Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
September 2011
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Anne Dean, Chair Pop’s Top Shop
Manny Gomez , Past Chair Hobbs Fire Department
Denise Layton, Treasurer Soaring Society of America
Sco y Holloman, Secretary Maddox, Holloman & Kirksey
DIRECTORS Becky Bass Hobbs Jaycees
Rod Coffman Lea County Sheriff
Mike Fewell Bruckner’s Truck Sales
Ruth Girón URENCO USA
Tom Hart Halliburton
Will Hawkins Hobbs Municipal Schools
James Janecka GEO Group
Brent Willits Zia Park Casino
AMBASSADORS Mike Fewell, Chair Bruckner’s Truck Sales
Chris Ellio , Chair‐elect KZOR—KIXN—KPZA
Pa S nson, Vice Chair J‐Cap Manufacturing
Dana Shoemaker, Secretary U.S. Cable
Amanda Bos ck, Member at Large United Way of Lea County
HOBBS JAYCEES Becky Bass, President Johnson, Miller & Co.
Joshua Grassham, V.P. Wells Fargo
Melissa Mitchell, Secretary University of the Southwest
Cody Corbridge, Treasurer Johnson, Miller & Co.
Smith pleads guilty, ordered to pay res tu on
A former Hobbs Chamber of Com‐merce employee, whose unofficial use of a Chamber credit card in the first quarter of 2010 led to a wider embez‐zlement inves ga on, pleaded guilty in July to two felony charges and was sentenced in August to three years of supervised parole and ordered to pay res tu on. The Chamber employed Norma Smith from January 2008 un l April 2010 as the organiza on’s bookkeeper and office manager. Both charges against her involved unauthorized use of a Chamber credit card, a fourth‐degree felony. District Judge Mark Sanchez sen‐tenced Smith to two consecu ve 18‐month terms of incarcera on on Aug. 8, but Sanchez suspended the prison me and ordered supervised proba‐on for the same period at a cost of
$45 per month. He also ordered a DNA sample at a cost of $100. The court order further requires Smith to pay res tu on “developed by and paid through the Proba on and Parole Division of the New Mexico Cor‐rec ons Department.” The res tu on is to be paid to the Hobbs Chamber of Commerce within 90 days, the order says. Smith has un l Sept. 8 to appeal the sentence.
A search on nmcourts.gov reveals Smith has faced several civil suits in Lea County magis‐trate and district courtrooms, da‐ng back to
1999. In sepa‐rate cases in 1999 and 2011, Smith was sued for “debt and money due.” Also in 1999, Smith met li ga on related to the property damage of an automobile. In each of those cases, judgments were issued against Smith. “If this case teaches us nothing else,” Chamber President Grant Taylor said, “it’s that we owe it to our mem‐bers to conduct background checks on all future employees who will handle Chamber funds. What transpired dur‐ing Ms. Smith’s tenure as bookkeeper damaged the Chamber’s solvency and forced us to curtail our budget un l we can either regain the lost funds or dra‐ma cally increase income.” The amount to be paid in res tu‐on has not yet been determined by
Smith’s assigned proba on officer, Taylor said, but “the Chamber is vigor‐ously seeking the greatest amount“ of lost funds during Smith’s me at the Chamber.
Chamber Chronicle
Smith
Page 2
Hobbs Chamber of Commerce 2012 Community Guide & Business Directory
PRINT | ON‐LINE | eBOOK |MOBILE APP | 24/7 ACCESS
RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW! Information Contact: Ana & Christian Raphael Cell: 505.206.0495 Fax: 575.397.1689 Email: [email protected]
Sincerely,
Grant Taylor
A recently conducted national survey showed "consumers are 63% more likely to buy goods and ser‐vices in the future from a company that they believe is a member of the local chamber" and "they are 44% more likely to think favorably about the business.” In its role of promoting commerce, community and character, the Hobbs Chamber of Commerce greets thousands of visitors and newcomers with a warm welcome and a quality publication like the Community Guide & Business Directory.
Most In‐demand Publication from the Hobbs Chamber
Published to support local commerce and pro‐mote member products and services
Thousands will be distributed and direct‐mailed This entire publication links to the
www.villageprofile.com Community Profile Net‐work which currently receives over 2 million vis‐its a month and a reciprocal link on the Hobbs Chamber website.
All advertisers will be accessible 24/7 online via
mobile cell phone at www.vpmobile.us NEW for 2011‐VP Smartphone App for both
iPhone and Droid platforms to Qualified Ad‐vertisers.
Very reasonable ad rates with No‐Cost ad copy
and design preparation available.
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Calendar of Events—September 2011
Sept. 8 — Hometown Holidays promo on mee ng, 1 p.m., Hobbs Chamber Sept. 9 — Ambassadors luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Saturday’s, 312 W. Bender Sept. 12 — Hobbs Jaycees membership mee ng, noon, USW dining hall Sep. 15 — Bruckner’s Truck Sales open house and lunch, 10 a.m.‐2 p.m. Sep. 15 — Business A er Hours, 5 p.m., Desert Gardens, 200 S. Linam Sep. 16 — Halsell Family Chiroprac c 10th anniversary, 11 a.m., Lovington Sept. 26 — Hobbs Jaycees membership mee ng, noon, USW dining hall
Think of the most ethical person you know. Do a
lot of people come to mind or only a few? Are you
having trouble thinking of anyone?
If I asked that ques on of the people who know
you well, how many would name you? Almost all?
About half? Just a few?
Unless this commentary makes you more hum‐
ble, you will probably be among the vast majority
who say that half or more of the people they know
would think of them as an ethical role model. That’s
highly unlikely. It’s more probable that almost no
one you know would put you at the top of the list.
Let’s face it, that’s a tough roster to get on.
Surveys show that about 95 percent of us want
others to think of us as highly ethical, so our delu‐
sion of grandeur regarding our moral reputa on is
probably a case of wishful thinking. But wishful
thinking won’t do it.
I wish I were thin. Unfortunately, my slim ambi‐
ons won’t change my waist size. For me, thinness
will be an elusive dream un l I convert my desire to
ac ons: exercising regularly and ea ng moderately.
It’s the same with being ethical. Most of us
suffer from moral flabbiness. This doesn’t mean
we’re bad, but it does suggest we can be be er.
What we need is a “Be a Be er Person” fitness pro‐
gram to tone up our character and strengthen our
ethics. Just like working on our waist, hips, or arms,
we could work on our honesty, fairness, and re‐
sponsibility.
Who knows? If you really work at it, you could
even make the list.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you to stay
ethically fit because character counts.
© 2011 Josephson Ins tute. Reprinted from Michael
Josephson’s Commentary with permission.
Tone up moral flabbiness with more character fitness, less delusion
The Hobbs Chamber of Commerce is a CHARACTER COUNTS! Coali on member.
Page 6
September 11‐17
Proudly Hosts
Business After Hours
Sept. 15, 5 p.m. Please join us!
The theme for the 2011 Jaycees Christmas Parade will be
released some me in September… those who like the
group’s Facebook page, Hobbs Jaycees, will be the first to
know! Like the Jaycees’ Facebook page right away! For more
informa on about the Christmas Parade or the Hobbs Jay‐
cees, please contact Becky Bass at 390‐5119.
The Hobbs Jaycees is an established organiza‐
on for young professionals ages 18 to 40, who
enjoy social networking, community ini a ve
and networking with other young professionals.
Jaycees Christmas Parade approaching, theme to
be announced
Becky Bass, President
Among the Jaycees’ pro‐
jects are Dress a Live Doll
and the annual Community
Awards. For more infor‐
ma on, contact Becky Bass
at 393‐2171 or
Page 7
Hobbs Mayor Gary Don Reagan (le ) watches Chamber Presi‐dent Grant Taylor present a Chamber membership cer ficate to Cristy Sea, area retail sales manager, at the ribbon‐cu ng
of the new AT&T store located at 1819 N. Turner St., Suite A.
August Highlights
Masey and Dr. Ryan Doss pose for a photo during the August Business A er Hours. The Dosses hosted Business A er Hours, in part, to celebrate the one‐year anniversary of their business, Country Chiroprac c.
Page 8
IT’S HIDEOUS! Do you have a countertop that is unsightly, held
together with duct tape, or just plain UGLY?
Enter the Pop’s Top Shop Ugly Countertop Contest!
The winner will be awarded up to 45 square feet of a Livingstone Solid Surface* countertop.
Send a photo and 25 words or less describing your ugly countertop by Sept. 28 to: Hobbs Chamber of Commerce 400 N. Marland Blvd. Hobbs, NM 88240 or [email protected]
Visitors of the Expo in the Desert Oct. 4 will vote for
the ugliest countertop from five finalists.
For complete rules, go to HobbsAmerica.com.
*Escape or Adventure series
Chamber votes show commitment to commerce
Chamber News
Two resolu ons passed Aug. 18 by the board of directors of the Hobbs Chamber of Commerce highlight the organiza on’s aggressive move to‐ward suppor ng local investment and business ex‐pansion in Lea County.
In one resolu on, the board endorsed an appli‐ca on by Zia Park Racetrack and Casino to acquire a second racing license that will, if approved, add addi onal slot machines and racing days to the property’s exis ng opera ons.
Zia Park already brings in more than $90 million in annual gaming and racing revenue, and the addi‐onal license will help it grow that amount while
simultaneously adding more full‐ me jobs in Lea County.
The resolu on calls on the state Racing Com‐mission to grant the license and partner with Zia
Park to bolster southeastern New Mexico’s reputa‐on as a gaming des na on.
In a separate resolu on, the Board endorsed the proposed merger of AT&T and T‐Mobile, ci ng the poten al for expanded 4G coverage and broad‐band access for millions of rural Americans, includ‐ing thousands in southeastern New Mexico.
The resolu on supports the merger also on the grounds of job crea on in rural New Mexico and the likelihood that an addi onal 54,000 square miles of the state will benefit from the companies’ marriage.
“This is a decisive and involved board,” Cham‐ber Chair Anne Dean said. “They are stepping in to endorse plans and proposals that they see will have a good outcome for business in Lea County and Hobbs.”
Page 9
Input from Hobbs merchants is urgently needed
to set the course for holiday promo ons.
Past “Santa Cruise” par cipa ng merchants and
commi ee members were invited to a Sept. 1
mee ng to discuss last year’s effort and to sketch
out a 2011 campaign. Just over 20 merchants par‐
cipated last year. A small frac on of the invitees
came to the mee ng, which may be indica ve of
li le interest in con nuing the vaca on‐prize holi‐
day blitz. A new mee ng has been scheduled for
Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.
“We have to ensure staff, Chamber and city re‐
sources are effec vely u lized,” Chamber President
Grant Taylor said. “If Santa Cruise has lost its steam,
then we need to move on to a promo on that
members want and will be the most beneficial
across the widest cross‐sec on of businesses.”
Chamber News
Low merchant interest puts ‘Santa Cruise’ in ques on
Economic Indicators
New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemploy‐ment rate was 6.7 percent in July, down from 6.8 percent in June and 8.5 percent a year ago. The na‐onal unemployment rate dropped to 9.1 percent.
July marked the fi h straight monthly decrease in unemployment since the state’s jobless rate peaked at 8.7 percent earlier this year. The recent declines resulted from workers leaving the labor force, not an increase in employment.
The rate of over‐the‐year job growth, compar‐
ing July 2011 with July 2010, was 0.4 percent, rep‐resen ng an increase of 3,500 jobs. July con nued the trend with further gradual improvement and a second month of posi ve over‐the‐year job growth.
The recovery likely started a while back, but lack of significant momentum le the state’s job growth rate close to zero for over a year. A number of industries are now cau ously adding jobs, but there is s ll evidence of restraint and the recovery is slow.
August labor report: Recovery con nues at modest pace
Page 10
One New Mexico city is genera ng sales tax revenues lately that are outpacing some ci es with popula ons more than two and a half mes its size.
Two straight months of record tax revenues show Hobbs is now genera ng more money than places like Rio Rancho, Roswell and Farmington, which all have much larger popula ons and higher tax rates.
Oil and gas is s ll the cornerstone of the Hobbs economy, but officials got the surprising numbers that show other sectors are driving large tax reve‐nues.
"Commerce is absolutely great in Hobbs and one of our first indicators is our gross receipts tax distribu on from the state," said Grant Taylor of the Hobbs Chamber of Commerce.
Just this week, Hobbs received a record $5.4 million in sales tax distribu on.
That beat last month's all me record of just over $5 million.
"In fact, what that does for us, that ranks us 4th in the state for gross receipts tax distribu on to municipali es," explained Taylor.
Officials say oil and gas only made up about 33 percent of GRT.
Retail sales raised nearly $1 million dollars.
"Business has been very good," said [The Mod‐el] store owner Marc Fields.
"We've seen the economy here really spiking, probably our sales are up maybe 15 to 16 percent from last year," explained Fields.
Officials say the high price of oil and gas has put more cash in the pockets of Hobbs consumers, and business owners say sales show they are spending.
"When oil and gas is selling, that gives people extra money in their pockets and then they're able to come out and work on their yards and do things they want to do. They don't have to choose be‐tween a gallon of milk and pu ng flowers in their flower beds," said The Third Day nursery co‐owner Rusty Baxter.
The high price of oil and gas is also good for the state's budget.
Hobbs has one of the state's lowest sales tax rates at 6.8125 percent.
High oil price percolates cash through Hobbs Joe Bartels KOB Eyewitness News 4
Page 11
Economic Indicators
$778,446
$869,104
$931,134
$0 $1,000,000
Aug. 2010 (June 2010 sales)
July 2011 (May 2011 sales)
Aug. 2011 (June 2011 sales)
Gross Receipts Tax Government DistributionLea County
8.1%
5.7%
5.0%
0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9%
July 2010
June 2011
July 2011
Unemployment RateLea County
$3,851,435
$5,007,358
$5,397,035
$0 $1,000,000 $2,000,000 $3,000,000 $4,000,000 $5,000,000 $6,000,000
Aug. 2010 (June 2010 sales)
July 2011 (May 2011 sales)
Aug. 2011 (June 2011 sales)
Gross Receipts Tax Government DistributionCity of Hobbs
Page 12
Pe grew & Associates highlights new staff, notes growth
Member News
Civil‐engineering and surveying firm Pe grew & Associates con nues to grow, with the
addi on of four new staff members.
Ryan Munki rick joins the firm as survey crew chief. Chicago‐born Munki rick is relo‐
ca ng from Fort Worth with his wife, Lindsey, and their two sons and a daughter on the
way. A business management graduate from Tarrant County Junior College,
Munki rick has completed numerous classes in surveying, and he gained an extensive
background on the civil engineering and construc on side of surveying gained through
diverse posi ons. Munki rick spent more than two years in horizontal direc onal drill‐
ing with a Holland‐based company, nearly two years working on the Al Fatah pipelines
in Iraq, and, most recently, on projects of the Army Corps of Engineers in New Orleans.
Another addi on to the surveying team is Anthony Cruz. Born in Trenton, Mich., Cruz
grew up in Carrizo Springs, Texas. Cruz served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps and
then worked in retail sales for nearly seven years. He relocated to Hobbs from Minne‐
sota when he married Pe grew’s chief administra ve officer and business manager,
Erica Cruz, in October 2010. Cruz has six children who live in El Paso, and Erica and he
live with Erica's son, Xavier. Cruz is working on comple ng his bachelor’s degree in
business management through the University of Phoenix.
Hobbs na ve Tonya Jones is the new billing coordinator at Pe grew & Associ‐
ates. Jones was a health‐educa on student at New Mexico State University in Las Cru‐
ces and is currently studying business at Eastern New Mexico University in Por‐
tales. Before joining Pe grew, Jones worked at several area businesses, including Zia
Park Casino, where she was a cage vault manager for six years. Jones and her husband,
Hobbs News‐Sun sports editor Clayton Jones, have an 11‐year‐old daughter, Taylor.
Shay Allen joins Pe grew as marke ng coordinator. Born and raised in Hobbs, Shay
a ended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where she graduated summa
cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in business marke ng. Before
joining Pe grew, Allen had a variety of internships, including working at Adelante De‐
velopment Center, New Mexico’ s largest non‐profit organiza on helping people with
disabili es, as well as the Na onal Nuclear Science and History Museum. As marke ng
coordinator, Allen’s responsibili es include developing and maintaining business– and
project‐development systems and records, as well as coordina ng all external mar‐
ke ng efforts and correspondence with customers.
Munki rick
Cruz
Jones
Allen
Got news? Submit business news for the next newsle er. Email Grant Taylor at [email protected].
Page 13
Page 14
AF&F Ke le Korn 2614 N. Northwest (575) 942‐8942 or (520) 409‐2699 Alicia Noel Ke le Corn, Bo led Water and Sodas Basin Corporate Housing 2722 North Acres Dr. (575) 318‐9138 Connie Vasquez and Sco Kane Furniture Rental Blasand LLC. 405 E. Navajo (575) 492‐0445 Sandra Blaine Appliance Retailer Bull Dog Tool 423 W. County Road (575) 393‐1056 Barry Antweil Down Hole Tools, Rentals and Sales Charlie's Burritos 920 S. Turner (575) 397‐2366 Jesus C. Mar nez Restaurant JJ's Custom Cards & Cra s 2918 N. Dal Paso (575) 392‐7073 Belinda McBride Stane Printer Broker L&C Trucking, LLC. 221 N. Burk (575) 408‐1077 or (575) 397‐2565 Yolanda Carmona Water Transporta on Lea County Lock and Key 415 W. Kiowa (575) 318‐5360 or (575) 318‐1485 Joshua Busby Mobile Locksmith Longhorn Tubular Services 200 S. Airport Rd. (575) 393‐3725 Bruce Sharp Oilfield Services
Lusona 200 E. Vega (505) 263‐1661 Frank H. Mackay, Jr. Architectural Services Kelly Maclaskey Oilfield Services, Inc. 5900 W. Carlsbad Hwy. (575) 393‐1016 Kelly Maclaskey Oilfield Services Manny's Trucking 319 S. Marland Blvd. (915) 540‐3350 Jose M. Garcia Trucking, Hauling, Dirt and Caliche Pets and More 2827 N. Dal Paso St., Ste. #119 (575) 492‐2272 Ron Gu errez and Juan Arellano Small Pets and Pet Supply PS 92.1 Studio 1701 N. Jefferson (575) 318‐7516 Abby Holmes Piano and Voice Lessons Ramos Trucking 303 W. Mesquite Dr. (575) 441‐2906 Daniel Ramos Trucking SL Start and Associates LLC. 2120 N. Alto Dr. (575) 397‐3400 Embassy Management, LLC. Social Services‐New Mexico Works Soar School of Rock 1701 N. Jefferson (432) 894‐1462 or (575) 318‐5550 David Kemp and Bryan Cunningham Music Instruc on Standard E&S, LLC. 816 W. County Rd. (806) 741‐1080 Pieter A. Bergstein Oilfield Services
The Sweet Retreat 2904 N. Flamingo (575) 441‐3638 Shirley Conder Private Chef and Catering Consultant The Wagon Wheel Café 3619 N. West County Rd. (575) 738‐0153 H.R. Oosthuizen and Krista Oosthuizen Food Tilley Pressure Test, Inc. 2425 N. West County Rd. (580) 252‐9016 Jimmy Tilley Pressure Tes ng Oilfield Equipment Undergrounds Coffee. 1702 N. Dal Paso (575) 391‐9095 John D. Ragsdal and Nickole R. Ragsdal Coffee, Tea and So Drink Beverages WAM Ventures 905 E. Green Acres Dr. (575) 397‐1567 William A. McBee Market Specialty Guitars and Other WAS, LLC. 527 West County Rd. (575) 397‐6302 Mickey Welborn Rental Real Estate and Equipment Wilbanks Trucking Inc. 1607 S. West County Rd. (575) 746‐6318 Wilbanks Trucking Inc. Oilfield Service WSI Enterprises, Inc. 4220 Loving on Hwy. (505) 326‐0308 Larry E. Lewis and John L. Lewis Wellhead Valves, Flanges and Manifolds Source: City of Hobbs
Hobbs Biz Leads—August Business Licenses
10th Anniversary Dr. Cecil and Claire Halsell will be celebrating 10 years of chiropractic service in
Lovington during the month of September and invite you to join them for an OPEN HOUSE
Friday, September 16th, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Picture for the Lovington Leader @ 11 a.m. ● Light lunch to follow, catered by Baja Grill
Door Prizes
Property owned and maintained by the Hobbs Chamber of Commerce will be put up for sale In an cipa on of a move to a proposed welcome center on U.S. Highway 62/180. The Chamber is awai ng its appraisal of the property before lis ng a sale price. For more informa on about the real estate seen in the picture above, call (575) 397‐3202.
Photo: Grant Taylor
Page 15
FOR SALE
Promoting Commerce. Promoting Community. Promoting Character Find us on the Web: hobbschamber.org Email Grant Taylor, President & CEO: [email protected]
