Homegrown Economies

On this episode of Homegrown Economies, Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Carrie Hamblen talks Anthony Thomas, the Director of the Conservation Corps New Mexico. Thomas talks about the formation of the CCNM, how his past military service carries over into his leadership with the CCNM, the programs offered, the value of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the future of CCNM. More information about the Conservation Corp New Mexico can be found by going to: h...

On this episode of Homegrown Economies, Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Carrie Hamblen talks with State Representative Angelica Rubio and co-founder of the Monumental Loop, Pablo Lopez, about the New Mexico Bike Summit, taking place tomorrow in Las Cruces. Rubio and Lopez talk about increasing awareness about cycling, the importance of understanding the origins of the land we ride on, and how the Outdoor Equity Fund has supported over 30,000 kids in getting them outdo...

On this episode of Homegrown Economies, Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Carrie Hamblen talks with Carmichael Dominguez, public servant and advocate for public lands. On the program, Carmichael and Carrie talk about his years of public service, both as a city councilor and member of the school board in Santa Fe. Carmichael and Julian Gonzales, a veteran, recently authored a great article on the Antiquities Act. You can find that article here.&nb...

On this episode of Homegrown Economies, Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Carrie Hamblen talks with Colleen Boyd, the owner and founder of downtown desert yoga. On the program, Colleen and Carrie talk about offering yoga for every BODY, what Optimal Movement means to helping folks become comfortable with doing yoga, and how the pandemic helped Colleen and some others in forming the nonprofit Desert Community Wellness.

On this episode of Homegrown Economies, Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Carrie Hamblen talks with Hilary Dutcher, the Outdoor Recreation Sales Manager for Visit Las Cruces. On the program, Hilary and Carrie talk about the strategies of marketing the outdoors, ways Visit Las Cruces modified the marketing of the outdoor activities during COVID, and what promoting Las Cruces post-pandemic looks like.

On this episode of Homegrown Economies, Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Carrie Hamblen talks with Jo Ann Garay, the Director of the Las Cruces Division of the New Mexico Small Business Development Center. On the show, Jo Ann and Carrie talk the challenges faced by small businesses, what makes a successful business owner, and how the NM SBDC helped so many locally owned businesses during the pandemic with access to state and federal assistance, getting their bookkeepin...

On this episode of Homegrown Economies, Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Carrie Hamblen talks with Angel Peña , the Executive Director of the Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project. On the show, Angel talks about the origins of Nuestra Tierra, the importance of Latinx and Hispanic communities in protecting and preserving the outdoors, and how programs like the Outdoor Equity Fund and the Outdoor Future Initiative are providing opportunities for Tribal and BIPOC individua...

On this episode of Homegrown Economies, Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Carrie Hamblen talks with Leah Messina, CEO and founder of Sinuate Media, an organic marketing company located in Mesilla, NM. On the show, Leah talks about the challenges she faced, as a female CEO, early in the life of her business, her business values, and how she has been able to help businesses increase their online presence and sales during the pandemic. Leah reminds businesses that wh...

On this episode of Homegrown Economies, Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Carrie Hamblen talks with Patrick Nolan, the Executive Director of the Friends of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks. Patrick talks about the programs the Friends oversees, working to support the permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, how important the outdoors have been to communities as they deal with the isolation during COVID, and how our next Secretary of Interior wi...

On this episode of Homegrown Economies, Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Carrie Hamblen talks with Russell Hernandez and Christopher Schaljo, co-owners of Salud! de Mesilla. Russell and Christopher, after working for others, decided to welcome the opportunity to open their own restaurant, bringing to the region unique dishes, a welcoming atmosphere, and celebrating the lands around them. They talk about their approach to running a restaurant customers go back ove...