Citizen of the Year:
Orly Lucero
Mr. Orly Lucero is a man filled with passion for his community and a most magnificent sense of humor. He is also a man of many faces, and means different things to different people in our community.
To some, he is the Mayor of Cortez. He has been a leader in that regard for several years and has also served as a city councilor representing citizens of Cortez. Like all our other councilors, he studies reams of documents and books of background material for all the decisions we ask our elected leaders to make on our behalf. Then he leads the Council through the process of making sound and reasoned decisions. We appreciate his style and grace under pressure in that capacity.
Orly also reaches out into the community, participating in all kinds of public events. He has been Santa Claus a few times – so often that we are thinking about buying him his own Santa suit. He has set aside 
pride and the dignity of his official work to dance in the Dream Girls revues along with another of our nominees for this honor. He serves as a judge for all kinds of events and contests, from costume contests to best booth at a trade show or fair event. He participates in all manner of public meetings throughout the community, sometimes on behalf of the City of Cortez or Empire Electric (the generous company who employs Orly and gives him all the time he needs to be an effective community leader), and sometimes just because he wants to be involved or informed about what is going on around us. He appreciates what others do, too. He never fails to pick up the phone or write a quick note to tell someone Thank You for their participation, help, advice, or achievement.
But Orly can never leave well-enough alone. He’s not satisfied with leading an exemplary life as an elected official, sacrificing his time and attention for the public good as a City Councilor or School Board Member. Not Orly Lucero. He also is widely-known for decorating his house and yard on Fourth Street in Cortez for the Christmas Holiday, in a hugely popular display of lights and animation which has become a family tradition for most of us here tonight.
Behind the glitz and glitter, the flashy lights and public attention, is a man who cares deeply for his community and loves its citizens, Mr. Orly Lucero.
Empire Electric Award:
Triad
Award Finalists
Citizen of the Year
Nate Thompson
Jack and Judy Schuenemeyer
Small Business of the Year
Kokopelli Bike and Board
Cliffrose
Large Business of the Year
Kinder Morgan
Blondies
Blondie’s Pub and Grub, on Main Street in Cortez is the next, and arguably, the most fun nominee for Small Business of the Year for 2008. We’ve all heard about the wild parties and exciting music at Blondie’s. We know the reputation for hosting rough-looking clientele.
What you may not know, however, is that Blondie’s has been responsible for hosting countless fundraisers to benefit hard-working people who had high medical expenses and no insurance, or events to support Breast Cancer victims. Over $20,000 has been raised in the past year to help good people in the community through concerts, dances, and other events.
Blondie’s sponsors an annual event to honor the veterans of our country’s wars and military service. This loving and caring memorial project brings together families from all parts of the military veteran community to celebrate their sacrifice and honor their personal commitments to guarding our freedom in this great country.
Blondie’s was also instrumental in supporting the Sugar Pine Ranch Motorcycle Rally in the area, when difficulties with promoters of another area rally threatened to close in years past. They have hosted a lot of parties and meetings geared toward keeping this event in Montezuma County, and have provided some leadership in making this a signature event in our region.
Our thanks to Blondie’s Pub and Grub for investing in downtown Cortez being outstanding citizens and responsible business operators in our community!
For almost 30 years, Triad Western has been providing contracting services all over the Southwest, building everything from oil and gas facilities to water and wastewater treatment plants.
Triad has been in business since 1979 and celebrates its 30th year in 2009. The partners have consistently credited their employees as their greatest strength, long before that credit became an overworked marketing phrase. They really believe it and live it. They engage in projects ranging from Montezuma County road work to wastewater treatment facilities in Roswell and Gallup New Mexico.
Their support of community events, activities and programs is evident from the long list of local projects in which they have been involved.
Thank you, Triad Western Constructors for your leadership and citizenship in our community.