Chamber’s best business practices:

“Always be honest. Always be the hardest working person in the building.”

That was the advice Mesilla Valley Trucking owner and founder Royal Jones had for business owners at the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce’s June 15 “In the Know” lunch.

Joining Jones on the panel for a discussion of “Learning Through Best Business Practices” were Rick Jackson and Brandi Selby of American Document Services, Abel Covarrubias of Aprendamos and Terra Winter of the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, along with chamber President and CEO Debbi Moore.

After 26 years in the U.S. military, Rick Jackson decided to go into business for himself, starting American Document Services in 2001.

Jackson said he has learned that it is important to “take your time hiring the right people.”

Jackson said he wanted a business he could pass on to his children and said having a succession plan – who will take over when you retire – is an important consideration for any small business.

Jackson’s daughter, Brandi Selby, joined ADS in 2021.

“It was the best decision we’ve ever made,” said Selby, who also has thought about having “something to leave my daughter.”

Selby’s goal for ADS is “a business that feels like family,” she said.

Both Jackson and Selby said community involvement and giving back are also important elements for businesses to consider.

“Relationships are so important,” said Abel Covarrubias, founder of Aprendamos Family of Services early intervention program. Core values are also essential, he said.

“Do the right thing when nobody’s watching,” Covarrubias said.

It’s also important to “recruit the best employees” and provide excellent customer service, he said.

A successful nonprofit has to be run like a small business, said Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico (CFSNM) President and CEO Terra Winter, who is celebrating her sixth year with CFSNM.

Just like a small business, Winter said, “the whole focus is capacity building.”

Winter said CFSNM has an advisory council in each of the 12 counties it serves in southern New Mexico.

It is also important for something thinking of starting a business to “find something to do that you love,” Jones said. Jones bought his first truck at age 19 and opened Mesilla Valley Transportation at age 27. The company now has more than 1,600 trucks that operate in 48 U.S. states and Canada.

“People have to be happy in their work,” Jones said.

“You’ve got to believe in what you’re doing,” Jackson said.

“Ask yourself, ‘Why am I starting this business,” Covarrubias said. “Find good partners in the community,” he said. “Ask for help along the way.”

“Be passionate about what you do,” Winter said. “Find a not-for-profit to partner with,” she advised business owners.

“You’ve always got to give back,” Jones said.

“Make sure you have a kitchen cabinet… people you trust you can bounce ideas off of,” chamber President and CEO Debbi Moore said.

Visit www.lascruces.org, https://m-v-t.com/, https://adslcnm.com/, https://aitkids.com/ and https://communityfoundationofsouthernnewmexico.org/.