New Mexico State University Regent Kari Mitchell and former MVEDA chair was honored as a 2014 Woman of Influence by Albuquerque Business First March 6. Mitchell, CEO and owner of Las Cruces Machine, Mfg. & Engineering, is one of 30 honorees across six industry categories honored at a reception in Albuquerque last night.
This is the 10th year that Albuquerque Business First has brought together New Mexico’s innovative women from many diverse fields who have demonstrated the art of transforming challenges into opportunities. This year there were 450 women nominated for the honor, Mitchell was chosen in the Business Services category.
Mitchell was appointed by New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez to serve on the NMSU Board of Regents in 2012. She also serves on the executive committee of the Bridge of Southern New Mexico, is past chair of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance and was a founding board member of the New Mexico Economic Development Partnership.
“Kari Mitchell has devoted herself to improving educational opportunities for New Mexico’s children and ensuring that our state’s workforce is highly trained and qualified,” Martinez said. “As a businesswoman, regent and community leader, Kari is a role model for other women. I am proud of her every day.”
“Our community is in a better position today thanks to the leadership and educational activism shown by Kari Mitchell,” said NMSU President Garrey Carruthers. “She is dedicated to improving the unacceptably high public school dropout rate and to ensuring all students graduate with the skills necessary to be competitive in an international labor force.”
