Sessions

AI in Action

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 in a variety of enterprises to support, streamline, research, and multiply work. 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. 

Session Host:

Synthia Laura Molina, Acting Director of Organizational, Community, and Economic Development, City of Raton 

Featured Speakers:

• Andrew Woltje,  Director of Strategic Growth, Magnum Companies

• Matthew Ashby, Vice President of Development Services, Ayres Associates

• Jason Strickland, Head of Technology, The Center for Rural AI

From Vacant Properties to Homes: Land, Housing, and Rural Prosperity 

Housing is one of the most complicated challenges facing rural communities. In many places, the problem is not simply a lack of land or buildings. Communities may have vacant homes, abandoned properties, underused buildings, and developable land, yet still struggle to turn those assets into safe, attainable housing. 

Why? 

Properties may have unclear ownership or unresolved inheritance issues. Owners may be difficult to locate. Buildings may be in such poor condition that conventional financing is unavailable. Smaller communities may struggle to attract developers because projects are difficult to finance at rural rents and sales prices. And local governments often lack the tools or capacity needed to intervene when properties remain vacant or distressed for years. 

This panel will look at the housing challenge from the ground up––starting with the properties already in our communities and following the path from vacancy and disinvestment to redevelopment, housing production, neighborhood stability, and economic opportunity. 

The conversation will explore: 

• What Raton and other rural communities are learning about their vacant and distressed properties 

• How ownership, inheritance, title, code, and property-condition issues can prevent housing from returning to productive use 

• How land banking and other redevelopment tools can help communities address long-term vacancy and assemble properties for reuse 

• What New Mexico has learned from recent research into land banking and how those findings are informing housing policy and programs 

• Why otherwise viable rural housing projects can be difficult to finance 

• How developers assemble the different funding sources needed to make rural projects work 

• Why smaller communities struggle to attract developers—and what can make a rural project more attractive 

• How housing affects workforce recruitment, neighborhood stability, quality of life, and long-term community prosperity 

• What tools communities can use now, and what additional policy or legislative changes may still be needed 

Session Host:

Jaden Welch, City of Raton

Featured Speakers:

• Donna Maestas De Vries, Chief Housing Officer, Housing New Mexico 

• Felicity Fonseca, Community Development Director, North Central New Mexico Economic Development District 

• Enrico Gradi, Senior VP of Planning and Economic Development, YES Housing

Transportation Connects Everything:
Regional Growth Through Access to Education, Employment, and Healthcare

Northeastern New Mexico and Southeastern Colorado are at a decision point about the region's role in an expanding transportation and trade corridor. Through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Thriving Communities Program, administered by the Build America Bureau, the City of Raton, NM, Colfax County, NM, and Las Animas County, CO have spent three years building local capacity, strengthening regional collaboration, and working through the bi-state planning frameworks needed to produce a Regional Transportation Master Plan for the economic benefit of the region. 

Join us to learn why this plan matters, what comes next in Ports-to-Plains corridor development, and how it could impact you. 

Moderator:  

• Si Trujillo, Colfax County Commissioner, Colfax County, NM 

Panelists:  

• Lauren Garduño, Executive Director, Ports-to-Plains Alliance 

• Mo Moabed, Deputy Secretary, New Mexico Department of Transporation (NMDOT)

• Rob Frei, Region Planning and Environmental Manager, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)

Quality of Life and Local Prosperity: Building a Rural Outdoor Recreation Economy 

Northern New Mexico has extraordinary outdoor assets—from community parks and trails to state parks and nationally recognized destinations. But simply having outdoor amenities does not automatically translate into stronger communities or stronger local economies. 

This panel will explore what it takes to turn outdoor recreation assets into lasting benefits for residents, businesses, workers, and communities. 

Using examples from the NRA Whittington Center, Philmont Scout Ranch, New Mexico State Parks, and outdoor recreation development work across rural communities, the discussion will examine how recreation can simultaneously improve quality of life, attract visitors and talent, support local businesses, create jobs, strengthen community identity, and contribute to long-term rural prosperity. 

The conversation will explore: 

• How parks, trails, and outdoor recreation contribute to physical and mental well-being, social connection, and quality of life. 

• Why recreation amenities matter for attracting and retaining residents, workers, families, and businesses. 

• How major outdoor destinations can create economic benefits beyond their own boundaries. 

• How communities can encourage visitors to stay longer, explore nearby communities, and spend money with local businesses. 

• What kinds of businesses, services, events, and experiences are needed to capture more outdoor-recreation spending locally. 

• The role of youth programs and outdoor experiences in developing skills, confidence, stewardship, and future connections to place. 

• How large outdoor institutions can function as employers, tourism anchors, and regional partners. 

• How public parks, nonprofit destinations, businesses, local governments, and communities can work together rather than operating independently. 

• How rural communities fund, maintain, staff, and sustain recreation assets over time. 

• How communities balance increased use and economic activity with stewardship, conservation, wildfire resilience, and protection of the outdoor resources on which the economy depends. 

Moderator:

Jared Chatterley, Owner Principal, ORec Consulting 

Featured Panelists:

• Toby Velásquez, Director, New Mexico State Parks

• Gus Holm, Ranch Manager, Vermejo Park Ranch

• Shelley O’Neill, Director of Business Operations, Philmont Scout Ranch

• Nate Brown, Advancement Officer, NRA Whittington Center

Building Rural Prosperity: State Tools for Local Growth 

How New Mexico programs can help rural and frontier communities turn local assets into economic opportunity 

Rural communities often have tremendous assets: local businesses and entrepreneurs, agricultural traditions, historic downtowns, parks and trails, natural resources, and strong community identity—but may lack the funding, technical assistance, infrastructure, or organizational capacity needed to turn those assets into sustained economic growth. 

This panel will bring together several divisions and programs of the New Mexico Economic Development Department to show how state resources can help rural and frontier communities strengthen local economies, build community capacity, and move projects from ideas to implementation. 

Rather than simply providing an overview of programs, the discussion will use real examples from Raton and other rural New Mexico communities to explore how these tools work in practice. 

Topics will include:

• Rural Food Economies & Access: Where New Mexico's local food economy is today, where it is headed, upcoming funding opportunities, and examples of rural communities building stronger food and agricultural systems. 

• Outdoor Recreation as Economic Development: How investments in trails, parks, outdoor access, and youth recreation can improve quality of life while also supporting tourism, workforce attraction, local businesses, and community development. 

• Downtown and Main Street Revitalization: The services and technical assistance available through New Mexico MainStreet, the range of communities the program serves, and ways rural and frontier communities can access support even when they do not have a designated MainStreet program. 

Session Host: 

Tim Hagaman, Region 4 Representative, New Mexico Economic Development Department

Featured Speakers: 

• Erin Ortigoza, Program Manager, Food, Hunger & Agriculture Program, New Mexico Economic Development Department 

• Karina Armijo, Director, Outdoor Recreation Division, New Mexico Economic Development Department 

• Camilla Vasquez, Community Economic Development Specialist, New Mexico MainStreet, New Mexico Economic Development Department 

• Lucas Pedraza, Program Coordinator, New Mexico MainStreet, Economic Development Department

Building a Rural Workforce: Regional Education Efforts and Employer Alignment

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 working to collaborate and lead efforts to align educational offerings with employer needs. Learn about the efforts, partners, and programs being put in place to train up our youth and upskill our workforce to lift up our community and economy.

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

Moderator:

Dr. Sally Hoger, Raton Education Committee Member, City of Raton

Featured Panelists:

• Kristie Medina, Superintendent, Raton Schools  

• Karen Torres, Workforce Program Lead, Luna Community College

• Dustin Eicke, President, Trinidad State College

• Dr. Carol Linder, President, Luna Community College

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.

Employer Resources in Action: 

Leveraging State and Regional Programs to Upskill Your Workforce

New Mexico offers a range of programs to support business and workforce development—but do you know how to access them, or how they can work for you or your business like yours?

Whether you're an existing business or a community leader looking to better support local employers, this session will give you practical insights and connections to help you find and train new employees, upskill current employees, or get them into an apprenticeship program.

Moderator: 

Dan Gerry, Sector Partnership Manager, Workforce Integration Network, RDC

Featured Panelists:

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

• Ruthie E. Mares, Program Monitor and Quality Assurance Specialist, Northern Area Local Workforce Development Board

• Nina Valdez, One-Stop Operator for the Northern Region American Job Centers

• Ericka Van Echkhoutte, Career Team, Workforce, Innovation, and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

• Concha Cordova, YDI Representative

• State Apprenticeship Director, Employment Services Division-Apprenticeship Representative

• JTIP Representative

Empowering Employers: Meet the New Regional Industry Leaders

Moderator:

Synthia Laura Molina, Acting Director of Organizational, Community, and Economic Development, City of Raton 

Featured Panelists:

• Kelsea Winzen, Chief Financial Officer, Magnum Companies

• Kevin Davies, Chief Business Officer, Miller Timber

• James Dietz, US Production Manager, Carbogenics