9-08-2025 9:08pm

Shakeup and Resignation in Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce Board Leadership

Chris Edwards Editor

A seismic shift in Alamogordo’s civic landscape is unfolding as the Vice President of the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, Danielle Rondelez, has tendered her resignation in a letter that reads more like a manifesto than a formality. Her departure, confirmed through an IPRA request with shared correspondence with city officials, has ignited a wave of concern over the Chamber’s direction, transparency, and commitment to small business advocacy.

A Resignation That Reverberates

In her letter to the Chamber Board, Rondelez cited “repeated failure to follow bylaws,” “lack of transparency,” and “conflicts of interest” as reasons for stepping down. She expressed deep frustration with the Chamber’s leadership under Executive Director Jarrett Perry, stating that the organization has drifted from its mission of supporting small businesses and instead become mired in “political maneuvering” and “macro initiatives” that neglect the day-to-day needs of its members.

Her resignation was reportedly requested by Board President Rodney Eaton in a private meeting—an action that Rondelez claims only accelerated a decision she had already reached.

In our article, Leadership: How Two Directors Shaped Alamogordo’s Chamber of Commerce, we discussed former E. D., G. B. Oliver’s legacy of relationship-driven leadership, compared to Jarrett Perry’s tenure as a newer aggressive leader, that is deemed as divisive and having a negative impact the Chamber’s membership and budgets.

Our article, Public and Private Investment at a 5 Year High in Alamogordo Led by the New York Avenue Business Corridor (Alamogordo MainStreet), highlighted the leadership actually delivering on small business advocacy.

Now there is a huge shakeup at the Chamber of Commerce in leadership with a passionately written resignation of the board vice president. It is an indictment in the court of public opinion of the executive directors actions. Via an IPRA request to the city of Alamogordo we procured a series of emails that do not reflect well on Jarrett Perry as Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce.

First, a letter of resignation from the board vice president, Danielle Rondelez, due to direction, transparency and integrity…

“ Dear Board,

After careful review of our bylaws and reflection on the Chamber’s ongoing operations, I have decided it is time to step down as Vice President of the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce. My decision is based on the Chamber’s repeated failure to follow its own bylaws, a lack of transparency in its processes, and recurring conflicts of interest that I have observed. Coincidentally, before I could formally submit my resignation, the President of the Board, Rodney Eaton, called to request a private meeting with me, during which he asked for my resignation. This conversation simply accelerated a decision I had already reached.

From the beginning, I have raised concerns regarding accountability in membership retention, past-due collections, and the absence of meaningful initiatives to support small business growth and development. Unfortunately, during my tenure on the board, I have not seen the implementation of programs that truly build partnerships with or provide tangible support to our small businesses—the very foundation of this Chamber. Instead, I have witnessed the fracturing of relationships with many key businesses in our community over the past two years.

I believe board meetings should provide the space for honest—and at times difficult—conversations that hold us accountable and drive us toward excellence. Instead, the focus too often has shifted toward personalities, political maneuvering, and broad “macro” initiatives that overshadow the practical, day-to-day needs of our members.

For these reasons, I feel my continued presence on the board is no longer productive. My concerns remain with conflicts of interest, lack of transparency, and the political motivations of the Executive Director, which I believe have taken precedence over the Chamber’s true mission: serving its membership.

Respectfully,

Danielle Rondelez”

Via an IPRA request we then ascertained a copy of Mrs. Rondelez letter to the city alerting them to her resignation…

From: Danielle Rondelez
Sent: Monday, September 8, 2025 1:00 PM
To: Susan L. Payne ; Stephanie J. Hernandez, Ph.D

Subject: Resignation from the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce

Mayor Susan Payne
Actingo City Manager, Stephanie Hernandez City of Alamogordo
1376 E 9th Street #5855
Alamogordo, New Mexico 88310

Dear Mayor Payne and Ms. Hernandez,

I am writing to inform you that I have formally resigned from my position as Vice President of the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce. My reasoning for this decision is outlined in detail in the enclosed resignation letter, which I have share with the Chamber Board this morning.

While I step away from this role, I want to assure you both that my commitment as President of Project RISE to the Gateway Freedom Monument remains steadfast. This project is deeply meaningful to me and to our community, and I am dedicated to continuing the work of securing sponsorships, engaging local partners, and pursuing grant opportunities necessary to bring the project to full completion.

Although the Gateway Freedom Monument is closely tied to the Chamber of Commerce, I am confident we can continue a strong and collaborative relationship in support of this important legacy initiative. My focus and determination to see the project succeed will not be diminished by my decision to leave the Chamber Board.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the project further, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. Thank you for your ongoing support, and I look forward to working together to ensure the successful completion of the Gateway Freedom Monument.

Respectfully,

Danielle Rondelez
President, Project RISE“

The city’s response to Rondelez’s resignation was swift and pointed. Mayor Susan Payne, in an email obtained via IPRA, called the Chamber’s current trajectory “self-serving” and expressed dismay at Eaton’s actions. “You were the Chamber’s greatest asset,” Payne wrote, adding that she no longer believes city funding for the Chamber is a good use of taxpayer dollars.

The response from the city is pretty telling of the respect and the positive influence of Danielle Rondelez to our community as a whole and to the mission of the Chamber. Her letter of concern, raises significant concerns about the direction of the Chamber, its leadership and its service to its members and the community at large.

Mayor Susan Payne responded as follows…

From: "Susan L. Payne"
Date: September 8, 2025 at 2:54:42 PM MDT
To: "Stephanie J. Hernandez, Ph.D"
Cc: Danielle Rondelez
Subject: Re: Resignation from the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce

To say that I’m stunned at the actions of the chamber board president, Rodney Eaton, would be an understatement. It is my opinion that you were the chamber’s greatest asset, and losing you just further solidifies my belief that this organization is no longer about supporting small business or community, but rather it appears their goal is more self serving in nature. I agree wholeheartedly with Dr Hernandez’s assessment that they are relying too heavily on city funding while not fulfilling their contractual obligation of increasing economic development and supporting small business. As someone who has personally supported the Chamber of Commerce for the past almost 17 years, I’m saddened by what is happening and I no longer believe this is a good use of taxpayer dollars. Please know your efforts have always been appreciated and you have my support in your future endeavors.
Susan

Acting City Manager Dr. Stephanie Hernandez echoed those concerns, citing the Chamber’s overreliance on city contracts—totaling $110,000—and its controversial advocacy for the Patriot Pointe project, which she described as potentially placing the Chamber in opposition to the city…

On Sep 8, 2025, at 1:20 PM, Stephanie J. Hernandez, Ph.D <shernandez@ci.alamogordo.nm.us> wrote:

Thank you for sharing this update. I have to say, I'm disappointed to see you step away from your role at the Chamber. It's truly a loss for the organization. Your leadership and commitment to the community have always been evident, and I've valued working with you.

I share some concerns I've had regarding the Chamber's direction. Membership should be the foundation of the Chamber's financial stability, yet it appears that reliance on city funding has become more of the norm than the exception. I also find the strong advocacy for Patriot Pointe, particularly when it seems to position the Chamber in opposition to the city, to be concerning and potentially conflicting. With the Chamber's role as a neutral representative of the broader business community. Considering we have 2 contracts worth $110,000, I believe the Chamber is aligning with the county and putting the city in a no-win situation.

I appreciate everything you've done for Alamogordo as a whole. I'm positive there will be future opportunities for us to work together, beyond Project RISE and the Gateway Freedom Monument. Please let me know if we can assist in any way.

Mayor Pro-Tem, Sharon McDonald issued the following statement when contacted by Anthony Lucero on Alamogordo Town News streaming on KALHRadio.org…”I know Danielle, we first over 10 years back, I am sad to hear she is no longer affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce.”

Despite stepping down, Rondelez reaffirmed her dedication to Project RISE and the Gateway Freedom Monument, a legacy initiative she leads as President. In her letter to city officials, she emphasized her intent to continue working with local partners and securing funding for the monument, which remains closely tied to the Chamber’s historical mission.

What’s Next?

With the Patriot Pointe vote looming on Tuesday’s city commission agenda, tensions between the Chamber, city officials, and the broader business community are expected to escalate. The resignation of a respected civic leader like Rondelez may be the catalyst for deeper scrutiny—and hopefully a call for reform—within the Chamber of Commerce.

As Alamogordo grapples with questions of leadership, accountability, and economic vision, one thing is clear: the conversation about who truly represents the city’s small businesses is far from over.