The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce next week will present several state legislators with awards for their work during the 2018 Legislative Session on bills important to the business community and community at-large; awards will also be given to public and private sector leaders for their efforts to make Albuquerque and New Mexico better to live and work.
The annual Legislative Reception and Chamber Awards ceremony will take place at the Anderson Abruzzo International Balloon Museum on Tuesday, June 26 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Tickets are $25 per person and the event is open to the public.
Legislative Awards will be given to legislators who sponsored legislation important to the business community; awards are given in two categories: E for Effort and Start to Finish.
E for Effort Awards are given to lawmakers who worked diligently, without wavering, on important bills which ultimately did not become law. Start to Finish Awards are given to lawmakers for their unwavering support for bills which ultimately did become law. Thirteen legislators will be recognized.
The Chamber will also present six civic, education and business community leaders with a slate of awards which recognizes their individual contributions to the community. The following awards will be handed out: Statesman of the Year, Business Advocate in Politics, Excellence in Education, Excellence in Media, Public Safety Advocates of the Year, and Chairman's Award for Excellence.
Below is a list of awardees who will be recognized at the event and the award each will receive. A special thanks to the following event sponsors: PNM, Southwest, UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fidelity Investments, and Esparza.
LEGISLATIVE AWARDS
E for Effort Awards:
Representative Sarah Maestas Barnes
DWI Suspect Blood Testing (HB71), Child Abuse Penalties (HB100), Increase 2nd Degree Murder Penalties (HB112), 2nd Degree Murder Time Limit (HB115)
Representative Patricio Ruiloba
Chronic Absenteeism, Intervention, and Driver's License Revocation (HB297)
Start to Finish Awards:
Representatives Brian Egolf, Nate Gentry, Daymon Ely, Liz Thomson, Moe Maestas, David E. Adkins
Anti-Crime Package (HB19)
Representative Jason Harper
Alternative Evidence for GRT Deductions (HB194)
Senator Sander Rue and Senator John Sapien
Funding Increase for the Bernalillo County District Attorney (HB2)
Senator Bill Burt and Senator Mary Kay Papen
Commercial Aerospace Protection Act (SB98)
CHAMBER AWARDS
Statesman of the Year: Dr. Katharine Winograd
In recognition of Dr. Winograd's 11 years of service as President of Central New Mexico Community College. She is an engaged and energetic leader whose positive attitude and collaborative demeanor make her a tremendous asset to our community.
Public Safety Advocates of the Year: Dave and Jayann Sepich
Dave and Jayann are the parents of Katie Sepich, who was raped, kidnapped, strangled to death, and abandoned in 2003. Since her death, Jayann and Dave have fought for DNA collection laws across America that would allow arrestees for serious crimes to be more easily linked to cold cases.
Excellence in Education: JoAnn Mitchell, Founder of MAS
Mission Achievement and Success (MAS) is an Albuquerque charter school that was founded in 2012 and serves a high-poverty student population. It has received three "A" grades in a row, and its student proficiency rates are two or three times as high as other schools with similar demographics.
Excellence in Media: Mary Lynn Roper
Mary Lynn started her career in broadcasting 48 years ago and has served as KOAT's station manager for 25 years. She is a media icon in New Mexico whose TV station has a reputation for a tenacious pursuit of the truth.
Chairman's Award for Excellence: Kathy Sandoval-Snider
Kathy is the principal of Albuquerque Institute for Mathematics and Science (AIMS), an Albuquerque charter school based on the campus of the University of New Mexico. AIMS has consistently been ranked as the top-performing high school in the state of New Mexico, and among the best charter high schools in America.
Business Advocate in Politics: Jim Smith
Jim retired this year from the New Mexico House of Representatives, where he provided stellar representation of residents in his east Albuquerque district. Whether on issues of economic development or education reform, Jim was a steady advocate of business interests and a committed partner in the Chamber's policy work.