As we close out 2016, I continue to feel a widespread momentum toward pushing New Mexico to the next level.

I was fortunate to have my oldest friend visit from Michigan last week, and it’s an invigorating thing to see your city and state as viewed through fresh eyes. She had never been to New Mexico and was immediately overwhelmed by its beauty. We took her to Santa Fe, where she was blown away by Meow Wolf — our Arts/Not-for-profit 2016 Deal of the Year— and the City Different.

I took her to Betty’s Bath & Day Spa for some much-needed pampering, and she left relaxed and with non-TSA-approved sizes of Los Poblanos lotions. We scaled the petroglyphs, drove up the Sandia Mountains, visited Madrid — which, no matter how many times I told her how to pronounce it, we both ended up butchering with our Midwestern accents.

She left with much to do upon her return, and I left the Sunport with a renewed love for our amazing state. Yes, we have much to do, but we have much to celebrate, as well. I am forming some pretty significant New Year’s resolutions at this time, and enjoying more of what we have to offer — from nationally acclaimed flamenco to nationally acclaimed parades— is high on the list. In fact, Love Where You Live will be the theme of our Book of Lists Bash Feb. 9, and I encourage you to join us both at the event and in the celebration of our great community.

Here are three New Mexicans to know whom we can be proud of as they represent us on a national scale.

1. Erika C. Vreeland, chief nanoparticle scientist, Imagion Biosystems Inc. It’s been a busy year for Vreeland. In March, she was named a Business First Woman of Influence. Then, last month, New York-based Manhattan Scientifics announced plans to spin off its Albuquerque-based Senior Scientific cancer diagnostic unit, Vreeland’s employer. Senior Scientific plans to pursue an IPO and listing on the Australian Stock Exchange. And now, ABF sister publication Bizwomen has selected Vreeland as one of its 100 Women to Watch. The project recognizes 100 of the top women leaders who have received honors from American City Business Journals markets throughout the year. We’re very excited to see what 2017 holds for this powerhouse.

2. U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Democrat, candidate for New Mexico governor. Until yesterday, the race for New Mexico’s next governor was wide open, with current Gov. Susana Martinez term-limited. The state now has its first official candidate from a major party with Lujan Grisham announcing she will run in 2018. Grisham made the announcement in a video, then, in a series of tweets, she laid out her campaign, saying she will take on New Mexico’s biggest challenges, including unemployment, struggling schools and persistent poverty. Lujan Grisham was re-elected in November to a third term in Congress.

3. Jose Garcia, general manager, Albuquerque Convention Center. Garcia is a force in Albuquerque, not just in the events and convention scene but in his positive and humorous take on our great city and state. Garcia will do whatever it takes to make sure a guest’s experience in Albuquerque is seamless and great, whether he’s at an event in the convention center or anywhere else. Just watch him at any event in town — if anyone needs anything, he’s on it, as if he’s part of the staff. And that mindset of coopetition for the greater good is the kind of collaboration and work ethic that will stick in the minds of visitors. Remember my family motto: We’re in this together.  Click here to read the full article