NMBC's Heroes Event Honorees - New Mexico Business Coalition

PREVIOUS HEROES NOMINEES

Annually, we hold our ‘Heroes Banquets’ to honor Veterans, Community Leaders, and fallen first responders from across our state. This’ how we give back to the community, publicly honoring those who serve nationally and locally. Below are our previous Heroes Banquet events since 2012 until now. We paused these events in 2020 and 2021, due to local restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2023 Heroes Banquet

Honored Fallen First Responder

Officer Anthony Ferguson
Alamogordo Police Department, New Mexico
End of Watch Saturday, July 15, 2023

2022 Veteran of the Year Award: Ken O’Keefe

Former U.S. Navy Veteran
Served our country for years and is currently active in his community.

Public Safety Heroes, ABQ Police Dept.
Sergeant Francisco Hernandez, Officer Alex Castellano, Retired Officer Kent Parsons

Public Safety Heroes, Farmington Police Dept.
Sergeant Rachel Discenza-Smith, Officer Ben Jemmett

Community Advocate Award
Sarah Smith of New Mexico Freedoms Alliance

Business Hero Award
Jeremy Gay of Advocate Law Center, PA

Community Advocate Award
Juan Garcia of Coalition of Conservatives in Action

2022 Heroes Event

Honored Fallen First Responders

Senior Police Officer Robert Eric Duran
Santa Fe Police Department, New Mexico
End of Watch Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Lieutenant Fred Douglas Beers, III
Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico
End of Watch Saturday, July 16, 2022

Deputy Sheriff Michael Adam Levison
Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico
End of Watch Saturday, July 16, 2022

Undersheriff Lawrence George Koren
Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico
End of Watch Saturday, July 16, 2022

Fire Rescue Specialist Matthew King
Bernalillo County Fire & Rescue
End of Watch Saturday, July 16, 2022

2022 Veteran of the Year Award: Niel Hise

Neil Hise served in the United States Navy as a Seabee, which are an elite group of enlisted personnel trained in both combat and the craft skills of the construction industry.

Continuing his service as a licensed private pilot & plane owner, Neil completed 34 missions with over 154 hours of flight time for Veterans Airlift Command flying combat wounded & families around the U.S. for medical and other compassionate purposes.

Neil and his wife Ty have done a great deal to help Veterans connect with quality, non-drug related treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

2019 Heroes Banquet

Honored Fallen First Responder

Firefighter Jeff Stoble
Roswell Fire Department, New Mexico
End of Watch Sunday, July 21, 2019

Business Leader Award
Matthew Allen of Mt. Taylor Machine

First Responder Award, Roswell Fire Dept.
Chief: Devin Graham, Division Chief: Tom Graham, Lieutenant: Warren Aldrich, Fire Marshall: Matt Miller

Elected Official Award
Representative Rebecca Dow

First Responder Award, APD Armed Robbery Unit
Sgt: Hollie Anderson, Detectives: Tyler Burt, Isaac Romero, Michael Shook, Agents: Bryan Acee (FBI) & Sam Supnick (ATF), Analyst: Josie Campos

Community Leader Award
Joshua & Heather Price of Lobo Little League

Young Leader Award
Ben Manatt

First Responder Award
Colin Garlie of Abq Ambulance Service

2018 Heroes Banquet

Elected Official Award
Peggy Muller-Aragon

First Responder Award, APD Auto Theft Unit
Jerry Arnold, Joel Block, John Dear, Byron, Economidy, Armondo Hernandez, Ryan Holets, Sgt. Aaron Jones, Angelo Lovato, Anthony Luna, Kenneth Miller, Robert, Radosevich, David Taylor

Business Leader Award
Houston Wholesale Cars

Community Leader Award
Julie Wright

First Responder Award, Volunteer Firefighters
Logan Fire Dept: Rex Stall, Nara Visa Fire Dept: Gary Girard, Rosebud Fire Dept: Robert Casados

2017 Heroes Banquet

First Responder Awards
Abq Fire Dept: Chris Carlson & Gary Tinagero, Sandoval Fire Dept: James Maxon, Lincoln County Sheriff Dept: Jason Green, APD: Vicente Martinez, Rio Rancho Fire Dept: David Patterson