Archive for May, 2009

The June meeting of the MVEDA Business on the Border Forum will be held on Tuesday, June 2, 2009 from 11:30 AM until 1:00 PM at the Day’s Inn Columbus Conference Center, 901 Avenida de Mesilla. The meeting will begin with a hot entree buffet.

The June Forum will feature Robert S. Ward, Program Manager for SpaceTec, based at Cape Canaveral. SpaceTEC, the National Science Foundation’s Center of Excellence for Aerospace Technical Education, is the focal point for providing aerospace related post-secondary technical education for aerospace employees. Dona Ana Community College is one of the twelve colleges nationwide that are participating in this initiative.

Luncheon cost is $15.00 per person, payable by cash, check or major credit card. The meeting is open to the public and reservations are not required.

The Arrowhead Center, Dona Ana Community College, Small Business Development Center, and the New Mexico Family Business Alliance are pleased to invite area business owners to the “2009 Business Owners and Entrepreneurs Symposium: The Small Business Challenge.”

This informative day-long symposium will held on Friday, July 17, 2009 at the Days Inn Columbus Conference Center. Topics include:

• Capitalizing Your Business Today: Types of Small Business Capital and Where to Find It
• Valuation of Your Business
• New Mexico Business & Economic Forecast
• SBA Loans & Funding Information
• Government Contracting
• Managing Business Relationships
• How to Work Together and Stay Together
• Organizational Behavior in Family & Small Businesses
• Succession Planning

Registration rates are $69 for Early Bird before June 19 and $89 for General Admission after June 19. The registration form and agenda are on-line.

The Bridge of Southern New Mexico is seeking a “Director” who will be responsible for planning, managing, and promoting The Bridge.  The successful candidate will be accountable for the entity’s vision to become the premier resource for the integration of K-20 education, work force development, and business community in Dona Ana County.

EXPERIENCE AND MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A  degree in business administration, education, philanthropy, public administration or a related field is preferred.  Must have knowledge of non-profit and foundation management.  Proven track record in educational or work force development transformations linked to industrial and economic expansion a plus.   Must have a documented history in establishing and obtaining key performance indicators that were tangible to the community stakeholders.  .  Must demonstrate effective communication and public relations skills.  Experience in, or understanding of Southwestern region and culture is recommended. Proficiency in Spanish is a plus.

Overview:

Dona Ana County is committed to transforming education and work force development.  Our vision is to ensure that all our students graduate and are prepared to compete in an international work force.  For the past year, top leadership from education, industry, government, and economic development have joined together to create and enable this new vision for Southern New Mexico!  Through the collaboration, commitment, and passion of this leadership team, an exciting new organization has been formed – The Bridge.  The Bridge is an innovative collaboration targeted specifically at connecting students, employers, education, and economic development in a powerful new way.  This partnership is evident by the cooperative funding among education, private sector, and government for this entity.  The Bridge is actively seeking a devoted and dynamic leader of this new organization.

Request Information:

Individuals with questions regarding this position and/or The Bridge should send inquiries to:

thebridgecareers@yahoo.com

According to an article in the Las Cruces Bulletin, Bill and Renee Cupit, owners of Blue Horse Development,  were recognized by the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico as the “Philanthropist of the Year” at an awards ceremony on April 30. Bill and Renee committed a percentage of their home sales to the Community Foundation and helped establish an endowment for the Bridge of Southern New Mexico.

At the awards ceremony, the Health Care Foundation of Southern New Mexico presented two annual awards.  Karen Bailey, Senior Vice President of First Community Bank, was the recipient of the Mountain Funds Award for her service to the Board of Directors.  Paul Herzog, CEO of Memorial Medical Center,  was honored with the Salud Award which recognizes someone in the community who has done much to improve health in the community.

According to a press release from Spaceport America, officials from the New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) have scheduled a formal groundbreaking ceremony of Spaceport America, the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport, for Friday, June 19. Event organizers plan on inviting key dignitaries and officials, and will announce additional details on planned events shortly.

The release also noted that the first two on-site construction packages were released for bid on May 7. Contractors registered with the State Purchasing office can view current Invitation to Bids online in the RFP section of www.spaceportamerica.com.