2025 Schedule

Day 1 – September 8
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Volunteer Service Project, High Desert Trailhead Gazebo Improvement (See More Details)
12:00 PM

Milk Ranch Canyon Loop, Pre-Conference Mountain Bike Ride (Bring Your Own Bike)
5:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Route 66 Welcome Party, Historic el Rancho Hotel (1000 E. Hwy 66)

Music by DJ Concho

Day 2 – September 9 (Red Rock Park – 5757 Red Rock Park Drive, Church Rock, NM 87311 )
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM

Conference Welcome Remarks

Executive Director of Outdoor New Mexico, Jeff Steinborn
Mayor of Gallup, Louis Bonaguidi
Conference Blessing by Anslen Jake, Member of the Navajo Nation
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

The New Terrain of Land Management, Challenges and Opportunities

Karina Armijo, Director, New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division
Deb Haaland, Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Thora Padilla, President, Mescalero Apache Tribe
Bjorn Fredrickson, Conservation Director, NM Wild
Nick Streit, Executive Director, Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte
Ben Thomas, Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (moderator)
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

Funding the Future: Tools to Create Outdoor Infrastructure and Place Based Promotion

Carl Colonius, Trails + Grant Program, New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division
Lancing Adams, Acting Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department, Destination Forward Grant Program
Cecilia Mavrommatis, Local Government Division Director, New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration
Hallie Brown, Infrastructure Planning and Development Division Deputy Director, New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration
Nate Duckett, Mayor of Farmington (moderator)
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Deep Dive Session / Big News from State Parks: LWCF Funding, Veterans Passes, and More

Angie Richman, Deputy Director for Field Operations, New Mexico State Parks
Colleen Baker, Deputy Director of Administration, New Mexico State Parks
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Deep Dive Session / Shaping Identity, Driving Impact: Branding Your Outdoor Community

Jim Glover, Partner, Once a Day Marketing
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Lunch

Special Announcement
Steve Andrus, Americas Tour Manager, Xterra (World’s largest triathlon for mountain biking and trail running)
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Play Time at Red Rock Park

Guided Hike to Church Rock
Interactive Plein Art Art Class, Create Your Souvenir!
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Outdoor Recreation Division Grantee Gathering / Red Rock Expo Hall
12:40 – 1:40

Jobs in the Outdoors, Youth Leadership Training Academy (Breakout)
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM

Reconnecting Rivers for the Outdoor Economy

Kate Lacey-Younge, New Mexico Environment Department, River Stewardship Program
Emily Wolf, Rio Grande Coordinator, American Rivers
Aidan Manning, Rivers and Waters Program Associate, New Mexico Wild
Treston Chee, Founder and Director, Our Generations production
Garett Altmann, Western Restoration Program Manager at the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC)
Andrés Esparza, Principal Association, Pew Charitable Trust (moderator)
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM

Deep Dive Session / Destination Marketing: Event Recruitment through the Outdoors (Breakout)

Steve Andrus, Americas Tour Manager, Xterra (World’s largest triathlon for mountain biking and trail running)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Cultivating Opportunity: Nurturing Outdoor Businesses in Our Own Backyard

Marc Harrell, Owner of Rezo Systems Custom Online Reservations Systems
Jacqueline McHorse, Owner of Bison Star Naturals
Henry Lanman, Owner of Rocket Ramp
Ted Jaramillo, Owner of Rocket Ramp
Deborah & Elmer Torres, Co-Owners, Passport to Pueblo Country
Bruce Armstrong, Economic Development Manager, Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation (moderator)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Deep Dive Session / Planning the Rio Grande Trail, New Mexico’s Own Long Distance Trail (Breakout)

Ben Bajema, Senior Advisor to the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department
Chair of the Rio Grande Trail Commission
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM

Outdoor Recreation, 360 Degrees of Opportunity

Eddie Ryan, Manager of Events and Strategic Partnerships, Village of Ruidoso
Dave Simon, Director, Albuquerque Parks and Recreation Department
Warren Unsicker, Director of Economic Development and ORII, City of Farmington
Jeremy Boucher, Director of Operations, Southwest Indian Foundation
Sarah Piano, City Councilor, Gallup New Mexico (moderator)
5:00 PM

Party at Red Rock Park!

Three Course Delicious Navajo Meal

Internationally Renowned Zuni Performer Fernando Cellicion & the Zuni Dancers
7:00 PM Balloon Glow in the Canyon
8:00 – 9:00 PM Film Screening “In the Dirt” with Film Maker Q&A (watch trailer)
“IN THE DIRT” is a documentary film about a group of passionate Native American cyclists who attempt to bring the sport of mountain biking to the Navajo Nation, where no bike shops exist.

Day 3 – September 10
7:30 AM

Tethered Hot Air Balloon Flights (by registration)
7:45 AM

Welcome Remarks by New Mexico Search & Rescue Leaders

Bob Rodgers, New Mexico Search & Rescue State Resource Officer, State Police
Robert Garcia, President, New Mexico Search and Rescue Council
8:00 AM

Voices of the Land: Indigenous Leaders in the Outdoors

Yolynda Begay, Deputy Forest Supervisor, Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands
Kenny Bowekaty, Tour Guide & Archaeologist, Zuni Pueblo
Josh Bitsilly, Supervisor, Gallup Youth Conservation Corps
Keegan King, Executive Director, Native Lands Institute
Angel Charley, New Mexico State Senator (moderator)
9:15 AM – 10:15 AM

Land of Enchantment, Land of Innovation: New Outdoor Initiatives

Stephanie Garcia Richard, New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands
Teal Harbin, Medical Director New Mexico Search and Rescue Council
Patricia (Trish) Gharrity, Manager of the Outdoor Learning Initiative, New Mexico Public Education Department
Allison Martin, Executive Director, TOTAL NM (Teaching Outdoors to ALL Learners)
Carlos Matutes, New Mexico State Program Director, GreenLatinos (moderator)
9:15 AM – 10:15 AM

The Outdoors Prescription: Advancing Health Through Nature (Breakout)

Charm Lindblad, Executive Director, New Mexico Health Care Takes On Diabetes, Prescription Trails New Mexico
Scott Nydam, Founder / President, Silver Stallion Bicycle Works
Tim Rogers, Trails Program Manager, Santa Fe Conservation Trust
Sierra Yazzie Asamoa-Tutu, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, T’iis Yázhí, LLC (moderator)
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Converging Economies: Arts, Culture, and the Outdoor Sector

Amy Denet Deal, Owner of 4Kinship, Founder of the Diné Skate Garden Project

Shani Harvie, Director, New Mexico Creative Industries Division

Greg Miller, Principal Landscape Architect, Pland Collaborative

Rose Eason, Executive Director, gallupArts (moderator)
11:30 AM

Box Lunches from Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe
11:40 AM

Winners of Exhibitor Passport Announced!
12:00 PM

Outdoor Tours Begin

Explore the Birds and Wildlife of the Zuni Mountains
2nd & 3rd Mesa Trail Mountain Bike Ride (Bring Your Own Bike)
Church Rock Hike
First Mesa Trail Mountain Biking Ride (Bike & Helmet Provided)
Gallup Art and Mural Tour
Off-Road Adventure at Gallup OHV Motocross Park
Pyramid Peak Hike
Village of the Great Kivas Archaeology Tour
Live Search and Rescue (SAR) Training Mission – Becoming a SAR Responder for a day!

Historic El Rancho Hotel on Route 66 / Welcome Reception – September 8

1000 E Hwy 66, Gallup, NM

The El Rancho Hotel, located in Gallup, New Mexico, is a historic hotel known for its rustic, western-style architecture and connection to the Route 66 era.
Built as a base for movie productions in the 1930s, it has hosted numerous Hollywood stars over the years.
The hotel features a large portico, balcony, and a central stone fireplace — all reflecting a warm, western ambiance.

Red Rock Park / Conference Location & Main Party – September 9 & 10

5757 Red Rock Park Drive, Church Rock, NM 87311

Red Rock Park is the crown jewel of Gallup’s parks and recreation system, known for its stunning red sandstone cliffs.
The park features two hiking trails, a rodeo arena, convention center, museum, and well-equipped campgrounds.
It’s a popular destination for those seeking outdoor recreation, cultural experiences, and a glimpse into the region’s history.