News Release

March 3, 2003

PNM Entrepreneurial Leadership Awards Will Recognize Some
Of State's Most Inspired, Inspiring Small Business Owners

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NEWS MEDIA CONTACT Susan Sponar Telephone: (505) 241-2768

Albuquerque: Nominations are now being accepted for the 2003 PNM Entrepreneurial Leadership Awards, a program hosted by the Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency Team (WESST Corp) that recognizes some of the most inspired – and inspiring – small businesses in New Mexico.

Nominations will be accepted through April 30 for six different awards. Each winner will receive a cash award as well as an engraved plaque at a luncheon scheduled for May 30 at the Sheraton Old Town in Albuquerque.

"This awards program recognizes the hard work, determination and creativity of some of the most successful woman- and minority-owned businesses in New Mexico," said WESST Corp Executive Director Agnes Noonan. "These are businesses that often get overlooked in other awards programs."

Noonan said nominations typically come from friends, family or professional colleagues of business owners – but that both PNM and WESST Corp encourage qualified business owners to nominate themselves as well.

Awards will be given in the following categories:

• Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Given to a woman or minority who currently owns his or her own business and has owned it for at least three years; who currently has 10 or fewer full-time employees; and who has annual sales in excess of $100,000, with a demonstrated profit in two of the last three years.
• Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Given to a woman or minority who currently owns his or her own business and who has been in business for less than 12 months. The business must address an identified need in the marketplace and have the potential to expand rapidly and enjoy long-term business success.
• Rural Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Given to a woman or minority who currently owns his or her own business, who has been in business for at least 12 months, and who is located in a rural community with a population of 25,000 or less.
• Rising Star Award: Given to a woman or minority who currently owns his or her own business, who has been in business for at least 12 months and who has had to overcome great personal obstacles to start and maintain the business.
• Pioneer Award: Given to a woman who has been in business for at least three years and built a profitable business in a traditionally male-dominated industry.
• Leadership Award: Given to a woman who is a role model for other women in business. This woman's leadership helps to advance the economic situation of women in New Mexico.

Nominations can be made online or downloaded from that site. Nomination forms are also available at PNM customer service offices throughout New Mexico as well as WESST Corp offices in Albuquerque, Farmington, Las Cruces, Roswell, Santa Fe and Taos.

Learn more about the PNM Entrepreneurial Leadership Awards
Make a nomination for an award
Learn more about WESST (wesst.org)

WESST Corp, the Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency Team, is a non-profit organization headquartered in Albuquerque. Its mission is to facilitate the start-up and growth of women and minority-owned businesses throughout the state of New Mexico.

PNM is the principal subsidiary of PNM Resources, an energy holding company based in Albuquerque. PNM provides natural gas service to 441,000 gas customers and electric utility service to 378,000 customers in New Mexico. The company also sells power on the wholesale market in the Western U.S. PNM Resources stock is traded primarily on the NYSE under the symbol PNM.