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.

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.