WELCOME
Brana Hardway has joined Sutin, Thayer & Browne as a member of the law firm’s commercial group practice in Albuquerque. Hardway will practice primarily in transactions law, She has a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, in political science from the University of New Mexico; a master’s degree in social work from New Mexico Highlands University; and a law degree, with honors, from UNM.
Norlynn Blocker Price has joined the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program as executive director. Blocker Price previously worked for 30 years as a practicing trial attorney in Dallas and also served in numerous volunteer capacities for 10 years with the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra.
Presbyterian Healthcare Services has hired three new physicians. They are:
Xiaxin Li, M.D., Ph.D., medical director and pediatric hematologist/oncologist for the Children’s Center at Presbyterian. Li is board-certified in pediatrics and pediatric hematology/oncology. He has a doctoral degree in stem-cell biology from the Paris Diderot University in France; a medical degree from Hengyand Medical College in Hunan, China; and completed a residency and fellowship training at the Akron Children’s Hospital and the University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital.
Beeling Armijo, M.D., pediatric hematologist/oncologist for the Children’s Center at Presbyterian. Armijo is board-certified in pediatrics. She has a medical degree and completed her residency at UNM; and completed a fellowship in pediatric hematology oncology at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital.
Brian Holt, M.D., FACS, bariatric surgeon for the Presbyterian Rust Medical Center. Holt is board-certified in surgery and is a member of the American College of Surgeons. He has a medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md.; and completed his internship and surgical residency at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center.
APPLAUSE
Family Friendly New Mexico, a nonprofit program that recognizes New Mexico businesses with family-friendly policies, has announced its list of companies that earned recognition for having policies that help workers balance work and family. The distinction means the recognized employers have four or more policies in the areas of paid leave, health support, work schedules and economic support.
The organizations recognized as Gold and Silver Level awardees for October are: HB Construction Inc., gold award; Homeowners Financial Group, gold award; First Financial Credit Union, gold award; Office of the State Auditor, gold award; Native American Professional Parent Resources, gold award; United Way of Central New Mexico, gold award; and Parents Reaching Out, silver award.
Any New Mexico business is eligible to apply for the New Mexico Family Friendly Business award. For a full list of family friendly policies and to learn more about the New Mexico Family Friendly initiative and see if your company qualifies, visit www.nmfamilyfriendlybusiness.com.
Three Sandia National Laboratories engineers have been recognized by the Society of Women Engineers as part of its annual awards program for their support in the enrichment and advancement of women in engineering. They are:
Janet Williams, Distinguished Service Award. Williams was recognized for her significant contributions over the last 30 years, especially at the local and regional levels and on society-level committees.
Kelly Hahn, Emerging Leader Award. Hahn was recognized for active engagement in the engineering profession and her outstanding technical excellence as a individual resulting in significant accomplishments.
Leslie Phinney, Prism Award, which honors “a woman who has charted her own path throughout her career, providing leadership in technology fields and professional organizations along the way.”
PROMOTIONS
Mark Burkhard has been promoted by Southwest Capital Bank to chief lending officer. Burkhard, formerly the bank’s special assets officer, joined the bank in March of 2017. He also previously worked as a finance and management consultant at Applied Resources. Burkhard has a master’s degree in technology management.
MILESTONES
Albuquerque’s Ronald McDonald House is celebrating its 35th anniversary. Since opening in 1982, Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico (RMHC-NM) has helped ease the burden of having a sick child for thousands of families, keeping them close by and together during an unimaginable time. RMHC-NM operates the Ronald McDonald House and two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms in Albuquerque. Through those programs, RMHC-NM directly improves the health and wellbeing of over 3,000 children and families each year. RMHC-NM operates a 30-bedroom Ronald McDonald House on University of New Mexico’s north campus and two Ronald McDonald Family Room programs at University of New Mexico’s Children’s Hospital and Presbyterian Hospital.
ETC.
Shane LeMon, MAI, CCIM, has been elected chairman of the board of directors for the Better Business Bureau serving New Mexico and southwest Colorado. LeMon, the president of American Property – Consultants & Appraisers Inc., is also the president of both Estate Valuation Consultants Inc. and BPOXpress. He has also served as president of the Rotary Club of Albuquerque; is the current president of the FBI Albuquerque Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association; a previous president of the N.M. Corvette Association; and has served for 20 years in various positions on the board of the Better Business Bureau serving New Mexico and southwest Colorado.
