NEW MEXICO – Governor Michelle Luján Grisham appointed Mark Roper as Acting Secretary for the New Mexico Economic Development Department.
Roper will replace Jon Clark, who has been appointed State Investment Officer. In addition, Roper is a seventh-generation New Mexican with extensive experience in media, marketing and public service at both the state and community levels.
He joined EDD in 2014 as a community, rural and business development representative, and was named Division Director for Economic Development in 2019.
At EDD, Roper has been involved in driving development along New Mexico’s international border, has helped recruit companies to New Mexico from Germany, Taiwan, Singapore and Australia, and has been involved in some of the agency’s largest deals, including Facebook, Intel, Netflix, Universal Hydrogen, Maxeon Solar and Hota Industrial.
“The governor and legislators understand that New Mexico is at an economic crossroads,” Roper said. “We need to continue to diversify our economy and not only create jobs, but create jobs with career paths to help all New Mexicans elevate and improve their station in life, which in turn will create economic security for future generations. We need to invest strategically in economic development, and I will continue to pursue this mission with passion and collaboration.”
The new secretary is a native of Raton, a former resident of Roswell and currently lives in Albuquerque.
