Hires, Applause, ETC: Albuquerque Journal Business Briefcase

Jan. 1—Welcome

Christy Johanson has been hired as vice president for student affairs and enrollment management at Eastern New Mexico University. Johanson comes to ENMU after spending the last two years as the assistant vice president of student services and enrollment management at Dodge City Community College in Kansas. There, she led the offices of Admissions, Advising, Dual Enrollment, Financial Aid, International Student Services, Records and the Testing Center. Johanson has a background in higher education over her 21-year career with stops as the dean of enrollment services/registrar and the director of admissions and records with the Blinn College District, the director of admissions and records/registrar at Wharton County Junior College, as well as holding positions at Austin Community College, The University of Houston Victoria and the University of Houston Downtown. Johanson has a doctorate from Texas Tech University, a master's degree from The University of Houston Victoria and a bachelor's degree from the University of Houston Downtown.

Linda Candelaria-Dodd has joined Con Alma Health as the executive director. Candelaria-Dodd has served as resource development manager at Carlsbad Lifehouse, Inc. Prior to that role, she worked as the executive director and chief executive officer at United Way of Eddy County and served as program director of the Carlsbad Literacy Program. She has a bachelor's degree in business administration and communication disorders from Eastern New Mexico University. Candelaria-Dodd has also served as a volunteer board member for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of NM and the Eddy County Health Council.

Applause

Leslie Phinney, an engineer at Sandia National Laboratories, received the 2023 Advocating Women in Engineering award from the Society of Women Engineers. Phinney received her doctorate in mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley in 1997. She started at Sandia in 2003 as a technical staff member and is now a department manager. Phinney works to encourage young people, especially young women, to pursue engineering by establishing scholarships for women in engineering and mentoring engineering students through numerous professional and technical societies. She provides leadership and activities for the Sandia Women's Action Network, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers. She also engages in local education outreach activities that expand the concepts and appeal of engineering.

Emily Schrock, an engineer at Sandia National Laboratories, was named a 2023 Distinguished New Engineer by the Society of Women Engineers. Schrock earned her master's degree in electrical engineering from Texas Tech University in 2017, and was hired the same year at Sandia as a research and development science and engineering microwave and sensor engineer.

Chad Matheson has been named one of North America's Top 50 Economic Developers of 2023 by Consultant Connect. Matheson is senior vice president of Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance. Matheson was the only honoree from New Mexico, and only one of two honorees from the Southwest this year. Prior to joining AREA, Matheson served as the vice president of Business Intelligence at the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce where he worked in partnership with senior staff, business executives and the University of Memphis to launch the Center for Economic Competitiveness, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing regional economic competitiveness using a data-driven approach long-term job creation, workforce development and equity and inclusion strategies.

Etc.

The U.S. Small Business Administration New Mexico District Office has announced the graduation of 20 T.H.R.I.V.E cohort members. T.H.R.I.V.E. stands for Train. Hope. Rise. Innovate. Venture. Elevate. The six-month program aims to give small business leaders across the U.S. entrepreneurship training, which included in-person coaching, self-paced instruction, mentoring and classroom time.

The graduate are:

Mark C. Abramson — Los Ranchos Gun ShopAn u-Venus Barraza — Bustillos Construction Inc.Bobbie Batley — Batley Family Law, P.A.Josh Bien — J-BIT TechLouis Bush — TLC Dental CenterTravis Cunningham — Ridgeline Supply Co.Dr. Peter Fisk — Integrative ChiropracticNeil Hamilton — AWS Bio-Pharma TechnologiesKadimah Alilah Levanah — Apothecary KitchenDon Lovato — Carpet Source USAIshan J Mankad — Minal LLC DBA — Super 8Adrian Montoya — Moncor Consulting and Business Solutions LLCJoseph R. Orona — Retis Technologies, Inc.Donna Rodrigue — Casa Verde Salon SpaJenya Rose — Rose Tax & FinancialJoseph Santangelo Jr. — Sunshine Plumbing & Heating IncPriscilla Sierra — Delgado Wrought IronAlexis Solano — EverCleen, Inc.Steven Morado Stout — Collaborative Learning Center, Inc. aka Page 1 BooksNatalie Tobin — Runway Hair Studio

The New Mexico Pharmacists Association has announced its 2024 officers. The officers are:

President — Ashley SeyfarthFirst vice president — Jack VolpatoSecond vice president — Micah LansfordThird vice president — Jennifer SmithTreasurer — Monique DoddImmediate Past President — Aaron Buffington