New Fellows Poised to Drive Workforce Innovation
ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the Albuquerque Workforce Leadership Academy announced the inaugural class of fellows for a program designed to improve local economic mobility and workforce development efforts and present transformative solutions to the challenges faced by workers and businesses.
The Albuquerque Workforce Leadership Academy, a fellowship developed through a partnership with the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and five community partners engages nonprofit, government, academic, and business leaders in a series of retreats and workshops as they work together to advance an innovative and equitable workforce ecosystem.
The City of Albuquerque along with Central New Mexico Community College are one of only three new sites selected by the Aspen Institute to launch a local Workforce Leadership Academy and is the first in New Mexico. This Academy is the latest in a series of several Workforce Leadership Academies hosted in communities across the United States and Canada.
The Academy launched Tuesday, April 29 and will culminate with a collaborative capstone project presentation in December.
Fellows selected for the Albuquerque Workforce Leadership Academy are:
• Rosabelle Arellano – Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
• Thomas Chynoweth – Future Focused Education
• Alexandra Delgadillo – Sceye, Inc.
• Tera Frank – Native Professional Advancement Center / NIYC
• Amy Greene – UNM Health Sciences Office for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
• Miriam Hicks – Sol Housing
• Valerie Ingram – United Way of North Central New Mexico
• Louis Jeantete – The Encantado Foundation
• Sesha Lee – Goodwill Industries of New Mexico
• Michelle Lindholm – Southwest Glass & Glazing
• David Martinez – Sandia National Laboratories
• Mason Martinez – BlueHalo
• Sebastian Martinez – CNM Ingenuity, Inc.
• Sarah McKinney – Brillante Early Learning Center at Explora
• Erica Richards – University of New Mexico
• Sonora Rodriguez – Workforce Connection of Central NM
• Monica Sandoval-Johnson – STEM Boomerang
• Daniel Schmuck – City of Albuquerque – Economic Development Department
• Kathy Steen – NewSpace Nexus
• Chanel Wiese-Carl – Presbyterian Healthcare Services
“In a rapidly changing workforce landscape, this Academy provides the space and support for leaders to dream big and act boldly,” said Economic Development Director Max Gruner. “Albuquerque’s future depends on inclusive, innovative thinking—and that’s exactly what this fellowship is here to cultivate.”
“The remarkable people who lead our communities’ efforts to advance economic opportunity rarely have the opportunity to step back with their colleagues across the workforce ecosystem to address rapidly changing opportunities and challenges,” said Dee Wallace, senior fellow at the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program. “In partnership with Albuquerque, we look forward to supporting and learning from this group of leaders as they reflect on their individual and organizational leadership, exchange lessons with other leading practitioners from across the country, and build relationships for collaboration and continued success in the future.”
The Albuquerque Workforce Leadership Academy is led by City of Albuquerque Sr. Workforce Advisor Rachel Snyder, City of Albuquerque Workforce Development Liaison Justin Hilliard, Central New Mexico Community College Senior Director of Work Based Learning, Mary Hubbell-Ansera, and an Advisory Council.
Biographical information on the Fellows is available at abqedd.com/wla.