MVEDA » George Ruth

MVEDA: Manufacturing’s On the Comeback Trail

mveda — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:30:37 +0000

Article courtesy of the Las Cruces Sun-News

By Brook Stockberger/Sun-News Business Editor

LAS CRUCES – Manufacturing is not dead. That was the message Davin Lopez, president and CEO of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance, gave a breakfast audience at Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces on Thursday. MVEDA’s annual breakfast allows the private/public entity to give report for the recently completely fiscal year.

“It’s a tough time to talk about the economy,” Lopez said. “(And) we’ve been feeling it for the last couple of years.”

Still, the economic development group reports that lead development remains strong and there has been a “significant” jump in terms of manufacturing.

“Almost 45-percent of our leads are in manufacturing and logistics,” Lopez said. “We are hearing that heavy manufacturing is coming back to America.”

He pointed to the addition of Alaska Structures at the West Mesa Industrial Complex. The Anchorage-based company which makes shelters for the military as well as commercial customers, moved into a 184,000-square foot building that used to house Rea Magnet Wire, and also uses about 100,000 square feet at the previously empty building at 8500 Mountain Vista Parkway where Parkview Metal Products used to reside.

“If you think back 12 to 18 months ago, think of all those facilities sitting vacant,” Lopez said. In fact, he said the Las Cruces area could use more spec buildings. “The biggest challenge we have going forward is we need more buildings,” Lopez said.

In addition, capital investment has jumped considerably in Dona Ana County, spurred by the recently begun Union Pacific Railroad project in Santa Teresa, but also ahead of the pace of the past several years even without Union Pacific.

New officers

Gary Lenzo with Century Bank is MVEDA’s chairman of the board as the new fiscal year begins, stepping in for Citizen’s Bank’s George Ruth, who will now serve as past chairman of the board. ”I have some big shoes to fill,” Lenzo said.

In addition to Lenzo and Ruth, other officers include: Vice Chair Kiel Hoffman, Pioneer Bank; Secretary Dolores Connor, City Councilor; Treasurer Jim McGonnell, Memorial Medical Center; Executive Committee Member at Large Jack Darnall, Verde Realty.

Bryn Davis, New Mexico operations manager for Sapphire Energy and former past chairman of the board, was presented with a special award for all the work he has performed for MVEDA through the years. ”I know I’m on the phone with him a lot,” Lenzo said.

Brook Stockberger can be reached at (575) 541-5457.

MVEDA Office Packed During Open House

mveda — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 20:37:48 +0000

The new MVEDA office in the First Community Bank Tower was packed Wednesday evening for an open house and ribbon cutting. MVEDA moved from its previous location to the new offices on the third floor of the bank in September thanks to a generous in-kind contribution from MVEDA’s “Double Platinum Partner” First Community Bank.

Photo by Fred Shepherd

Prior to the ribbon cutting, Board Chairman George Ruth (right) presented First Community Bank Senior Vice President Karen Bailey (center) with a small token of MVEDA’s appreciation for the bank’s generous support. Members of the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce’s Conquistores and the Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces performed a ribbon cutting ceremony and presented proclamations as a remembrance of the event.

The guests were treated with a great selection of appetizers from MVEDA Partner La Posta de Mesilla and MVEDA Partner Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces donated a gift certificate for a two-night stay, which was won by Robert Paquette of The Market Store.

Photo by Fred Shepherd

MVEDA Settles Into New Offices

mveda — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 17:26:52 +0000

On September 1^st, the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance (MVEDA) moved into its new office space in the First Community Bank Tower, 277 E. Amador, Suite 304, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. In a message to MVEDA’s partners, Chairman of the Board George Ruth thanked Double Platinum Partner First Community Bank for the very generous in-kind contribution that the bank made to enable MVEDA to enhance its ability to service its customers as well as enhancing its professional look. MVEDA’s mailing address (PO Box 1299, Las Cruces, NM 88004) and phone numbers have not changed.

MVEDA Elects New Officers

mveda — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:59:22 +0000

In its monthly board meeting of July 15th, 2009, the MVEDA Board of Directors elected new officers and board members for the upcoming year. New Board Chairman George Ruth of Citizens Bank of Las Cruces was elected at the June 17th board meeting. He replaces Immediate Past Chairman Bryn Davis of Sapphire Energy.

New officers for the upcoming year are:

Vice-Chair – Gary Lenzo, First Community Bank
Secretary – Dolores Connor, City of Las Cruces
Treasurer – Kiel Hoffman, Pioneer Bank
Executive Committee Member At-Large – J.B. Pruett, Northrise Ventures, LLC

Re-elected board members are:

Clay Doyle, El Paso Electric
Gary Lenzo, First Community Bank
Gabe Ruiz, New Mexico Gas Company

New board members include:

Jim Easley, Wells Fargo Bank New Mexico
Stan Rounds, Ex-Officio, Las Cruces Public Schools

MVEDA is governed by a board of directors representing both the private and public sectors. Institutional members represent the City of Las Cruces, Dona Ana County, New Mexico State University, Dona Ana Community College, the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, the Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces, and White Sands Missile Range. Private sector board members represent a wide diversity of business and industry. They serve 3-year terms and are elected by the board.