Community Programs Office  
April 2007, Issue No. 25


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Greetings!

Spring is in the air...allergies, hot days, snow flurries, even tornadoes! Although the weather goes from one extreme to the other, often daily, we all know it's our rite of passage into summer. That's what makes New Mexico a beautiful state to live in, we get to enjoy it all.

As you read this, I'm off enjoying some time with my family.

Make it a great April!

Lillian Montoya-Rael


A message from the Director  
I recently shared with LANL employees the goals and commitments that the LANL management team developed to guide us as we move the Laboratory forward. I believe that it is important to share these goals with our community, because they are relevant to you as well. There's not enough space here to go into great detail, but the following list will provide you with an idea of what we have:
  • Making safety and security integral to every activity we do
  • Implementing a cyber security system that reduces risk while providing exemplary service and productivity
  • Establishing excellence in environmental stewardship
  • Assessing the safety, reliability, and performance of LANL weapons systems
  • Communicating effectively with our employees, customers, community stakeholders, and the public at large.

Enjoy Reading?  
The New Mexico State Library needs both Spanish and Native American speakers to record printed materials and review others for accuracy. The recordings are distributed throughout New Mexico to the blind and disabled. The work takes place in the sound studio at the State Library in Santa Fe.

If you are interested in helping, please review the volunteer listing available through VolunteerMatch.org.

Going Global  
Los Alamos-based engineering and technology firm, HYTEC Inc., and IMTEC Corporation, a dental specialty products manufacturer and marketer in Ardmore, Oklahoma, have merged. Back in 2005, the two companies formed a joint venture to make and market the ILUMA scanner, a three dimensional X-ray machine, that was developed by HYTEC. Since then, presidents of both companies agreed that merging would be a great strategic move.

With the new agreement, IMTEC will absorb HYTEC, but HYTEC will remain in Los Alamos. HYTEC is the new company's research and development arm, and IMTEC will manage all manufacturing operations in Ardmore and will continue to handle the global marketing and sale of products. Former LANL group leader Tim Thompson will become the entity's president and CEO.

A 20,000 square-foot facility will be built in Los Alamos and is scheduled for completion in the fall.

Celebrating Innovation  
The Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories sponsored the Annual Innovation Celebration on March 8 in Santa Fe. The celebration honored the Laboratories' principal investigators (PIs) and New Mexico small businesses that have worked together to develop outstanding and innovative solutions to their technical challenges through the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program (NMSBA). The NMSBA was enacted by the State Legislature in 2000 through the "Laboratory Partnership with Small Business Credit Act." The act allows national laboratories a gross receipts tax (GRT) rebate for helping the state's small businesses solve their technical challenges. Los Alamos National Laboratory became eligible when LANS, LLC, was awarded the Lab's management contract, and it started paying gross receipts tax as a private sector company.

Eight program participants were honored; they included: Altela, Inc. (Albuquerque); Baby Azul (Santa Fe); Fabtec Solutions, LLC (Farmington); Force 4 Enterprises (Albuquerque); La Luz Technologies, Inc. (Albuquerque); LARE (Pojoaque); Saturen BioTechnologies (Albuquerque); and Visualization Sandbox Project (Santa Fe/Albuquerque).

Requirements for participation in the program are that a business must have a New Mexico tax ID number, that they are a small business as defined by the US Small Business Administration, and that the assistance be provided by the Laboratories is not available at a reasonable cost through the private sector. The value of the technical assistance is capped at $5,000 for businesses in Bernalillo County and at $10,000 for businesses from all other counties.

Small Businesses Honored  
New Mexico Small Business Week award winners will he honored at an event scheduled for April 27, at the Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid Hotel. The event will honor the New Mexico Small Business Person of the Year, Small Business Exporter of the Year, and Small Business Champion award winners.

Among those who will be recognized are Sandia National Laboratories Supply Chain Resource & Development Manager, Vic Chavez. He was nominated for Minority Small Business Champion of the Year.

Food for the Needy  
The Laboratory's Community Programs Office is launching a new program to help feed the needy through a "virtual food store." The virtual store will allow Laboratory employees to contribute online directly to the Santa Food Depot.

This food bank project is modeled after one currently in place at Sandia National Laboratories. It allows employees to shop online and make their contributions directly to a Food Depot that purchases and delivers food to the twenty soup kitchens and programs that help feed northern New Mexicans.

A second initiative will help Espanola's San Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen expand its capacity by installing needed freezer space and enlarging its food pantry. A "Chile Bowl" is planned for April 28 at the Big Rock Casino in Espanola. Local restaurants will supply northern New Mexican chile and other local foods. Local restaurants, banks and LANL are helping support the event through sponsorship and ticket sales. For more information on the Chile Bowl, please contact the Community Programs Office at 505-665-4400.

New "Fat Man" Has Arrived  
A new replica of Fat Man, one of the world's first atomic bombs, is now on display at the Laboratory's Bradbury Science Museum. It was fabricated and painted to resemble the original Fat Man bomb used at Nagasaki, Japan, during World War II. The new Fat Man joins the replica of Little Boy, the atomic bomb used at Hiroshima.

If you have plans to visit the Museum, you can learn more about the history of the development of the bombs and about Los Alamos' role in the Manhattan Project, Project Y, in the newly renovated History Gallery. Visit the Museum website for additional information.

Equity Capital Symposium Presenters  
Technology Venture Corporation (TVC) has announced a 17-company line-up for this year's Equity Capital Symposium (ECS), scheduled for May 9-10 in Albuquerque. Over the past 13 years, the ECS has become a showcase for regional technology companies, helping them connect with investment opportunities. Historically, one in three of the presenting companies at the symposium has been funded.

This year, TVC has screened 63 companies and selected 17 to participate based on their business models, market potential, and skill level of management teams. Of those chosen to present, 12 are commercializing technologies either developed at or licensed from the state's two national laboratories and the University of New Mexico. The companies represent four technology sectors--life sciences, electronics/instrumentation, energy/agriculture, and information technology/software.

The 2007 TVC lineup includes four Los Alamos National Laboratory technologies licensed by regional startups and LANL spin-offs. The four include: ACKNet Technologies, LLC, Acoustic Cytometry Systems, Inc., Caldera Pharmaceutical Instruments, Inc., and C.I.V.A..

Youth Business Grant Program  
Applications will be available on April 27 for the 2007 Youth Business Grant Program at the Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation (LACDC).

This program, co-sponsored by the UNM-LA Business Development Center, provides young entrepreneurs with an opportunity to start a new business or improve an existing one. Funding for the grants, which are available to young people between the ages of 13 and 19, comes from the local business community.

For further information, please call Venessa Finn or Sharon Springer at 662-0001.

NCMA Business Luncheon Meeting  
The National Contract Management Association (NCMA) Bandelier Chapter will be holding their third business luncheon meeting from 11:30am - 1:00pm on April 10. The luncheon will be held at the Best Western Hilltop House Hotel in Los Alamos.

NCMA is co-sponsoring the event with the New Mexico 8(a) Association, Northern New Mexico Supplier Alliance, and the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce. Congresswoman Heather Wilson will be the featured luncheon speaker. She will be addressing "DOE/NNSA, National Laboratories Small Business Initiatives."

KUDOS!  
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  • Education Kudos: Kudos to the educators at LANL's Bradbury Science Museum for putting on a fantastic event during "Pi" Day!

  • Business Kudos: Kudos to Tim Thompson, the new President and CEO of IMTEC.

  • Economic Development Kudos: Kudos to the Enchanted Circle Sirolli Project for completing the 30-month Sirolli Institute Apprenticeship Program.

  • Community Kudos: Kudos to U.S. Senator Pete Domenici for having received the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholar's public service award. Also to Sherman McCorkle, Technology Ventures Corporation's CEO, who received the corporate citizenship award.


    • Community Calendar  

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