Latest news with #Albuquerque-based
American Military News
11-06-2025
- Business
- American Military News
Alabama defense contractor acquires Albuquerque's Verus Research
The Albuquerque-based Verus Research on Monday announced that Alabama-based contractor Radiance Technologies acquired it over the weekend. The companies hope the move, effective as of Sunday, will expand their combined capabilities across the energy, space, prototyping, cybersecurity, data science and artificial intelligence fields. The New Mexico research and development company will maintain its local operations as a wholly owned subsidiary of Radiance. Verus Research CEO Grady Patterson declined to disclose the amount of the deal. 'By combining those two (companies), we're able to leverage each other's strengths,' Patterson said in an interview. The acquisition aligns with state efforts to establish itself as a tech hub, leveraging its rich R&D legacy at places like Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory while expanding into emerging areas such as quantum computing and artificial intelligence. Radiance Technologies, founded in 1999, is an employee-owned prime contractor with more than 1,000 employee-owners across the U.S. It works with the U.S. Department of Defense and other national intelligence firms, and already has a presence in New Mexico through project offices at Kirtland Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range. Much of Verus' work also involves the DOD, Mark DelGrande, the chief technology officer at Verus, told the Journal in a Business Outlook podcast episode last year. Patterson described the work at Verus as 'cutting-edge technical prototyping, hardware development, proof of concept,' whereas Radiance has a deep technical domain. Patterson said there will be no job consolidations at Verus as part of the acquisition. Verus, which has appeared four times on the Inc. 5000 list and was founded in 2014, expanded its New Mexico presence in 2021 with a 41,000-square-foot building in southeast Albuquerque. It recently opened a 27,000-square-foot remodeled office and laboratory space with state-of-the-art robotics and radio frequency design capabilities, according to a news release. 'We're not leaving the community,' Patterson said. 'We're not refocused off the community. Our engagement will still be with the surrounding community. We're still here to help build that tech hub for New Mexico.' He acknowledged that acquisitions can be nerve-wracking, but said this takeover by Radiance will ultimately bring growth to the state. 'Instead of one-off proof of concepts, it might be larger, higher-tech maturity systems that are being used by our warfighters on a shorter time scale,' Patterson said. ___ © 2025 the Albuquerque Journal Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Mexico governor goes globetrotting as she nears final year in office
Jun. 5—SANTA FE — With her second term as governor nearing its final stanza, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has been here, there and everywhere. Since the 60-day legislative session ended in March, the governor has spent more time outside New Mexico than she has in the state, with trips to Asia, Maryland, Los Angeles and the Kentucky Derby. Specifically, the governor has spent 40 of the 76 days since the session ended on March 22 fully or partially out of state, according to a Journal analysis of her official calendar and shared records. Just this week, Lujan Grisham led a state delegation to Alaska, where she met with Trump administration officials and attended an energy summit. The Governor's Office says the trips are in the interest of the state by forging possible business partnerships and advocating for federal resources. "The governor's travel is of significant benefit to New Mexico's economic development, efforts to secure federal funding and other policy initiatives," said Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Jodi McGinnis Porter. "Each trip is strategically planned to deliver tangible results for New Mexico families and businesses." She also told the Journal the Governor's Office is in regular contact with Lt. Gov. Howie Morales about the governor's travel schedule to ensure state business is unaffected and agencies are ready to respond in case of emergency. Per the state Constitution, Morales serves as acting governor while Lujan Grisham is out of state. He said in April he was in frequent communication with the Governor's Office when he signed more than 30 executive orders freeing up state funding for recovery efforts connected to damages from flooding and wildfires. With most of New Mexico currently experiencing drought conditions, McGinnis Porter said the governor is staying up to speed on the latest risks even when traveling outside New Mexico. "The governor ... maintains full engagement on wildfire preparedness from any location while staying informed on fire activity throughout the state," she told the Journal. Longtime New Mexico political observer Brian Sanderoff said out-of-state travel by elected officials can sometimes be fodder for criticism by political opponents. But he said Lujan Grisham might feel more freedom to travel with her tenure as governor winding down. "The governor can not seek a third consecutive term, so she's going to feel a lot less constrained politically about travel, both nationally and internationally," said Sanderoff, who is the president of Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc. The costs for the governor's busy travel schedule have been paid for by a mix of state and outside groups, depending on the trip. For instance, her Alaska trip was paid for with taxpayer dollars, while her travel to Chicago for last year's Democratic National Convention event was covered by her political action committee, according to the Governor's Office. Meanwhile, Lujan Grisham's trade mission to Japan and Singapore in April — and a similar trip to India last year — were paid for by the New Mexico Partnership, an Albuquerque-based nonprofit group that focuses on business recruitment efforts. Lujan Grisham also traveled out of state extensively last year, including a trip to Mexico. She also crisscrossed the country last fall to stump for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. The governor, who will finish her second term in office at the end of 2026, has increasingly clashed with Democratic lawmakers over crime and public safety issues in recent years. She said at the end of this year's session she planned to call lawmakers back to Santa Fe this year to tackle legislation dealing with juvenile crime and firearm restrictions, but later said no such special session was imminent.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Heinrich, Vasquez bill meant to boost aerial firefighting passes Congress
Jun. 3—Led by a New Mexico senator and congressman, bipartisan legislation that would allow the Department of Defense to sell excess aircraft and aircraft parts to be used for wildfire suppression is headed to the president's desk after sailing through the House on Tuesday. With the president's signature, the legislation could help aerial firefighting companies experiencing shortages in airplane parts, including those based in New Mexico. Several legislators from western states, including New Mexico, Washington, Montana, Arizona and California, were vocal supporters of the bill. Catastrophic wildfires in the West have displaced communities and cost cities millions in recent years, most prominently the Los Angeles fires in January, which killed at least 29. "This lifesaving authority protects our aerial firefighters and also brings in revenue from military aircraft that are not needed," said Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., after he called for a suspension of the rules, so the House could vote on the bill. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the legislation will reduce government spending by less than $500,000. Sens. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., introduced the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act in the Senate, where it passed unanimously in April. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., authored the bill in the House. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., and Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., were both cosponsors. An Albuquerque-based aerial firefighting company, 10 Tanker Air Carrier, could directly benefit from the bill, Vasquez said. "They currently don't have a sufficient supply of spare engines and aircraft parts. In particular, there's a shortage of brakes for some of their existing aircraft," Vasquez said. From 1996 until 2005, DOD had permission to sell its excess aircraft or aircraft parts to people or entities that contract with the government to fight wildfires from the air at a fair market value, as long as the plane parts are used only for wildfire suppression. The authority was reauthorized from 2012 to 2017, then lapsed again. Why it lapsed, Vasquez said he could only guess at. Since the authority lapsed, taxpayer-owned aircraft parts that the Defense Department no longer needed were being turned into scrap, Vasquez said. He believes President Donald Trump is likely to sign the bill. "I urge the president to immediately sign the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act, which is urgently needed to expand the operations of very large air tankers that have proven absolutely essential to firefighters battling large wildfires in New Mexico and across the West," Heinrich said in a statement. Very large air tankers are able to deliver 9,400 gallons of fire retardant at once, and the U.S. Forest Service manages contracts for the airtankers, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. "When we send hotshot crews into a hot, burning fire in places like the Gila National Forest or the Carson or anywhere else across the state, they need that aerial support," Vasquez said.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WSI Web Enhancers' Jukka Jumisko Earns AI Consultant Certification from Leading Digital Marketing Network
New certification empowers an Albuquerque-based consultant to guide businesses through ethical and strategic AI consulting and implementation. Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jukka Jumisko, founder of WSI Web Enhancers and a recognized leader in digital marketing in New Mexico, has earned his certification as an AI Consultant through WSI, the world's largest network of digital marketing consultants. This achievement supports Jumisko's mission to help local businesses integrate AI into their business with strategy and measurable Helping Business Navigate Artificial the last 18 months, Jumisko has emerged as a passionate educator and advocate for AI's practical applications in business, speaking at conferences and on podcasts about how AI can empower companies to operate smarter, not harder. 'AI isn't here to replace us - it's here to amplify our strengths. With WSI's AI Adoption Roadmap, we now have a structured, accessible framework that takes the guesswork out of AI. It makes innovation feel achievable.' – Jukka Jumisko WSI's certification equips consultants like Jumisko with a proven framework to help clients implement AI effectively. The methodology emphasizes: Clarity and Simplicity – Clear steps from curiosity to Strategies – Tailored to each business's goals and Innovation – Focused on real outcomes, not hype. A Local Leader in Marketing with Global Reach Originally from Finland, Jumisko rebuilt his life in New Mexico after personal and financial challenges. He launched WSI Web Enhancers in Albuquerque, which soon became the fastest-growing WSI franchise worldwide. His journey didn't stop at success - it extended into service. He has since led hands-on training workshops for small businesses, teaching entrepreneurs how to build their websites and optimize for SEO. One such student, a 60-year-old Reiki healer with only $600 to invest, followed Jumisko's teachings and quickly rose to rank #1 on Google for her niche in Albuquerque. 'I believe in building both businesses and communities. Helping a global tech company build a satellite temperature app one month, then empowering a local healer to thrive online the next - that's the kind of range and purpose I strive for.' – Jukka Jumisko The Future of AI-Driven Marketing in New Mexico With this new certification, Jumisko is expanding WSI Web Enhancers' services to include AI-powered audits, automation strategy sessions, and custom implementation plans. His global team and local expertise enable him to deliver enterprise-level results while maintaining a human-centered approach. 'I've chosen a life that blends freedom, impact, and innovation. AI doesn't have to be overwhelming - it just has to be intentional. And I'm here to help companies bridge that gap.' – Jukka JumiskoAbout WSI Web EnhancersWSI Web Enhancers is the world's largest full-service digital marketing agency based in Albuquerque, NM, and part of the global WSI network, which operates in over 80 countries and has a 25+ year history of helping businesses succeed online. WSI specializes in SEO, website development, paid advertising, and AI-driven digital strategies for growth-focused businesses. To learn more about our services, visit our website or contact us directly today!. Media Contact:Jukka JumiskoCertified AI ConsultantWSI Web EnhancersEmail: jjumisko@ Website: Jumisko Earns AI Business Consultant Certification.A video associated with this press release is available in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
29-05-2025
- Politics
Four-time mayor from border region joins race for governor of New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. -- Competition for the Democratic nomination for governor in New Mexico is heating up as former four-term Las Cruces mayor Ken Miyagishima launched a campaign with a centrist focus on public safety, affordable housing and efforts to shore up the state's health care workforce. Miyagishima hopes to succeed Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham as she terms out of office at the end of 2026 amid public frustration with crime, homelessness and public education. The Democratic nomination also is being sought by former congresswoman and U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a tribal member of Laguna Pueblo, as well as Albuquerque-based District Attorney Sam Bregman, the father of Major League Baseball star Alex Bregman of the Boston Red Sox. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull says he will begin campaigning for governor next month. The primary election takes place in June 2026. Miyagishima won four consecutive elections as 'Mayor Ken" in a fast-growing state university town, set on the Upper Rio Grande amid chili farms and pecan orchards, 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of El Paso, Texas, and the southern U.S. border. 'Sure, my last name, it sounds like an obstacle course,' said Miyagishima, who is of Japanese and Mexican heritage. 'But ... trust me to make our community safer, make housing more attainable and bring the best doctors back to New Mexico." The mayor of the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juárez attended Tuesday's campaign announcement, as Miyagishima emphasizes orderly border enforcement and economic cooperation. At the same time, Miyagishima has voiced qualified support for invoking the Alien Enemies Act to address criminal activity — without unjustly targeting people based on heritage or national background. His U.S.-born father was detained as a child at a World War II incarceration camp for Japanese Americans — and went on to serve in the U.S. Army. Trump has used the 18th century wartime law to swiftly deport Venezuelans accused of being gang members to a prison in El Salvador, amid court challenges. 'I support protecting the border. I think it's important to have an orderly way to come into the U.S.,' he told The Associated Press. 'To make it a military zone? I don't know.' Miyagishima, a district manager for a major insurance company, is touting his know-how in government finances and the private sector. If elected governor, Miyagishima said he hopes to make housing more affordable through state-backed loans and an expansion of the construction workforce, including vocational training for people convicted of nonviolent crimes. He opposed the state's decision in 2021 to legalize recreational cannabis, and now is proposing creation of a state 'metro' police force to augment the capabilities of local law enforcement in crime-torn cities including Albuquerque.
