Posts Tagged ‘New Mexico Economic Development Department’

Article Courtesy of Las Cruces Sun-News

By Diana M. Alba

Spaceport America officials met Wednesday to formally accept the resignation of Spaceport Authority Director Steve Landeene.

After a closed-door meeting, they also appointed board Chairman Fred Mondragon, based in Santa Fe, to act as executive director until a replacement is named. Mondragon, also state economic development secretary, said he’ll spend two to three days a week in Las Cruces or Truth or Consequences while in the role.

The board granted another of its members, Ben Woods, who’s also a New Mexico State University official, authority to sign documents on Mondragon’s behalf, if Mondragon isn’t able to. Woods said the board will meet again within the next week or two to decide its next steps.

Landeene, 47, served as executive director since January 2008. The Economic Development Department announced his resignation in a news release Friday. Landeene has cited family reasons as the motivation for his decision.

Landeene earns $155,546 annually, said Michael Moxey, spokesman for the New Mexico Economic Development Department. He’ll be paid through May 14, though officials have said he’s only working in an advisory capacity until then.

Spaceport Authority board members Kent Evans and Woods were physically present at the meeting, while members Toots Green of Alamogordo, James Manatt of Roswell, Casey Luna of Belen and Gary White of Truth or Consequences attended by phone.

The spaceport authority oversees the state-owned Spaceport America, a $198 million future launch site for commercial space vehicles that’s under-construction in southeastern Sierra County.

Office of Mexican Affairs Invites New Mexico Industrial Suppliers to Expo Maquila Trade Mission and Matchmaking Sessions

New Mexican companies interested in exploring supply opportunities with Mexico’s maquiladora (twin plant) industry are invited to participate in a trade mission and matchmaking sessions that will take place November 11, 2009 in El Paso, and November 12 and 13, 2009 in Juarez, Mexico. Organized by the New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Office of Mexican Affairs and Trade, in conjunction with the International Business Accelerator and the Juarez Economic Development Department, this event will be designed to put New Mexican suppliers in direct contact with the purchasing managers of maquiladoras.

Up to 30 purchasing managers will be providing lists of the production inputs and industrial processes that they are currently in search of, including plastic injection, packaging, metals, and resins. Based on these needs, companies will then be recruited to participate in the trade mission, which will include one-on-one meetings with the purchasing managers in both El Paso and Juarez. For a copy of these production inputs click here and here.

For more information or to secure your company’s participation, please contact Randy Trask (505-231-0677 or randall.trask@state.nm.us) of the Office of Mexican Affairs or Jerry Pacheco (575-589-2200 or jerry@nmiba.com) of the International Business Accelerator.

The New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Office of International Trade and the U.S. Commercial Service are hosting one-day workshop on Thursday September 24, on “Export Methods of Payment and Export Shipping/Documentation Requirements”.  Businesses who are interested in understanding export financing and shipping and documentation requirements are encouraged to attend.

Finance representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Export Import Bank of the United States will be making presentations on methods of export financing, export payment methods, and their agencies’ export finance and insurance programs. There will also be a representative from UPS and a local customs broker from Brown, Alcantar & Brown will go over important international documentation and shipping requirements.

Seminar Date and Time: September 24, 2009 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

> Registration Fee of $35 includes networking coffee breaks, lunch and all conference sessions and materials. You must pre-register and pay online.

> Event Location: Nick L. Salazar Center for Performing Arts, Northern New Mexico College, 921 Paseo de Onate, Espanola, New Mexico

New Mexico Economic Development Department Secretary Fred Mondragon presented the Arrowhead Technology Incubator (ATI) with a certificate designating ATI as a “Certified Business Incubator” on Thursday, September 10, 2009.  The “Certified Business Incubator” designation program was created through legislation in 2005 establishing requirements for state incubator facilities that provide business support and assistance to accelerate the successful development of start-up and fledgling companies of entrepreneurs.

Dr. Kevin Boberg (center) accepts certificate from Secretary Mondragon (left)

The ATI offers five areas of focus through Technology Innovation Programs related to NMSU innovative research directions as well as the state of New Mexico economic development clusters. The programs include:

• National Security
• Digital Media
• Space and Aerospace
• Biosciences
• Energy and Natural Resources

During his remarks, Secretary Mondragon noted that over 90% of small businesses that start in business incubators succeed.  He noted that much of the funding for improvements at the Arrowhead Technology Incubator was due to successful grant applications to the Economic Development Administration (EDA).

In accepting the certificate, Arrowhead Center CEO Kevin Boberg was joined by several ATI staff and a number of the Arrowhead Advisory Committee members.

For more information about the Arrowhead Technology Incubator, please visit their website.

J.H. Rose Logistics is an American owned national transportation and logistics provider, handling over 30,000 shipments per year. The company has offices located across the country including a 44,000 square foot facility in the Santa Teresa Logistics Park in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.  They have been named a “Best Broker” by the National Association of Trucking Companies in recognition of outstanding credit practices and are an approved carrier by the Department of Defense. The company is also a member of the Transportation Intermediaries Association and the Platinum Performance Program, two organizations committed to integrity and ethical business practices.

J.H. Rose Logistics was presented as a success story and model company at the recent NAFTA Institute Trade Conference.

The Office of Mexican Affairs of the New Mexico Economic Development Department, the New Mexico Partnership and the International Business Accelerator assisted J.H. Rose Logistics with their expansion to Santa Teresa in 2007.

For more information about J.H. Rose Logistics visit their website or see their video on YouTube.