Ruidoso, NM - Business leaders from throughout New Mexico have voted to approve the New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry’s (ACI) slate of policy priorities for the interim legislative session, as well as the organization's leadership for the coming year.
Members of ACI, the statewide business advocate, assembled in Ruidoso this week for the group’s annual membership retreat. In addition to the formal work of reviewing and approving the policy agenda, members also participated in a golf tournament, networked, and heard from state policy leaders including a legislative panel of key House and Senate leadership.
The policy agenda, which includes issues such as right to work, unemployment insurance, tax reform, and hundreds of other pro-jobs priorities, was developed entirely by ACI's members through a transparent committee process in recent weeks. The full document can be viewed here.
"This year's retreat saw record numbers of business leaders come together to learn and network around policy solutions for New Mexico's economy," said ACI President Jason Espinoza. "This sends a strong signal from the business community: there is a growing passion to effect real change in our state's economic future. People are seeing that change is possible, and as they come together like this, they're making it happen. That's exactly why ACI exists and it's exciting to see the process at work—New Mexican employers want to see more jobs and a better future for our state, and they're taking the reins to make it happen."
Newly appointed board chair Doug Cox, who formally took office at the retreat this week, stated a theme of "New Beginnings" for the year ahead and expressed a commitment to building on ACI's already strong momentum to strengthen New Mexico's economy. "ACI's strength is its membership," said Cox. "Our members are the business leaders in the state who deal with the effects of these policies every single day. And those leaders review our policy agenda every six months so our priorities are always the most current and important issues facing New Mexico businesses. Thanks to our members' hard work, ACI is able to make a tangible difference for New Mexico's future. I’m looking forward to leveraging that strong foundation to make substantial gains in the year ahead.” Cox, a shareholder at Atkinson & Co. CPAs, has served as ACI’s Taxation Committee Chair, Treasurer, and Executive Committee Member, and now takes the helm for a one-year chairmanship.
ACI represents businesses from all industry sectors and regions of New Mexico. More information on ACI is available at www.nmaci.org.