The Bridge of Southern New Mexico
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Workforce Development

The lack of a skilled and ready workforce is consistently identified as the number-one barrier to economic development and diversification of our economy. Working hand-in-hand with all of the key players and partners in building a highly skilled and ready workforce, The Bridge of Southern New Mexico is leading the next steps in not just a plan, but forging the partnerships and resources needed to make it happen.

Thanks to the passion and commitment of a growing set of cross-sector partners on the Workforce Talent Collaborative, a clear plan and path to a comprehensive approach to workforce development has emerged that can transform the future of the region by boosting the earning potential of its citizens.

The plan harnesses the collective assets already in place and identifies the gaps that need to be filled for us to build a ready, highly-skilled workforce that will drive short and long-term economic development for us all. To read the Executive Summary click here, to read the full Strategic Plan click here.

The Collaborative has outlined the alignment needed to equip those who are here now with the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in higher-paying careers and career ladders. The goal is not just about jobs, it’s about driving the holistic development of these industries.

To see the connected set of efforts currently underway in each component of our comprehensive plan, hover your pointer over each section of the graphic below.

High School Graduation

  • Dual Credit Courses
  • Early College High Schools
  • CTE Pathways
  • GISD Blended Senior Year

Culture Change

  • New Mexico True Talent and Communications Campaign

Career Certifications and Associates Degrees

  • Elevating Career Certifications and Two-Year Degrees
  • Alignment of CTE Programs with Industry Needs
  • Prioritizing CTE Investments

College Graduation

  • Strengthen Faculty Relationships with Key Employers
  • WIOA Tuition Assistance
  • Serving as the STEM Community Hub

Workforce Solutions/ Workforce Innovation Opportunities Act

  • Leadership on Local and State Workforce Boards
  • Adequate Funding for DAC
  • Thriving Families Pilot with Community Action Agency
  • Partnership with Adult and Youth Providers

STEM/STEAM/
STEM-H Proficiency

  • Strengthening Access to the STEM Ecosystem

Business Engagement

  • Industry-Specific Roundtables
  • City of Las Cruces Career Coordinator
  • Virtual STEM Mentoring
  • Teacher Externships
  • Student Internships/Summer Jobs

Policy

  • Dual Credit Advocacy
  • Workforce Connections Improvements
  • Early College High School Support

Building the regional Workforce Talent Pipeline needed for success requires a combination of new and existing tools and relationships, as well as targeting our collective community assets to support the holistic talent development for eight targeted industries. Following is a sample workforce pathway. To see each industry’s pathway, click on the industry links below.

  • Healthcare

  • Digital Media

  • Manufacturing

  • Transportation and Logistics

  • Education

  • Energy

  • Aerospace

  • Defense

  • Value-Added Agriculture

A skilled and ready workforce in these eight industries will ripple across the county in an economic cascade of increased incomes and buying power. At the same time, it improves the social determinants of health historically linked to the pervasiveness of poverty here.

Therefore, as we move forward in laying out the strategies and tactics for building highly-skilled workforce talent in a way that drives economic development, we begin with a foundational understanding that developing a comprehensive workforce entails mobilizing all members of community toward the goal of workforce talent development.

This, in turn, will have far broader impact in changing the dominant, primarily negative narrative of this region and foster a cultural shift toward completion, economic stability, and high expectations. To see a full list of the cross-sector members of the Workforce Talent Collaborative leading this community’s work,

click here.

When the hallmark and reputation of our region becomes the quality and depth of diverse and highly-skilled talent in these eight target industries, we will unleash the economic potential of this region. We will break the generational hold of poverty and improve the quality of life of individuals, families, neighborhoods, communities, and the region, as a whole.

Currently leading this work are:

  • Kevin Boberg, Retired Vice President for Economic Development, New Mexico State University
  • Debbi Moore, President, Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce
  • Fred Owensby, Executive Director, Workforce Development and Training Division, Doña Ana Community College
  • Dr. Griselda Martinez, Deputy Director, Office of Economic Development, City of Las Cruces
  • Les Baldock, Vice President – Operations, Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance
  • Dr. Patricia Sullivan, Outreach Coordinator, New Mexico State University College of Engineering
  • Dr. Susan Brown, STEM Outreach Director, New Mexico State University College of Education
  • Carrie Hernandez, Coordinator for Instruction/Career Readiness & Student Success, Las Cruces Public Schools
  • Jeff Waugh, Career Specialist, Las Cruces Public Schools
  • Rachel Knight, Career Specialist, Las Cruces Public Schools
  • Chris Shepherd, Operations Coordinator, Film Las Cruces
  • Steve Duran, Administrator, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
  • Miguel Martinez, HELP-NM
  • Darleen Lopez, One-Stop Operator, New Mexico Workforce Connections
  • Willie Silva, Vice President Community Outreach, El Paso Electric
  • Patti Lucero, Director, Operations & Compliance, TRAX International
  • Dr. Gilbert Moreno, President, Prestige Consulting
  • Debby Childress, Organizational Development Manager/Human Resources, City of Las Cruces
  • Lydia Nejdl, Career Development Coordinator, City of Las Cruces
  • Richard Wagner, Las Cruces Area Director/Site Manager, New Mexico Department of Workforce Connections
  • Roseanne Bensley, Career Services Coordinator, New Mexico State University
  • Susan Brown, Interim Dean of the College of Education, New Mexico State University
  • Dawn Hommer, CEO, Community Action Agency
  • Dr. Rodolfo Acosta, Director of Family Empowerment, Community Action Agency
  • Travis Dempsey, Superintendent, Gadsden Independent School District
  • Melanie Goodman, Field Representative, US Senator Tom Udall
  • Sharon Thomas, South Central Regional Transit District and Board Member, Southwestern Area Workforce Development Board
  • Melanie Fatuesi, Human Resources, Mountainview Regional Medical Center
  • Marie Ethier, Adult Education, Dona Ana Community College
  • Josh Orozco, Board Chair, Southwestern Area Workforce Development Board
  • David Armijo, Executive Director, South Central Regional Transit District
  • Joanne Garay, Director, Small Business Development Center
  • Joe Butler, Division Dean of Science, Engineer, and Math, Doña Ana Community College
  • Mary Ulrich, Director, Customized Training and Community Education, Doña Ana Community College
  • Berta Cordova de Lozano, Co-Op and Internship Coordinator, Dona Ana Community College
  • Lori Martinez, Director, Ngage
  • Abeer Al-Ghawi, Assistant Director, Ngage
  • Abel Covarrubias, CEO, Aprendamos Intervention Team
  • Concha Cordova, Vice President, YDI, Inc.
  • Robbie Levy, retired manager of Las Cruces Housing Authority
  • Clara Wells, Program Manager, New Mexico State University
  • Sara Patricolo, Program Manager, New Mexico State University
  • Yvette Bayless, New Mexico Workforce Connection
  • Nicole Black, Executive Officer, Las Cruces Home Builders Association
  • Tracey Bryan, President/CEO, The Bridge of Southern New Mexico

  • Workforce Development
  • Early College High Schools
  • Dual Credit
  • Career and Technical Education Pathways
  • New Mexico TrueTalent
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Contact Us

  • info@thebridgeofsnm.org
  • p: (575) 646-6120
  • 3655 Research Drive
    Las Cruces, NM 88003

Explore

  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • What We Do
  • How We Do It
    • Workforce Development
      • Advanced Manufacturing Pathway
      • Aerospace and Defense Pathways
      • Agriculture Pathway
      • Digital Media Pathway
      • Energy Pathway
      • Healthcare Industry Pathways
      • Transportation and Logistics Pathways
      • Education Pathway
    • Early College High Schools
    • Dual Credit
    • Career and Technical Education Pathways
  • Return on Investment
    • Case Studies and Reports
    • Metrics that Matter
    • Personal Stories
  • How You Can Help
    • Our Supporters

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The Bridge of Southern New Mexico

2 weeks ago

The Bridge of Southern New Mexico
Agriculture is changing with technology, and we need a new generation of #NewMexicoTrue Talent to lead the way! ...

Careers in the agriculture industry are ripe for New Mexico True talent

www.lcsun-news.com

Nowhere in New Mexico are there greater opportunities for growth and expansion of the Agriculture Industry than Doña Ana County.
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The Bridge of Southern New Mexico

1 month ago

The Bridge of Southern New Mexico
Keeping Dr. Karen Trujillo's family, friends, and LCPS family in our thoughts and prayers. ...

The Trujillo family: Healing together and receiving love from the community

www.lcsun-news.com

Family remembers Las Cruces Public Schools Superintendent Karen Trujillo as they lean on the community for support after losing a wife and mother.
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