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CNM Ingenuity CEO Kyle Lee he will step down after his decade-long commitment to workforce and economic development at the nonprofit, also known as the 鈥渆nterprise arm鈥� of Central New Mexico Community College.

The nonprofit was formed in 2014 under the New Mexico University Research Park and Economic Development Act. It has since conducted workforce training and entrepreneurial support while following an innovative path for the college.

鈥淐NM Ingenuity is in the strongest position it has ever been,鈥� Lee told the Journal. 鈥淭hat makes this the right time for new leadership to take it from here in alignment with the college鈥檚 vision. I鈥檓 incredibly proud of what we鈥檝e built together, and I can鈥檛 wait to see what comes next for CNM and Ingenuity. And I鈥檓 looking forward to new opportunities when the timing is right.鈥�

Lee said he will step down on Aug. 3. 

Harold Lavender, CNM Ingenuity鈥檚 director of business and finance development, said he is happy for Lee, noting that this stage of the CEO鈥檚 life is 鈥渢he perfect time to make a change of some kind鈥� and that 鈥渉e is tremendously energized by challenges.鈥�

Under Lee鈥檚 tenure, the organization has expanded across the state to create careers for thousands of New Mexicans. It has also strengthened partnerships that support economic growth and opportunity.

Notably, the nonprofit鈥檚 annual budget has scaled from about $700,000 at inception to roughly $27 million for fiscal year 2027, according to Lavender, who attributes that growth to Lee.

Over the past decade, Lee spearheaded the launch of Deep Dive Coding. As the nonprofit鈥檚 first program, it recently expanded to include the nation鈥檚 first quantum technician boot camp, directly addressing workforce demands in the rapidly growing quantum sector. He also oversaw the creation of the FUSE Makerspace, a hub for community innovation and business incubation.

The nonprofit has partnered and collaborated with more than, including New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department, which allows early childhood professionals to engage in professional development and learning. Ingenuity has also partnered with Job Training sa国际传媒官网网页入口, which provides opportunities for the local workforce to gain critical skills and fill hiring gaps.

With Lee鈥檚 departure approaching soon, Lavender said the Ingenuity team is saddened. To Lavender, the best leader is one who 鈥渃harts the course and then hires and works with people who carry out the mission,鈥� and he said Lee has done exactly that.

鈥淗e鈥檚 very hands-on with everything but hands-off individual jobs,鈥� Lavender said, 鈥渁nd I think it鈥檚 critically important that Ingenuity, whoever the next leader is, follows that particular type of leadership.鈥�

A national search for the organization鈥檚 next CEO will start in the coming months.

Keelin Fisher is a business reporter for the Journal. You can reach her at kfisher@abqjournal.com.