2025 in Review: The Leaders Who Shaped Alamogordo – Part 1 of a Series

Alamogordo, NM – December 15, 2025

As the year draws to a close amid the glow of holiday lights and the ongoing upgrades of New York Avenue, it’s time to reflect on the individuals and organizations who drove Alamogordo forward in 2025. From historic election victories and downtown transformations to cultural revivals, educational milestones, and grassroots nonprofit initiatives, this community of resilience and innovation saw remarkable progress.

This is the first in a two-week series recapping the year’s most impactful stories and leaders, drawing from local media coverage, civic achievements, and community sentiment. Today, we spotlight those who left the deepest mark across politics, economic development, arts and culture, education, veterans support, and emerging nonprofit efforts.

Politics: A Year of Transition and Historic Firsts

2025 marked a pivotal shift in local governance, culminating in November’s municipal elections where voter turnout surged 32% from 2021 levels.

• Sharon McDonald, the newly elected Mayor, secured a landmark victory with 40% of the vote, becoming Alamogordo’s first person of color to hold the office. As former Mayor Pro Tem, her campaign emphasized infrastructure, honesty and transparency, and block-by-block improvements – promises now set to guide the city into 2026.

• Outgoing Mayor Susan Payne earned widespread gratitude for steering the city through sustainability initiatives, public safety enhancements, and revitalization, through passion and a bit of controversy her efforts proved positive overall during challenging times.

• Acting City Manager Dr. Stephanie Hernandez provided steady leadership amid turnover, stabilized department leadership with 9 new directors, facilitating key grants and projects while advocating for workforce development, sticking to city standards and privately facilitating scholarships for nontraditional students.

• County Commissioner Amy Barela continued statewide advocacy for rural issues like connectivity, while City Commissioner Warren Robinson brought seasoned compassionate leadership to the city commission not yielding to the "good ole boy" network.

These leaders navigated elections, joint city-county collaborations, and infrastructure debates, setting a foundation for continued growth.

Economic Development and Revitalization: Downtown’s Dramatic Comeback

The continuation of the multi-million-dollar MainStreet Makeover –  symbolizes Alamogordo’s economic momentum, showcased statewide at the New Mexico MainStreet Institute hosted here for the first time and leading to $7 Million in private investment with multiple new businesses planned to open in 2026.

• Claudia Loya, President of Alamogordo MainStreet, received national acclaim with the prestigious Mary Means Leadership Award from Main Street America for her decade-long work transforming the historic district.

• Nolan Ojeda, MainStreet Executive Director, mobilized grants and volunteers, turning vision into reality.

• Project standouts city staff Justen Boyle and Joe Swing ensured flawless execution, earning recognition for partnership excellence.

• Business drivers like Dennis Crimmins and Michael Shyne advanced commercial growth tied to retail and restaurants. While the opening of the Freedom Gateway Monument showcased the efforts and vision of Project RISE, a nonprofit incorporated on March 20, 2025, under the initial leadership of Danielle Rondelez, its first president. Her leadership of Project RISE quickly became a driving force behind the Gateway Feedom Monument raising over $140,000 towards its completion.

This “roadmap to prosperity and pride” leveraged Holloman AFB, tourism, and small business support to ignite investment surges.

Arts and Culture: A Creative Renaissance Takes Root

Alamogordo solidified its emerging status as a cultural hub, with events drawing thousands and plans advancing for an official start to an Arts & Cultural District. A key transition brought fresh energy to one of the city’s premier venues.

• Gerard Gibbs, who assumed the role of Executive Director at the Flickinger Center for the Performing Arts in August 2025, brought his strong background as a musician and seasoned arts administrator to reinvigorate programming. His leadership has focused on expanding diverse offerings, deepening community engagement, building broader audiences, and healing divisions from prior challenges, contributing to renewed momentum in the local arts scene.

• Chris Jones, Rochelle Williams, and Claudia Powell at Otero Arts led workshops, exhibitions, and community programming that fostered self-expression and inclusion.

• Loren Jackson with Alamogordo Music Theatre sustained volunteer-driven performances, anchoring local theater traditions.

• Institutions like the Flickinger Center for the Performing Arts and Otero Arts (hosting over 40,000 visitors annually with national tours, local productions, and educational outreach) and the under revitalizion of ths Sands Theater will continue to draw crowds with Broadway-caliber shows, festivals, and events large and small.

These efforts, amplified by events like Christmas on MainStreet, proved arts drive not just inspiration but economic vitality.

Education: Excellence Amid Growth

Local educators shone on national stages while aligning programs with community needs.

• Russel Juntilla Hortilano earned the 2025–2026 Outstanding Project Lead The Way National Teacher Award, elevating Alamogordo’s STEM reputation.

• Tresa VanWinkle promoted holistic wellness through CAPPED Inc., Tresa VanWinkle, founder and executive director of CAPPED Inc., advanced holistic health and disease prevention initiatives, including significant progress on the Trinity Turtle Healing Labyrinth Park. In 2025, her nonprofit secured additional state funding through outdoor recreation grants, building on prior awards to expand this unique turtle-shaped walking path designed for stress reduction, meditation, and healing. The project, now positioning itself among the largest permanent labyrinths in the United States, continues to grow as a 24/7 open space for community peace and harmony with upcoming holiday events planned the week of Christmas.

And Judy Rabon while no longer leading APS continues go champion transparent governance in schools.

Veterans Support and Nonprofit Impact: Honoring Service and Building Community

Alamogordo’s strong military ties shone through dedicated veteran organizations, with multiple Honor Flight welcome-home ceremonies drawing crowds downtown.

• The US Veterans Motorcycle Club – Trinity Chapter, in partnership with the New Mexico Patriot Guard Riders, hosted two heartfelt welcome-home events in 2025 (April and September) for local veterans returning from Honor Flights to Washington, D.C. These ceremonies, complete with motorcycle escorts, flag lines, and community gatherings on New York Avenue, continued a cherished tradition of gratitude and support.

• Under the dedicated leadership of members like Ryan Nowaczk and Scott Fredricks, these groups sponsored veteran participation in the Honor Flight program, ensuring heroes received the recognition they deserved.

Emerging nonprofits also made waves in community mutual aid and wellness:

• Evan Ross, founder of Community Power New Mexico, expanded the organization’s reach with the establishment of a free community tool library and labor hub (known as the Work Hub, located at St. John’s Episcopal Church). These initiatives provided essential resources for home repairs, blight reduction, and mutual support – including collaborative events like food drives.

• Courtney McCary-Squyres with With Many Hands transformed blighted spaces into gardens, embodying grassroots renewal.

As we close the book on 2025, these leaders and organizations remind us that Alamogordo’s strength lies in collaboration, service, and vision

Later this week: A deeper look at key events, challenges overcome, and what’s ahead for 2026 – from military partnerships to cultural expansions.

Sources: Coverage from 2nd Life Media/AlamogordoTownNews.org, Alamogordo Daily News, KRQE News, New Mexico MainStreet reports, New Mexico Presenters Alliance, New Mexico Economic Development Department Outdoor Recreation Division, official election results from the New Mexico Secretary of State, Community Power New Mexico initiatives, CAPPED Inc. project updates, and US Veterans MC Trinity Chapter event recaps.

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