Promoting ABQ:  How AED Reaches Critical Audiences to Generate Job Opportunities

The job of building jobs.
As marketers, we understand how important it is to break through the noise to reach our target audience. Now imagine you’re trying to not only get the attention of business and industry leaders looking to relocate or expand, but also present a case on why Albuquerque (or New Mexico) is the place to be.
There’s only one place to be if you want the inside scoop on this development challenge. Join NMAMA and Gary Tonjes, President, and Annemarie Ciepiela Henton, Director of Communications & Marketing, from Albuquerque Economic Development (AED) as they share how they help promote ABQ to business and industry both locally and across the country. Their efforts not only generate interest in our business community, they also help existing businesses expand and grow.

When:Wednesday, March 23, 2016, 11:30 am – 1 pm
Where: Nick & Jimmy’s Restaurant,
5021 Pan American West Freeway NE,
Albuquerque, NM 87109
Cost: $25 Members
$40 Non-Members
Payment: We will be accepting payments at the door using Square, check or cash. If paying using the Square , we kindly request that you arrive 15 minutes earlier to give us enough time.
RSVP: Please visit our Facebook Event page and Click the +Going button.
ABOUT AED
AED is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to recruit business and industry, help local companies grow and generate quality job opportunities throughout the Albuquerque metro area. AED provides confidential assistance to businesses considering the area for expansion and new investment. Since its creation in 1960, AED has recruited 236 companies and more than 35,000 jobs to the Albuquerque metro area. AED also provides retention and expansion assistance to existing industry.
Follow AED on Twitter @ABQEconDev and Facebook at www.thefacebook.com/AbqEconDev.
GARY TONJES BIO
As of Aug. 27, 2015
Gary Tonjes is president of Albuquerque Economic Development, a private, nonprofit membership organization whose mission is to recruit business and industry and help local companies grow to generate quality job opportunities for the Albuquerque metro area. Since 1960, AED has served as Albuquerque’s lead organization for the recruitment and expansion of more than 865 employers.
In 2014, AED helped attract new employers to create more than 1,000 new jobs and $40 million in new payroll. In addition, the organization helped 132 local companies add more than 1,000 new jobs and $47 million in new annual payroll. These recruitment and retention efforts represent nearly $64 million in capital investment to the Albuquerque area.
Gary was raised in Albuquerque and is a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communications. Prior to joining AED in 1994, he worked for the Roswell, New Mexico Chamber of Commerce (1979-1981), the Odessa, Texas Chamber of Commerce (1981-1984) and the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, where he served as president for 10 years.
ANNEMARIE CIEPIELA HENTON BIO
Annemarie Ciepiela Henton, APR, is the Director of Communications and Marketing for Albuquerque Economic Development Inc. She is responsible for overseeing, implementing and evaluating the organization’s ongoing marketing and communications efforts. In addition to her role at AED, Annemarie also serves as a project manager for the City of Albuquerque’s Innovation Team.
Annemarie has more than eight years’ experience developing and directing integrated marketing and communications campaigns, specifically for membership associations like AED, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists and the New Mexico Public Relations Society of America. Committed to the community, Annemarie serves on a number of local nonprofit boards and committees, assisting with project management and raising awareness for organizational missions and initiatives.
Annemarie holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Arizona. In 2014, she earned her Accreditation in Public Relations.
About NMAMA:
Established in 1983 and formally chartered in 1984, The New Mexico Chapter of the American Marketing Association (NMAMA) represents marketing professionals throughout New Mexico—a FULL MIX of client-side, agency and marketing service providers—and provides a forum for the educational and professional development of its members.