Sessions

Collaborative Economic Development Strategies through the NCNMEDD CEDS

What does it take to make smart, strategic decisions for local economic growth? This panel explores how regional data and comprehensive planning tools can support stronger, more resilient communities. Learn how to use data to better understand the needs and opportunities of your city, town, county, or region—and how the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District (NCNMEDD) is leveraging the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to inform investments, build partnerships, and align priorities across the region.

Speakers will share tools, regional key findings, and collaborative strategies for translating data into action.

Featured Panelists:

• Eric Gibson, Economist and Data Analyst, Better City: Eric will present on the forthcoming 2026-2030 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for North Central New Mexico region. He will also introduce the CEDS Data and Progress Dashboard—a customized supplemental tool that supports the CEDS strategies combined with socioeconomic data for the North Central region.

• Felicity Fonseca, Community Development Director, NCNMEDD: Felicity will explain the CEDS' five-pillar strategy including housing, infrastructure, workforce development, economic diversification, and government collaboration, and discuss how extensive local community input along with key economic data and indicators go hand-in-hand to inform effective regional economic development strategies and collaborations.

Innovative Solutions for Rural Housing Challenges

Across New Mexico, rural communities are grappling with aging housing stock, vacant and blighted properties, and a lack of affordable, healthy homes. This panel explores bold, cross-sector strategies to turn those challenges into opportunities for long-term resilience and revitalization.

This session offers practical insights, replicable models, and policy context for leaders looking to tackle rural housing challenges with creativity, collaboration, and impact. Panelists will introduce innovative models, policy frameworks, and funding tools that can help local governments, nonprofits, and developers take action. 

Featured Panelists:

• Jaden Welch (City of Raton - Moderator): Get an inside look at proposed state legislation to address vacant and blighted properties, including a potential land-banking framework being prepared for the 2027 session. Understand why communities across the state should support these reforms and how they could unlock sites for new housing.

• Jonah Reynolds (Pangea Biotecture): Learn how the Pangea housing model—a sustainable, performance-based design—has been successfully deployed in Taos to address affordability, efficiency, and resilience. Discover how this approach could be replicated across rural New Mexico.

• Monica Abeita: Learn about the innovative approaches to restoring blight to beauty with the Restoring our Communities (ROC) housing program and the Northern NM Workforce Integration Network (WIN).

• Subroto Banerji, MPH, Anchorum Foundation: Explore how Anchorum Foundation’s focus on health equity intersects with housing strategies, and why addressing the social determinants of health—including stable housing—is essential to long-term well-being in rural communities.

• Brett Weir (City of Angel Fire): Learn about Angel Fire's innovative approach to funding housing developments.

Unlocking Opportunity: Site Readiness Strategies for Rural Development

Vacant lots, abandoned buildings, and underused properties often sit idle in rural communities—not for lack of vision, but due to uncertainty, contamination concerns, and lack of resources. Fortunately, powerful tools exist to help local governments and nonprofits reclaim these spaces and prepare them for new business, housing, and industrial development.

This panel will introduce two key programs supporting rural revitalization:

• The EPA Brownfields Program, which provides funding and technical assistance to assess, clean up, and reuse contaminated properties.

• The New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD) Site Assessment Program, hear the latest on the Site Readiness program launched by the NM Economic Development Department. The presentation will include an update and discussion of the FY26 Site Readiness Executive Report.

Join representatives from EPA Region 6, Ayres Associates, and NMEDD to learn how these programs can be used together to unlock the potential of vacant properties in your community. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of available resources, steps to get started, and how these site readiness tools can help position your town or county for investment and job creation.

Featured Panelists:

• Andrew Portalatin - Brownfield Project Officer, EPA Region 6

• Matthew Ashby - Vice President ‑ Development Services, Ayres Associates Inc.

• Jennifer Myers, Community, Business & Rural Development Team Leader, NM Economic Development Department

• Jackie Thornburg, NM Economic Development Department

• Moderator: Savannah Ricards, New Mexico Environment Department

 The Role of AI in Jump-starting Economic Development 

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a concept for the future—it's already transforming and impacting how communities build, grow, and thrive.

AI-supported thinking, techniques, and toolkits can radically enhance the well-being, productivity, and competitiveness of rural communities. In this forward-looking session, panelists will explore how municipalities, chambers of commerce, and state agencies are already using artificial intelligence to remove bottlenecks, accelerate planning, and drive innovation across sectors. 

Attendees will hear real-world examples of how AI is being used to jumpstart new enterprises, support small businesses, streamline research, and create more agile public systems. From generative AI to predictive modeling, the panel will provide practical insights, lessons learned, and a roadmap for how rural economic developers can begin to incorporate these transformative tools—or risk falling behind. 

Featured Panelists:

• Synthia Laura Molina, City of Raton –AI for research, planning, and business transformations 

• Pat Howlett, Colexico Alliance  – Helping small businesses and solopreneurs harness generative AI for real revenue growth

• Matthew Perry - SENU.AI – Will discuss creating AI-powered Document Assistants that transform your document collections into conversations.

Building the Workforce of Tomorrow: Regional Training & Talent Strategies

How can rural communities build a skilled workforce that meets the needs of today’s employers—and prepares for tomorrow’s opportunities?

This panel brings together regional leaders in education, workforce training, and job placement to share how their institutions are adapting to meet evolving workforce demands. Learn how community colleges, continuing education programs, and cross-sector partnerships are creating career pathways in healthcare, trades, tech, media, and more.

Panelists will share insights on:

• Industry-aligned training programs

• Up-skilling and re-entry opportunities for adult learners

• Workforce challenges in Northern New Mexico

• The role of collaboration in developing responsive, inclusive workforce systems

Featured Panelists:

• Ben Lincoln – Director of Continuing Education, Santa Fe Community College

• Karen Torres – Workforce Program Leads, Luna Community College

• Tracy Morales – CDL Administrator, Luna Community College

• Dan Gerry – Director, Workforce Integration Network (WIN) Program (Moderator)

Whether you’re an employer, educator, or economic developer, this panel will offer actionable strategies to strengthen your community’s talent pipeline and support a thriving local economy.

Empowering Entrepreneurs: Regional Strategies for Startup Success

Thinking about starting your own business—or supporting others who are? This panel highlights innovative entrepreneur development programs from across the region that are helping new and aspiring business owners turn ideas into action.

Learn from leaders at UNM-Taos HIVE, Emergent Campus, and Raton MainStreet as they share how their organizations are providing practical tools, mentorship, co-working spaces, training, and community support to help entrepreneurs launch and grow in rural New Mexico.

Whether you're in the early idea stage or scaling an existing venture, this session will provide actionable tips on how to access funding, find startup support, and plug into the growing ecosystem of rural innovation and small business development.

Featured Panelists:

• Rose Reza, UNM-Taos HIVE 

• Christine Louden, Emergent Campus 

• Brenda Ferri, Raton MainStreet

• Moderator: Brandy Dietz, GrowRaton

Employer Resources in Action: Leveraging State & Local Tools for Business Growth

New Mexico offers a range of programs to support business development—but do you know how to access them, or how they’ve worked for businesses like yours?

In this panel, you'll hear directly from state and local experts as well as entrepreneurs and employers who have successfully tapped into public resources to start, grow, and sustain their businesses.

Panelists will cover available tools such as financial assistance, workforce development programs, site readiness support, and hiring pipelines, while offering real-world examples of how these resources have been used on the ground.

Featured Panelists:

• Dillon Givens – AVP/Commercial Banker, InBank

• Jenifer Treu – Co-owner, Nuckolls Brewing Company

• Trent Deines, Silver Dollar Wood Products, LLC

• Chicky Lee Gomez – Business Services Specialist, America’s Job Center

• Tim Hagaman – Regional Representative, New Mexico Economic Development Department (Moderator)

Whether you're an existing business, a startup, or a community leader looking to better support local employers, this session will give you the practical insights and connections you need to move forward.