NMIDEA Awards
Award Nominations are Now Open!
Nominations are now open for the New Mexico IDEA Awards, which are designed to recognize the impact of the work of economic development professionals and the role they serve in creating a thriving communities.
Start the nomination process below! Nominations close Friday, January 17, 2025.
About the Awards
The New Mexico IDEA Annual Awards recognize and celebrate economic development professionals for their impact in promoting, advancing, and elevating the profession and practice of economic development.
The awards will be presented in conjunction with New Mexico IDEA's Annual Winter Meeting on Monday, February 10, 2025 that providers economic development professionals and stakeholders from across the state the opportunity to promote strong and effective economic development policies.
The New Mexico IDEA Awards includes six award categories, which are designed to recognize the impact of the work of economic development professionals and the role they serve in creating a thriving communities.
The six award categories are: Rural Economic Development Award, Economic Developer of the Year, New Mexico First Award, Public Servant of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and the Staff Achievement Award.
Award winners will be recognized at the New Mexico IDEA Annual Winer Meeting Luncheon on Monday, February 10, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Hotel Santa Fe.
Past NMIDEA Award Winners
Rural Economic Development Award
2024 - Rick Murphy, President, Murphy Builders
2023 - Jerry Pacheco, Owner & President, Global Perspective Integrated
2022 - Emily Gojkovich, Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments
Economic Developer of the Year
2024 - Melinda Allen, President & CEO, New Mexico Partnership
2023 - Grant Taylor, Business Development Manager, AREA
2022 - Cassie Arias-Ward, Executive Director, Deming-Luna County Economic Development
New Mexico First Award
2024 - John Clark, Acting Secretary, NM Economic Development Department
2023 - Clemente Sanchez, Director, Cibola Communities Economic Development Foundation
2022 - Debra Inman, Senior VP of Business Development, AREA
Public Servant of the Year
2024 - Julia Wise, Project Manager, Richard P. Feynman Center of Innovation
2023 - Aaron Sera, City Manager, City of Deming
2022 - W. Billy Moore, Commissioner, McKinley County Board of Commissioners
Volunteer of the Year
2024 - Joe Farr, President, Duke City Commercial LLC
2023 - Tommy Haws, Directors, Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation
2022 - Kenneth Leupold, Directors, Deming-Luna County Economic Development
Award Categories
Rural Economic Development Award
Given in Honor of Dallan Sanders
This award recognizes a person's dedication and achievements in rural economic development in New Mexico.
Economic Developer of the Year
Given in Honor of Chase Gentry
This award recognizes the outstanding efforts of a person who spearheaded a major project that relocated, consolidated, or expanded in New Mexico during the preceding twelve months.
New Mexico First Award
Given in Honor of Linda Kay Jones
This award recognizes a person whose career has exemplified a statewide or regional impact on economic development in policy, community assistance or job creation.
Public Servant of the Year
Given in Honor of Ben Lujan
This award recognizes an elected officials or government employee that has played a key role in economic development in New Mexico during the past twelve months.
Volunteer of the Year
This award recognizes an outstanding individual who has demonstrated leadership and made an impact on the economic development community in New Mexico.
Staff Achievement Award
This award recognizes an individual employee who has made significant contributions to the success of economic development initiatives, often going above and beyond their regular duties to achieve notable results in areas like business attraction, job creation, or community revitalization.