Staff and Board
These are just some of the people behind the New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce.
Information on your local chapter board members is coming soon……
Staff
Allan Oliver, CEO
Allan Oliver previously served as Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Economic Development Department overseeing the transition to the new administration, and served as the Deputy Secretary with oversight over the Science and Technology, International Trade and Mexican Affairs Divisions.
Mr. Oliver earned a Master’s in Public Administration from the Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and has extensive public and private sector experience. While with the New Mexico Economic Development Department he was active in efforts to attract renewable energy companies to the state.
Email: Allan@nmgreenchamber.com
Celerah Hewes-Rutledge, Statewide Project Coordinator
Celerah was born in Corrales, New Mexico and grew up in Albuquerque where both of her parents own businesses. Over the last fifteen years, she has worked in theater, retail, promotion, and education. She received her Bachelor’s degrees from the University of New Mexico and in 2007, she moved to San Francisco.
There she received a Master’s degree in American History at San Francisco State University, focusing on race, gender, and politics. Since returning to New Mexico, she has been involved in a variety of political and issue-based campaigns as a volunteer, intern, and field director. She currently lives in Albuquerque.
Carrie Hamblen, Executive Director-Las Cruces Chapter
Carrie Hamblen served as the Operations Manager at KRWG Radio, the Las Cruces National Public Radio affiliate, since 1997 but has been in Public Radio for 20 years. She was the local host of Morning Edition and of the public affairs program, Images.
For the past 12 years, Carrie has served on the Board of Directors for the Las Cruces chapter of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) where she oversaw the creation of the Emily Cohen Endowment, a doubling in chapter membership, and several years of successful fundraising. Monies from the fundraising were donated to statewide organizations lobbying for LBGT rights, local groups and scholarships for local university students. She has been the President since 2009.
In addition, Carrie has served as Co-Chair of the Southern New Mexico PRIDE Board of Directors, leading an outstanding group of volunteers in creating the second largest gay pride celebration in the state. She holds a Masters Degree in Communication Studies from New Mexico State University, Bachelors in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Texas at El Paso and is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Administration from NMSU.
Email: Carrie@nmgreenchamber.com
Cissy McAndrew, Executive Director-Southwest Chapter
Cissy received her B.S. in Pre-Architecture and Urban Planning and a M.S. in Resource Allocation and Design.
Her career path continued as a Licensed General Contractor/Designer of Energy Efficient and Solar Projects, a Residential and a Light Commercial Certified Energy Auditor, Municipal Power System Energy Conservation Manager, National Energy Foundation Projects Consultant and Certified Fundraiser.
Cissy is also the only Certified EcoBroker™ and GREEN Realtor in SW New Mexico, and serves on the boards of Habitat for Humanity-Gila Region, and the Silver City MainStreet Project.
Erin Sanborn, Coordinator-Taos Chapter
Erin Sanborn has twenty-seven years working in the fields of Organization Development and International Conflict Resolution. She provides services in strategic planning, leadership coaching and neutral third party facilitation. Her work crosses all sectors: corporate, public, government, and community.
Over the last decade, she has worked extensively in the realms of inter-cultural communications and international relations. She has specific expertise in designing and managing public-private community partnerships. Her professional commitment is to triple bottom line organizations/businesses, developing food and agricultural systems, and building economic sustainability.
Erin is the founder and president of Collaborative Green (CG), a sustainability consulting firm. CG works with organizations committed to sustainability and moving towards zero waste production. Erin is also a farmer and participates in Taos’ farmers markets.
Email: Erin@nmgreenchamber.com
Board of Directors
Lawrence Rael, President
Lawrence Rael is a native New Mexican and life-long public servant. Born in Santa Fe and raised in the Northern New Mexico town of Sile, he graduated from Bernalillo High School and stayed in New Mexico for college, receiving his degree from the University of New Mexico.
Rael served as the Executive Director for the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG) for eight years, stepping down in 2009. While holding this position he was responsible for the comprehensive planning and development programs for twenty-seven local governments in the region. He was also the driving force behind the New Mexico Rail Runner, which provides commuters with an alternative to traditional transportation in Central New Mexico.
Prior to working with MRCOG, he spent twelve years as Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Albuquerque. While there, he coordinated the City of Albuquerque’s purchase of the Elena Gallegos land grant to preserve the area along the base of the Sandia Mountains, helped expand the Petroglyph National Monument, and preserve wetlands in the Rio Grande Valley. In addition, he participated in the revitalization of downtown, as well as the construction or expansion of the Zoo, the Aquarium, Explora Science Center, and Isotopes Baseball Park.
He has also served as a Legislative Assistant to Senator Jeff Bingaman, Acting Deputy Secretary for the New Mexico Transportation Department, and State Program Director for New Mexico Employment Security Dept. Currently; Lawrence is a Partner with Rio Real Estate/Rio Group. He lives in Los Ranchos with his wife, Kim and three children.
Robert White, Vice President
Robert White is currently of counsel to the law firm Robles, Rael and Anaya. He served as city attorney for the city of Albuquerque from 1994 until 2010. During his tenure, he was president of the New Mexico City Attorneys Association and of the International Municipal Lawyers Association. He also served one term as an Albuquerque city councilor.
Kim Shanahan, Treasurer/Secretary
As a former builder of affordable and green subdivisions, Kim Shanahan brings a unique perspective to his current job as Executive Officer of the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association. As a representative of a somewhat conservative industry in a progressive town, Kim brings the sensibility of small local business owners to the sometimes controversial discussions on affordable housing, green building, climate change, growth management, and youth opportunities.
In a job that asks for public involvement and outreach, Kim is able to indulge his personal passions and serve of many Boards and committees, including Habitat for Humanity, YouthWorks, Affordable Housing Roundtable, Sustainable Santa Fe Commission, Capital Improvements Advisory Committee, Long Range Planning Committee and the Mayor’s Task Force to End Homelessness.
Kim has presided over and helped nurture a radical change in local perception of Santa Fe’s home building and development community. The public’s acknowledgement of the inherently progressive nature of local builders and developers is a welcome embrace. As a national leader in the practice of emerging green building science, for even the most affordable homes, the local home builders association plays a huge role in ensuring local sustainability and a healthy economy.
Carrie Christopher-McChesney
Carrie Christopher-McChesney is Founder and Co-Owner of Concept Green, a WBENC certified woman-owned Limited Liability Corporation based in Albuquerque, NM. Concept Green works nationally, providing expertise on sustainability strategies, corporate social responsibility, sustainability performance measures and sustainability reporting vis-a-vis the Global Reporting Initiative framework.
Concept Green is a 2011 Women’s Business Enterprise Rising Star nominee and national recipient of Green For All’s Capital Access Coaching Program for emerging green businesses. Carrie is a U.S. Certified Trainer for the Global Reporting Initiative, a New Mexico Environment Department Climate Masters instructor and passionate advocate for green economic development, climate literacy and sustainable business practices. To learn more about Concept Green, visit www.conceptgreen.net.
