Page 3 - MVEDA Annual Report

“We will always have Paris.” This seminal line from the classic movie “Casablanca” captures
the way I feel about my time as Chairperson for this great organization, “I will always have
COVID”. COVID-19 is the watermark for my leadership term at Mesilla Valley Economic
Development Alliance and I want to thank the board members and staff who lead MVEDA
during this trying time. They are all true community servants to the Mesilla Valley and
region. Moving towards Fiscal Year 2022, we have great momentum and exceptional results
from fiscal year 2021. Growth and onshoring business recruitment are highlights themes of
last year and should hold true through 2022 in the MVEDA Borderplex. Our board is more
diverse in representing our region, investor industry sectors, gender, and ethnicity than it has
ever been - another fact I am very proud of from my tenure as Chairperson. MVEDA is growing
it’s staff, which allows us to expand marketing both domestically and internationally. Financially we are in great shape
thanks to commitments by the board to grow and recruit more investment to MVEDA’s mission and vision. Along
with staff always closely watching the bottom-line, MVEDA is well positioned to grow.

The outstanding results from staff this COVID year are highlighted throughout our report. MVEDA exceeded many
goals set for Fiscal Year 2021 and the pipeline for potential business recruitment is full. Davin Lopez, Les Baldock, Eric
Montgomery, Brian Garcia, and Eldelisa Nava will exceed the very high bar set for Fiscal Year 2022. Christine Wright,
CPA, CGMA with Beasley Mitchell Co., will begin her tenure as MVEDA’s new Chairperson, which leaves MVEDA
in very capable hands. I want to thank our board for being very present and accountable as we thrived during these
last two years. To MVEDA’s executive committee - thank you for your continued leadership. I want to highlight both
Kevin Tegmeyer and Terianne Morrison Everhart for your willingness to serve and put the organization first. With
that, please enjoy this report and I hope as your read through the report you are left with the optimism I had after
reviewing the draft.
Sincerely,
Rico Gonzales

Board Chairman

Board of directors

Rico Gonzales Christine Wright Hildeberto Moreno
Chairman Vice Chair Secretary
El Paso Electric Beasley Mitchel & Co. Ironhorse Resources Development
Jacob Slavec Ed Camden Lorenzo Alba, Jr.
Treasurer Past Chair Executive Comittee
NAI 1 Valley Southwest Steel Coil, Inc. Casa de Peregrinos, Inc.
st
Sean Barham Joe Bullock Giovany Danel Gary Esslinger
Las Cruces Public Schools First American Bank Union Pacific Railroad Elephant Butte
Irrigation District
Terriane Morrison John Harris Miriam Kotkowski Debbi Moore
Everheart Memorial Medical Center Omega Trucking, Inc. Greater Las Cruces
Berkshire Hathaway Chamber of Commerce
Home Services
Lenny Martinez Kevin Merhege Cynthia Pina Commissioner
New Mexico State University WestStar Bank El Paso Electric Company Manuel Sanchez
Doña Ana County
Councilor Travis Tarry Kevin Tegmeyer Monica Torres, PH.d.
Gill Sorg Citizens Bank of Las Cruces RT Electric, Inc. Doña Ana Community College
City of Las Cruces
John Darden John Hummer Tom Hutchinson BG David Trybula
Board Counsel Ex-Officio Ex-Officio Ex-Officio
Darden Law Firm Steinborn TCN Commercial Real Estate La Posta de Mesilla White Sands Missile Range