Movers & shakers - Albuquerque's prominent business people - Panel Discussion

New Mexico Business Journal, Sept, 1993 by Cynthia R. Weiner-Schlossis, A. Park Shaw, III, Miguel Rios, Jr., Nancy Hollander, David W. Scott, Pat Miller, Paul Ble iwis, Cleta Downey, Bob Hoffman, Rebecca Vigil-Giron, Jerry Atkinson, Diana M. Borroel, Alberto Gutierrez

The dynamics of the Duke City point to significant changes in the years ahead, but many of those changes would likely never occur were it not for the city's movers and shakers.

They make things happen -- sometimes in major innovations, sometimes in seemingly small ways.

But together, they have the drive, ambition and talent to change the face of Albuquerque.

A lot of them are visible every day in the media. A lot are not.

Some like the spotlight. Some do not.

There are thousands of them throughout the business community.

Here's a look at a few whose efforts deserve recognition.

Cynthia R. Weiner-Schlossis General Manager KRST/KRZY/KOLT Radio

Under her leadership, KRST has taken over the No. 1 radio rating in New Mexico; supervises 47 employees; began as account executive in 1979 and by 1985 was general manager, planning and managing a $3.5 million revenue budget; formerly with radio stations in Rochester, N.Y.

A. Park Shaw III Vice President Hooten/Stahl Commercial Investment

Active in South Valley politics for years; founder of South Valley Chamber of Commerce; chamber president from 1988-1991; chairman, New Mexico Business Assistance Council; board of advisors, New Mexico Science and Engineering Fair; board member, New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry; certified commercial investment member, National Association of Realtors.

Dr. Miguel Rios Jr. President Orion Technologies

Founder, president and owner of Orion, a technology company based in Albuquerque with offices in Las Cruces, Boston, Washington, D.C., Dayton, Ohio, and Melbourne, Fla.' current revenues are $12 million a year; firm rated fifth fastest growing Hispanic firm in the nation in 1990 by Hispanic Business Magazine; recipient, Hispanic Entrepreneur award, 1992, Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference; provides services and research and development support to Department of Defense, Department of Energy and national labs in a variety of specialties.

Nancy Hollander President National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

On faculty of National Criminal Defense College and University of New Mexico School of Law; practices criminal defense law with Freedman, Boyd, Daniels, Peifer, Hollander, Guttman & Goldberg; listed in The Best Lawyers in America, National Directory of Criminal Lawyers; member, International Bar Association; recently returned from Russia on an exchange program; author; has spoken and written extensively on civil liberties and trial practices.

David W. Scott Executive Director Albuquerque Economic Development

In charge of attracting new jobs to the Albuquerque industrial market; former commander of Kirtland Air Force Base; on board of directors of Better Business Bureau of Albuquerque, Mountain States Life Insurance Company of America; 27 years with the U.S. Air Force, serving in Germany, Korea and Vietnam; graduated from Michigan State University with degree in business administration.

Pat Miller Vice President Talbot Agency

Oversees group employee benefits; specializes in self-funded and cafeteria plans; in health insurance since 1983; board member, Rio Grande Association of Health Underwriters; served as membership chairperson, increasing membership by 40 percent; now publicity chair for association.

Paul Bleiweis President Advanced Sciences

This nuclear engineer is president of Advanced Sciences, an environmental engineering and waste management firm; company is the largest full service engineering firm headquartered in New Mexico; Bleiweis started engineering application division of Science Applications International Corp., in 1979; served in various capacities with SAIC in San Diego, Calif., Washington, D.C., and Albuquerque.

Cleta Downey Executive Director Albuquerque Technical-Vocational Institute Foundation

Also functions as director of development for the foundation; member of National Council for Resource Development; her office raised more than $250,000 in pledges and in-kind gifts for first year of foundation's fund-raising projects; former development coordinator for New Mexico Repertory Theater; former president, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra.

Bob Hoffman Executive director Albuquerque Economic Forum

Promotes business growth and job opportunity in the Duke City; former president of chambers of commerce in Portales, Alamogordo, Roswell and Albuquerque; founder of Roswell Industrial Development Corporation, the first development corporation in New Mexico; former manager of a Portales radio station; former director of the state Economic Development and Tourism Department.

Rebecca Vigil-Giron Executive Director New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women

Recently chosen to represent the U.S. as a United Nations electoral observer to Angola; has fostered the status of women in her current position with the New Mexico commission; former secretary of state; initiated and lobbied 13 pieces of legislation regarding the state's election process while secretary of state.

Jerry Atkinson Founder Atkinson & Co.

Has managed his firm since 1969; one of the largest accounting firms in the state with 60 employees; annual revenues of more than $4 million; currently chairman of Private Companies Practice Section, an association of more than 6,000 CPA firms; featured speaker 1992, the Practice Track seminars, London, Oxford, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow.