Albuquerque, NM April 2024

LIFE + CULTURE

INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGY

EDUCATION

INVESTMENT IN CHILDREN

LIFE + CULTURE

INVESTMENT IN HISTORY

Invest in Albuquerque

Investing in Albuquerque takes many forms, including supporting local initiatives, volunteering, and shopping locally. Individuals can engage in community clean-ups, mentorship programs, or charitable causes. Similarly, businesses can play a role by sponsoring events, offering internships, or contributing to local charities. Improving community infrastructure, such as parks and schools, also enhances the well-being of residents.

Despite encountering challenges like homelessness and crime upon relocating from Virginia in late 2021, my family and I remained committed to making a positive impact. Witnessing the city's struggles motivated me to act, even if I wasn't sure how. Eventually, I chose to coach high school football and become a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters. Though these efforts may seem small, they contribute to Albuquerque's betterment and give me fulfillment.

I'll continue highlighting Albuquerque’s strengths and positive aspects through the articles in the magazine. Albuquerque is an exceptional city for both living and investing. I encourage you to explore opportunities to invest in ABQ!

Andrea Jacquin, Richard Lakin

Denise Husted,

Woods

city scene

business monthly

Acton Academy

Acton Academy helps K-12th grade students discover and grow their unique strengths — because the world needs them. Self-management and self-governance are celebrated daily by learners who use 21st Century skills to tackle real world projects, inspired by classic heroes in a tightly bound community with extremely high standards. Acton Academy can be reached at 505.358.1163. They are located at 3100 Menaul Blvd SE in ABQ. Their website is https://www.actonabq.org/.

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John Thomas Jewelry

Step outside the ordinary with a trip to John Thomas Jewelers, your luxury  Albuquerque jewelry store destination. From elegant fashion jewelry to custom design jewelry, we have something to accommodate every taste. Tucked away in a private and safe location, our showroom offers topnotch customer service. Every person who walks through our door is guaranteed one-on-one attention. John Thomas Jewelers is at 2440 Louisiana Blvd NE, suite 310. Their phone is 505.342.9200 and their website is https://johnthomasjewelers.com/

The WHEELS Museum

Wheels Museum is currently housed in what the Santa Fe Railyards once referred to as The Storehouse, a long and narrow structure built in 1914, in which was kept an enormous inventory of all manner of parts and supplies for the larger maintenance shops and the entire Santa Fe railroad system in general. Please call 505.243.6269 or e-mail: info@wheelsmuseum.org for more information. The WHEELS Museum is at 1100 2nd Street SW.

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SPACEPORT AMERICA

Investment for the future

Scott McLaughlin is the executive director of Spaceport America, which is adjacent to the Army White Sands Missile Range in southern New Mexico. McLaughlin was born and raised in New Mexico. After graduating with an electrical engineering degree from New Mexico State University, he left New Mexico and started a radar design and manufacturing business in Colorado. After 25 years, he returned home to New Mexico to work for Spaceport America as the Director of Business Development. With a love for space aviation, he considered the role a dream job. In 2021, he moved to his current position as Executive Director. He returned to New Mexico to work at the Spaceport and believed in the importance of creating new local jobs. “Having good-paying jobs is a good reason for students to remain here and not have to leave the area,” says McLaughlin. He believes Spaceport America is a worthwhile investment and creates high paying jobs.

In 2022, Spaceport America’s operations created 811 total jobs. The facility sits on New Mexico State Trust lands and is an agency of the State of New Mexico.

The combined economic impact resulted in $ 138 million in output and contributed $60 million in value-added production. One-third of the money to fund the Spaceport came from local taxes that Doña Ana and Sierra Counties’ residents voted for, approved, and are currently paying. The rest of the Spaceport funding came from the State of New Mexico. Sierra and Doña Ana Counties’ residents are hoping for more community prosperity. These residents want a return on their investment from space tourism, jobs, and economic growth.

Space travel is only one aspect of Spaceport America. McLaughlin says, “Like the beginning of the dot com economy, companies we thought were just little experiments, like Apple, Inc., became major companies, and space is on the edge right now.”

McLaughlin sees potential in the aerospace ecosystem and a growing industry throughout Space Valley. “Space Valley is the regional nickname describing the area between Los Alamos, El Paso, and even Mexico. Not every region has the vast diversity of assets, companies, and research and development that we have,” says McLaughlin.

Local aerospace assets include research and development from Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories and regional universities. There are also other aerospace companies in Albuquerque and manufacturing companies in Santa Teresa. The goal is to have a complete aerospace ecosystem to design, manufacture, and go to orbit from Spaceport America.

Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc., an American spaceflight company, is the primary tenant at Spaceport America. Their first flight took place in 2021. Virgin Galactic can release its rocket 45,000 feet above the Earth by using a carrier aircraft.

Spaceport America has seven resident tenants, including Virgin Galactic. The other tenants are UP Aerospace, Inc., SpinLaunch, Inc., HAPSMobile, Inc., Aerovironment, Inc., a British aerospace company, Prismatic, Ltd., and an unnamed company are housed at the spaceport.

The facility has permanent tenants plus additional customers. Their goals range from testing technology to research and launching. A satellite ground station will soon become a new permanent tenant at the Spaceport. Seventy percent of the facility’s operating expenses are paid for

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by customers who lease and use Spaceport America’s services. “The customers are coming here to conduct their tests confidentially. Space is hard,” says McLaughlin.

McLaughlin believes governments need to invest in the future. He says, “When you look at the space industry and where it is heading because of the assets we already have to keep it operating, it is a huge draw for the whole region.”

The cost of going to space is also dropping, which could open more opportunities in the future. McLaughlin says, “If you look at the 2022 economic impact, we have made good headway in the last five years.”

Spaceport America hopes to “be an orbital site 10 or 20 years in the future.” Orbital spaceflights allow a spacecraft to remain in space and fly at a fast velocity. Suborbital rockets fly at a slower speed. Like Virgin Galactic’s spacecraft, they launch into space but don’t have enough speed to remain in space. Weightlessness can still be experienced briefly while passengers reach space but don’t enter orbit. McLaughlin believes orbital flights from the Spaceport have “the potential to be a huge economic driver with literally thousands of jobs in the future.”

New Mexico has a rich space science history with high-altitude balloon tests and early astronaut testing. The clear New Mexico skies and high altitude are just a few benefits the Land of Enchantment offers researchers. McLaughlin says, “We have low population density, and we don’t have salt corrosion. We are also under the restricted air space of White Sands Missile Range.” Six thousand square miles of restricted airspace means no air traffic interruptions during launches. New Mexico’s clear skies and wide-open spaces are appealing to aerospace

companies. McLaughlin says, “Aerospace is a good industry. We have the room; we have the weather.”

“What’s hard for New Mexicans is it’s slower than anyone thought, but we have to credit Virgin Galactic with 32 new people being added to the list of astronauts,” says McLaughlin.

Nationwide, there are only 14 FAA-licensed commercial spaceports in the U.S. “It turns out that Spaceport America is one of the most active commercial spaceports, if not the most active,” says McLaughlin. Another benefit is the Spaceport’s 4,600-foot elevation, which gives customers a one-mile head-start to reach space.

The runway covers an impressive 12,000 ft x 200 ft area. Spaceport America is the only commercial spaceport offering a vertical and horizontal launch area. The New Mexico spaceport is also working on obtaining a re-entry license through the FAA.

McLaughlin says he would go to space if he had the chance. “When people go to space, they don’t see borders. They see this very fragile ball underneath them, and all around them is black space, which profoundly affects people and how they feel about their world.” He’d like to experience that.

Mathematician Eli Maor used the phrase, To Infinity and Beyond, as a book title before it was used in the Pixar film Toy Story. The book relates to infinity in math and art and its impact on the sciences. The idea is to push the limits of what is possible. The path for Spaceport America may be less traveled, but McLaughlin says it is still on course. “We are on a good steady increase. The trajectory we are on is the right trajectory.” In other words, “To Infinity and Beyond!”

Robert’s Tree Service is a full-service professional tree company dedicated to meeting all of the Albuquerque community’s needs for exceptional tree service at reasonable prices. Our team has over 15 years of experience and brings decades of combined experience to each job. That expertise translates into the best possible care for your trees and the greatest possible return on your investment in professional tree services.

ACTON ACADEMY

Current news is full of stories of technology, and more specifically, AI changing the world. The pace of change in almost all areas of life has outstripped the pace of change

Acton Academy has a unique approach to learning. Classrooms are called studios, there are no actual grade levels (or grades at all, for that matter) and students of different ages and levels are

“AT ACTON ACADEMY, STUDENTS FIND THAT SCHOOL BECOMES THEIR FAVORITE PLACE TO BE.”

in education. While many parents have questioned how best to address this or looked for innovative options, the pandemic was a catalyst and instrumental in the emergence of micro-schools and alternative learning environments.

Educating their children themselves for the first time, parents realized that the traditional model of rote memorization to prepare for tests is not ideal for the twenty-first century, nor does it promote a lifelong love of learning.

The Acton Academy, a K-12 network of over 300 schools around the world was created to address these deficiencies.   Jeff and Jacqlyn Johns, the co-founders of the Acton Academy Albuquerque, told us, “At Acton Academy, students find that school becomes their favorite place to be. They look forward to overcoming the challenges that are presented in their journey of learning and enjoy developing responses to realworld situations. Acton helps them to find their voice.”

together for learning activities. Teachers have been replaced by “guides,” who encourage self-directed learning and peer education through Socratic group discussions and interdisciplinary “quests.” Older students help younger students define their goals and overcome hurdles. Drawing inspiration from the classics, Acton students are referred to as “heroes” because everyone can use their innate individual talents to make a difference in their community, the world, and the future. This is referred to as the Heroes’ Journey. One of the tenets of Acton is “Each person deserves to find a calling and has a gift that can change the world in a profound way.”

Acton promotes individual critical thinking and group-based accomplishments. Students are encouraged to develop tough-minded honesty yet strive to have a warm-hearted outlook toward others. Peer discussions and presentations among students foster accountability and help develop

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“ACTON HELPS THEM TO FIND THEIR VOICE.”

respectful relationships. Students can earn privileges as motivation by accomplishing goals and engaging in school projects and discussions.

There are, of course, core skills taught as well…reading, writing, and arithmetic. This is typically the focus of each morning before an afternoon of quests and Socratic conversations.

There is also a great deal of emphasis on entrepreneurial activities. Each year, Acton hosts the Children’s Business Fair that is also open to students from other schools where kids market products and services and produce income. Shoppers always come away impressed by the commitment, thought, and products the children produce. This year the event is April 13th from 10am – 2pm on the Acton campus. The website for this event is https:// www.childrensbusinessfair.org/abq

Acton Academy encourages parental involvement with a variety of events and participatory learning engagements, along with its staff and peers, it is a village that educates the child.

Acton Academy can be reached at 505.358.1163. They are located at 3100 Menaul Blvd SE in ABQ. Their website is https://www.actonabq.org/

“Nothing is right for everyone, everything is right for someone.

Ayurveda is finding out what's right for you"

Ayurveda is a natural system of medicine. I create individualized health programs blending Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle, Ayurvedic therapies, yoga, and breathing practices. I also prepare organic, botanical, and pharmaceutical-grade herbal remedies, to support you in maintaining a healthy, satisfying, and balanced life.

BIG Brothers Sisters

AN INVESTMENT OF TIME AND LOVE FOR THE KIDS

Many investments are oriented to economic results, but Big Brothers Big Sisters in Albuquerque is all about preparing local youth for successful lives. The non-profit organization is funded by private donations and state and federal programs. Jessica Sosa, a native New Mexican, is the Advancement Manager for the group. Her job is recruitment and marketing in the community. She told us, “The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Our vision is that all youth achieve their full potential.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters has existed for over 100 years and has a measurable impact on children’s lives. Children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program are more likely to move to the next grade level, graduate, and have posthigh school plans such as college or trade school.

The children’s families never have to pay for the mentoring services. Jessica says, “We work with everyone from the foster care system to the child’s household. Many of these kids are raised by their grandparents or aunts and uncles. We ask the guardians what kind of mentoring they are looking for with the child, and they must approve the mentor.”

The organization has a Match Support Specialist assigned to each match that regularly communicates with the mentor, the guardian(s), and the child to make sure things are going smoothly. All mentors go through a thorough background check and fingerprinting. The organization currently offers services to about 1,500 children in Albuquerque and about 3,000 children throughout New Mexico.

Jessica says, “We go through a process of trying to match the child with a mentor with similar interests. If the child is interested in science, we try to find a mentor with a related background. We find this to be beneficial to both the mentor and the child. Our best-known program, Community-Based Mentoring, has the mentor working with the child for 4-6 hours a month. They can also communicate virtually.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters organizes year-round events for the children and mentors. Jessica told us, “We’re always looking for new and fun things to do…

hikes, museums, sporting events. Many of these kids have never even been in the mountains here in New Mexico. Our goal is to offer them experiences to grow.”

Jessica shared a story with us of a mentor, Vanessa, and a child, Orias, participating in the Community-Based Mentoring program. Jessica stated, “Vanessa and Orias share exciting experiences and learn from one another. Vanessa describes Orias as a creative 16-year-old who opened up to her right away. Orias taught Vanessa some cords on his ukulele and read her the first three chapters of his novel that he recently began writing. He is incredibly talented. The importance of mentorship is clear to Vanessa. She finds mentoring extremely rewarding and realizes that youth in the program can greatly benefit from having an additional adult role model in their lives. Vanessa also knows that many youth have experienced trauma and challenges that can lead to bullying, and having a mentor that they can count on increases their confidence as they learn to navigate their worlds and develop.”

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central NM, 2501 Yale Blvd SE, Suite 302, ABQ NM 87106. Their phone number is 505.837.9223, and their website is www.bbbs-cnm.org .

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John Thomas Jewelers

“We often find a customer a much bigger, higher quality diamond that still fits within their budget.”

John Thomas Jewelers in Uptown Albuquerque has received many accolades for its custom-designed jewelry. Local consumers have voted them the best jewelry store in the city for three years. Instore Magazine, a trade publication of the American jewelry business, named them “one of the top ten coolest jewelry stores in the country.” Their exponential growth has more than doubled their floor space since opening their shop in 2013, and they have been the fastest-growing jeweler in New Mexico for the last three years.

Owner John Thomas told us some of the factors behind the growth. He says, “There are many reasons for our unprecedented growth. It’s our in-house capabilities that give the customer more gem and design options that can be previewed in real-time…it’s our access to diamond cutters in Antwerp, Belgium, that provides us with better quality at better prices…and it’s our business model that gives the customer more value for their budget.”

Engagement and wedding rings have substantial emotional importance; many couples have concrete ideas of what they want in the design. John uses modern technology to show the customer exactly what their finished custom jewelry will look like.

After the customer has expressed their desired design, the in-house master jeweler creates a 3D computer-aided drawing (CAD) image of the ring. The customer views the image on a large computer screen and can also see what the ring will look like on their hand. The master jeweler can alter the image as needed to meet the customer’s expectations.

Once the customer is pleased with the design, the store’s 3D printer fabricates a three-dimensional

model they can try on for a realistic preview of their ring. Applying 3D technology to the design process allows the customer to preview and approve the design before committing financially.

Another factor in John Thomas Jewelers’ success is their diamond-buying trips to Antwerp. John told us, “Eighty-five percent of the world’s diamond business goes through Antwerp. These diamonds are of higher quality, color, size, and clarity. We often find a customer a much bigger, higher quality diamond that still fits within their budget.” John and his wife, Janelle, make two trips a year to the diamond cutters in Belgium, ensuring better quality and prices are passed onto the consumer.

Lastly, John Thomas Jewelers’ unique business model contributes to their growth. The store is in an office building adjacent to Uptown’s leading retail shop area, providing customers with a more intimate and attentive service than a busy and congested retail environment. There is a refined and professional ambiance within the store. The non-retail space also lowers the operating overhead, a savings they pass on to their customers, and allows them to provide a free nationwide warranty on their rings. The nationwide warranty stays with a ring even if, for example, a couple moves out of the area or the store carrying the warranty closes. Most jewelers charge extra for a nationwide warranty. They also provide one year of free insurance on the piece.

John Thomas Jewelers is located at 2440 Louisiana Blvd NE, Suite 310. Their phone number is 505.342.9200, and their website is https://johnthomasjewelers.com/.

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It’s our in-house capabilities that give the customer more gem and design options that can be previewed in real-time… “ ”

The WHEELS Museum

An investment in New Mexico’s history

Leba Freed is the founder of the WHEELS Museum in Albuquerque. Her dream was to showcase how transportation has shaped our history. She hoped to collect enough items to honor the past and eventually fill a museum. While she worked toward that dream, the museum was housed in seven different locations as the non-profit organization developed exhibits and found more space to house them.

In 2008, the WHEELS Museum officially opened in downtown Albuquerque. WHEELS stands for “We Have Everything Everyone Loves Spinning.” The museum has every kind of object you can imagine with wheels. Freed’s goal to preserve the past while featuring the Southwest has become a reality. The museum is housed in a 21,000-square-foot freight building with thousands of model-sized and large-scale items.

Originally, 30,000 spare parts were stored in the historic building that was built in 1914. These parts were the key to keeping locomotive steam engines running in their glory days. At one point, workers repaired 40 locomotives per month. It’s no surprise that trains are a big part of the current-day exhibit. Freed says, “We are passionate about saving the history of the men who built our city, our country, who labored for low wages under dangerous conditions to do whatever it took to build engines that would carry materials for growth and progress.” During World War II, the site was open 24 hours a day to help the war effort. Freed says, “This was the last remaining behemoth of its kind in the USA.”

The WHEELS Museum now has a ride-on train that holds 25 passengers and takes visitors around the larger exhibits throughout the building. Antique autos, race cars, gliders, and rare bicycles also fill the historic downtown venue. Vintage tools, record players, typewriters, and fire trucks are also part of the museum’s memorabilia.

Visitors can take a deeper look into the past through photo archives and the museum’s on-site libraries. If you’re lucky, you can meet the museum ambassador known as “Harley.” This friendly, furry,

“We are passionate about saving the history of the men who built our city, our country, who labored for low wages under dangerous conditions to do whatever it took to build engines that would carry materials for growth and progress.”

golden retriever visits the museum a few days each week and brings a smile to all who meet him.

Children especially love Harley and the museum’s model trains. “We have model train layouts of every gauge, including one 40-foot-long O-gauge,” says Freed. New S-gauge and G-gauge layouts are currently being built for the museum.

Another popular exhibit at the museum is an RV made of classic Route 66 billboards. The vehicle is another nod to the past and homage to the famous northeast-to-southwest interstate. Visitors can see Albuquerque’s history on display with the Alvarado Railroad Hotel exhibit and photos of the old airport and tram.

The museum is a non-profit organization that is self-funded and run by volunteers. The City of Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico have both provided infrastructure funds for the museum. “Most of our thousands of rare exhibits have been contributed by kind donors who know that others will learn from and be inspired by their family treasures. The county has pitched in to help the museum with printing costs,” says Freed. The New Mexico Rail Runner Express also sponsors the WHEELS Museum.

Visitors can enjoy a new experience and discover a new piece of the past each time they visit since exhibits change frequently. The movie industry has filmed dozens of major motion pictures and independent films at the museum’s downtown site.

The collection of items within the museum brings back memories for visitors of days gone by. The WHEELS Museum is also creating new memories for visitors of all ages. Numerous field trips, birthdays, and musical events are held there.

You can visit the WHEELS Museum in Albuquerque at the historic railroad building at 1100 2nd Street Southwest. Visitors can see Albuquerque’s history on display with the Alvarado Railroad Hotel exhibit and photos of the old airport and tram.

While the museum is filled with treasures, Freed says new donations are sometimes accepted, depending on the space available. The non-profit is also looking for sponsors and partners to expand. “We seek expansion and hope for funds to do so,” says Freed. Currently, tours, fundraising, and the gift shop help keep the museum afloat. Volunteers are encouraged to help with marketing, fundraising, and exhibits.

The WHEELS Museum is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the weekends. Museum hours are subject to change, so be sure to call 505.243.6269 before visiting. For more information, visit https://wheelsmuseum.org

“We have model train layouts of every gauge, including one 40-footlong O-gauge.”

APRIL 2024

events

A

SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

APRIL 7TH

Free Sunday Mornings at Albuquerque Museum

2000 Mountain Road NW, ABQ | 9:00 AM

Free admission to Albuquerque Museum on Sunday mornings, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

APRIL 18TH

Indigenous Art from the McMichael Canadian Art Collection

Albuquerque Museum 2000 Mountain Road NW, ABQ | 9:00 AM

The Albuquerque Museum presents Coast to Coast to Coast; Indigenous Art from the McMichael Canadian Art Collection on view at the Albuquerque Museum January 27, 2024 - April 21, 2024. This exhibition, originally presented as Early Days, is the first large-scale survey of Indigenous art from Canada to be presented internationally.

APRIL 18TH

Third Thursday: Across the Lake

Albuquerque Museum 2000 Mountain Road NW, ABQ | 5:00 PM

This month’s event will feature the work of Marcella Ernest (Ojibwe) an interdisciplinary artist and assistant professor of Art History at the University of New Mexico.   Ernest will present Across the Lake, an experimental film and photographic essay.  The program is part film screening and part narrative lecture.

APRIL 19TH

Musical Connections: Clarice and Sergio Assad in Concert

Levanta Institute at Albuquerque Academy, Simms Center for the Performing Arts | 7:00 PM

The multi-talented Clarice Assad will join her world-renowned father, Sergio Assad, for a remarkable performance that promises to be a unique experience. The evening will be a harmonious blend of their artistic voices, creating an atmosphere filled with beautiful music that transcends generations and celebrates the power of familial musical connections. Buy your tickets at aa.edu/levanta/.

APRIL 20TH

Couples Game Night

Rio Bravo Brewing Company, 1912 2nd St NW, ABQ | 5:00 PM

Couples game night out at Rio Bravo Brewery on April 20th from 5pm-7pm to play games and enjoy each other's company. Please RSVP.

APRIL 25TH-27TH

Gathering of Nations

Expo New Mexico 300 San Pedro Dr NE, ABQ

The 2024 Gathering of Nations Powwow takes place April 25-27 at the Tingley Coliseum at EXPO New Mexico. Events include dances, music performances and the Miss Indian World competition. Attendees can also shop at the Indian Traders Market during Gathering of Nations, where vendors sell Native American arts and crafts, jewelry, fine art, clothing and more.