PATTY COLLINS

President & chief executive officer Hobbs Chamber of Commerce Hobbs

What do you consider to be New Mexico’s strengths, and how can our state build upon these assets?

Our strength is our people. We have a rich history of diversity and although we don’t all agree on everything, when it comes to moving forward, we come together. We need to continue the momentum.

What do you consider to be the weaknesses facing New Mexico and how can we overcome these challenges?

Sadly, diversity can also be our weakness at times. We are all passionate about our area and our role in what we believe are our leadership needs. We can overcome this by effectively working together to lead our own communities.

What steps do we need to take to improve the future of our state?

Supporting programs such as Leadership New Mexico that educate leaders around the state and give a point of contact in all of our communities to talk about issues and brag on our positives can help us to improve our state’s future.