By ANNA DILLANE
Steering Comittee Member
Los Alamos Local Business Coalition
The Los Alamos Local Business Coalition was formed in November of 2024 with the goal of fostering a thriving business environment in Los Alamos and White Rock. we are a collaborative organization of local business owners and community members who volunteer our time to advocate for solution-focused policies, structures, and accountability that support local businesses. We work in collaboration with key organizations and incorporate input from the community to address shared priorities for the betterment of the entire Los Alamos area.
The Coalition is propelled forward by a Steering Committee that meets weekly to plan events, look at pressing local issues, and discuss current challenges to local business. Let’s meet the dedicated volunteers who are working so hard to improve the business environment.
We asked each member some questions.
Who are you and what is your interest in local business? Why did you get involved with the Los Alamos Local Business Coalition?
James Wernicke: I’m a local resident and entrepreneur who sees local businesses as essential for a prosperous community. Whether it’s a restaurant, service center, retail shop, or innovative startup, I want to see local businesses thrive because they create jobs, reinvest in our community, and contribute to its character. I got involved because I see an incredible need for a group that listens to the local business community and is motivated to work on practical and actionable solutions. This Coalition is committed to getting local businesses the tools and resources they need to succeed.
Carolyn Cowan: I am the owner of owner LA Bootery and Mesa Top Games. I became interested in local business 3 years ago when I opened L.A. Bootery. This experience opened my eyes to the reality of the struggling small business environment in Los Alamos county. I am invested in helping to develop a community that my children are proud to call home. I have collaborated with a number of local small business development entities over the past few years but was excited to see a business-owner-oriented group form voluntarily to address the real challenges that we know exist.
Leslie Linke: I am Leslie Linke, born and raised in Los Alamos. I am not a business owner. I got involved in the Coalition because I care deeply about our community, and I remember a time when the business environment was booming. My mom and I could shop all day!
Kevin Holsapple: I’m a managing member of Highline Associates, LLC, a local business involved in travel writing and travel advisory services. I am a certified travel advisor with the FORA Online Travel Agency and my book, Beer Hiking Southern Rockies should be in stores this summer. I have worked in and with local businesses in Los Alamos since the 1990s. In speaking with other local business owners last Fall, I sensed an opportunity to get involved to increase the focus on improving the local business environment. I have considerable related experience and felt like I could volunteer time to this.
Anna Dillane: I have owned Boomerang Consignment and Gaia Gifts for 22 years and have lived gratefully in Los Alamos for 18 years. Having done business in another city, I joined the Coalition because I saw an opportunity to help change things that affect local business.
Allan Saenz: I am the owner of Los Alamos Network for 27 years and managed SALA since 2022. Having experienced firsthand how challenging it is to do business, I’m dedicated to reducing barriers and creating opportunities for local enterprises. After my journey with LEDA, I saw how hard it is for businesses to access the support they need. I joined the Coalition because I believe we can streamline resources, build stronger partnerships, and encourage a more business-friendly approach within our county.
Shannon C’de Baca: I was born and raised in Los Alamos in the 50s and 60s. When my Father passed, I moved from the Midwest to run his business. I also run a non-profit foundation. I was a high school and college educator in Iowa for 40 years. The Coalition gave me hope that a group of dedicated business owners could help guide the county to more efficient ways to help attract and sustain a variety of businesses on the hill. I wanted a thriving business landscape like the one we had when I was growing up.
John Courtright: I am John Courtright, the J in J&L Self Storage. My wife and I have been managing our family apartment and self storage business since 1986. Having been in business for years, I may have some insight into the business climate of Los Alamos.
How is the Coalition different from all the other groups that are tasked with helping local business?
C’de Baca: The coalition is a group with shared leadership and very open structure. They are committed to modeling what we would like to see in our county government, transparency, efficiency and a sharp focus on making all businesses voices heard.
Cowan: This group has a “let’s get it done” attitude and a strong focus on accountability. There is no underlying agenda to serve – simply the real intention to improve the business environment for all members of the community.
Saenz: The Coalition is made up of experienced business owners and community leaders who face daily challenges. We focus on the specific gaps that hinder local businesses and advocate for practical changes to ease operations and growth.
Linke: The Coalition is made up of actual business owners trying to provide goods and services in Los Alamos. We have come together to collaborate with entities that are supposed to make it easier for businesses to thrive, and we’re able to provide our real experiences in dealing with the obstacles that make running a business in town so very difficult.
Wernicke: The Coalition is focused on achieving immediate, tangible impacts based on what businesses want like reducing red tape, increasing transparency, and directing economic development resources to where they are truly needed. We listen to small business stakeholders and respond quickly without getting stuck in bureaucracy.
Courtright: My reason for joining is to help provide a neutral voice to all businesses in LA. I believe our major goal is to clear up business misunderstandings, not necessarily local business alone, but assist the general public on explaining ‘Someone should just build a ____”, etc.
Cowan: The Coalition is actively working to figure out what is impeding local business and find SOLUTIONS to the problems. We hear a lot of lip service about the issues but we don’t see much change and the Coalition is working to make the changes.
Holsapple: The Coalition is focused solely on local businesses, is a grassroots group, seeks no funding and is not a contractor to anyone. I would expect the Coalition to fade away once our mission is accomplished or if we give up.
What do you think is the biggest hurdle to local business thriving? (ALL)
High rent, lack of real estate to buy, staffing, contractors refusal to work in LA, Contractors “Los Alamos pricing”, advertising is challenging and expensive, limited workforce housing, regulatory barriers to development. LA County has got to be more transparent and accountable, standardizing requirements, processes and procedures. It is almost impossible to build out a new restaurant in an existing building in Los Alamos without a boatload of money and 5 years to wait.
If you had a magic wand, what one thing would you change?
Cowan: I would change the overall attitude towards small business in the county. So many decisions are driven by capitalism and fear of litigation. The current attitudes inhibit business development. Changing the attitude from “how can we say no” to “how can we say yes” would promote the implementation of business assistance programs and deliver resources into the community.
Dillane: Ditto to Carolyn’s awesome answer! And a downtown walking district with no cars, outside cafes, and only retail and restaurants on the first floor!
Holsapple: Our County would make a point of considering local business as part of every project and decision they undertake. How will the project impact local businesses and how can we plan to mitigate negative impacts? Are there business opportunities for local businesses that could be incorporated in the project?
Saenz: I’d instill a more business-friendly mindset among County staff by streamlining processes and fostering proactive partnerships, so entrepreneurs can focus on innovation rather than red tape.
Wernicke: I would remove the excessive bureaucratic processes and costs to do business here. Many potential businesses are driven off by paperwork, delays, and logistical hurdles that shouldn’t exist. In addition to removing and streamlining regulation and fees, I would make resources earmarked for business and affordable workforce housing development more accessible and transparent to local stakeholders.
Linke: I have always believed that we MUST get LANL out of downtown spaces. Doing so would hopefully result in lower rental rates for business space downtown.
Courtright: A set of buildings in the general downtown area that have a discounted rental rate for 6 months so entrepreneurs or restaurant speculators can give it a go!
C’de Baca: I would increase the drive in all LA folks to buy local and see the incredible value in supporting these folks.
What is your vision for the business scene in Los Alamos? What would you like to see different?
Wernicke: I’d love to see a more diverse business landscape—more startups, more co-op ventures, and of course, more support for the businesses that are already here. I’d like to see policies that make it easier and less costly for small businesses to operate. Ultimately, I want a business community that benefits everyone in Los Alamos.
Cowan: Can I just second James’s answer? His is pretty spot-on.
Linke: I’d like to be able to purchase locally almost all of what I need. It’s sad that I have to go off the hill to just buy athletic socks. Yes, I can find buy socks with Einstein or geometric equations, but sometimes you just want plain white socks. We need more quality hotels, and more restaurants. We always talk about having a thriving tourism trade, but we have such limited facilities to accommodate them. Clothing, sporting goods, shoes, greeting cards, housewares, furniture, etc. etc. etc.
Saenz: I envision a vibrant downtown that diversifies the economy and creates a unique identity-a place where residents and visitors can live, work, and enjoy affordable housing, arts and culture, and a family-friendly, safe environment. By working together, we can build a future that honors our heritage and fosters a dynamic community.
Courtright: More input from the community. No reason to have another coffee hut when there’s plenty now. Educate the community about the risks of doing business without a labor pool, support for desired product or service, or demand.
Holsapple: There are bright spots, which should be regularly celebrated and supported. I love when I see positive stories about local business experiences on the Los Alamos Dish on Dining and Shop Local Facebook Groups. I hope to see these accounts grow. I want to hear more businesses saying their businesses are doing great. I want to hear that more community members are able to get more of their needs met locally.
C’de Baca: I would like to see a push at all levels of the county to buy local and promote local businesses. Every county meeting should begin with highlighting a different business. County permits are stacked and you have to clear one to move on to the next. That eats time but is easy to fix. I would like an open and transparent effort from the County to remove barriers in the licensing and construction aspects for businesses. I would like to see the community and County rush to help a business that is struggling before it is beyond help.
A message from the Coalition Steering Team
Local businesses are the lifeblood of Los Alamos—yet doing business here comes with unique challenges. Many in our community feel the hardship of navigating an environment where, despite significant investments in numerous County plans over the years, tangible progress remains elusive. A recent National Community Survey underscores this sentiment, with 77% of Los Alamos residents ranking the improvement of the local business environment as a top priority.
We invite Business owners and everyone to join us for the third session of our five-part Forum Series for Improving the Local Business Environment. This session focuses on an analysis of several County plans as they relate to the local business environment. The Intended Goal of this Forum is to bring together business support organizations, community members, and local government to review and evaluate County plans for economic growth and revitalization. We aim to determine whether these investments are making a real impact. Using an interactive tool, we will capture live feedback from attendees, creating a community-driven session that empowers you to shape the conversation.
Upcoming Session Details
- Date/Time: Wednesday, March 13 at 5:30 p.m.
- Location: SALA Event Center – also available via Zoom
- Format: Brief presentations on County plans, interactive community input sessions, Q&A and local business spotlights
For more information on this forum or upcoming events, please visit: https://coalition.losalamos.com/forums/forum-for-improving-los-alamos-local-environment