Alexis Swoboda, incoming president of the Community Foundation of Chaves County, accepte the gavel from outgoing president Stevn W. Smith.
Alexis Swoboda was elected president of the Community Foundation of Chaves County at the foundation’s 13th Annual Meeting held recently at the Historical Museum Archives Building.
Swoboda, a petroleum engineer and long-time board member, succeeds Steven W. Smith as president of the foundation. Smith was presented with a past-president’s plaque.
Other foundation officers elected were Kim Stecklein, vice president; Cymantha Liakos, secretary; and Ryan Miller, treasurer.
The foundation’s committee chairs are Steven W. Smith, annual/planned giving; Jon Hitchcock, investments; Jane Batson, grants; Sara Armstrong, nominations; and Candy McClelland, membership.
Rhonda Harrison, Blake Meek and Francisco Olvera, newly elected board members, join Justus Bowe and Eileen Grooms, making a total of 14 members on the board.
Executive Director Susie Russell, front left, poses with the board of directors of the Community Foundation of Chaves County.
During the foundation's annual meeting, two outgoing board members Mario Picon were honored with Lifetime Honoree Award. Mario Picon was honored for in his 9 years of service and Jack Swickard was honored for his 10 years of service. Picon and Swickard were two of the foundation’s first board
members when the Community Foundation of Chaves County evolved from the Eastern New Mexico Medical Foundation, and they have worked hard as board members to help the foundation grow.
Outgoing board members Jack Swickard, left, and Mario Picon hold Lifetime Honoree Awards they received at the Community Foundation for Chaves Couny annual meeting, Swickard served on the board 10 years and Picon 9 years.
Picon and Swickard join the prestigious group of Lifetime Honorees, which includes: Mike Andrews, Dr. Judy Armstrong, Frank Coggins, Jesse Eckel, Claudette Foster, Sylvian Gillespie, Howard Herring, Laurie Jerge, Larry Jessen, Larry Loftin, Andy Miller, Dell Vick and J. Phelps White III.
Kay Rogers, also an outgoing board member, was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for her 6 years of service.
The volunteer board of directors is comprised of local community members familiar with the diverse range of needs within our community, dedicated to the mission of the Community Foundation of Chaves County which is “to support and promote the well-being of the community and nurture its continuing viability through charitable giving.”
The Community Foundation of Chaves County is a publicly supported non-profit charitable organization, organized and operated primarily as a permanent collection of endowed funds for the long-term benefit of our community. The Community Foundation administers funds that are contributed or bequeathed by individual donors, corporations, agencies and other sources. The income from these funds helps the Community Foundation respond to needs and opportunities in our community, as well as prepare for the future.
Please call Susie Russell, executive director, at 622-8900 or e-mail "cccf@cableone.net or cfcc@qwestoffice.net for more information about the Community Foundation of Chaves County.