8:30 AM	Check-in and Networking
9:00 AM	Welcome and Overview Connie Beimer, Chair, New Mexico First Board of Directors  Heather Balas, President and Executive Director, New Mexico First  Richard Berry, Mayor, City of Albuquerque The Honorable Jeff Bingaman, Senator, United States Senate (via video) The Honorable Tom Udall, Senator, United State Senate (via video)
9:30 AM	Roundtable Discussion Dr. Lowell Catlett, Regent’s Professor/Dean and Chief Administrative Officer, New Mexico State University, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences Dale Dekker, AIA, AICP, Co-founder, Dekker/Perich/Sabatini Fred Mondragon, Former Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Economic Development Department Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Associate Professor, Family & Community Medicine, and Executive Director, UNM School of Medicine Combined BA/MD Degree Program
10:45 AM	Break
11:00 AM	Small Group Discussion A: SWOT Analysis on New Mexico Introductions and Ground Rules Question 1: Drawing on the NM Progress Report and your own knowledge of the issues, what are New Mexico’s: Strengths? Weaknesses? Opportunities? Threats?
12:30 PM	Keynote Presentation and Lunch Susana Martinez, Governor, State of New Mexico
1:30 PM	Small Group Discussion B: New Mexico’s Most Urgent Needs + Break Question 2: Given your analysis, what are promising opportunities or crucial issues that need to be addressed? Question 3: What are the two most urgent needs (plus an alternate) that will influence New Mexico’s future?
3:30 PM	Plenary Session: New Mexico’s Most Urgent Needs Heather Balas, President and Executive Director, New Mexico First Governor Toney Anaya and Mr. Edward Lujan, Town Hall Implementation Co-chairs
5:00 PM	Adjourn and Sign-up for Day Two Discussion Groups

8:00 AM	Sign-up for Day Two Discussion Groups
8:30 AM	Buffet Breakfast Vince Murphy, Chair-elect, New Mexico First Board of Directors Heather Balas, President and Executive Director, New Mexico First
9:00 AM	Small Group Discussion C: Urgent Need Recommendation Round 1—Question 4: Given the results of our discussion, what recommendation do we want to propose to the full group?
10:20 AM	Break
10:40 AM	Small Group Discussion C, cont’d.: Urgent Need Recommendation  Round 2—Question 4: Given the results of our discussion, what recommendation do we want to propose to the full group?
12:00 PM	Working Lunch
1:45 PM	Plenary Session: Finalize Recommendations Governor Garrey Carruthers, Dean and Vice Provost, New Mexico State University
2:30 PM	Break
2:45 PM	Plenary Session: Finalize Recommendations, cont’d.
4:45 PM	Closing Heather Balas, President and Executive Director, New Mexico First
5:00 PM	Adjourn

At this two-day town hall, participants will explore the state’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, identify urgent needs that will have the greatest influence on the future of the state, and put forth their best ideas for making progress. We anticipate that many of the town hall recommendations will focus on education, the economy, energy, and health.

What Happens During the Town Hall?

The town hall is not a typical conference with day after day of presentations. There are speakers to help set the context for the issues, but, the bulk of the town hall is comprised of small group discussions among people who care about the state’s progress. Prior to the town hall, you received the New Mexico Progress Report. This report provides valuable information on the needs that will be important to the state’s progress in the future. 

Centennial Town Hall Final Report    06-Apr-2012 (512 KB)

Susana Martinez is the Governor of the State of New Mexico, the first Latina governor in United States history. Prior to being elected, Governor Martinez was the District Attorney for the Third Judicial District in Doña Ana County in Southern New Mexico, a position she held for 14 years. She has personally tried some of the toughest cases, including child abuse and child homicide and was named Heart Magazine’s “Woman of the Year” for her dedication to children’s advocacy and her efforts to keep children. The Hispanic Business Magazine named Governor Martinez “Woman of the Year” for her efforts to reduce the tax burden in New Mexico, get the state’s fiscal house in order, and promote a friendlier business environment that will allow employers to create jobs and hire New Mexico workers. 

Richard Berry is Mayor of the City of Albuquerque. He is an accomplished businessman and entrepreneur with over 20 years of business experience in New Mexico and the greater southwest region. As a former two-term state representative from Albuquerque, he championed fiscal responsibility and transparency, greater public safety, and improved opportunities for all New Mexicans. Mayor Berry attended the University of New Mexico, where he received his degree in finance and administration. The Mayor and First Lady are active members of the community, participating in events such as the Run for the Zoo, community festivals, and volunteering at local charities.

Dr. Lowell Catlett  

Dr. Lowell Catlett is a Regent’s Professor/Dean and Chief Administrative Officer at New Mexico State University's College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. He works on behalf of corporate and association audiences internationally, presenting his take on trends in healthcare, agriculture, the environment, education, and more. Dr. Catlett is a consultant to the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, the Interior, Defense, and Labor. He has also been a consultant to many Fortune 500 companies. He has received numerous awards for excellence in university teaching.

Dale Dekker 

Dale Dekker, AIA, AICP, is founder of Dekker/Perich/Sabatini. He has over 30 years experience as a registered architect and planner. His experience includes high tech, one-of-a-kind research facilities for Sandia National Laboratory, award winning school designs for Albuquerque Public Schools, and socially responsible designs of assisted living facilities for the elderly. Mr. Dekker serves on the executive committee of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and the boards of Albuquerque Economic Development and NAIOP. He has been appointed to the New Mexico Construction Industries Commission and the State Workforce Board by Governor Susana Martinez. 

Fred Mondragón is the former Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Economic Development in the Richardson administration. Mr. Mondragón has also been a member of the Office of Economic Development, City of Albuquerque, where he participated in the recruitment or expansion of Tesla Motors, Verizon Wireless, Eclipse Aviation, Advent Solar, and Albuquerque Studios. Mr. Mondragón served three terms in the New Mexico House of Representatives where he represented District 16.

Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott is Vice Chancellor for Diversity at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Associate Dean of the School of Medicine Office of Diversity, and Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.  She has extensive experience in teaching cultural competence, developing educational pipelines for disadvantaged youth, and working with minority women in medicine.  Dr. Romero-Leggott has been a primary care provider for many years on the forefront of treating populations burdened by socio-economic and racial and ethnic disparities. She has received numerous awards and is recognized nationally for her leadership.

Toney Anaya, former Governor and Attorney General of New Mexico, has been an attorney and businessman for over 40 years.  As a consultant to the Government of Mexico, he participated in negotiations and passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement by the U.S. Congress.  Mr. Anaya is an advisor to major U.S. corporations, universities, and health care facilities. He is an internationally recognized Hispanic leader who has demonstrated commitment and accomplishments in education, economic development, and international trade.  As Implementation Team Co-chair for the town hall, Mr. Anaya will lead the effort to advance the recommendations with state and local leaders.

Edward Lujan

Edward Lujan is Chairman of the Board of Manuel Lujan Insurance, Inc. a family business and the second largest independent insurance agency in New Mexico. He currently serves as a board director of Valor Telecommunications, LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, and Robert O. Anderson Schools of Management Foundation. Mr. Lujan is also a member of the Governor’s Business Advisory Council and chair of the New Mexico Economic Development Commission. He is former chair of the Republican Party of New Mexico.As Implementation Team Co-chair for the town hall, Mr. Lujan will lead the effort to advance the recommendations with state and local leaders.

Governor Garrey Carruthers

Garrey Carruthers, former Governor of New Mexico, is Dean of the College of Business at New Mexico State University and is a New Mexico First Board Member. He also serves as the Vice President for Economic Development at the university. Mr. Carruthers served in the Reagan administration twice, in the Departments of Agriculture and Interior. He was a successful Governor of New Mexico, serving as the last constitutionally limited, four-year single-term governor. He holds degrees in Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business.As Plenary Chair during the town hall, Governor Carruthers will lead the closing session during which the final recommendations are worked out. 

Heather Balas

Heather Balas is President and Executive Director of New Mexico First. A fifth-generation New Mexican, Ms. Balas worked in Washington, DC, and San Francisco for several years before returning to her home state. She has over 15 years experience in public policy work, including citizen outreach, voter education, coalition-building, and policy research. Previous employers include the Commission on Presidential Debates, the California Center for Civic Participation, and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. She holds a Masters in political communication from the University of Maryland.

Bank of Albuquerque
Eastern New Mexico University
New Mexico Department of Economic Development
Hubbard Foundation/KOB TV/Reelz Channel