One of the best parts of my role at the Santa Fe Chamber is getting to see firsthand the businesses, organizations, and people investing in our community and helping shape what comes next for Santa Fe. The New Mexico Innovation Hub is one of those exciting developments, and I wanted to use this month’s President’s Desk to share some of what is happening right here in our community.

For years, the buildings at the former University of Santa Fe Art and Design site in Midtown sat empty. Today, they are full of founders, technicians, and students.

The New Mexico Innovation Hub launched in January with a simple belief: Santa Fe has extraordinary ideas and talent, and they need a place to take root. The Hub provides the space, infrastructure, and programming that help local companies thrive and draw innovators from around the world.

The response has been swift. In six months, more than 70,000 square feet has been leased to ten organizations, and the Hub has hosted over 50 events for the City of Santa Fe, universities, national labs, nonprofits, and industry associations, including the Santa Fe Chamber. David Perez, the Hub’s founder and CEO, says these results demonstrate the demand from local companies seeking to be part of a community, not just rent space.

That community is taking shape. Prometheon Power is developing localized Geovoltaic power. Liberty Fusion is commercializing fusion technology born at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and its team lives on campus at the Art House apartments. Bandelier Technologies, a quantum sensing startup, began operations after raising more than $2 million and already has seven professionals. Slazer AI, founded by a Santa Fe native, is bringing Los Alamos algorithms to real estate valuation. Founder Nick Salazar says building a tech company can be isolating, and the Hub solves that.

​For Santa Fe, the Hub means vacant buildings are productive again. It means technology developed at the national labs can become companies headquartered here, and that founders like Bandelier’s Stephen Buchanan, who moved his young family from the East Coast, are choosing Santa Fe as home. For the business community, it means a growing network of customers, partners, talent, and investors in one place.

It also means opportunity for local people. New Collar Network Fab Lab trains the next generation of technicians and makers for high-paying jobs without requiring a college degree. Santa Fe Community College and Mosaica are working with the Hub to bring an advanced machining lab and related programs to campus, connecting students with startups and employers.

Looking ahead, the Hub is already expanding, with plans to build 85,000 square feet of lab buildings scheduled to open in mid-2028 and a 50,000-square-foot office building scheduled to open in late 2029.

As President and CEO of the Santa Fe Chamber, I am excited to see this kind of investment and innovation happening in our community. Our role at the Chamber is to help businesses connect, grow, and succeed, and developments like the Innovation Hub create new opportunities to do just that. I encourage our business community to learn more, make connections, and see firsthand what is taking shape at Midtown. NewMexicoInnovationHub.com.
 
Bridget Dixson, ACE, IOM
President and CEO
Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce

On Thursday, September 24, Santa Fe Soul Regenerative Health Center celebrated its reopening under new ownership. Learn more at SantaFeSoul.com.

​On Tuesday, September 22, Growing Up New Mexico celebrated the opening of its tenth classroom, a new dedicated toddler space, at the Early Learning Center at Kaune. The event featured speeches from organization stakeholders and Mayor Michael K. Garcia, highlighting the community impact of early childhood education, followed by campus tours and a light breakfast for attendees. Learn more at GrowingUpNM.org.

On Tuesday, September 22, Southwest Weddings Magazine celebrated its launch with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony and inaugural celebration. The new regional publication highlights the Southwest's most enchanting venues, creative artists, and wedding destinations. Learn more at SWWeddings.com.

​On Wednesday, September 16, Turquoise Trail Charter School celebrated the opening of its new Community Room. As part of the school's Community Schools initiative, the space connects TTCS families with food, basic necessities, resources, and support services. The new Community Room represents an important step in strengthening support for students and families throughout the school community. Learn more at TurquoiseTrailCharterSchool.org.

On September 16, Southwest Care celebrated the grand opening of its new Alameda Clinic, its 30th anniversary, and the unveiling of its new brand identity with an official ribbon-cutting. Guests toured the newly renovated 27,500-square-foot facility and learned more about Southwest Care's continued commitment to providing trusted, affordable, and judgment-free healthcare to Northern New Mexico. Learn more at SouthwestCare.org.

​On Thursday, September 10, Cooking With Kids celebrated its new space at 1291 Clark Road. This space will give the organization more room to continue inspiring more than 8,000 children each year through joyful, hands-on cooking and nutrition education—and the capacity to reach even more children in the years ahead. Learn more at CookingWithKids.org.

Last year, as we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Santa Fe Chamber’s Women’s Leadership Luncheon & Summit, I found myself looking back at how far we had come. What started with an idea and just over 100 women at La Fonda has grown into one of our Chamber’s signature events, bringing together more than 400 women last year for a day of connection, learning and inspiration.

This year our theme for the 11th Annual Women’s Leadership Luncheon & Summit is Bold Optimism, and I can’t think of a better message for this moment.

There is a lot to be optimistic about. According to the latest U.S. Census data, New Mexico is home to 7,760 women-owned employer firms. Nationally, women own more than 12 million businesses.

Those are numbers worth celebrating, but they tell only part of the story. Women hold just 29% of C-suite positions in corporate America and lead only about 11% of Fortune 500 companies.

To me, bold optimism doesn’t mean ignoring those gaps. It means believing we can change them.

Over the past decade, one of my favorite parts of this event has been the conversations that happen when women share the real stories behind their leadership, not simply their successes, but the risks they took, the lessons they learned, the people who opened doors for them and the moments when they had to create their own opportunities.
I’ve watched women exchange business cards, make introductions, find mentors and leave with an idea or connection they didn’t have when they walked through the door. That is why bringing women together matters.

This year, we are taking that experience even further with a full day of programming focused on leadership, business, innovation, wellness and personal development. Women from across New Mexico will come together to learn, build relationships and consider one important question:

What becomes possible when we choose to lead with bold optimism?

For me, optimism isn’t passive. It’s deciding progress is possible and being willing to do the work to create it. It’s mentoring the woman coming up behind you, making an introduction, encouraging someone to pursue a leadership position, supporting a woman-owned business or simply pulling up another chair and making sure someone has a seat at the table.

After 11 years, I still believe deeply in the power of bringing women together, and I remain boldly optimistic about what happens next.

I invite you to be part of it.

Join us Friday, October 16, at Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder for the 11th Annual Women’s Leadership Luncheon & Summit. Come ready to learn, connect and be inspired, and perhaps leave ready to take your own next bold step.

Bring a colleague. Invite a friend. Encourage a woman whose leadership you believe in to join you.

Because the future of women’s leadership in New Mexico isn’t something we simply wait for. It’s something we build together.

Click here to learn more.
 
Bridget Dixson, ACE, IOM
President and CEO
Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce

​On Thursday, August 27, Marbella Santa Fe Senior Living celebrated the completion of more than $1 million in community renovations with a grand unveiling event themed “Mucho Mucho Caliente: Hot New Look, Same Exceptional Care.” The renovation refreshed common areas throughout the community with updated flooring, lighting, furnishings, artwork, and décor, creating a brighter, more welcoming environment while preserving the home-like atmosphere residents enjoy. Learn more at MarbellaSantaFe.SeniorLivingNearMe.com.

​On Thursday, August 13, Restore Hyper Wellness marked its 4th anniversary. Attendees celebrated with a Wellness Happy Hour, gaining insights into Restore’s innovative health services and networking with community members. This event, held during National Wellness Month, honored Restore’s dedication to supporting people in prioritizing their health and reflected on four years of service to the Santa Fe community. For more information, visit Restore.com.