We are a non-profit organization made up of more than 425 professionals, Tribal Entities, Governments, Small Businesses, Organizations, Artisans and Individuals.
Our vision at the Chamber continually promotes the development of a healthy, self-sufficient American Indian Economy, both on and off the reservation. Our mission is both simple and powerful: “To help Native People achieve successful economic development initiatives while incorporating, strengthening and building upon Tribal Values.”
On behalf of the entire New Mexico Small Business Development Center Network, the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of NM and our 30+ partners, it is an honor to welcome you to the 2014 New Mexico Small Business Week Awards Celebration Luncheon page. This year, in the spirit of collaboration and teaming, we will come together to host this important Awards Celebration at the 8th Annual New Mexico Native American Economic Summit.
During this time each year in every state of the country, community leaders and partners honor the men and women whose entrepreneurial spirit, dedication, and hard work have been the backbone of this country throughout its history. It is therefore critical that we take this time to remember this fundamental part of our Nation that makes us Americans.
The New Mexico Small Business Development Center has been providing no cost consulting and low cost training to New Mexico small businesses for a quarter of a century with incredible results. We at the New Mexico Small Business Development Center and each local center are humbled that we have played a small, intricate part of small business success around the State. This could not be achieved without the collaboration, support and assistance of many of our small business partners such as the American Indian Chamber of Commerce.
Our sincere congratulations go to all of the 2014 award winners.
2014 New Mexico Small Business Person of the Year
Michele “Shelly” Herbst, President/CEO, Marron and Associates, Inc.
Albuquerque, NM
Nominated by: Paul Karas, Associate Client Service Manager, CDM Smith
2014 New Mexico Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year
Adolfo Vasquez, LTC, USA (Ret),
Advisor, New Mexico Small Business Development Center - Procurement Technical Assistance Program
Nominated by: Wendy Ederer, Statewide Program Manager, NMSBDC Procurement Technical Assistance Program
2014 New Mexico Women In Business Champion of the Year
Chauling Armijo President, Four Winds Mechanical HTC/AC, Inc.
Nominated by: Anna Muller
2014 New Mexico Financial Services Champion of the Year
Linda A.C. Ruckel, President Advance Tax Services, Inc.
Santa Fe, NM
Nominated by: Michael Mykris, Director, Santa Fe Small Business Development Center
2014 New Mexico Minority Small Business Champion of the Year
Norma Valdez, Development Director
The Loan Fund
Nominated by: Leroy Pacheco, President, The Loan Fund
2014 New Mexico Family-Owned Small Business of the Year
Angela Atencio-Sanchez, President, Las Brazas Enterprises, Inc.
Santa Cruz, NM
2014 Entrepreneurial Success Award and Region VI Award Winner
Donn E. Wiese, President/General Manager, Tsay Construction & Services, LLC.
Ohkay Owingeh, NM
Nominated by: Chris Fresquez and Mike Boule, Los Alamos National Laboratory
2014 New Mexico 7(a) Small Business Lender of the Year
Wells Fargo Bank
2014 New Mexico 504 3rd Party Lender of the Year
New Mexico Bank and Trust
The New Mexico Native American Economic Summit has been presented by both the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico and the State of New Mexico Indian Affairs Department, for the past 7 years, with great growth & success.
We will be inviting Native American Tribal government representatives, elected officials, entrepreneurs, business owners, private industry, and State, Federal and Tribal government agencies from Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, California, Washington DC, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington State and more, making this a Nation-wide Audience, focused on working with New Mexico Companies. Last year, we had a total of 67 cities representing 17 States in attendance.
The Summit will showcase Economic Development projects on Native American Lands. Showcase Top Native American Businesses in New Mexico, success stories and grant / contracting opportunities for New Mexico Native American governments, Tribal entities, prospective entrepreneurs and business owners. Invited agencies are NM State Indian Affairs Department, NM State Economic Development Department, United States Department of Agriculture, Minority Business Development Agency, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Department of Transportation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories, Bernalillo County Purchasing and the City of Albuquerque Economic Development department to name a few.
We have designed this Summit as the “place to meet” and introduce Native American businesses and its leaders in order to synergize & strategize with proper Strategic Growth Initiatives. There will be plenty of networking and contracting opportunities for all during the Summit, which can only strengthen our businesses and our local economies.
A final outcome for the end-user (attendee) will be: A better informed individual, company or organization that can begin to seek and request assistance and funding for initiatives that will benefit our local economies. Also, our audience can and will be encouraged to tap into the numerous resources that are available to both entrepreneurs, companies and Tribal Entities, from all walks of business life at the local, state Tribal and federal levels.
Questions? Please contact Russell Pedro at 505.766.9545
Adriene Gallegos at (505) 428.1624