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Albuquerque Business First
AFRL lead named UTEP Aerospace Center director
Shery Welsh, most recently the director of the Air Force Research Lab Directed Energy Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, will soon serve as executive director of the University of Texas at El Paso’s Aerospace Center.<\p> Welsh has had a number of leadership roles during her 37 years of federal service in aerospace science and engineering, including director of science and technology for the Department of Defense’s Missile Defense Agency and chief engineer for the USAF’s Airborne Laser Program.<\p>
Here are 5 public speaking tips
It’s that time of year. The time of year when thousands of graduation speeches are delivered across the country at everything from kindergarten graduation ceremonies to high school and prestigious college ceremonies. Sometimes we leave these ceremonies filled with motivation and emotion. Other times, we feel thankful that the event has finally ended. <\p> Though finding well-known elected officials, community leaders and alums to speak at these coveted events is not a challenge, finding a truly good speaker that meets the mark is another story. <\p>
Japanese-style creperie plans grand opening
Earlier this year, a University of New Mexico (UNM) graduate launched a Japanese-style street food eatery in Albuquerque.<\p> Crepe Brulee is located at 6001 San Mateo Blvd NE. Although the restaurant hosted a soft opening on April 8, a grand opening celebration is planned for the first weekend of July, Owner Ahmad Maadi said. <\p>
Fire recovery resources move closer to Ruidoso, reservation
Organizations that have provided resources to the thousands of evacuees from the ongoing South Fork and Salt fires in and around the Village of Ruidoso, the City of Ruidoso Downs and the Mescalero Apache Reservation said they plan to move resources closer to those sites as local residents begin to return to their homes and businesses.<\p> The pair of fires, which have burned more than 25,000 acres combined since starting on the Mescalero Apache Reservation on June 17, forced evacuation orders from Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs, the reservation and surrounding areas the next day. <\p>
These jobs soared during the pandemic and are here to stay
Part-time job listings soared during the Covid-19 pandemic and have yet to recede — a potential sign that both workers and employers see benefits in the arrangements. <\p> Beginning in early 2022, the share of part-time jobs posted on job-search engine Indeed grew 10% before leveling off in 2023. <\p>
SLFCU names CFO
Sandia Laboratory Federal Credit Union has named Mag Wangsuwana its new CFO after previously serving as interim CFO.<\p> Wangsuwana brings 25 years to the position, which manages the credit union’s $4 billion balance sheet. He and his team will also oversee all finance and accounting operations, including budgeting, forecasting and planning. <\p>
NAR settlement means 'summer of uncertainty' for real estate agents
Teresa King Kinney is no stranger to abrupt change in the real estate industry — and the National Association of Realtors' recent settlement is no exception.<\p> She’s been the CEO of the Miami Association of Realtors and its 60,000-plus agents since 1993. In that time, she's navigated several recessions, the Global Financial Crisis and the turbulent, unpredictable Covid-19 pandemic.<\p>
$34M renovation starts on Encino Gardens
On Monday, the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority held a groundbreaking ceremony for the rehabilitation of a senior housing community in Southeast Albuquerque.<\p> Encino Gardens, located at 412 Alvarado Drive SE, is a 165-unit community designed for individuals aged 62 or older and those with disabilities. The 2.6-acre property will be managed by Monarch Properties Inc., an Albuquerque-based real estate investment trust.<\p>
How this Santa Fe Wildflower grew
Kimberly deCastro is quick to say she is not an entrepreneur. <\p> The founder of Santa Fe-based government contractor, Wildflower International Ltd., deCastro said the creation of the company was simply the byproduct of survival mode. She was a soon-to-be mom and she needed to provide for her daughter. <\p>
Lovelace Women's Hospital names COO
Lovelace Health System has named Sherry Aragon as its new chief operating officer of Lovelace Women’s Hospital, according to a June 24 news release.<\p> Aragon has more than 20 years of health care leadership experience. She’s been with Lovelace since 2004, when she became director of diagnostic services for Lovelace’s Heart Hospital of New Mexico.<\p>
It was a dump site. Soon, it will be a community wellness center
A little less than two decades ago, it was a dump site. Now, a South Valley-based nonprofit is trying to make it a center for community-based agriculture, education and cultural celebration.<\p> The narrow plot, located just east of Ernie Pyle Middle School at 1925 Citation Drive SW, is relatively benign on the surface. A greenhouse and a couple hoop houses dot it, but its mostly comprised of empty dirt and shrubbery, along with a little stream.<\p>
Evacuations lift, FBI offers $10K reward on fires
Evacuation orders for the South Fork and Salt fires, which continue to burn thousands of acres around the Village of Ruidoso, the City of Ruidoso Downs and the Mescalero Apache Reservation, lifted on Monday, clearing the way for local residents to return to their homes and businesses in the Southeastern New Mexico mountains. <\p> The pair of fires, which originated on the Mescalero Apache Reservation south and west of Ruidoso on June 17, forced evacuation orders for the Village, the Mescalero Apache Reservation and residents in surrounding areas the next day. Thousands of evacuees fled west and east, sheltering in and around Alamogordo, Capitan, Roswell and other areas clear of the fires' path. <\p>
$14M commercial building permit issued last week
The City of Albuquerque issued 16 commercial building permits between June 17 and June 21.<\p> The permit for the largest project in terms of estimated cost was issued on June 21 to Adam Gromer for multiple family buildings at 6700 Modesto Ave. NE. The project is estimated to be about 16,686 square feet. The estimated cost of the work is about $14,000,000. The work will be done by Kassam Construction LLC.<\p>
The Playbook: The disconnect on vacation is getting better
Editor's Note: Welcome to The Playbook Edition, a look at stories, trends and changes that could affect your business and career. Want more stories like this in your inbox? Sign up for The Playbook newsletter. <\p> While many organizations have embraced hybrid work, there’s a chance it may not be the best option for certain groups of workers. <\p>
Rust Is Gold Coffee giving T-shirt proceeds to Ruidoso families
Back in 2022, the worst wildfire in New Mexico's history burnt Steven Maes' family cabin in Mora County to the ground.<\p> Maes, the co-owner of Albuquerque's Rust Is Gold Coffee, knew he was far from the only one affected by the disaster. His father, especially, had deep ties to the affected area and knew seemingly countless families that needed help in its aftermath. <\p>
IRS announces when payments on ERC claims will resume
The Internal Revenue Service plans to deny tens of thousands of improper Employee Retention Credit applications even as it promises to renew processing legitimate claims.<\p> The agency in an announcement this week said it had taken the time since its Sept. 14 moratorium on processing new ERC applications to analyze the more than 1 million ERC claims filed in 2023 — and found that between 60% and 70% showed an unacceptable level of risk.<\p>
CNM names workforce VP
Central New Mexico Community College has officially named its vice president of the Workforce and Community Success Division. <\p> The college announced Thursday that Joy Forehand, who has served as the interim chief of that division since fall 2023, will now oversee operations permanently, effective July 1. She started with CNM in 2022 as the executive director of Student Workforce Success. <\p>
What's next in the NAR commission lawsuit settlement?
Some big deadlines are on the horizon for the class-action lawsuits that swept the residential real estate industry over the past year. <\p> The conclusion of these lawsuits could bring about significant changes to how homes are bought and sold beginning in the later part of 2024.<\p>
Project aims to end homelessness, but needs donations to expand
After a year of delays, work continues on a housing site on Albuquerque's Westside for families experiencing homelessness.<\p> Local nonprofit Saranam, which provides rent-free housing for up to two years for families as well as academic and life skills education, broke ground on its new facility at 4701 Montaño Road NW in February 2022. The initial plan was to open in 2023, but the project faced supply chain and labor issues that have continued to push the timeline back, according to Tracy Weaver, the executive director of Saranam.<\p>
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