Press Room

 

 

Albuquerque, NM (May 1, 2012) – As part of a two-year term that began in 2011, esteemed local attorney Lorna Wiggins is serving as the 2012 chair of Accion New Mexico • Arizona • Colorado’s governing Board of Directors.  Wiggins, who is president of the law firm Wiggins, Williams & Wiggins, is joined as an officer of Accion’s 2012 Board of Directors by the following business leaders: Michelle Coons, Albuquerque and Santa Fe president for Bank of the Rio Grande is serving as vice chair; Bruce Leising, managing partner of Coastside LLC is treasurer; and Bill Ridenour, a principal of the law firm Ridenour, Hienton & Lewis in Phoenix, Arizona, is secretary. 

 

Accion New Mexico • Arizona • Colorado (Accion) is also welcoming two new members to its 2012 Board of Directors: Cindy McGill, senior vice president of human resources for Presbyterian Healthcare System Services; and Yashoda Naidoo, owner of Annapurna’s World Vegetarian Café.

 

Cindy McGill currently serves as senior vice president of human resources for Presbyterian Healthcare Services.  She was previously vice president of corporate strategy and development for Public Service Company of New Mexico.  Ms. McGill received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of New Mexico.  Among other community service commitments, she is a past chair of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

 

Yashoda Naidoo owns and operates three Annapurna’s World Vegetarian Café restaurants in New Mexico.  After receiving an Accion loan to launch her first restaurant more than ten years ago, Ms. Naidoo has built a business that employs more than 45.  From her success as a business owner, Ms. Naidoo has personally committed over $25,000 in charitable contributions to Accion so that other entrepreneurs can pursue their passion to create income and jobs.  To mark her business’ ten-year anniversary, she has also pledged another $10,000 to Accion from restaurant proceeds over the next two years.  Ms. Naidoo is a certified public accountant and a volunteer Accion mentor, offering her guidance and support to other business owners. 

 

Additional members of Accion’s 2012 Board of Directors are John A. Carey, president of the New Mexico Society of CPAs;  Carol Cochran, principal, REDW Business and Financial Resources; Charles Eldred, senior vice president and CFO of PNM Resources; Roberto E. Espat, Sr., president and CEO of Roses Southwest Papers, Inc.; Jed Fanning, executive vice president, New Mexico group manager, US Bank; Vic Jury, president & CEO, Summit Electric Supply Company; Lisa Riley, regional president of New Mexico community banking, Wells Fargo Bank; Mary Lee Sparks, private investor, the Lumpkin Family Foundation; Dennis S. Sterosky, tax principal, Broderick, Phillippi, Wright & Comunas, LLC; Robert Wertheim, chairman, Charter Southwest Commercial; and Ray Ziler, principal, REDW Business and Financial Resources.

 

“We are so grateful for the tremendous leadership of our board of directors,” Accion President and CEO Anne Haines Yatskowitz says.  “Each member of our board is a leader in the community and is deeply committed to ensuring that entrepreneurs have access to the business credit and training they seek to create jobs and new economic activity across New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado.”

 

Accion is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and business owners fuel income generation, asset creation, employment opportunities and financial success through business ownership.  The organization offers business loans between $200 and $300,000 along with training, networking and other support services to those who own or want to start a business.