Hires, Applause, ETC: Albuquerque Journal Business Briefcase

Feb. 19—Welcome

Cody Mellor has been hired as players club / box office manager at Sandia Resort & Casino. Prior to joining Sandia Resort & Casino, Mellor worked as a general manager for a Harley-Davidson dealership in Santa Fe. He also worked in radio broadcasting for over 15 years.

Liz Earls has been hired as senior vice president, managing director of business banking at the New Mexico Bank & Trust, a division of Heartland Financial Bank. Earls has nearly 20 years of banking experience, most of which was spent at U.S. Bank in roles in credit, wealth management, and business and commercial banking. Most recently, she was vice president and commercial banking relationship manager. Earls serves as the treasurer for the New Mexico Bankers Association, holds positions at the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, including executive committee member, board member and ABQ Reads chair. Additionally, she contributes to Junior Achievement as an executive committee member, board member and former Golf Classic Chair, and she represents the State of New Mexico on the American Bankers Association's Emerging Leaders Council.

Leo Lovett has been hired as senior vice president, commercial banker, based out of Clovis, at the New Mexico Bank & Trust, a division of Heartland Financial Bank. Lovett has more than 20 years of experience in commercial lending and client management. He began his banking career as a business banker at Wells Fargo in 2006 before moving into regional leadership positions for Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank. He has overseen business teams across New Mexico and El Paso, and was most recently regional vice president for pioneer bank in Alamogordo and Ruidoso. Lovett earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Eastern New Mexico University. He has served as the Eastern New Mexico University Foundation vice president, United Way president and Rotary Club president. He graduated from Leadership New Mexico in 2015 and was city commissioner for the city of Clovis District 1 from 2020-2021.

Jyl DeHaven has joined Colliers — New Mexico-El Paso as vice president, Northern New Mexico, which includes Santa Fe, Taos and Los Alamos. DeHaven has a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and a master's degree from the Texas Woman's University. She was on faculty at University of Texas at Arlington in their School of Urban Planning. DeHaven has co-founded and owned several companies and nonprofits. She is currently on the board of the Santa Fe Airport, is a founding member of the Northern New Mexico Toy Drive team, a founder/developer of Dirt to Soil, a regenerative agriculture group and co-founder of Green Collar Vets.

Applause

Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe has landed the No. 1 spot in the 2024 Best Resorts in New Mexico and Best Resorts in Santa Fe lists by U.S. News & World Report. The rankings are based on an analysis of industry awards, hotel star ratings and user ratings. This designation puts Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado Santa Fe among the top 25% of luxury hotels nationwide.

Etc.

Economic Forum of Albuquerque has announced its 2024 Board of Directors and Officers.

The new officers are:

Chairperson — Michael Stevens, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.

Chair-elect — Meg Lewis Meister, Modrall, Sperling, Roehl, Harris & Sisk, PA

Secretary/Treasurer — Alexis Tappan, 2540 Group

Immediate Past Chair — Michelle Franks, Studio Southwest Architects

Board of Directors:

Michelle Coons, WaFd Bank, New Mexico

Kevin Lorenzen, AFLAC

Kellie Mixon, New Mexico Mutual

Thomas Briones, Briones Business Law Consulting

Cole Flanagan, Flanagan Investment Real Estate

Will Martinez, Albuquerque Business First.

Julianna "Julie" Hopper, a public utility and business litigator, has been elected partner with Jennings Haug Keleher McLeod's. Hopper has experience assisting clients before the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission and advising on compliance filings, rate cases, acquisitions and condemnation proceedings. She is a member of the New Mexico Women's Bar Association and was recently recognized by Best Lawyers as One to Watch in New Mexico, a list of up-and-coming lawyers. She earned her law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2017 and joined JHKM the same year.

Bulletin Board

The New Mexico Chapter of the National Speakers Association will host the NSA New Mexico storytelling competition 1 — 3 p.m Saturday at Studio 519, located at 519 Central NW. Competitors will tell an inspirational story, taking up to five minutes, that conveys a memorable message. Chapter winners will go on to a regional competition, and finalists will speak on the main stage at the NSA international convention in Denver in August. Audience attendance is free, the competition registration fee of $197 includes a one-year membership in the NSA New Mexico Chapter. Register at www.NSANM.org.