
A targeted volunteer campaign is aimed
at increasing the base of volunteer help,
which is the backbone of the organization.
Volunteers are needed in many areas, both
at the sanctuary and at the store.
Sales at the Thrift Store provide the
greater part of the monthly operating
budget for the sanctuary.
History:
Juanita Fisher brought Safe Haven
Animal Sanctuary into being in 1996. She
had been a visitor and volunteer at Best
Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah,
and wanted the same type of organization
for Doña Ana County.
NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT
needed to run the sanctuary.
The whole purpose and focus of Safe
Haven has always been and always will be
the animals. It is estimated that more than
5,000 pets have been rescued and placed
3AFE(AVEN
!NIMAL3ANCTUARY in adoptive homes. Since all have been
ISANOKILLANIMAL spayed or neutered, that equals several
SHELTERLOCATED
thousand animals no longer wandering the
ONACRES
streets of our community.
IN$O×A!NA
Safe Haven exists because of the
#OUNTY3INCE
generosity of our many benefactors who
ITSINCEPTIONIN
MORETHAN donate items and money. Without a
PETSHAVE team of volunteers, SHAS would never
have been able to take in and care for the
BEENPLACEDIN
ADOPTIVEHOMES animals as it has done to this day.
Without funding and with no
permanent location, Fisher set about to
rescue as many cats and dogs as possible
on her own.
Some of Fisher’s friends had been
housing the rescued animals on their
property, and finally SHAS purchased 2.7
acres from them and decided to make this
their permanent home. Shortly thereafter,
Fisher decided to move to Texas, and a
board of directors was selected to operate
SHAS as a 501c(3) nonprofit corporation.
The major source of funding was the
generous donations and bequests from
Safe Haven supporters. The SHAS
Thrift Store was established to help pay
operating expenses. In 2010, the store
evolved into a boutique thrift store in a
new location at 840 El Paseo Road. This
store provides 70 percent of the funds
Key people to know:
t &YFDVUJWF%JSFDUPS-PSOB)BSSJT
t 4BODUVBSZ.BOBHFS+FĊ#BSLFS
t ɩ
SJGU4UPSF.BOBHFS*TNBFM-VKBO
Events and activities:
Offsite adoptions take place the
first three Saturdays of each month at
1FU4NBSU&-PINBO"WF
We have an information and donation
CPPUIBUUIF8BM.BSUPO7BMMFZ%SJWFPO
the fourth Saturday of each month and at
other locations as they become available.
Future plans:
We plan to increase the number of
foster homes, thereby providing a greater
chance for those pets needing more
attention and more focused interaction
with their human families in order to
make them more adoptable.
2012 Nonprofit of the Year
Nonprofit name: ____________________________________________
3. Development and training of volunteers ___________________________
Address: _________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Phone number: _____________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Contact person in organization:___________________________________
4. Years of service to the community _______________________________
Nominator: (no anonymous recommendations will be accepted)
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Please write brief paragraphs on the following criteria.
________________________________________________________
Give specific examples of each.
5. Cooperation with other organizations ____________________________
1. Diversity and depth of services offered
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
2. Impact and contributions to the community _________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Please return nominations to the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce no later
than Jan. 1, 2013, or by mail to P. O. Box 519, Las Cruces, NM 88004-0519, or
by fax at 527-5546.
*For additional space, attach to a separate sheet of paper.
The battle of Doña Ana County
Land use planning is in federal hands
By Stephen L. Wilmeth
There is a broken record being played
from Doña Ana County.
The tune is not catchy. It is monotonous
and it lacks any harmony.
Round six of the Organ Mountain
Wilderness campaign is being played out, and
the goal is designated wilderness in any shape
or form. This is the most dangerous of all proposals and it is going to the president. The
Antiquities Act is the angle and New Mexico’s
Centennial Celebration is the excuse.
The acts
The first hint the Organ Mountains was
slated for wilderness was the assessment
required by the Federal Lands Policy and
Management Act.
In 1991, Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan
signed the Decision of Record and sent the
matter to the president. Some 30,000 acres
of the Organs were deemed to have wilderness characteristics by the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM). Neither President
George H.W. Bush nor any of his successors acted on the report.
Before the turn of the century, New
Mexico Congressman Joe Skeen suggested
a National Conservation Area (NCA) for
the Organs. His 58,000-acre idea went
nowhere.
Round two began when the New Mexico
Wilderness Alliance (NMWA) inventoried
lands in 2003 for its own version of wilderness. Notwithstanding BLM’s analysis,
NMWA found 393,362 acres that met its
standards.
An effort was then made to get New
Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici to carry a bill
to protect 217,500 acres. The proposal failed
when he realized there wasn’t adequate local
support. Domenici backed away and left a
lingering void.
In 2006, NMWA started round three
with a suggestion for 325,407 acres of
wilderness. That idea went nowhere until Domenici retired in 2008 and the torch
was passed to Sen. Jeff Bingaman. In 2009,
Bingaman, along with the New Mexico’s
new junior senator, Tom Udall, introduced
S.B.1689 with 259,050 acres of wilderness
and NCA buffers.
The expectation was high. The Democrats
controlled the White House, the Senate, the
House, every natural resource committee,
the governorship of New Mexico and every
governing body in Doña Ana County. The
bill failed to get traction and died at the end
of the 2010 session.
In 2011, the senators were back. They
started round five of the process with their
S.B. 1024 that now encompassed nearly
400,000 acres. The Organ Mountains-Doña
Ana County Conservation and Protection
Act had more than 241,000 acres of designated wilderness without a hint of that designation in its title.
By the end of that year, there was indication that bill was also going nowhere.
Following the anti-Democratic backlash
of the midterms of 2010, the House was
no longer a favorable path to wilderness.
New Mexico Republican Rep. Steve Pearce
was back in office and sought to blaze his
own path for protective measures in the
Organs. He introduced HM.4334, the
Organ Mountain National Monument
Establishment Act. It followed Skeen’s idea
that called for 58,012 acres with protection
for local customs and culture. The greens
hated it.
Round six was revealed in March when
the Las Cruces Sun-News announced the
county was going to be home of America’s
next major national monument. The Organ
Mountains was the story line until a bit of
simple math indicated they would only be
10 percent of the proposal. The new national
monument was going to be 600,000 acres.
The plan is a Bingaman-Udall bill on
steroids. It took the boundaries of all plans
and expanded them. What became most explosive, though, was that the plan was not
going through congressional channels. The
plan was going directly to President Obama
under his authority of Executive Order.
The front story
The Doña Ana saga has become another federal lands debate with the proponents shaping the battlefield to focus on the
ranching community. Their tactic has been
one of patronizing support, but as soon as
the debate becomes negative, the tune of
“Cattle Free” by ’93 or ’03 eerily reemerges.
The green bias in the local papers has continued to explore that tired approach, but
the community isn’t buying it.
The issue of watershed management
advanced by the local soil and water
conservation districts and the Elephant
Butte Irrigation District is an example. The
county population is concentrated along
the narrow Rio Grande Valley. Because
residential growth has been forced into that
narrow corridor, the losses of farmland and
flood control are huge issues. Reclamation
dams built more than 50 years ago now
provide the primary protection for housing
developments because growth has been
disallowed onto less productive federal
The Organ
Mountain
Wildnerness
campaign
has been in
federal hands
since 1991.
land not impacted by the flood plain. That
problem is made infinitely worse when the
Bingaman-Udall bill allows only 300 to
1,000 feet buffers into those surrounding
federal lands. Flood control management
will be worst case because options will be
limited to large scale projects within the
buffer zones rather than lesser cost, upslope
alternatives.
Public scoping was nonexistent. A short
list of scoping oversight impacted by the national monument footprint would include
the domestic water supply to the village of
Hatch, a major FAA radar site, a major microwave sight, more than 60 parcels of private land, nearly 70 percent of the cattle in
the county, more than 80 sections of state
trust land, and the headquarters of the largest ranch in the county, the Corralitos. It is a
property rights debacle.
What is more frightening comes from
proponents’ publicized management plan
recommendations. Among the most offensive is the intent to acquire all private and
state lands, the intent to disallow any new
leases, and the ordering of BLM to conduct
yet another inventory to identify lands with
wilderness characteristics. Their recommendation then demands to “manage those
lands to protect those values.” That is an
overt end run to de facto wilderness without
Congressional action.
Border security is another continuing
nightmare. The only thing that has kept the
smuggling corridors in Doña Ana County
from being full blown Arizona Class companion routes are the absence of cartel safe
havens on the American side of the border.
Designated wilderness and national monument will assure those save havens for the
bad guys.
The back story
A most critical story isn’t being told.
What the public sees is another classic federal lands conflict. It has a national security
component with an inevitable run back to
another public lands rancher debate. A rewilding component could be added for zest,
but that still leaves the question why and
how this county’s most influential governing
bodies could support such anti-agricultural
proposals when agriculture in the county returns more than $500 million annually.
Standing against the proposals are some
powerful forces. The New Mexico Farm
Bureau, the Doña Ana County sheriff, the
village of Hatch, the Greater Las Cruces
Chamber of Commerce and more than 800
businesses have opposed all proposals. Their
stance has meant nothing.
Ignoring the will of the majority of residents who have duties, responsibilities, and
investments on the land affected, the Doña
Ana County Commission and the Las
Cruces City Council voted a combined 11-0
to pass resolutions supporting the 600,000
acre national monument. The commission
then sent a member to Washington to present their resolution to the president with the
assurance the county is fully united in support of the national monument.
That commission’s representative, Billy
Garrett, is a retired Department of Interior
official. He was a Park Service planner,
and he knows about the process including
contacts for national monument designation. City Councillor Nathan Small works
for NMWA, the group that has repeatedly
pushed the proposals. He has been assigned
to the project since the beginning of the
process. Both of these elected officials share
a relationship to a man who has engineered
an amazing series of campaign victories.
Don Kurtz, a progressive campaign strategist and organizer, has successfully managed
an estimated 50 of 52 Doña Ana County
campaigns in the last several years. He has
demonstrated he will run a progressive candidate against an incumbent Democrat in a
primary if the dynamics support a positive
progressive outcome.
Although some such as Democratic City
Councillors Greg Smith and Miguel Silva
reject the notion, many believe Kurtz controls each of votes in the recent 11-0 juggernaut. That is the troubling back story. How
many of these organizers exist, and how do
they operate without obvious support?
The Doña Ana County outcome is critical to local customs and cultures, but more is
at stake. Many believe the persistence of this
effort has more to do with future land use
modeling than the landscape itself. That is
the real story, and it must be stopped.
Stephen L. Wilmeth is a rancher from southern
New Mexico. This article was originally published
in the Fall 2012 edition of Range Magazine and is
printed here with permission.
WISHING YOU GOOD TIMES, GOOD CHEER,
AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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THE BOTTOM LINE s December 2012 s 11
RIBBON CUTTINGS
METRO VERDE SOUTH – October 27 – Steinborn & Associates Real Estate Owner/Broker John
Hummer cuts the ribbon while Emmanuel Dominguez of NetSolar Construction, Jason Lorenz of Veloz
Homes and Michelle Martin of Steinborn & Associates Real Estate/Enchanted Desert Homes hold the
proclamations.
BOWLIN TRAVEL CENTERS – November 7, 3415 S. Harrelson St. – Assistant General Manager
Tom Osburn looks on while General Manager Alfred Villegas cuts the ribbon and Office Manager
Sherry Wright and Direct Ship Manager Julie Story hold the proclamation.
COUNSELING
LAS CRUCES –
October 31, 737
S. Campo St. –
Licensed Medical
Health Counselor
Andrea Dresser
cuts the ribbon
while her mother
Norine Dresser
holds the
proclamation.
MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE – November 2, 411 N. Main St. – State Sen. Mary Kay Papen
cuts the ribbon while Museum Manager Mike Walczak, Education Curator Kimberly Hanson and
Administrative Assistant Leticia Soto hold the proclamations.
BEASLEY, MITCHELL CO. – November 15, 509 S. Main St. –
CPA/Partner Don Beasley and CPA/Partner Christine Wright cut
the ribbon while CPA/Partner Brad Beasley and CPA/Partner Beth
Fant hold the proclamations.
POSITIVE ENERGY SOLAR – October 26, 510 S. Main St. –
Field Manager Conor Black, Solar Advisor Paul Heiberger and CEO
Regina Wheeler hold the proclamations while founder and CTO Allan
Sindelar and Branch Manager Mark Westbrock cut the ribbons.
SOUTHWEST HAZARD CONTROL – November 1, 250 N. 17th
St. Suite B – CEO Chrisann Karches cuts the ribbon while New
Mexico Division Manager Richard Serna holds the proclamation.
MAIN STREET DOWNTOWN – November 17 – Mayor Ken
Miyagishima cuts the ribbon while City Councillor Miguel Silva
holds the proclamation.
CITY OF LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING
FACILITY – November 11, 9201 Zia Blvd. – City Councillor
Nathan Small holds the proclamation while City Manager Robert
Garza cuts the ribbon.
SOROPTOMIST INTERNATIONAL OF LAS CRUCES –
November 14 – Charter member Karen Pogue holds the proclamation
while First Vice President Joan Dormody cuts the ribbon.
Everything you want to know about Las Cruces
Featuring 260 pages of:
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New Members
Charles-Fleming Construction Inc.
Wendy Charles
649-7665
Mr. Hats
Juan Balderrama
650-3825
Sacred Power Corp.
Odes Caster
505-242-2292
Savoy de Mesilla
Eileen Flint
527-2869
Renewing Members
American Document Services
Rick Jackson
Exit Realty Horizons
Divelia Babbey
Ben Archer Health Center
Mary Rooker
First Savings Bank
John Dick-Peddie
Big Red Chef LLC - Personal Chef
Lynn Linde
Flair Homes Inc.
David Blackmon
Bug Guy Pest Control
Jeff Murray
Flowerama
David Watson
Coordinated Home Health Care
Scott Wells
Green Lizard
Paul Korody
Cunningham Services LLC
Lee Cunningham
Hilton Garden Inn
Heidi Poole
DACC Career Services
Rosa De La Torre-Burmeister
Junior Achievement of New Mexico
Krista Martinez
DACC Customized Training Program
Dr. Bill Glenn
Los Compas Cafe
Margarita Gutierrez
Las Cruces
Quick
Facts
LABOR MARKETS
Massage Envy
Rod Reyes
Outback Steakhouse
Dustin York
Pat Campbell Insurance LLC
Kerry Hixon
R-Con Construction Inc.
Ric & Renee Araiza
Science Technology
Paul Deason
SCORE Las Cruces Chapter 397
Bill Grigaliunas
Telstar Networks
Jodie York
HOUSING PRICE INDEX
Employment
Oct.-12
Oct.-11
% change
Las Cruces
86,066
87,003
-1.1%
Statewide
876,989
865,073
1.4%
U.S. (in thousands)
144,039
140,987
2.2%
Unemployment Rate
Oct.-12
Oct.-11
Difference
Las Cruces
6.2%
6.8%
-0.6%
Statewide
6%
7%
-1%
(All Sources)
U.S. data
7.5%
8.5%
-1%
Permits
Valuation
Source: New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
2nd Quarter
2012
161.13
281.55
311.82
Las Cruces
New Mexico
United States
2nd Quarter
2011
166.15
288.31
313.76
% change
Jan.-Oct. 12
Jan.-Oct. 11
% change
2,185
$147,246,121
2,109
$125,478,750
3.6%
17.3%
-3%
-2.3%
-0.6%
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency
BUILDING PERMITS
Las Cruces Area
Source: City of Las Cruces
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THE BOTTOM LINE s December 2012 s 13
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SCHEDULE
EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
DECEMBER 2012
Sunday
Monday
2
Tuesday
Wednesday
3
4
Thursday
5
Administrative Assistant
Friday
Saturday
1
11:30 a.m. Military
Update Luncheon, New
Mexico Farm & Ranch
Heritage Museum
4 p.m. Ribbon Cutting,
Sacred Power Corp.
5:30 p.m. Business
After Hours, Millennium
Health & Wellness/
Club Fitness
6
7
8
11:30 a.m. Small Business
Workshop, Las Cruces
Convention Center
First Day of
Hanukkah
Apply for an Administrative Assistant position with the
Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce. Applicants
should be able to provide professional and friendly
customer service, be articulate on the telephone and
be knowledgeable in Microsoft Office, Quicken and
QuickBooks. Send a résumé or contact Liz Banegas
at 524-1968 or liz@lascruces.org for further details.
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.
3:30 p.m. Ribbon
Cutting, Savoy
de Mesilla
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
FULFILLING THE
COMMUNITY NEED
Winter Begins
16
17
18
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Chamber Office
closed all day
Chamber Office
closed all day
23
24
19
20
21
22
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.
11,391
104
117
people have visited the Chamber’s website.
25
26
27
28
people have inquired about individual relocation.
29
New Year’s Eve
referrals have been issued for members.
Chamber Office
closed all day
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
30
31
OPEN TO PUBLIC
PRIVATE EVENT
OPEN TO MEMBERS
Looking ahead
Saturday, Jan. 26-Monday, Jan. 28, 2013
Las Cruces Day in Santa Fe
Eldorado Hotel & Spa
Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013
Literacy Conference
Gym Magic
Friday, Feb. 1, 2013
Annual Banquet
Las Cruces Convention Center
4 p.m....................Las Cruces Day in Santa Fe Committee
4 p.m.......................Conquistadore Executive Committee
4 p.m. ..............Issues & Governmental Affairs Committee
7:30 a.m. ..........Military Affairs Committee, MV Hospice
9 a.m. .............................. Commercial Space Committee
11 a.m. .................................Events & Benefits Committee
Dec. 10 Noon............................... Member Retention Committee
Dec. 11 4 p.m.............................. Finance & Executive Committee
Dec. 18 4 p.m................................................. Board of Directors
Dec. 19 7:30 a.m. ..........Education Committee, Housing Authority
11 a.m. ......................................... Small Business Council
4 p.m..................Marketing & Public Relations Committee
Dec. 3
Dec. 5
Dec. 6
Dec. 7
Dec. 13
*All above meetings are held in the Chamber boardroom unless specified otherwise.
Business Banking Made
5 LOCATIONS IN
LAS CRUCES
14 s December 2012 s THE BOTTOM LINE
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CHAMBER MEMBER BRIEFS
Barela to speak at
December luncheon
New Mexico Economic Development
Secretary Jon Barela will be the featured
speaker at the December MVEDA Business
in the Borderplex Luncheon.
The luncheon will be held from 11:30
a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the Hotel
Encanto de Las Cruces, 705 S. Telshor
Blvd.
Barela will present the New Century
Jobs Agenda, a legislative plan to invest in
small businesses and job creators, workers,
infrastructure and rural communities to
make the state more competitive and attract
private investment.
The meeting, which is open to the public,
will begin with a hot entrée buffet.
The cost is $20 per person, payable by
cash, check or major credit card. Due to space
limitations, reservations are required. Email
rsvp@mveda.com or call the MVEDA office
at 525-2852 by Friday, Nov. 30.
Export seminar set
The Las Cruces Small Business
Development Center and the International
Business Accelerator will present “Exploring
Your Market in Mexico” from 1 to 4:30
p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, at the Doña Ana
Community College Branch, 2345 E.
Nevada Ave., Suite 101.
Speakers will include SBDC Director
Fred Owensby, Gateway to Exporting trade
specialist Magaly Sanchez and trade specialist Adriana Castillo.
Robert Queen, director of El Paso/
southern New Mexico U.S. Export
Assistance Center, will give an overview of
the International Trade Administration’s
programs.
The seminar also will feature a Mexico
2012 economic overview at 3 p.m. with Jerry
Pacheco, director of International Business
Accelerator, and an overview of Mexico’s
Maquiladora industry and supplier opportunities with Julio Jimenez, Gateway to
Exporting trade specialist.
There is no charge for attending, but
seating is limited.
For more information, call 589-2200 or
email adriana@nmiba.com.
Hispano Chamber
announces new
board members
The Hispano Chamber of Commerce
de Las Cruces has announced its new slate
of officers for 2013: Kirk Clifton, board
of directors president; Georgia Lane, vice
president; Richard Aguilar, treasurer; and
Antoinette Fuentes-Knapp, secretary.
Jeff rey Silva will continue serving on the
board as ex officio in an advisory role. John
Muñoz will also continue on the board in an
advisory role.
Clifton currently serves as vice president
and as the chair of the government affairs
committee. He is a native of Las Cruces,
having graduated from New Mexico State
University. Clifton is employed by El Paso
Electric Co., Land Acquisitions, and also
serves Gov. Susana Martinez on two stateappointed boards.
“I am honored to not only serve the
(chamber) board and community in this capacity, but to also serve as an advocate for all
businesses throughout the region,” he said.
“We will work hard to provide our members
with exceptional benefits while advocating for legislation that promotes economic
development, business and job growth and
a conducive environment for businesses to
operate and grow.”
Lane currently serves on the board as the
education chair and membership co-chair.
Las Cruces Accounting
Firm Celebrates 25 Years
Beasley, Mitchell & Co. LLP, a Las
Cruces-owned and operated public accounting firm, is celebrating 25 years of providing service to individuals and businesses
throughout the Las Cruces community and
surrounding area. Beasley, Mitchell & Co.
has established itself as an important community partner and a trusted provider of
accounting services and financial advice.
First established in 1987 by founding
partners Don Beasley and Paul Mitchell, the
firm has expanded over the years to provide
a greater range of services and capabilities
to their clients. Beasley, Mitchell & Co. has
grown to currently employ more than 30
people.
“We are proud of our company’s growth
and the firm’s reputation,” said Partner Don
Beasley, CPA. “Our firm takes a proactive
approach to accounting and financial advice,
and we bring value and professionalism to
each and every one of our clients.”
Managing Partner Beth Fant, EA, said
part of the firm’s longevity and success is due
to a strong commitment to the community.
“Our employees and partners are very involved, volunteering with many community
nonprofit advisory boards and community
projects,” Fant said.
To illustrate the point, Beasley, Mitchell
& Co. made a commitment to donate
$25,000 to area charities in the past year,
commemorating the quarter-century of service in the community. Monthly donations
started in November 2011, and concluded
in November 2012 with a $5,000 donation to the New Mexico State University
Accounting Department.
Located at 509 S. Main St., Suite A,
Beasley, Mitchell & Co. will continue to
provide a growing range of services to its
clients.
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THE BOTTOM LINE s December 2012 s 15
Posiciones
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16 s December 2012 s THE BOTTOM LINE