Governor taps business leader as new economic development secretary

Sep. 5—Rob Black, who has served as president and CEO of the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce for just over six years, has been tapped to serve as the new Cabinet secretary for' the New Mexico Economic Development Department.

Black, 55, will take the helm of the agency charged with fostering economic growth, supporting businesses and growing new jobs Sept. 16.

In announcing Black's appointment Thursday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said his leadership and vision have been instrumental in fostering economic development statewide.

"His deep understanding of our state's economic landscape and his proven track record of collaboration make him the ideal choice to lead our Economic Development Department," she said in a statement. "Under his leadership, we will continue to strengthen New Mexico's economy and create even more opportunities for residents of our state."

Black replaces Mark Roper, who was named acting secretary in January after Jon Clark was selected to serve as the new state investment officer. Clark, then the department's deputy secretary, had been filling in as acting secretary after the departure of Alicia J. Keyes, who resigned in June 2023.

Keyes, who was appointed in January 2019, was the first woman to lead the department.

Roper will return to his post as director of the department's Economic Development Division, a job he had continued to do while serving as acting secretary.

Black, who was born and raised in Lovington, said in an interview the Governor's Office recruited him for the high-profile post. He will be paid $220,000 a year.

Jodi McGinnis Porter, a spokesman for the governor, confirmed Black was recruited. "The position was not posted," she said.

Black said being asked to serve the people of his state is an honor he takes very seriously.

"When I was asked if I would be interested, I spent a lot of time thinking about it with my wife and family and colleagues and felt like it was an opportunity to really make a difference in the state," he said.

"I'm a kid who grew up in Lovington ... so that idea of being able to really help the next generation of New Mexicans ensure that they have an equal opportunity to have a strong education and a strong career in their communities is really important to me, and I'm honored that the governor's given me an opportunity to help promote that here in the state," he said.

Black said the decision to leave the chamber was tough. The organization has a great board of directors and is doing "amazing things," from a career engagement program created through a partnership with the state Department of Workforce Solutions to running the New Mexico Organized Retail Crime Association, he said.

"It was a hard decision, but I also think that with the opportunity and the honor that the governor gave me to take on this role on behalf of New Mexicans, I would kick myself if I didn't move forward with it," he said. "Sad to be leaving a great team, but I'm looking forward to joining another one."

Black joins the Lujan Grisham administration in the waning years of the governor's second and final term in office.

Asked whether he took the governor's remaining two years in office into consideration, Black said there are "very few jobs" he's taken that didn't come with a sense of urgency. Lujan Grisham shares the same sense of urgency "about really wanting to get things done," he said.

"That is just part of the challenge, is we've got a limited time to make a big difference," he said.

Black said one of his priorities will be to create a site readiness strategy, which means being able to quickly deploy utility infrastructure — including electricity, gas, broadband, sewer and water — to developable sites.

"I think 37 states have these," he said. "We do not."

"If we cannot do that, we will not be competitive with states like Texas and Arizona and Utah," he said. "They're able to move very quickly because they have sites that could be utility ready in a number of months versus years."

Before returning to New Mexico, Black served as senior director of community relations at Pacific Gas and Electric Co. in San Francisco and managed its environmental and climate resilience community investments, a news release states.

"Black also has an extensive background in public policy, having worked as a legislative aide in San Francisco and as an attorney specializing in campaign, lobby, and ethics laws," the news release states. "His global experience includes working with The Carter Center in Liberia and directing a USAID grant to support electoral processes in Zambia."

Black earned a law degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) and a bachelor's in political science from the University of New Mexico, where he graduated summa cum laude.

Follow Daniel J. Chacón on Twitter @danieljchacon.