NMAC News Brief 2/7/2013
ALL AFFILIATES
NEW! NMAC WC DEPARTMENT NEW STAFF
Barbara Fraireis the Workers’ Compensation Claims Technician and is responsible for all claim data entry and all facets of technical duties. She was bornin Albuquerque, NM, lived in LasCruces,NMandrecently movedto SantaFe, NM. Barbara has extensive experience asanadministrativeassistant andas a receptionist.Barbara also worked fortheState Penitentiaryof NewMexicoasa medical records clerk. Barbara is currentlyenrolled atSantaFeCommunityCollege,where she istaking accounting and health scienceclasses. Barbara is planning to attend nursingschoolin thefuture.
Sal Ongaro is the WC Claims Examiner responsible for handling and investigating Workers’
Compensation claims at different difficulty levels to determine compensability and the value of the claim.
Sal has 39 years in Workers’ Compensation claims handling experience. He started his career in Arizona in 1973 and moved to New Mexico as a claims manager for Argonaut Insurance Co.in 1979. Subsequently in 1985 joined a TPA firm handling Workers’ Compensation claims for various insurance companies. He has extensive adjusting & supervisory experience in the insurance industry.
Thomas Bridell serves as a Senior WC Claims Adjuster.Thomas has an extensive insurance claims background beginning as an independent casualty adjuster handling auto, general liability and dram shop claims from investigation to conclusion. He is an accredited claims adjuster in the area of workers’ compensation and for over the past 15 years has served exclusively in that capacity. His work experience in the area of workers compensation includes both employment as legal assistant for claimant’s counsel as well as representative for employers insurers and self-insurers.
Welcome to our new NMAC staff!
NEW! DO YOU KNOW WHO YOUR MULTI-LINE BOARD
REPRESENTATIVE IS?
District 1: Taos, McKinley, Cibola, Valencia, Torrance
Torrance County Commissioner Lonnie Freyburger
District 2: Colfax, Union, Mora, Harding, San Miguel, Guadalupe, Quay, Curry
Curry County Commissioner Wendell Bostwick
District 3: Catron, Socorro, Grant, Sierra, Hidalgo, Luna
Luna County Manager Kelly Kuenstler
District 4: De Baca, Roosevelt, Lincoln, Chaves, Otero, Eddy
Chaves County Assessor Ron Lethgo– Chair and NMAC Rep
Population Category 1: 24,999 and under
Lincoln, Roosevelt, Socorro, Torrance, Colfax, Sierra, Quay, Hidalgo, Mora, Guadalupe, Union, Catron, De Baca, Harding
Lincoln County Manager Nita Taylor
Population Category 2: 25,000 – 100,000
Valencia, McKinley, Chaves, Otero, Eddy, Curry, Taos, Grant, San Miguel, Cibola, Luna
San Miguel County Commissioner Ron Ortega
Bernalillo County: Deputy Manager of Finance Teresa Byrd – Vice Chair
Sandoval County: Commissioner Orlando Lucero – Secretary/Treasurer
Doña Ana County: Commissioner Wayne Hancock
NEW! CONNECT NEW MEXICO, THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP
Leadership New Mexico launched a new program in 2007, “Connect New Mexico, The Next Generation of Leadership.” The curriculum is designed to offer young professionals, ages 25 - 40, the opportunity to develop personal leadership skills, learn how New Mexico systems and structures work and explore the critical issues facing our state. This process offers participants the opportunity to cultivate new ideas and techniques, create lasting relationships with professionals around the state and to develop solutions to some of New Mexico’s most pressing issues.With 32 participants from 15 communities across the state, Leadership New Mexico is proud to give you a glimpse of some of the graduates from the sixth Connect New Mexico class:
L to R: Jennifer M. Anderson, Regulation and Licensing Department, Santa Fe, Joshua Benton, LEACO Rural Telephone Cooperative Inc., Hobbs, Shannon Bush, URENCO USA, Eunice , Chance Chase, Mack Energy Corporation, Artesia, Santiago Chavez, New Mexico Association of Counties, Santa Fe, Adrian Cheresposy, Laguna Development Corporation, Albuquerque, Arnell Friedt, CH2M Hill, Albuquerque, Amy Gamboa, Pacific Dental Services, Santa Fe, Vincent Gatlin, Enterprise Rent A Car, Albuquerque, Johna Gonzales, Taos County, Taos, Jonathan Hair, Wells Fargo Bank, Farmington, Derek Hines, ConocoPhillips, Farmington, Samuel Kunzman, Bye UAS, Inc., Albuquerque, Armando Lopez, Compa Industries, Albuquerque, Lane Martin, Law Offices of W.T. Martin Jr. P.A., Carlsbad,Shelley Olson, Accounting & Consulting Group, LLP, Roswell, Katie Parker, Yates Petroleum Corporation, Artesia, Amanda Pierce, Los Alamos National Bank, Santa Fe,Naomi Valenzuela, BP America, Farmington, Daniel Vander Dussen, Rajen Dairy, Clovis
NEW! SOLID WASTE FACILITY GRANT APPLICATIONS
ARE NOW AVAILABLE
Recycling and Illegal Dumping Grants Also Available on NMED Website
The New Mexico Environment Department is now accepting applications for Solid Waste Facility Grants, along with Recycling and Illegal Dumping Grants. Grant applications can be found on the New Mexico Environment Department: Solid Waste Bureau’s website at All grant applications will be due no later than 5:00 PM on Friday April 5th, 2013. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis for the fiscal year starting on July 1, 2013 and ending on June 30, 2014.
This year, $300,000 will be available from the Solid Waste Facility grant fund to award to municipalities, solid waste authorities, educational institutions and cooperative associations for: closure of a landfill, groundwater and methane monitoring, and transfer station improvements, or other solid waste facility improvements. Funds totaling $200,000 will be available from the Recycling and Illegal Dumping grant fund to award to municipalities, tribal entities, land grants, solid waste authorities and cooperative associations. $150,000 will be awarded for tire management projects to include: Abatement and clean-up of illegal tire dumpsites, construction projects using tire bales, recycling of scrap tires, and purchase of recycled tire products. $50,000 will be awarded for illegal dumpsite abatement, recycling equipment, and education projects. For more information about the Recycling and Illegal Dumping grants or the upcoming grant cycle, contact Tim Gray at (505) 827-0129 or .
NEW! INVITATION TO MEET FOREST SERVICE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR FEST PLANNING RULE IMPLEMENTATION
The U.S. Forest Service's National Advisory Committee for Forest Planning Rule Implementation is meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico on February 20-22 at the Forest Service Albuquerque Service Center Academy to discuss implementation of the 2012 planning rule.The committee meetings are open to the public for observation and the agenda includes opportunities each day for brief public comments. The service center is located at 4000 Masthead NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109.
During their visit to Albuquerque, the committee would also like the opportunity to meet with local stakeholders and is holding an informal open house on February 21 from 6:00- 6:45 pm at the Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North located at5151 San Francisco Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109.
You have been invited because of your active role in past forest plan revisions. If you are interested in meeting the committee members, they would be pleased to have you come to the hotel on the evening of February 20th. Given federal requirements, the Forest Service will not provide refreshments during the reception but a cash bar will be available.
Thecommittee'smeeting will take place at the Forest Service Albuquerque Service Center Academy -. For more information, please see the Forest Service Planning Rule web site:
COMING SOON! BETTER INFORMED PUBLIC OFFICIALS (BIPO)
BIPOConference is scheduled to be held March 26-28, 2013 at the Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown. Registration for BIPO will begin February 11, 2013. Please watch the NMAC website for further information.
*****NACo NEWS*****
NEW! NACo ACHIEVEMENT AWARD PROGRAM
The National Association of Counties is reaching out to let you know about the 2013 NACo Achievement Award Program. The Achievement Award program recognizes comprehensive and innovative projects in various categories that support NACo’s 2013 legislative and policy priorities. Achievement Awards are a great way for your counties to receive national recognition for their innovative and state-of-the-art programs. The program provides the opportunity for counties to be recognized not only for their sound programs, but also for the dedicated employees who make these programs successful.
Award-winning programs will receive a NACo Achievement Award certificate in the mail, recognition at the NACo Annual Conference in July, program information on the NACo website and many more opportunities. This is a great way for your counties to receive national recognition, but also promote the county, and provide a comprehensive list of best practices that state associations, counties, and NACo can use to support their legislative and policy priorities.
Member counties are eligible to apply for just $60. To guide applicants through the process, the 2013 Achievement Award Application Overview, Frequently Asked Questions, video tutorial, and electronic applications are available on the NACo website:
The deadline to submit application materials, including application fees, is February 21, 2013, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.Questions about the program can be directed to Katie Bess at or 202.942.4215.
NEW! ATTEND A NACo CONFERENCE
County governments play a critical role in the governmental structure by providing services directly to the American people.Your involvement and the involvement of county officials like you is crucial to the success of NACo's legislative efforts. This year, the Western Interstate Region (WIR) Conference will be held in Flagstaff, AZ May 22-24 and the NACo Annual Conference will be held in Fort Worth, TX July 19-22. We are encouraging all county members to attend these conferences since they are both close to home. For more information, visit the NACo website at: NACo
*****NMAC JOB POSTINGS*****
Updated job position openings from counties and the NMAC organization are posted on the NMAC website at the following link: Employment OpportunitiesPlease email any listings to be included on the NMAC website to:
NMAC News Briefs: If you know of anyone in your county or in your office who would like to receive these email briefs, have them email to be added to the distribution list. OR Affiliate Chairs, you may want to pass on information to your affiliate through this email brief.
Calendar of Events, Trainings, and Conferences:
Mon. Feb. 11BIPO Registration Online Opens
Thurs. Feb. 14Last Day for Bill Introductions
Fri. Feb. 15-16 NMAC Executive Committee & Board meetings, Santa Fe & Hotel Santa Fe
Thurs. Feb. 21NMAC Executive Committee Teleconference, 11:00 a.m.
Sat. Mar. 1660-Day Legislative Session Ends, Noon
Tues. Mar. 26-28Better Informed Public Officials (BIPO) TBD, Albuquerque
Fri. April 5Legislation Not Acted Upon by Governor is Pocket Vetoed
Tues. Apr. 9NEW!Luna County District V meeting
Wed. Apr. 10NEW!Socorro County District III meeting
Thurs. Apr. 11NEW!Sandoval County District I meeting
Tues. Apr. 16LEDAC meeting, Santa Fe, 8:30 a.m.
Wed. Apr. 17Multi-Line Board meeting, Santa Fe, 8:30 a.m.
Thurs. Apr. 18Workers’ Compensation Board meeting, Santa Fe, 8:30 a.m.
Tues. Apr. 23NEW! Chaves County District VI meeting
Wed. Apr. 24NEW! Quay County District IV meeting
Thurs. Apr. 25NEW! San Miguel County District II meeting
Thurs. May 2-3NMAC Executive Committee & Board meetings, Guadalupe County
Tues. June 18-20NMAC Annual Conference, Clovis, Curry County
National Events:
Sat. Mar. 2-6 NACo Legislative Conference, Washington DC
Wed. May 22-24NACo WIR Conference, Flagstaff, AZ
Fri. July 19-22NACo Annual Conference, Fort Worth, TX