Central New Mexico accounts for nearly half of the state’s economic activity. Named one of America’s 50 Hottest Cities by Expansion Management magazine, Albuquerque and the surrounding area have attracted high-tech, film and solar industries, and many entrepreneurs.
CentralNewMex.com CENTRAL NEW MEXICO ECONOMIC GUIDE Beep-Beep Rail Runner Express stretches 117 miles Can Do in ABQ Albuquerque hailed as place to succeed Fund Times Venture capitalists aid entrepreneurs See lions, tigers and bears in a video tour of the Rio Grande Zoo. What’s Online s e s s s s s s s s s s s s s s e e e e e e e e e e SPONSORED BY THE GREATER ALBUQUERQUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 2009 Click the top corners of the magazine to turn pages
Transcript
CentralNewMex.com
CENTRAL NEW MEXICO
ECONOMIC GUIDEBeep-Beep
Rail Runner Expressstretches 117 miles
Can Do in ABQ Albuquerque hailedas place to succeed
Fund TimesVenture capitalistsaid entrepreneurs
See lions, tigers and bears in a video
tour of the Rio Grande Zoo.
What’s Online
s essssssssssssss eeeeeeeeee
SPONSORED BY THE GREATER ALBUQUERQUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 2009
Can Do in ABQ 30The Albuquerque area wins praise as a place to enjoy life – and succeed in it.
Rave Reviews 31
Be a Sport 33
FILM
Silver Screen Is Gold 34Cost savings, sunny weather and diverse shooting locations lure fi lmmakers.
ENERGY
Energy Dynamo 36Solar companies burnish the region’s reputation as a leader in clean power.
TECHNOLOGY
Retooling for the Future 40Intel’s $2 billion investment prepares its Rio Rancho campus for the future.
Cybercity, N.M. 41
FOOD
Delicious, Naturally 42Some farms and restaurants in Central New Mexico take to organic foods.
FORESTRY
Woodlands & Grasslands 44U.S. Forest Service has a major presence here, with more than 1,000 employees.
ECONOMIC PROFILE 48
30
34
40
44
contents
C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M 3
CENTRAL NEW MEXICO
ECONOMIC GUIDE2009 EDITION, VOLUME 4
C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A
MANAGING EDITOR MAURICE FLIESS
COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS
ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES,
SUSAN CHAPPELL, JESSY YANCEY
STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PAMELA COYLE,
SHARON H. FITZGERALD, JOE MORRIS, JESSICA MOZO
DATA MANAGER CHANDRA BRADSHAW
SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN MCCORD
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT,
ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER
PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT MANAGER ANNE WHITLOW
CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS
ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN
PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS
MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER,
KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS
LEAD DESIGNER JESSICA MANNER
GRAPHIC DESIGN ERICA HINES, ALISON HUNTER,
JANINE MARYLAND, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER
WEB DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR BRIAN SMITH
WEB IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTOR ANDY HARTLEY
WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR FRANCO SCARAMUZZA
WEB PROJECT MANAGER YAMEL RUIZ
WEB DESIGN CARL SCHULZ
WEB PRODUCTION JENNIFER GRAVES
COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN
AD TRAFFIC MARCIA MILLAR,
PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY
CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN
SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER
SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN
SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER
V.P./SALES HERB HARPER
V.P./SALES TODD POTTER
V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER
V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS
MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS BILL McMEEKIN
MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM
MANAGING EDITOR/CUSTOM KIM NEWSOM
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO
CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY
ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN,
MARIA MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS
RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP
DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE
NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR JAMES SCOLLARD
IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE
SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY
SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN
OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM
RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP
Central New Mexico Economic Guide is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at [email protected].
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce115 Gold Ave. S.W., Suite 201 • Albuquerque, NM 87102Phone: (505) 764-3700 • Fax: (505) 764-3714 www.abqchamber.com
VISIT CENTRAL NEW MEXICO ECONOMIC GUIDE ONLINE AT CENTRALNEWMEX.COM
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4 C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O
Cliff’s Amusement Park in Albuquerque is open from April through September, offering attractions that include thrill rides, family rides, water rides and Kiddyland. In all, there are 23 rides as well as arcade games and concessions.
The most daring rides include Cliff Hanger, Demolition Disco, Galaxi Roller Coaster, Musik Express, New Mexico Rattler, Sea Dragon, SideWinder and Yo-Yo.
ANIMAL HOUSESThis place is a zoo – and an aquarium, botanic garden and beach.
Albuquerque Biological Park encompasses the Albuquerque
Aquarium, Rio Grande Botanic Garden, Rio Grande Zoo and Tingley
Beach. The mission of the comprehensive environmental park is to
enrich the quality of life for residents through education, recreation,
conservation and research.
Among the aquarium’s attractions is a 285,000-gallon tank
containing Gulf of Mexico saltwater, while the botanic garden
includes a 10,000-square-foot glass conservatory. The zoo spans
64 acres and is home to 250 species of animals. Tingley Beach
features a fishing lake and picnic areas.
More information: www.cabq.gov/biopark.
8 C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O
business almanac
AL CAPONE WAS HERE?Jemez Springs is a nice stop on the Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway. The village in Sandoval County is said to have been a favorite of none other than Al Capone.
According to legend, the notorious gangster frequented one of the bathhouses in Jemez Springs and maintained a nearby hideout in the mountains. Capone supposedly liked Jemez Springs for its healing mineral waters that originate in natural hot springs.
As for other attractions, the November 2008 issue of Budget Travel magazine pointed out that Jemez Springs is also charming because of its art galleries and sunny cafés.
WOW FACTORThey have been powwowing
for 27 years.
More than 3,000 American
Indian dancers and singers
travel to Albuquerque each
April for the Gathering of
Nations PowWow. The
participants represent 500
tribes, and the festivities take
place at the University of
New Mexico Arena, known
as The Pit.
The powwow includes
an Indian traders market,
musical entertainment,
authentic cuisine and the
crowning of Miss Indian World.
The event’s mission is to
celebrate and educate about
the culture, history and tribal
traditions of North America’s
original inhabitants.
More information: www.gatheringofnations.com.
WATER, WATER, EVERYWHEREIn December 2008, purified river
water from the Rio Grande began
flowing into the taps of Albuquerque
homes and businesses.
This was thanks to the $400
million San Juan-Chama Drinking
Water Project, which will eventually
supply up to 90 percent of the
metropolitan area’s water needs.
Previously, the primary water
source was an underground aquifer.
City officials determined that the
aquifer’s lifespan was limited, so
plans were made to divert water
from the San Juan and Chama
rivers in the north to the Rio
Grande, which travels through
the heart of Albuquerque.
C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M 9
10 C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O
INTEREST PEAKEDTrivia answer: The world’s longest aerial tramway is in Central New Mexico.
Sandia Peak Tramway provides passengers with a 2.7-mile trip from a base station at 6,559 feet of elevation to Sandia Peak, elevation 10,378. The tram travels at a top speed of 12 mph and can transport up to 220 passengers every hour.
A ride aboard the tram gives passengers a view of canyons, hills and mountains.
More information: www.sandiapeak.com.
WILD BLUE YONDERThey are just plane busy at Kirtland Air Force Base.
The massive base, covering 51,558 acres, is in the
southeastern quadrant of Albuquerque, adjacent
to Albuquerque International Sunport. With more
than 22,000 workers, it is the largest employer in
New Mexico.
Kirtland is home to the 377th Air Base Wing, whose
primary mission is to provide munitions maintenance,
readiness and support. It is the third-largest
installation in the Air Force Materiel Command.
C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M 11
business almanac
CompaniesThis region continues to attract new businesses
This region continues to
Coming
12 C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O
Economic slowdown? What economic slowdown?
Central New Mexico has been slow to feel the economic pinch that has bitten hard in other parts of the country last year. Not that times aren’t challenging here, too, but compared to national averages, this region beams like a ray of sunshine through storm clouds.
“One of the key indicators of economic health is the unemployment rate,” says Terri Cole, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. As of March 2009, metro Albuquerque’s rate was 6.3 percent, compared to 8.5 percent nationally.
Likewise, the local housing market has not suffered on the same scale as in many other parts of the country. From October 2007 to October 2008, the median home price in Albuquerque declined by less than 6 percent, from about $200,000 to $189,000, and an increased inventory of homes for sale simply represents an adjustment to more normal levels, says Gary Tonjes, president of Albuquerque Economic Development.
“Albuquerque hasn’t had the booms and busts that others have,” Tonjes says. “Steady growth of 1 to 2 percent and a large government sector help anchor the economy with real stability.”
WORKFORCE QUALITY AND INCENTIVES
Also in Albuquerque’s favor is a sunny business climate that attracted a record number of visits by corporate prospects in 2007, followed in 2008 by several announcements of companies setting up shop here. “There aren’t many cities making those kinds of announcements right now, but we are,” Cole says.
Among the newcomers, Fidelity Investments opened a human resource services operation in Mesa del Sol in December 2008. (See story, page 15.) The company has hired 300 workers and
expects ultimately to employ 1,250. “The quality of our workforce was the most
important thing to Fidelity, which is the best in the world at demographic analysis,” Tonjes says. “That’s a real boost to this area that other companies see as a strong endorsement.”
In Rio Rancho, computer giant Hewlett-Packard Co. recently broke ground on a 218,000-square-foot sales, technical and cus-tomer support center that is expected to result in 1,350 jobs.
Meanwhile, cable TV’s ReelzChannel announced plans to join the region’s burgeoning entertainment media industry by moving its headquarters and 100 jobs to Albuquerque from Los Angeles. “ReelzChannel adds to the film industry infrastructure we’ve worked hard to establish,” Cole says.
Other major announcements came from German companies Schott AG and Signet Solar GmbH, both of which are establishing solar products manufacturing operations here (see story, page 36), and General Mills Inc., which is spending $100 million to expand a cereal plant to add production of snack foods, creating 60 jobs. According to Tonjes, the high productivity and low turnover of the region’s workforce emerged as the No. 1 reason the region pre-vailed over eight other areas competing for the 165,000-square-foot General Mills plant.
The strong workforce is attributable in part to the state’s Job Training Incentive Program, which funds a portion of trainee wages for up to six months. Other key factors that lure businesses include low-cost electricity and incentives such as certain tax credits.
“Building a vibrant economy also involves planning, strategy and a strong public/private sector partnership,” Cole says. “We’ve done a very good job of creating a collaborative envi-ronment to attract the companies we want.”
– Carol Cowan
Downtown Albuquerque gleams as the commercial hub of Central New Mexico. PHOTO BY BRIAN McCORD
More Insight
Among the other companies that have expanded in or relocated to Central New Mexico:
Advent Solar
Aeromechanical
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Convergys
L-3 Communications
Merillat
Paychex
PR Newswire
Prime Therapeutics
Sony Pictures Imageworks
Sky Fuel
Tempur-Pedic
Verizon Wireless
C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M 13
Why Choose Albuquerque?FIDELITY FINDS MANY REASONS TO INVEST SIGNIFICANTLY HERE
K erry Prine, Fidelity Investments senior vice president and gen-eral manager for Albuquerque,
took time out from his busy schedule to talk about the company’s decision to open a human resource services center in the city.
The company moved into a new 218,000-square-foot building in the sprawling Mesa del Sol development in December 2008.
Q What attracted Fidelity Investments to Central
New Mexico?
A The concentration and quality of the skilled workforce in Albuquerque,
the projected growth in the region, and close proximity to the University of New Mexico were the most significant reasons for our decision. We believe the site will support our plans for growth in all the markets we serve and act as an incubator for new ideas.
Q What is the focus of Fidelity Investments’ Albuquerque
location, and what makes the city a good fit for that emphasis?
A New Mexico is a new site for Fidelity and has been targeted as
the pri mary growth site for Fidelity’s Human Resources Services business, which focuses on HR, payroll and benefits administration. In addition to the work force, we have been impressed by the city’s focus on bringing leading employ ers to the area, and we have established strong partnerships with
community and business leaders in the region.
Q How many people will the company employ?
A To date, Fidelity has met its hiring goals and brought in more than
300 employees. We expect to continue to add employees.
Q Given the nationwide economic downturn and
predictions for a difficult year ahead, how do you see Fidelity Investments benefiting by its location in this region and benefiting the region in return?
A We have found that diversifying geographically offers Fidelity
numerous advantages, such as getting us closer to our customers and clients; allowing us to keep our businesses operating 24/7 year-round; providing us access to additional pools of talent; and enabling us to have multiple backup systems for contingency operations in case of a major weather event, power outage or some other unexpected dis-turbance to business operations.
In addition, Fidelity and its employees are committed to the communities in which we live and work. So we see this as a mutually beneficial arrangement for our company and for the region. Our success in recruiting and training new associates so far gives us great confidence about the role the new site will play in meeting the needs of our clients and customers in the future.
Q How do you like your new working environment?
A The new building was designed and built to be environmentally
friendly, and the developer plans to sub-mit the building for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.
Some of the building’s eco-friendly features include bicycle storage and changing rooms for associates; 38 park-ing spots designated for high-occupancy vehicles; energy-optimized lighting, heating, and cooling systems; and a recycling program throughout the build-ing. Additionally, during construction, 75 percent of the construction waste was recycled.
– Carol Cowan
Kerry Prine, Fidelity Investments
C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M 15
business climate
In the early 1990s, there was little or no startup money to be had for entrepreneurs in and around Central New Mexico. What a difference a decade makes.
In recent years, venture-capital financing has come into its own here, providing seed capital to multiple startups. More than 20 financing-related companies are parceling out or locating dollars. Some act as full partners with new businesses; others serve as brokers connecting the money to the idea, then stepping back.
A pioneering player was Technology Ventures Corp., which was spun out of Lockheed Martin Corp. in 1993 as part of its proposal to manage the U.S. Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories. The idea was that the spinoff would help fund the commercialization of technology developed in the lab and at research universities.
With 100 new businesses, slightly more than $1 billion in funding and more than 12,000 jobs created, not to mention a host of new players in the field, the idea seems to have been a sound one.“We’re a nonprofit that tries to focus on economic development, entrepreneurs and venture capital,” says Randy Wilson, director of operations. “When we started, there were zero venture-capital firms in New Mexico, and the state had this huge reservoir of technology that was being developed in the labs with potential in the commercial sector. We were faced with the challenge of growing both an entrepreneurial culture that didn’t exist and a venture capital culture that didn’t exist.”
Now the state has been named the No. 1 spot for growth in the last decade by the National Venture Capital Association –
something that doesn’t completely surprise George Friberg, senior director at TVC.
“There was a very robust entrepreneurial community in New Mexico, but it was driven by the federal government and had always been a bootstrap effort in terms of those people finding financing,” Friberg says. “When TVC came along and said, ‘We’re going to make this nice connection between you and the venture capital community, at no charge to you,’ it was a real boon.”
GETTING READY FOR PRIME TIMEAnother company that’s made a success of it is New Mexico
Angels, whose members invest in early-stage companies and then help propel them to market acceptance.
Since 1999, the company has worked with venture-capital firms and other angel groups in the Southwest. “We are not a venture fund, and we don’t make direct investments,” says President John Chavez. “We have between 60 and 70 indi-viduals who are core members, and another 12 or 14 corporate members and sponsors who invest through us.”
In the past five years, NMA has gone from around $130,000 in investments to $1.3 million, and the company has seen its first exit, selling Acoustic Cytometry Systems Inc.
Companies get much more than seed money from NMA. “If a deal isn’t investable but there’s something there, we’ll bring in an angel with the skill set to assist that entrepreneur,” Chavez says. “We spend a lot of energy on those deals that aren’t ripe for prime time.”
– Joe Morris
Konrad Thürmer works at Sandia National Laboratories. Some technology developed there has been spun off commercially.
TimesVenture capitalists ignite a hotbed
for entrepreneurs
Fund
16 C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O
finance
PHOTO COURTESY OF R ANDY WONG
Among other venture capitalists:
Altira Group
Blue Sage Capital
Flywheel Ventures
Fort Washington Capital
International Venture Fund
ITU Ventures
Mesa Capital Partners
Murphree Venture Partners
New Mexico Community Capital
Tullis-Dickerson & Co.
Verge Fund
Vestor Partners
Village Partners
vSpring Capital
Wasatch Venture Fund
More Insight
C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M 17
Rail Runner Express service connects populated dots in Central New Mexico
On time, within budget and ahead of expectations, the New Mexico Rail Runner
Express is being hailed as a textbook example of how commuter rail can reshape a region.
The system opened its last major leg, from Bernalillo north of Albuquerque to New Mexico’s capital city, Santa Fe, in December 2008. The $400 million Rail Runner Express line now stretches 117 miles from Belen south of Albuquerque to Santa Fe, with 13 stations along the way.
About 3,000 passengers have been boarding daily along the 50-mile cor-ridor between Belen and Bernalillo, while the Albuquerque-Santa Fe stretch is expected to average around 4,500 daily riders, according to the Mid-Region Council of Governments, which operates the service in conjunction with the state Department of Transportation.
For the system’s planners, all this is not only realization of a dream, but
also the base of a new template for the region in terms of population and busi-ness growth.
“What we began five years ago and planned for is done,” says Chris Blewett, Rail Runner Express project manager for t he Mid-Region Counci l of Governments. “We’re very proud that our projections from 2004 held; we brought it in on schedule and on budget, and that took a lot of work.”
SMALLER COMMUNITIES TO BENEFIT
Initial ridership numbers for the expanded system have been a pleasant, if not entirely unexpected, surprise, but Rail Runner Express advocates express confidence that even after the novelty subsides, plenty of riders will use the service regularly.
Moreover, there will be people heading out from the major population centers into some of the smaller cities along the line as growth begins to spring up
Left and right: The Alvarado Transportation Center in downtown Albuquerque is a connecting point for Rail Runner Express, Amtrak, Greyhound and local bus service.
BeepBeep-P
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18 C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O
transportation
C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M 19
around stations, Blewett says.“There are a lot of places where
there’s only one road connecting areas,” he says. “And then there’s the whole issue of affordable housing: Most housing in the Santa Fe region is out of people’s price range. There are a lot of people who are living out of the area and drive to and from work, and we think there will be a lot of them taking the train.”
Indeed, communities that were left behind economically when interstate highways were built decades ago now see a chance to lure new business.
“Having the service in place makes the station and the area around it much more valuable, but we got this done so fast it’s caught a lot of people by surprise,” he says. “We’ve been working with a lot
of local communities on things like zoning, infrastructure and development plans so they can capitalize.”
This dovetails with the findings of the Mountain Megas study by the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., which identified the region as one that would greatly benefit from passenger rail.
“Rail has a chance to impose some order on this huge, super-growth area,” says Mark Muro, policy director of Brookings’ Metropolitan Policy Program. “Development will be more organized and will be sited along the necklace that is this rail corridor. The region has been very proactive about that, and they have embraced reality in a very positive way.”
– Joe Morris
ScorecardNEW MEXICO RAIL RUNNER EXPRESS
13number of stations
117miles of track
24number of trains operated each weekday
2:04travel time from end to end
1:16travel time from downtown Albuquerque to Santa Fe
Passengers board bilevel cars of a late-afternoon Rail Runner Express train bound for Santa Fe. Ridership of that stretch is expected to average about 4,500 daily.
20 C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O
transportation
Tarmac and terminal
renovations, coupled with the
return of international service,
have the Albuquerque
International Sunport poised
for growth.
The airport, which shares
runways with Kirtland Air Force
Base, recently wrapped up a
$30 million project that saw
the asphalt apron around the
terminal building removed and
replaced with concrete. In
tandem with major interior
renovations scheduled to begin
soon, the work is designed to
extend the terminal’s life by
several years.
“We’re definitely buying
ourselves some time before
we need to build an additional
terminal,” says Daniel Jiron,
public information officer for
the city’s Aviation Department.
“We want to extend the life of
this building as long as we can,
so we’re adding to our busiest
concourse by extending it about
30 feet, and expanding and
renovating the holding and
other key areas.”
Also on tap is a redesigned
and enlarged food-service
operation. The enhancements
will dovetail nicely with existing
features such as free Wi-Fi
service, as well as transit
connections for bus and rail.
The airport’s nine major
carriers and two commuter
airlines handled nearly 6.5
million passengers in 2008,
and international service to
Chihuahua via AeroMexico has
been restored. In addition, the
airport’s freight center moved
more than 67,000 tons of cargo
in 2008.
– Joe Morris
Taking OffABQ SUNPORT ENJOYS UPGRADES INSIDE AND OUT
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More than 6 million passengers use Albuquerque International Sunport annually.
C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M 21
22 C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O
Albuquerque reinforces its status as a regional center for health care
T raditional Navajo medicine includes chants sung by a healer to restore cosmic balance to a sick patient. Today, patients of modern medicine in Central New
Mexico sing the praises of a trio of health-care providers that have sealed the region’s reputation as a medical-services hub.
The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center operates three academic hospitals, two psychiatric centers, a pharmacy, numerous clinics and a cancer center. Presbyterian Healthcare Services is a nonprofit system of hospitals, a health plan and a growing physician medical group. Lovelace Health System is a network of acute-care hospitals plus 11
pharmacies and a health plan.Set to open in summer 2009 is the first phase of the
UNM Cancer Treatment and Clinical Research Facility, a 202,000-square-foot center dedicated to the latest treatments and education of cancer patients. The initial phase represents a $60 million investment, while the price tag of the second phase – scheduled to open by January 2010 – is $30 million.
The new facility is more than four times the size of the existing space, where an average of 375 patients are treated daily in an area built to handle no more than 150.
Dr. Cheryl Willman, director and chief executive officer,
Your Health
Presbyterian Healthcare Services has new emphasis on quality. Left: UNM Children’s Hospital, Barbara & Bill Richardson Pavilion
Here’s to
PH
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C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M 23
health
says the expanded quarters will accommodate multidisciplinary approaches to care. “We’ll coordinate all a patient’s appoint-ments simultaneously under one roof, and that sort of integration of medical care really improves the quality of care and the patient’s experience. And it’s much better medicine,” she says.
The center will offer new approaches to radiation oncology that will allow physicians to treat cancer metastasis in the lung or liver without surgery. UNM is one of the nation’s 60 premier cancer centers, as designated by the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md.
INNOVATIONS ONGOING AT PRESBYTERIAN, LOVELACE
Dedication to quality has prompted Presbyterian Healthcare Services to initiate the Lean Six Sigma quality-improvement strategy. Already under way in one clinic, it is expected to be implemented systemwide in three to four years.
“One of the key principles is that absolutely everything we do is focused on adding value for our patients. That’s the cornerstone for making changes,” says Dr. Michael Nelson, a pediatrician and medical director for quality improvement
at Presbyterian Medical Group, a unit of Presbyterian Healthcare Services.
As an example of the strategy’s success, the amount of time a patient spends at the clinic has been reduced 84 percent on average. “It’s been a revelation,” Nelson says. In addition, staff turnover has decreased from a rate of about 30 percent to 7 percent annually.
Improving facilities and adding the latest technology has been a focus of late at Lovelace Health System, says Susan Wilson, director of public relations. About $60 million in renovations, including a new cardiac-care center and expanded surgical capabilities, were completed in 2007 at Lovelace Medical Center, and the hospital invested in a 64-slice CT scanner in 2008.
Lovelace Westside Hospital now offers a renovated emergency department. Lovelace Women’s Hospital spent nearly $14 million to expand its neonatal intensive care unit. New Mexico’s only women’s hospital also augmented its breast-care services, including a new MRI imaging device with a breast coil to allow for needle-guided biopsy.
– Sharon H. Fitzgerald
Lovelace Women’s Hospital in Albuquerque, a unit of the Lovelace Health System, is the only hospital of its kind in New Mexico.
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health
Prescription for SuccessPHARMACY FIRMS FIND THIS PLACE IS WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED
Whether you need a
prescription filled or a natural
treatment for indigestion,
a pharmaceutical-related
company in Albuquerque
just might be the one to serve
you, no matter where you live.
Celebrating 30 years in
Albuquerque is Heel USA,
founded in 1979 by Dr. Hans-
Heinrich Reckeweg, known as
the father of homotoxicology –
the science of toxins and their
effects on the human body.
Reckeweg was in search of
a U.S. location for his German
company and stopped in
Albuquerque. “As the story is
told, he was going to continue
on to California, but he fell in
love with the climate and the
people. Our employees enjoy
a quality of life that can only
be offered in New Mexico,”
says Thierry Montfort, chief
executive officer of Heel USA.
With nearly 100 employees
at its location in the Sandia
Science and Technology Park,
Heel produces natural therapies
for ailments as varied as sinus
congestion, acne and vertigo.
The company’s biggest seller,
which has been on the market
for 65 years, is Traumeel for
arthritic pain and joint stiffness.
Products are sold directly by
medical practitioners as well as
in pharmacies and health-food
stores.
Also with operations in the
city are two pharmacy benefits
companies. Express Scripts Inc.
and Prime Therapeutics LLC have
mail-order processing centers for
filling patients’ prescriptions.
– Sharon H. Fitzgerald
Two pharmacy-benefits companies operate mail-order centers here.
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C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M 25
New buildings for engineering and architecture dazzle on UNM’s campus
The University of New Mexico’s campus keeps getting more attractive, thanks to the addition of buildings that are also strengthening the university’s engineering and
architecture programs. In September 2008, the four-story Centennial Engineering
Center opened its doors. About 1,800 students and 100 faculty members are occupying the 147,500-square-foot, $43 million facility, which replaced several old buildings the School of Engineering was using.
“It gives us a great deal more room, and there are very open facilities so students can interact with each other,” says Joseph Cecchi, dean. “That creates a lot of synergy. We also have a 200-seat auditorium we didn’t have before, and that allows us to host distinguished speakers and other events.”
Another new feature is a commons area where students from all departments can study and congregate. “There are windows on three sides overlooking campus, and the whole building has Wi-Fi,” Cecchi says.
Conceptual planning began eight years ago, and ground was broken in September 2006. The building and its furnishings were paid for by state funding, private gifts and through the fundrais-ing efforts of the Engineering Regional Leadership Committee.
Vicki Mora, a member of the committee and chief executive officer of Associated General Contractors in New Mexico, helped garner community support. The committee raised $2 million to outfit the building, and AGC donated $50,000.
“What’s most exciting about the building is it reflects the design and dynamics of construction management, which is a very exciting and sophisticated profession,” Mora says. “The
building is visual representation of the profession and helps people see what a degree in engineering really means.”
BUILD IT, THEY WILL COMEOne of the immediate benchmarks for the Centennial
Engineering Center’s success was an increase in enrollment in the School of Engineering. “It was extremely exciting to see enrollment up following the building’s construction,” Mora says.
There are several aspects of the building the School of Engineering is especially proud of, including energy-efficient design, a hydraulics laboratory, and bioengineering and struc-tures labs. “CEC has special controls to increase energy efficiency in lab areas with once-through air, recycled materials were used in the concrete and steel structure, and there is multilevel switching for lights and exterior solar shading,” says Karen Wentworth, senior university communication representative for UNM. “The new hydraulics lab has the ability to simulate f low through drainage channels, and the civil engineering students work on contract with the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority to test new designs for use in the city’s drainage channels.”
“[CEC] adds greatly to the beauty of the campus,” Cecchi says. That’s also true for George Pearl Hall, which was dedicated
in October 2007 and opened in January 2008. The building is home of the School of Architecture and
Planning and its 400 students. Also housed there is the UNM Fine Arts and Design Library.
– Jessica Mozo
About 400 students in UNM’s School of Architecture and Planning now have a new building in which to construct their models.
Homes, Sweet Homes
26 C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O
education
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Albuquerque area is hailed as a place to enjoy life and succeed
T he reasons for Albuquerque’s lofty rankings in so many national “best for” lists are many.
The city has an excellent quality of life with hiking and biking, arts and culture, fine dining and shopping, and many museums and historical landmarks.
Albuquerque is also a hotbed of research and development, boasting the nation’s second-highest number of res-idents per capita who have earned Ph.D.s.
“With intelligent people and great scenery, we like to say that Albuquerque has plenty of gray and green matter to brag about,” says Mayor Martin J. Chavez. “Businesses are attracted to clean air, a beautiful natural environment and a
uerque area is hailed as a
ABQCan Doin
Central New Mexico’s 300-plus days of sunshine annually make it ideal for bicycling. Top: Sandia Peak Ski Area is a 45-minute drive from downtown Albuquerque.
30 C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O
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Rave ReviewsARTS ENHANCE LIFE – AND ECONOMY
Central New Mexico
appreciates the arts.
More than 250 arts
organizations operate in the
region, and thousands of artists
live here. The organizations run
the gamut – everything from
the Albuquerque Flute
Association to Basement Films.
“The arts in Albuquerque
involve dance, theater, music,
visual and literary arts, and
include diverse individual
sectors such as the film
industry, symphony, museums
and even an entertainment
attraction such as the zoo,”
says Cricket Appel, executive
director of Arts Alliance, an
umbrella arts council for
Greater Albuquerque.
“The Arts Alliance works with
the city and Bernalillo County to
implement a cultural plan,” she
says, “and we ultimately decide
where the local efforts and
dollars should be placed toward
the arts each year.”
“Dollars” has become a
key word in the local arts
community. A 2007 study
by the University of New
Mexico’s Bureau of Business
and Economic Research showed
that arts and cultural businesses
generate $1.2 billion for the
economy each year. The arts
account for 19,500 jobs and
$415 million in annual wages.
“The many ethnic groups
who live here are all very
involved,” Appel says, adding,
“Diversification in the arts is a
big reason why Central New
Mexico is so interesting, creative
and talented.”
– Kevin Litwin
top quality of life for families. We have it all.”
Terri Cole, president and chief exec-utive officer of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, says the area is imbued with a robust, creative, entrepreneurial spirit that attracts people who want to raise families in an environment of enthusiasm and success. She adds that many are drawn here because it is a “frontier region” with a widely held belief “that we can over-come any obstacle, that hard work matters, and you will be rewarded for such hard work. Our population is steadily growing, and it just seems like it’s our turn for true success.”
With the growing population comes home purchases, and Albuquerque is fortunate to have real estate values that are holding their own despite the troubling national economic climate. Forbes magazine in August 2008 called Albuquerque the Best Metro for Home Price Appreciation Potential, and Kiplinger.com in November 2008 named it a Safe Haven for Real Estate.
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY AND THE ARTS
Cole points out that a diversity of cultures also helps to make Albuquerque a successful community and one that attracts people looking for a desirable
C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M 31
livability
Aliso Townhomes offer stylish housing options in Albuquerque’s Nob Hill district. Left: The Sandia Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop for the Sandia Golf Club.
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place to live. “Our diverse population of more than 25 ethnic groups brings a treasure of insight, ideas and depth to every single thing we do,” she says. “We actually are striving to be an example to the rest of the nation about how important and enhanced our environment is as a result of all those cultures being able to work harmoniously together.”
Another drawing card is Albuquerque’s vibrant arts scene, which includes a burgeoning affiliation with the film industry that has created a new buzz in the community. “We are being called the Hollywood of the Southwest, starting off with a tax-incentive plan a few years
ago and suddenly ending up with movie studios and millions of dollars pouring into our local econ omy,” Cole says. (See story, page 34).
Life in Albuquerque and Central New Mexico is also enhanced by its high-tech sector. “Albuquerque is beginning to take a leadership role in several new industries, including the fields of cli-mate change, alternative energy and marine technology,” she says. “So many good things are taking place in this city these days that it’s hard to keep track of them all. That’s a nice situation to be in.”
– Kevin Litwin
32 C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O
livability
Be a SportSPECTATORS FIND PLENTY OF TEAMS TO CHEER FOR
Watching from the stands is
part of the sporting life here.
The region is home to
professional baseball, basketball
and ice hockey teams.
The Albuquerque Isotopes,
the Triple-A baseball affiliate of
the Los Angeles Dodgers, play
72 of their Pacific Coast League
games at Isotopes Park, which
opened in 2003.
Tingley Coliseum is home of
the Albuquerque Thunderbirds,
who compete in the National
Basketball Association
Development League.
The New Mexico Scorpions
take on their Central Hockey
League opponents at the Santa
Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho.
On the collegiate level, the
University of New Mexico is
engaged in a $100 million plan
to upgrade its athletic facilities,
with the main project being
a $60 million renovation to
The Pit. Officially named the
University of New Mexico
Arena, it is home to the men’s
and women’s basketball teams.
“Renovations to The Pit
will modernize and beautify
this excellent, longstanding
athletic facility,” says Paul Krebs,
director of athletics. “It will soon
be one of the finest arenas for
basketball in the country.”
Improvements will include
new seats, concessions,
restrooms, ticket offices and
a UNM Lobos store. Completion
is scheduled for late 2010.
UNM’s University Stadium
hosts the post-season New
Mexico Bowl each December,
matching football teams from
the Mountain West and Western
Athletic conferences.
– Kevin Litwin
The 12,215-seat Isotopes Park is used for Triple-A and collegiate baseball games.
C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M 33
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Breaking Bad
In Plain Sight
Book ofo Eli
Friendsdship!
The Spy Next Door
My One & Only
For a complete list, visit www.cabq.gov/fi lm.
More Insight
34 C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O
film
Filmmakers flock here for cost savings, sunny weather and diverse locations
George Clooney made a movie here, as did Russell Crowe, Denzel Washington and Charlize Theron. So have Kevin Costner, Jessica Alba and Jackie Chan.
The film industry is alive and well in Greater Albuquerque, even in these difficult economic times. Motion picture pro-duction companies spent $130 million making films in the region in 2008, compared with $11 million in 2004.
“Back in 2002, New Mexico decided to offer incentives to filmmakers who would make their movies in this state, and the industry has exploded ever since,” says Ann Lender, liaison with the Albuquerque Film Office, a division of the city’s Office of Economic Development. “There were 400 people in the filmmaking union throughout Albuquerque and New Mexico in 2002, and now there are 3,000.”
Perhaps the most important incentive that the state offers to filmmakers is a 25 percent rebate on any purchased goods and services that carry New Mexico taxes. “For example, if a production company buys $100 worth of lumber for a stage set and then ultimately turns in the receipt, the state of New Mexico will write a check back for $25,” Lender says. “Some states offer higher incentives – Michigan offers a 42 percent rebate while New York is at 35 percent – so New Mexico obviously offers many more attractions than just money.”
Those attractions include 310 days of sunshine and low humidity, and 60-degree weather even in January and February. In addition, Albuquerque is only 90 minutes by air from Los Angeles and Hollywood.
“This city is also 300 years old and offers filming locations such as Victorian homes, an arid desert and a mountain on the east end of town that is more than 10,000 feet in elevation,” Lender says. “Filmmakers have access to a small-town look, urban look – basically any look.”
ELECTRICIAN IS ALL SETBy 2007, the film industry in Albuquerque had become so
successful that Albuquerque Studios constructed six studios at the Mesa Del Sol development at a cost of $80 million. As a result, top movies that have been shot there include No Country for Old Men, Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins and Transformers, along with hit TV series such as “Breaking Bad” and “In Plain Sight.”
“The governments of Albuquerque and New Mexico have done their homework and do everything correctly,” says Nick Smerigan, chief operating officer of Albuquerque Studios. “They are genuine in wanting this clean and high-paying industry to be here, and they always make Hollywood clients who visit us feel at home.”
In fact, the Albuquerque Film Office affirms that many Central New Mexico residents are enjoying lucrative careers, thanks to the establishment of the local film industry.
“I know a movie-set electrician who made $90,000 last year,” Lender says, “and even though he sometimes has to work 12-14 hours a day and some nights, he loves it.”
– Kevin Litwin
Gold
Russell Crowe starred in 3:10 to Yuma, which was filmed in Central New Mexico and nominated for two 2008 Academy Awards.
Silver ScreenIs
C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M 35
This sun-splashed region is becoming a hub for
solar-power companies
This sun-splashed regionThis sun-splashed region
DynamoEnergy
36 C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O
energy
C entral New Mexico has long played a role in conventional energy, and now that role has expanded into one of
national leadership in alternative energy, including biofuels, wind and, topping the list, solar power.
“The alternative-energy sector represents our best hope for growth,” says Gary Tonjes, president of Albuquerque Economic Development. “We are building on our strengths.”
Those strengths include the sunny skies overhead as well as a business climate that shines on clean energy and manufacturing – complementary assets that economic developers have leveraged to recruit new industry.
“Central New Mexico certainly has been attrac-tive to alternative-energy manufacturers, both homegrown and international,” says Sherman McCorkle, president and chief executive officer of Technology Ventures Corp., which facilitates commercialization of new technology.
A case in point is high-tech glass giant Schott AG of Mainz, Germany. The company opened a U.S. subsidiary, Schott Solar Inc., in spring 2009 at the Mesa del Sol development just south of Albuquerque International Sunport. Currently, its operations occupy 250,000 square feet of space, where 350 workers produce photovoltaic solar panels and solar-receiver components for utility-scale solar power plants.
Schott’s initial investment of $100 million is expected to grow to $500 million, 800,000
NEW MEXICO RANKS:
No. 2 in solar energy production
No. 10 in wind energy production
No. 4 in natural gas production
No. 6 in oil production
Scorecard
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If the New Mexico government’s goal is met, 20 percent of all electricity consumed in the state will come from renewable sources by 2020.
C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M 37
square feet and 1,500 jobs, Tonjes says. Also at Mesa del Sol, local startup
company Advent Solar has invested about $135 million into research, development and manufacture of its pioneering solar cell design and its cell-to-module archi-tecture known as Ventura Technology.
“Advent Solar represents a commer-cialization of technology that came out of Sandia National Laboratories,” McCorkle says.
The company employs about 100 people, but recent agreements to supply Advent technology to European distrib-utors – along with Chief Executive Officer Peter Green’s stated commitment to bring the solar industry closer to grid parity and transform solar from alternative to mainstream energy – could bring significant growth as early as 2010.
SOLAR INSTALLATION FOR VALENCIA COUNTY
Another global company, Signet Solar GmbH, which manufactures large-area, thin-film silicon photovoltaic modules in Dresden, Germany, announced in December 2008 that it will build its first North American plant in Belen in Valencia County, south of Albuquerque. According to Signet off icials, New Mexico’s commitment to renewable energy made it an obvious choice.
Scheduled to open in 2010, the 600,000-square-foot plant will employ 200 workers initially and potentially as many as 600. It will be in the master-planned Rancho Cielo community, where developers intend to use Signet solar panels on a 700-acre solar farm to power the mixed-use development.
In addition, publicly traded Emcore Corp., headquartered in Albuquerque since 1998, has expanded its semi-conductor-based product line to include radiation-hardened solar cells for satellites and solar collectors for photo-voltaics. According to McCorkle, Emcore’s facilities and equipment represent an investment of more than $200 million. The company’s revenue increased 41 percent during the f iscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2008, to $293.3 million, while profit decreased by $500,000 to $29.9 million.
Albuquerque and Central New Mexico are “exceptionally well-positioned going forward,” Tonjes says. He points to public policies that create a stable environment for solar companies, such as the state’s Renewable Portfolio
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energy
Standard – calling for 20 percent of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020 – and extension of the federal investment tax credit.
McCorkle agrees, citing the Obama administration’s focus on spending “not just for research and development, but for manufacturing of alternative energy – solar – and tax credits for end users. That focus will be productive for Central New Mexico.”
Intel makes 300-millimeter wafers in Rio Rancho, where it employs 3,300 people – tops among private companies in the region.
40 C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O
technology
Intel invests $2 billion in Rio Rancho to adapt the latest
in nanotechnology
Thirty years ago, Intel Corp. was a small, little-known technology company, and the Rio Rancho
land it now calls a campus was being used as a sod farm.
In 1981, a year after Intel arrived in New Mexico, the company won an account to supply microprocessors to power IBM PCs. Overnight, Intel became a high-tech force.
“Intel has demonstrated it is a pio-neer in many respects,” says Gary Tonjes, president of Albuquerque Economic Development. And as times and tech-nology have changed, Intel New Mexico has changed with them.
The company now is spending $2 billion to retool its Fab11X microchip-manufacturing facility for 45-nanometer technology. That’s the size of the newest transistors; fully 2 million of them would fit in a dot the size of a period.
“A lot of products are on 45 nanometer – the Core 2 Quad, the Core 2 Duo and the new Core i7,” says Jami Grindatto, corporate affairs manager for Intel New Mexico.
Rio Rancho is one of Intel’s three leading high-volume facilities in this technology, joining plants in Arizona and Israel, he says.
As transistors get smaller – next up will be the 32-nanometer process – silicon wafers get bigger and more powerful. That evolution has significant impli-cations. “The bigger the wafer, the less factories you need, unless demand redoubles every time,” Grindatto says. “It is not like the world needs twice as many computers two years from now.” Intel Rio Rancho closed a 200-millimeter fabrication lab in 2007, resulting in 1,100 layoffs. The current industry standard is 300-millimeter wafers.
$10 BILLION IN OPPORTUNITIES
The next evolution will be 450-mil-limeter wafers, expected in 2012-2014 – a switch that, with smaller transistors, will further improve productivity and cut costs. Each step, though, requires significant capital investment, and Intel decides which facilities get the work based on their competitive position, Grindatto says.
“Yes, we have lost some jobs, but the good news is Intel has been a good partner in economic development, so we can provide jobs for other folks,” says Noreen Scott, president of the Rio Rancho Economic Development Corp. She estimates Intel’s presence has attracted other companies that created 15,000 jobs in the city. “That has really helped to balance our economy.”
Another big shift is in the company’s customer base. In the 1980s, 80 to 90 percent of Intel’s products stayed in the United States; today, exports account for 75 percent of the company’s sales, Grindatto says. “We started in Europe and Japan, and the latest trend is emerging markets, especially Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.”
With changes in the industry, including softer demand for personal computers, tapping new markets alone won’t grow the company. Intel is tar-geting four new product categories: components for pocket-size computers, many of which already use Intel’s Atom processor; consumer electronics; com-munications devices; and embedded applications such as processors used in auto manufacturing.
“We call them our next $10 billion opportunities,” Grindatto says.
– Pamela Coyle
Cybercity, N.M.INTEL CONTINUES TO HELP DRAW TECH FIRMS TO REGION
A glance at AeA’s 2008
“Cybercities” report suggests
just how much Intel has affected
the region’s economy since
opening in Rio Rancho in 1980.
The organization, formerly
the American Electronics
Association, ranks Greater
Albuquerque 10th in the country
for concentration of high-tech
jobs. The study found that high-
tech firms accounted for 113 of
every 1,000 private-sector
employees in the Central New
Mexico region that includes
Sandoval County, home to
Rio Rancho and Intel, as well
as Bernalillo, Torrance and
Valencia counties. The area
ranked 12th nationally for
employment associated with
research and development
and testing laboratories.
“Intel has made a world
of difference to the quality of
development in the region and
the state,” says Gary Tonjes,
president of Albuquerque
Economic Development. “When
you see Intel in New Mexico,
that makes it easier for the next
company to make a decision.”
After nearly 30 years, Intel’s
presence remains a draw. Early
on, the company helped create
a climate for startups and other
microelectronics manufacturers.
The newest wave involves solar
energy. “A solar cluster is
developing,” Tonjes says, adding
that some solar companies are
hiring former Intel employees.
– Pamela Coyle
C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M 41
Production and preparation of organic foods take root in Central New Mexico
It’s true: Not all caulif lower is white, not all tomatoes are red, not all carrots are orange.
Central New Mexico is experiencing a big growth trend toward organic farming and gardening. The trend can be seen in the colorful produce on display at local farmers’ markets, and in restaurants that use organic ingredients to prepare tasty dishes.
“More and more folks here in Central New Mexico are choosing to eat healthier foods like spinach, green beans, grapefruit and so on,” says Monte Skarsgard, owner and farm manager at Los Poblanos Organics in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque. “We also offer items such as grass-fed beef, grass-fed pork and pasture pork, and unusual items like alfalfa seeds and dragon fruit. We feature good-for-you products that are fresh and delicious.”
Organic farming is classified as fruits, vegetables, herbs and f lowers that are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or chemicals. Los Poblanos not only grows 75 different fruits and vegetables, but the 16-acre farm also provides an interesting service. Customers sign up on the farm’s Web site www.nmorganics.com and order specific items of food either every week or every two weeks.
“For example, a family might want three pounds of apples, five pounds of potatoes, 10 pounds of beef and five pounds of leafy lettuce for the week, and that’s exactly what they will get,” Skarsgard says. “We started the farm in 2003 with 10 customers and now have 1,500. Our business gets bigger all the time.”
LESSER WASTE, BETTER TASTEThe on-demand food service also has the benefit of elim-
inating product waste. “Almost all grocery stores put out produce that they hope will be purchased, but if it isn’t, it goes to waste,” Skarsgard says. “Since we know specifically what our customers are ordering, we have less than 1 percent waste weekly.”
And if Los Poblanos does not stock a specific item that a customer requests, it will ship in additional fresh produce from California, Arizona, Colorado and Texas.
“We are doing well even in tough times because people are tending to eat at home more, so our sales have actually been increasing,” Skarsgard says. “Customers can pick up their weekly orders at our farm, or we also offer home delivery at an additional $4.95 a week. Organics are becoming more and more popular all the time.”
One of the Central New Mexico restaurants choosing organic produce to prepare dishes is the Artichoke Café in Albuquerque. Executive chef Pat Keene concocts a number of unusual dishes that feature organically grown ingredients.
“The baby greens in our salads are all organic, and the chicken we serve is all free range and hormone free,” she says. “One of our most popular nighttime dishes is a roasted organic chicken breast over a red wine risotto, with sides of organic radicchio and chantelle mushrooms. Organic food tastes better, so I prepare dishes with those products whenever possible.”
– Kevin Litwin
Naturally
Lamb loin chops with asparagus is a specialty at The Artichoke Cafe, a health-conscious restaurant in Albuquerque. STAFF PHOTO
Delicious,
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Grasslands Woodlands&U.S. Forest Service here manages southwestern
land holdings – and some national tasks, too
ScorecardUSFS SOUTHWESTERN REGIONAL OFFICE IN ALBUQUERQUE OVERSEES:
11national forests (5 in New Mexico)
20.6 milliontotal acres
56,000 milesof roads
133,087 milesof trails
600-pluscamping areas
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In Albuquerque, more than 1,000 people work for the U.S. Forest Service. Most of them – approx-
imately 750 – are headquartered at the three-building Albuquerque Service Center, which oversees the financial management and human resources sector of the USFS nationally.
“About six years ago, the Forest Service wanted to become more effi-cient with its fiscal payments and audit managing, so it decided to centralize its financial functions – and it centralized in Albuquerque,” says Don Bright, assistant director for forest vegetation management with the USFS Southwestern Regional Office in Albuquerque. “So, in essence, it is a Washington, D.C., federal office located in Albuquerque.”
Some federal workers transferred to Albuquerque from the nation’s capital to work at the center, but not nearly enough made the move to f il l the staffing requirements because many employees were approaching retirement. “When those people retired, residents of Central New Mexico were hired,”
Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands cover 1.9 million acres.B
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Residence Inn – Albuquerque Airport
2301 International Ave. S.E. Albuquerque, NM 87106
(505) 242-2844 www.albuquerque-inn.com
At Residence Inn by Marriott – Albuquerque Airport, we offer a number of amenities that will
meet your every need.
Enjoy all the comforts of home with Marriott’s passion for making every guest feel
welcome. Whether traveling for business or leisure, our friendly
and proficient staff takes pride in anticipating and satisfying our guests’ needs 24 hours a day.
every morning
fare served twice a week
from the airport
in all suites
46 C E N T R A L N E W M E X . C O M C E N T R A L N E W M E X I C O
A community poised for future award-winning business
(505) 839-3840
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Bright says. “There were several hun-dred people hired – all at relatively good-paying salaries. The Albuquerque Service Center has been very significant for the economy here, plus the three buildings where the employees work are all under lease.”
MONITORING MASSIVE LAND HOLDINGS
In addition, the USFS Southwestern Regional Office, where Don Bright and about 200 other employees work, mon-itors the upkeep and treatment of the 11 national forests and three grasslands in New Mexico and Arizona. The region encompasses a massive 20.6 million acres across the two states, as well as one national grassland each in Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle.
Albuquerque is also home to the supervisory office of one of the USFS units in the southwestern region, the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands.
“We provide technical advice and counsel to the 11 regional foresters and supervisors in New Mexico and Arizona,” says Dennis Dwyer, regional steward-ship contracting coordinator with the Southwestern Regional Office. “Our office offers support and guidance for all natural resource functions, including forest vegetation management, range grazing, recreation, special uses, botany, wildlife and fishing, computer support, permits and contracting, and more.”
From his perspective in forest vege-tation management, Bright says the regional office also monitors precip-itation, for which the numbers can range from eight inches annually in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert to 35 inches a year in northern New Mexico.
“Our office tries to make sure that the beautiful forests, wild whitewater rivers, clear mountain streams, alpine peaks, canyons and colorful mesas in our total coverage area all remain as pristine as possible,” he says. “We are all about wildlife and a healthy outdoors.”
– Kevin Litwin
A place of tranquility: Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands
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