Embedded Files
Day 1
10.28.25
10.28.25
Registration 8:00 - 9:15
9:00 - 9:15
Welcome and Introductions
Welcome and Introductions
Richard Mestas, City Manager for Raton
9:15 - 10:00
Keynote Speaker: Ron Kresha, Golden Shovel
Keynote Speaker: Ron Kresha, Golden Shovel
10:00 - 11:00
Understanding Regional Data and Statistics and the CEDS
Understanding Regional Data and Statistics and the CEDS
Eric Gibson, Better City
Felicity Fonseca, NCNMEDD
Break 11:00 - 11:15
11:15 - 12:15
Innovative Solutions for Rural Housing
Innovative Solutions for Rural Housing
Moderator: Jaden Welch, City of Raton
Monica Abeita, Restoring Our Communities
Jonah Reynolds, Pangea Biotecture
Bret Weir, Village of Angelfire
Subroto Banerji, MPH, Anchorum Foundation
12:15 - 1:00
Lunch
Lunch
Fajitas and more from Casa Lemus
1:00 - 1:25
Projects Updates
Projects Updates
Picuris Tribal Representative
1:25 - 1:50
New Mexico and Rural Tourism Strategies to Drive Economic Development
Deputy Cabinet Secretary of Tourism, Shanna Sasser
Break 1:50 - 2:00
2:00 - 2:30
Financing Solutions for New Mexico and Key Factors to Attracting Private Capital Investments
Deborah Burns, investUS
2:30 - 3:20
Using AI in Economic Development
Using AI in Economic Development
Synthia Laura Molina, City of Raton
Pat Howlett, Colexico Alliance
Matthew Perry, Senu.ai
3:20 - 4:20
Unlocking Opportunity: Site Readiness Strategies for Rural Development
Unlocking Opportunity: Site Readiness Strategies for Rural Development
Moderator: Savannah Richards, New Mexico Environment Department
Matthew Ashby, Vice President, Dev. Services, Ayres Associates Inc.
Jennifer Myers, Community, Business & Rural Development Team Leader, NM Economic Development Department
Jackie Thornburg, NM Economic Development Department
Groundbreaking at Kearny 5:00 PM
800 South 3rd Street, Raton, NM
Day 2
10.29.25
10.29.25
9:00 - 9:15
Welcome and Introductions
Welcome and Introductions
Richard Mestas, City Manager for Raton
9:15 - 10:00
Workforce Development Panel
Workforce Development Panel
Ben Lincoln, SFCC Continuing Education
Karen Torres, Luna Community College
Tracy Morales, Luna Community College
Dan Gerry, WIN Program
10:00 - 10:45
Entrepreneur Development Panel
Entrepreneur Development Panel
Rose Reza, UNM-Taos HIVE
Christine Louden, Emergent Campus
Brenda Ferri, Raton MainStreet
Moderator, Brandy Dietz
Break 10:45 - 11:00
11:00 - 11:45
Employer Panel
Employer Panel
Tim Hagaman, New Mexico Economic Development Department
Dillon Givens, InBank
Jenifer Treu, Nuckolls Brewing Company
Trent Deines, Silver Dollar Wood Products, LLC
Chicky Lee Gomez, America's Job Center
11:45
Lunch
Lunch
Deli Sandwiches
Green and Pasta Salad from 111 Park
Biscochitos from MG Salazar and Cookies and Cake Pops from Barrio Princess
12:00 - 3:00
Workforce and Career Resource Fair
Workforce and Career Resource Fair
Employer Job Fair Tables: Employers: Best Western, Beehive, El Mirador, Colfax Long Term Healthcare, Western Wood, InBank, Village of Eagle Nest, Children's Workshop for Developmentally Disabled, Vermejo
Employer Support Tables: NMEDD, InBank, City of Raton
Job-readiness Tables: America’s Job’s Center, El Raton Media Works, GrowRaton, City of Raton
12:00 - 3:00
Entrepreneur Fair
Entrepreneur Fair
Entrepreneur Mini-Sessions
Demo of Outgrow your Garage with Raton Mainstreet / Center for Community Innovations (CCI)
Branding Basics with Patrica Duran, CCI &Explore Raton
Grow Your Customer base with Shopify, Arna Miller
How to set up LLCs, Tax IDs, and more! Jessica Gonzales, George & Gonzales CPAs
Side-Hustles and Startups with Pino Brown and Rhiannon Barela
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