MVEDA CEO, NMSU’s AES named recipients of 2024 Boberg Award

Original Article | Adriana M. Chávez | adchavez@nmsu.edu | November 14, 2024

 Two regional organizations with far-reaching impacts have been named this year’s recipients of the Kevin B. Boberg Excellence in Economic Development Award.

The award is sponsored by New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center and the Office of Research, Creativity and Economic Development, and seeks to recognize those with a track record of collaboration with the university and community, including people and organizations working to positively impact economic development in New Mexico and the region. This year, the award will be presented to Davin Lopez, president and CEO of the Mesilla Valley Economic Alliance, and the NMSU Agricultural Experiment Station.

The Kevin B. Boberg Excellence in Economic Development award is named after Kevin Boberg, who helped launch Arrowhead Center at NMSU and was its first director and CEO. Boberg passed away in March 2021.

Lopez was nominated for his transformative impact on economic development in New Mexico and the region through MVEDA. Under his leadership, the organization has developed and implemented a comprehensive regional marketing plan highlighting the area’s unique advantages, attracting new businesses and encouraging the expansion of existing businesses.

From July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, MVEDA worked with expanding companies that announced a collective impact of more than 900 new direct jobs, more than $400 million in new direct investments, and average wages more than 11% higher than the Doña Ana County household median. MVEDA is credited with coining the term “Borderplex” more than two decades ago, setting off a regional branding strategy that has aligned interests across state and international lines.

“On behalf of MVEDA's Board of Directors and our staff, I am truly honored to be receiving this amazing recognition,” Lopez said. “Our efforts at MVEDA over the years is a tribute to the man who this award is named after, Dr. Kevin Boberg. He believed in the greatness of our region, from our workforce, to our students and to our assets. As a board member and mentor, he inspired me to be bold and visionary in our pursuit of economic development growth for our region.”

NMSU’s AES was nominated for its large research and agricultural productivity impact on New Mexico. As the principal research unit of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, the AES system’s total contribution on the state’s economic output has been estimated at more than $137 million in 2022, including research expenditures and increased agricultural productivity. The AES system supports 1,191 jobs within the state at its eight academic departments at NMSU’s main campus in Las Cruces, and at 12 agricultural science and research centers throughout the state.

The AES system supports fundamental and applied science and technology research to benefit New Mexico’s citizens in the economic, social and cultural aspects of agriculture, natural resource management and family issues. AES scientists develop research programs that address key needs identified by advisory committees and local stakeholders.

“I am honored to accept the Kevin B. Boberg Excellence in Economic Development Award on behalf of the faculty, staff and students who make up the Agricultural Experiment Station,” said Jay Lillywhite, College of ACES associate dean and AES director. “Their efforts contribute to the mission of the College of ACES to be an engine for economic and community development. The agricultural research conducted by the Experiment Station, consistent with the vision of Dr. Boberg, is helping strengthen New Mexico communities and ensuring that agriculture in the state thrives. At the same time, we conserve our precious natural resources.”

“The impact of AES in New Mexico is extremely relevant to the economic and rural development with direct benefit to all New Mexicans,” said College of ACES Dean Rolando Flores Galarza, who nominated AES for the award. “This is a well-deserved recognition to the hard work of faculty, staff and students in ACES.”

The award will be presented during the NMSU Outreach Conference Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the Las Cruces Convention Center.