[1st-mile-nm] NM Lt. Gov's Transition Team Announcement

[Richard Lowenberg]

State of New Mexico
Office of the Lieutenant Governor

For Immediate Release
         Contact: Danielle Montoya
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
   (Santa Fe) 505-795-3892

Lt. Governor Diane Denish Announces Her Transition Team

Santa Fe - Lt. Governor Diane D. Denish today announced her Transition Advisory
Leadership team. Her prepared remarks follow.

New Mexico is strong. We have a diverse economy, a stronger education system,
and continue to put policy and programs in place to protect and support New
Mexico families.

Today we?re here to talk about the unprecedented transition of leadership.
I?m proud to be a part of history and I look forward to continuing our
progress.

With this transition comes opportunity ? the opportunity to reach out to some
of our state's brightest and most effective leaders to assess New Mexico's
strengths and to generate new and innovative ideas.

In an effort to meet the challenges that lie ahead I am establishing a
Transition Advisory Team to develop recommendations and priorities in areas
that are vital to moving the state forward.

The community, business, and education leaders with me today will direct teams
of citizens who will identify areas where we can achieve greater efficiency in
state government, identify ways in which agencies can better integrate, rank
priority issues, recommend what can be accomplished in the next two years, and
in the next five years.

The transition advisory team leaders represent diversity in the public and
private sectors, rural and urban areas, and the cultural strength that makes
New Mexico unique. They are volunteering their time to public service and to
New Mexico.

The advisory leadership team will be co-chaired by Dr. Dan Lopez and Ms. Brenda
Brooks.

Dr. Dan Lopez, president of New Mexico Tech, brings extensive knowledge of state
government and finance issues.  Dr. Lopez's experience in administration,
planning, finance and budgeting will be important to guiding work of this
advisory team. As former Secretary of the Department of Finance he understands
state operations and budget.

A native of Hobbs, Brenda Brooks brings this advisory team knowledge of
communities and their needs.  Her experience identifying efficiencies within
the private sector is an important aspect of the work ahead.  Brenda has a long
history of developing partnerships between private industry and government ?
finding a way to better serve the public through combining the strengths of
each. She also brings expertise on successful ruralMain Street programs.

Dan and Brenda will guide the work of teams focusing on specific areas
including:

Government Efficiency and Finance
Economic Stability
Transportation and Infrastructure
Education and Workforce
Healthy Families and Communities
Energy and Environment
Safety and Security


Government Efficiency and Finance
Trevor Loy will lead the Government Efficiency and Finance Advisory Team to
bring private sector finance expertise.  Trevor is the founder of Flywheel
Ventures, a New Mexico-based venture capital company bringing over $60 million
in investments to New Mexico-based companies. He has over 15 years of
experience investing, building and operating early stage technology companies.
Trevor?s experience in private sector finance will bring insight into
government finance operations.

Economic Stability
Alex Romero will lead the Economic Stability Team.  Alex brings a lifetime of
service to New Mexico and thirty-years in the financial industry in
Albuquerque.  He has expertise in economic development and marketing that will
serve this committee well.

Education and Workforce
Dr. Margie Huerta will lead the Education and Workforce Advisory Team.  Margie
is the President of Dona Ana Community College, acommunity college of NMSU.
During her tenure at Dona Ana Community College she has introduced new programs
to meet the growing demands of business and industry in the Dona Ana area. She
has also worked to build relationships between the K-12, higher education, and
business communities.

Healthy Families and Communities
Matt Martinez will lead the Healthy Families and Communities Advisory Team.
Matt is the Vice president of National Hispanic Cultural Centerboard and former
Mayor of Las Vegas and he knows New Mexico families and communities.  Matt
worked closely with the late Alice King on various efforts and he will strive
to continue her vision and work on behalf of New Mexico's families.

Safety and Security
Maria Griego-Raby, owner of Contract Associates and former UNM regent, will lead
the Safety and Security Team. Maria currently serves on the State Board of
Finance collaborating with communities to keep families safe and secure, is
familiar with statewide safety issues and has specific experience assessing
resources in small and rural areas. Having contracted with the national
laboratories, she has expertise in developing safety and security plans. She
also owned a business in Juarez Mexico and understands border safety and
security issues related to economic and workforce development.

Energy and Environment
Joe Garcia, Chairman of the All Indian Pueblo Council and President of the
National Congress of American Indians (who could not join us today), will lead
the Energy and Environment Advisory Team.  Joe brings technical expertise to
this Advisory Team as an electrical engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory
for twenty-five years.  In addition, Joe has served the state for many years
and was recognized when he received the New Mexico Distinguished Public Service
Award.

Transportation and Infrastructure
Joe Maestas, mayor of Espanola, (who also could not join us today) will lead the
Transportation and Infrastructure Advisory Team.  Joe brings extensive expertise
to this team with more than 20 years as an engineer, planner, and program
manager for the federal government. In addition, Joe served as President of the
New Mexico Municipal League Board of Directors.  The Municipal League is a
nonprofit, nonpartisan association of New Mexico's 103 incorporated
municipalities.  He currently serves on the New Mexico Economic Partnership's
Board of Directors.

I recognize and value the youth perspective in the state and will be naming a
Youth Voices, Youth Vision advisory team.

Finally, I will take recommendations from a Centennial Anniversary team that
will focus specifically on New Mexico history, culture, education, and
improving graduation rates.

Every New Mexican can feel invested and represented in the transition. Citizens
from around the state will be called on to serve with these leaders on
committees. They will represent every county in the state to ensure that every
area statewide has representation in recommendations and ideas that come
forward to strengthen New Mexico. We will announce those individuals tomorrow.

I would like to thank the hundreds if New Mexicans that have offered their
skills, talents, and support to make this a smooth transition.


Thank you.

Danielle Montoya
Communications Director
Office of the Lt. Governor
Phone:   (505) 476-2230
Cell:       (505) 795-3892
Fax:       (505) 476-2257
danielle.montoya at state.nm.us


-- 
Richard Lowenberg
1st-Mile Institute
P.O. Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504
505-989-9110;   505-603-5200 cell
rl at 1st-mile.com  www.1st-mile.com

----------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.