Barela wins Boberg economic development award

Jon Barela, CEO of the Borderplex Alliance, an economic development and policy advocacy organization, is the first recipient of the Kevin B. Boberg Excellence in Economic Development Award.

The award is sponsored by New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center and the Border Industrial Association, and seeks to recognize those with a track record of collaboration with the university and community, and working to positively impact economic development in New Mexico and the region.

“It is with great humility that I accept this meaningful award named in Dr. Boberg’s honor,” Barela said. “Dr. Boberg’s enduring spirit continues to inspire those who had the privilege of working alongside him in his final years. His passion for community and gift for uplifting others left an indelible mark on our organization.”

Before being named CEO of the Borderplex Alliance in 2016, Barela served as secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department. The Borderplex Alliance represents two countries and three states, with members in El Paso, Las Cruces and Juárez.

The Boberg award is named after Kevin Boberg, who helped launch Arrowhead Center at NMSU and was its first director and CEO. Boberg, who died in March 2021, helped grow NMSU’s economic development and community engagement projects during his 30 years with the university. He helped launch Arrowhead Center and was the first to hold the Garrey E. and Katherine T. Carruthers Chair in Economic Development in the NMSU College of Business. In 2013, Boberg was named NMSU’s vice president for economic development while continuing to work as a professor and mentor to students.

Garrey Carruthers presented the award to Barela during NMSU’s Nov. 14-15 Outreach Conference at the Las Cruces Convention Center.