Hires, Applause, ETC: Albuquerque Journal Business Briefcase

May 6—Welcome

Edgar "Ivan" Cortina has been hired as the sports bar manager at Sandia Resort & Casino. Prior to joining he worked in management at Hotel Albuquerque, Route 66 Casino and Sawmill Market. Cortina studied Hospitality and Culinary Arts at the Universidad Del Valle de Mexico.

Felipe Downey has joined Parnall Law Firm. Downey works to represent clients seeking civil justice. He has more than 23 years of experience representing hourly workers in the poultry and meat-packing industries with wage and hour class action disputes. In addition, Downey has represented those who have experienced car and truck accidents.

Nelson Knight has joined Parnall Law Firm. He has a background in criminal and civil litigation. With more than 20 years of experience representing individuals in Texas and New Mexico against large entities, such as the government and large corporations.

Logan Wexler has joined Parnall Law Firm. Wexler, a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, served as a public defender in Albuquerque before his move into Personal Injury Law. He has a focus on litigation.

Steven Kai Smith has been named the new warden of the Metropolitan Detention Center. Smith started his career as a corrections officer with Volusia County Division of Corrections, in Daytona Beach, Florida, in 1999. He rose through the ranks there, gaining 24 years of experience.

Kristina Martinez has been hired as responsible gaming coordinator at Sandia Resort & Casino. Prior to that, Martinez worked in small business marketing and entrepreneurship relations. She received her multiple associate's degrees at Central New Mexico Community College. She is working toward her bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico.

Fernando Martinez, Jr. has been hired as deputy director at New Mexico Finance Authority. Martinez has more than 30 years of technical, financial and managerial experience in energy, mining and reclamation, and water. In his new role, Martinez will oversee operational initiatives, and work with policymakers and external partners aiming to strengthen NMFA's role in New Mexico communities. He previously served as the executive director of the New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority. Martinez has also held senior positions in New Mexico state government, as manager of the Mining Act Reclamation Program, chief of the Drinking Water Bureau, director of the Energy Conservation and Management Division and director of the Mining and Minerals Division. Originally from Taos, Martinez graduated from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. NMFA was created in 1992 as a mechanism for accessing low-cost capital for New Mexico cities, counties and other local governments.

Applause

George Smith, operations manager of the Commercial Association of REALTORS New Mexico, has received the REALTOR association Certified Executive designation from the National Association of REALTORS. Smith is one of more than 540 REALTOR association executives and staff who have achieved this designation across 48 states and territories. To be eligible for this certification, candidates must demonstrate knowledge in areas of REALTOR association management, including association law, governance and issues related to member services. To retain the designation, RCEs must be recertified every four years.

Bulletin Board

SCORE Albuquerque will host its workshop titled, "Ask the Expert Q&A: Business Basics" 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday via Zoom. Learn basics such as how to form an LLC, opening a business bank account, getting started and more. Even if you have been in business more than a year, this workshop will provide additional resources for growing a business. Local expert, Monica Poling, will answer questions in this Q&A-style workshop. Poling has decades of experience helping companies, start and grow their business. This workshop is free. Register at score.org.

SCORE Albuquerque will host it workshop titled "First Session" from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday via Zoom. This workshop will discuss key concepts such as accounting, marketing and their relationship, and go over SCORE resources and services. This workshop is free. Register at score.org