Briefcase: Hires, applause for New Mexico workers and more

Tom Walker, a member of the Rotary Club of Albuquerque, has received a Service Above Self award from Rotary International. Walker is the first Albuquerque Rotarian to receive the prestigious award, and only the third in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area since 1995.

Albuquerque-based nonprofit SAFER NEW MEXICO NOW is one of 15 winners of the 2021 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Public Service Award, according to the New Mexico Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Division. The organization was founded in 1985 by H.J. “Doc” and Lena Weiler after their son was killed in an unbelted crash. The Weiler family advocated for new legislation to support traffic safety laws in New Mexico with the goal of reducing roadway injuries and deaths, which at the time, New Mexico held the highest crash-related fatality rate in the nation.

Today, Safer continues to lead effective efforts to advance traffic safety across New Mexico through car seat inspection and education, hosting free, monthly car seat clinics statewide. Their efforts continued during the pandemic by providing virtual inspections via Zoom for parents and caregivers. Safer also provides teen driving and underage drinking prevention education resources, and coordinates educational community outreach, and law enforcement training programs in cooperation with the NMDOT TSD and law enforcement agencies statewide.

Nusenda Credit Union elected its board of directors members during a meeting April 27. Newly elected for three-year term were:

– Judy Cartmell, who is retired from UNM Health Sciences Center, where she was associate controller.

– Martin Serna, who retired from Central New Mexico Community College after 31 years of service, the last 17 as comptroller.

– Ralph Wallace, who retired in 2018 after a 30-year career at Presbyterian Healthcare Services. Since retiring, he has been a consultant with e4-Services as a cloud migration project manager for organizations in New Mexico and Texas.

The following officers were also reelected: Chair John Landis, Vice Chair Ann Brooks, and Secretary/Treasurer Denise Irion. Director of Financial Reporting at Presbyterian Healthcare Services Craig Kallsen and director of the College Enrichment & Outreach Programs at the University of New Mexico Jose Villar were reappointed to the Supervisory Committee.

Veterans Integration Center elected two new members to its board of directors:

– Robert O’Leary, who was drafted in 1968, and assigned to 101st Airborne Division where he deployed to Vietnam as a finance clerk. He was honorably discharged in November 1970. The Manzano High School graduate, whose father was a career Naval officer, then attended UNM, earning a degree in Biology, and subsequently graduating from the UNM School of Pharmacy where he received his Doctorate in Pharmacy in 1984. His career included positions as a pharmacist at St. Joseph Medical Center and Presbyterian Hospital as Infectious Disease Pharmacist over a 37-year career. O’Leary has helped with numerous community drives over the years.

– Theodora “Teddy” Parker, who works for Blue Cross/Blue Shield as a recovery support assistant where she helps homeless and very low-income clients — many of whom are veterans — find resources and treatment options for those suffering from substance abuse and other mental health challenges. Parker’s father served in the U.S. Army and her mother served with the American Red Cross in the Philippines under Gen. Douglas MacArthur during World War II.

Dion’s Pizza has awarded $2,500 educational scholarships to the following five students:

– Chelsea Brister, assistant manager at Albuquerque Coors & Rio Bravo location, and a social work student at New Mexico Highlands University. Brister plans to graduate in 2022, and has a 4.0 GPA. She plans to work with teenagers at a juvenile center and become a therapist for deaf children.

– Victoria Emerson, assistant manager at Santa Fe St. Michaels & Cerrillos location and an associate’s in business administration student at Southern New Hampshire University. Emerson plans to graduate in 2022, and has a 4.0 GPA. She hopes to become Dion’s general manager or eventually open her own business.

– Abigail Morelock, crew member at a Lubbock, Texas, location, and a senior at Monterey High School. Morelock has been involved with marching band, wind ensemble, full orchestra, JV swim team, varsity golf team, National Honor Society, Project Lead the Way Engineering and Academic Octathlon, all while achieving a 4.875 GPA. Following graduation, she aspires to attend Texas Tech University for a degree in mechanical engineering and civil engineering.

– Lauren Lifke, crew member at Albuquerque Academy & Wyoming location and a senior at La Cueva High School. Lifke is involved at La Cueva High School with marching and concert band as section leader and vice president, string orchestra, jazz band, UNICEF, National English Honors Society and National Honors Society, Albuquerque Youth Symphony, Hummingbird Music Camp, drama, winter guard and Tri-M Music Honors Society as president. She plans to attend the University of New Mexico for a bachelor’s degree in music.

– Makayla Mutz, crew member at Santa Fe St. Michaels & Cerrillos location, and a senior at Santa Fe High School. Makayla, who has a 4.2 GPA, is golf team captain and 2019 player of the year, a Reading Quest tutor, National Honors Society member, Science Club member, and won the Santa Fe High School Senior Award. She plans to study biomedical engineering and plans to attend Northeastern University.

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