Upcoming NM Rainforest Events
Open to startups, entrepreneurs and the community
Growing from Retail to Wholesale
NM Rainforest Virtual Fireside Chat
February 15, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (MST) | Online via Zoom
Join Tribal Liaison, Angelo McHorse as he shares about his experiences with Wholesale vs. Retail as Co-Owner for Bison Star Naturals. Learn about the benefits of doing business beyond retail sales in-store or at events.

Growing into the wholesale game requires a new understanding of cultivating partnerships to get your goods onto shelves across your region and country. Learn new marketing strategies, scaling up production, maintaining consistency and speed of doing business, increase the network of buyers for new wholesale markets, and the cost benefit analysis of selling your products at wholesale pricing.
Public Speaking for Entrepreneurs
NM Rainforest Webinar
February 22, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (MST) | Online via Zoom
Learn how you can improve your public speaking as an entrepreneur and leader in this VIRTUAL webinar with Dr. William C. Moffatt.

Dr. Moffatt is a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National laboratories, where he has worked for more than 29 years.

Dr. Moffatt has been named Distinguished Toastmaster three times by Toastmasters International based on well over 100 evaluated speeches and three major service projects.
Proven Strategies to Accelerate Regulatory Clearance
NM Rainforest Seminar
March 1, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (MST) | Lobo Rainforest Building
Ruba Sarris-Sawaya
Chief Executive Officer, Medistrat360

A medtech executive with a twenty-year track record of successful acquisitions and a history for delivering high impact regulatory, clinical and reimbursement programs enabling market access and industry leading positions. Former appointments include roles as the executive vice president of clinical affairs for Don Joy Orthopedics, multiple senior leadership positions within the Restorative Therapies Division at Medtronic & an appointment as the GCORE Director (Government Affairs, Clinical Affairs & Center for Outcomes Research, Reimbursement & Evaluation) at Orthofix.

Rick Thomson
Managing Partner, The Yar Group

Rick Thomson’s early career on Wall Street gave him a thorough understanding of research and critical financials. Moving into sales and marketing, he developed corporate account and distribution experience with medical device manufacturers and hospitals. His operational expertise came from managing the turnaround of circuit board manufacturing, contract manufacturing, and medical device companies with a tenure spanning 30+ years. He has successfully launched products, companies, and new markets in the medical device space. He’s helped take med tech companies to $1 billion in revenue, concentrating in the $10 to $200 million range.
Upcoming Open Mentoring Hours
Providing Mentoring for Your Startup/Idea
Mentoring for Entrepreneurs with Mytegia Lee
February 16, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. (MST)
Come to virtual 1:1 mentoring with Mytegia Lee where she will provide guidance, coaching, perspective, and connections to enhance entrepreneurship and connections to resources at UNM and in the community. There are many resources available to those who have ideas that they may want to turn into a business! Join Mytegia on Zoom and learn more about what is available and which connections are the best fit for you.

Ms. Lee is the Executive Director of the Southwest Native Assets Coalition (SNAC). Prior to joining SNAC she worked in the commercial banking and financing services industry providing credit analysis, financial education as well as small dollar loan origination and servicing throughout western New Mexico.
These are VIRTUAL office hours, please register to select the time frame when you can attend your meeting on Zoom. After you register, a Zoom link and calendar invitation will be emailed to you.
Rainforest Mentor Hours at Taos H.I.V.E.
Access to Capital with Stacy Sacco
February 17, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (MST)
Join Stacy Sacco IN-PERSON at Taos H.I.V.E. for insights into gaining access to capital.

For the past 20 years, Mr. Sacco has taught entrepreneurial studies at the UNM Anderson School of Management, and served as the Director of the UNM Small Business Institute. He currently is the President of Sacco Connections, a management consulting firm, and hosts a free, informational website, with 3,000+ links to local jobs, events and resources.

Mr. Sacco will be available for one-on-one mentoring where he will give guidance, coaching and perspective to enhance entrepreneurship and provide connections to resources at UNM and in the community. There are many resources available to those who have ideas that they may want to turn into a business!
These are IN-PERSON hours at Taos H.I.V.E., 1146 Gusdorf Rd, Taos, NM 87571
SCORE Mentors at the Lobo Rainforest Building
February 24, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (MST)
UNM Rainforest Innovations collaborates with SCORE to offer mentoring and confidential discussions for aspiring and established entrepreneurs, inventors, students, and start-up companies.

SCORE’s certified mentors are successful business people and entrepreneurs with the goal of giving back to the community by helping other entrepreneurs become and stay successful. SCORE has been helping small businesses start and grow in the Albuquerque area for over 50 years through mentoring.
IN-PERSON at the Lobo Rainforest Building. Click "Sign up here" to select the time frame you plan to attend.
SCORE Mentors:
Dar Johnson
Dar retired after 20 years with the US Air Force and has over 36 years in the aerospace private sector including over 36 years in senior and “C-suite” level management positions. He has been responsible for achieving growth nation-wide, obtaining new customers, cost containment, turning around marginal operations, increased profitability, customer satisfaction, staffing, and policy and procedure development. He has also worked in business development, proposal support, capture manager and proposal manager and has owned a successful consulting business.
Vic Berniklau
Vic retired from the U.S. Department of Energy as Senior Executive after filling positions in Technical and Administrative Leadership. He started two small businesses in electronic security with his wife and son and grew them to 30 employees with $2M in sales. He is a consultant in technology management and business management and is an instructor at the University of New Mexico at the Graduate Level in Public Administration (Research Methodology) and Business Administration (Management of Technology).