Assistant Commissioner, New Mexico State Land Office
Steve Vierck, CEcD, currently serves as the Assistant Commissioner/Special Projects for The New Mexico State Land Office. He is responsible for a wide range of Special Projects throughout New Mexico including economic development, large-scale development projects, affordable housing, etc. He also helps further Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard’s critical objectives to diversify revenues while addressing community needs such as economic development and affordable housing.
Prior to his current role, Steve served as President and CEO of the New Mexico Partnership. Vierck is a long-time economic development professional with a strong record of achievement earned over 30 years with economic development organizations in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. He and the teams he has been associated with successfully assisted in the recruitment or expansion of over 300 companies generating more than 25,000 new jobs. Vierck is responsible for leading the New Mexico Partnership in its efforts to market New Mexico to companies, business decision-makers, and site selectors as a premier location to do business.
He was employed from 2008-2012 as the President of the Economic Development Division at Angelou Economics in Austin, TX, one of the largest economic development and site selection consulting firms in the U.S. There he oversaw more than 40 projects for states, metropolitan areas and counties including Colorado Springs, Colorado; Moraine; Ohio, Santa Clarita Valley, California; Northeast Pennsylvania, the State of Mississippi Gulf Coast, Greater Phoenix, and the states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Delaware.
Previously, he served from 2002-2008 as President/CEO of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance where he successfully led the recruitment and expansion of 49 companies generating over 3,000 jobs and $147 million in capital investment in southern New Mexico. His key work experience also includes serving as Senior Vice President of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and National Marketing Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce where he directed the business attraction and expansion programs. Other prior positions include Vice President/Economic Development for the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce.
Vierck earned his Master’s degree in Geography with a specialization in Economic Geography and Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Regional Development from the University of Arizona. He is a recipient of the “William W. Lampkin Award for Long-Term Excellence in Economic Development” and “Developer of the Year” awards in both New Mexico and Arizona. He earned his Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) designation in 1991 and has served on numerous economic and workforce development boards.