© 2024 KRWG
News that Matters.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

NMSU’s NM EDGE breaks 350 mark with June graduates

  HOBBS – Since 2008, NM EDGE has graduated 350 public servants in a variety of certifications to enhance their ability to better serve their constituents. The 14th group of 58 graduates received their certifications during the New Mexico Association of Counties’ annual conference in Hobbs June 23.

NM EDGE, which stands for Education Designed to Generate Excellence in the public sector, is a nationally accredited program administered by New Mexico State University’s Cooperative Extension Service.

“What started as a program for county officials with our founding strategic partner, New Mexico Association of Counties, has grown to include training for employees of state agencies, municipalities and public schools, among others,” said Mary DeLorenzo, NM EDGE program director.

“We are proud to continue to bring new designations and curriculum into our program,” said Jon Boren, NMSU assistant dean and director of the extension service. “We strive to provide meaningful training to help our public servants to create better government through education.”

“The program has demonstrated consistence and flexibility while assisting NMAC in training its newly elected officials and providing public sector specialization certificates,” DeLorenzo said. “NM EDGE also is assisting the state purchasing office to meet state legislative mandated training for public purchasing officers.” 

To obtain a certification designation, the students must complete a number of classes, along with a portfolio demonstrating their application of the competencies learned in the classes. For more information about the designations, visit nmedge.nmsu.edu.

Receiving certification diplomas during the closing luncheon of NMAC’s annual conference were:

• Bernalillo County: Tito Chacon, assessor’s office, certified public official; Isabelle Purcella, chief deputy treasurer, certified public supervisor; and Jerome Starke, assessor’s office, certified public official.

• Catron County: Sheri Riddle, chief deputy treasurer, certified treasury official.

• Chaves County: Ron Lethgo, chief deputy clerk, certified county clerk; Jeff Ortega, county clerk’s office, certified county clerk; Steve Sorensen, engineering technician, certified public official; and Joe West, road maintenance foreman, certified advocate in public ethics.

• Cibola County: Michelle Dominguez, chief deputy clerk, certified county clerk; and Kathy Gonzales, chief deputy treasurer, certified public official and certified treasury official.

• Colfax County: Rick Aguilar, county appraiser, certified public assessment officer and certified advocate in public ethics.

• Eddy County: Stella Davis, county commissioner, certified public official and certified county commissioner; Ima Lee Mellard, county appraiser, certified public official; and Rick Rudometkin, county manager, certified public supervisor.

• Guadalupe County: Gloria Jean Chavez, finance/safety officer, certified public official; and Ernest S. Tapia, county commissioner, certified public official.

• Harding County: Barbara L. Shaw, county clerk, certified county clerk.

• Lea County: Lyn Edwards, director of community engagement, certified public official; Gary Hassen, sheriff’s department IT technician, certified information technology professional; Robert Lathrop, information technology administrator, certified information technology professional; and Myra Salmon, deputy clerk, certified public official.

• Los Alamos: Barbara Ricci, IT department, certified information technology professional; and Peter Sheehey, county councilor, certified county commissioner.

• Luna County: Richard Cowles, sheriff’s department, certified public official.

• McKinley County: Harriett K. Becenti, county clerk, certified public official; and Marlene Dallago, deputy treasurer, certified public official.

• Quay County: Janie Hoffman, chief deputy assessor, certified public supervisor.

• Rio Arriba County: Sarah Garcia, chief deputy treasurer, certified public supervisor; and Linda Padilla, chief deputy clerk, certified public supervisor.

• Roosevelt County: Stephanie Hicks, chief deputy clerk, certified county clerk; and Johnny Montiel, GIS technician, certified GIS specialist. 

• Sandoval County: Lawrence Griego, appraiser supervisor, certified public supervisor; Virginia Lucero, assessor’s office, certified treasury official; Laura Montoya, county treasurer, certified treasury official; and Cecilia Rose, treasurer’s office, certified treasury official.

• Santa Fe County: Ashley N. Bravo, account technician, certified public official; Leroy Catanach, tax clerk, certified public official; Nicole Deaderick, day reporting program supervisor, certified public official; George R. Gurule, GIS mapper, certified public official; Carole Jaramillo, budget administrator, certified public supervisor; Deborah Leyba-Dominguez, public works department administrator, certified public supervisor; Anna Martinez, automated drafting technician, certified public official; Marianne Martinez, senior mobile home specialist, certified public official; Brittney Montoya, business professional property appraiser, certified public official; Tina Salazar, constituent services liaison, certified public official; Jessica Ulibarri, assessor’s office, certified public official; and Julia Valez, constituent services liaison, certified advocate in public ethics.

• Socorro County: Martha Salas, county commissioner, certified public official and certified advocate in public ethics.

• Taos County: Valerie Montoya, chief deputy clerk, certified county clerk; and Daniel Rael, appraiser, certified public official.

• Torrance County: Leslie Olivas, purchasing director, certified public official.

• Valencia County: Casey Davis, public works, fire and emergency management, certified public official; and Jamie Finch, public works, fire and emergency management, certified public official.

• New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration: Michael P. Steininger, local government division, certified public official. 

• City of Deming: Vicki Engle, city of Deming, certified public official; Lila Jasso, finance officer, certified public official; and Bryan Michael Reedy, airport manager, certified public official.

• Village of Los Lunas: Ginny Adame, village office, certified public official.

Information from NMSU