New Mexico First Announces New Officers and Board Members

ALBUQUERQUE NM, MAY 19 , 2006 -- New Mexico First, a statewide nonpartisan organization of civic and business leaders co-founded by Senators Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman in 1986, today announced newly elected officers and board members. Outgoing Chair Lynn Slade said, “The officers have considerable board experience and proven leadership abilities.”

The officers are: Chair William Garcia, cofounder of CERELINK Inc.; Chair-Elect Lillian Montoya-Rael, community relations director for Los Alamos National Laboratory; Treasurer Carol Cochran, a principal at REDW in Albuquerque, Secretary Robert A. Jung of Albuquerque, Immediate Past Chair Lynn Slade, an attorney with Modrall Sperling; First Vice Chair Jim Hinton, president and CEO of Presbyterian Health Services; Second Vice Chair Jim Manatt, president and CEO of Providence Technologies in Roswell and Third Vice Chair Bob Rosebrough, mayor of the City of Gallup.

Newly elected Chair William Garcia said, “I’m looking forward to working with the leadership team, our board and founders in advancing the principles of democracy by involving citizens in shaping policy on matters of broad significance.

New Mexico First has convened more than 40 Town Halls the past 20 years with more than 6,000 participants addressing broad policy issues, including education, taxes, the environment, mathematics and science education, economic development, water, energy and health care, among other topics. Joining the New Mexico First Board are:

Michael DeWitte, senior manager at Sandia National Labs;
Carol Cochran, principal at REDW;
Jennifer Thomas, executive vice president of Bank of Albuquerque;
Sharon King, manager of the Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce in Portales;
Phelps Anderson, president of Sun Valley Energy Corporation in Roswell;
Garrey Carruthers, dean of the College of Business at NMSU;
Shelly Redford, owner of Redford Associates in Silver City;
Stuart Paisano, manager of Sandia Resorts and Casino;
Jed Fanning, regional president for First Community Bank in Albuquerque;
Ed Ely, principal business banking manager for Wells Fargo Bank;
Mary Yates, business development manager for Yates Industries in Artesia;
Vanessa Gray, owner of The Flower Shop in Grants;
Tom Mills, deputy secretary of the NM Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources Department;
Jean-Marc Grindatto, public affairs managers for Intel in Rio Rancho;
Alice Quantanilla, CEO of Information Assets Management Inc. in Los Alamos, and
Sayuri Yamada, vice president of government relations for the Association of
Commerce and Industry.

The new board members and officers were approved by the Board of Directors today at the New Mexico First annual meeting. Board members appointed to serve an additional one-year term were Bob Jung of Albuquerque, Linda Kay Jones of Silver City, Bill Garcia of Santa Fe, and Lynn Slade of Albuquerque.