Al Henderson Takes Helm of Entrepreneur Program

For Release - September 15, 2009

Al Henderson, a former executive director of economic development with the Navajo Nation, has joined UNM-Gallup to help establish the New Mexico Rural Entrepreneur Institute through funding from a two-year grant award from the Johnson Foundation of Florida. The funds will pay half Henderson’s salary as a faculty member. He will spend two-thirds of his time teaching and the other third of his time promoting the program.

The Johnson Foundation typically funds Native American institutions or Native American-serving institutions.

Henderson, who has a master’s degree in economics from UNM, comes to UNMG after 12 years at Northern Arizona University as a tribal liaison with leaders and organizations. He spent 34 years in Albuquerque where he ran his own consulting business, advising organizations and tribes on economic and business development.

He has also been involved in the oil and gas business in the Four Corners region, as well as the waste management business in Arizona and New Mexico.

Born at Twin Lakes, he is a member of the Salt Clan and was born for the Many Hogans People.

Besides teaching two sections of a management course at UNM-Gallup, Henderson is currently involved in “discovery” work -- talking and listening to business and government leaders about the local history of entrepreneurship. He is also examining UNMG’s certificate and degree program in entrepreneurship, to see if it “fills the bill with the financial and banking community as to what they would be expecting of an individual who wants to be in business.”

Henderson says he also aims to reexamine “what has happened with similar projects in the past that I’ve come across on campus and off.” As to the light enrollment that the college’s entrepreneurship program has experienced in the past, he says he suspects the region’s population is not yet at a level of understanding to make the most of what the program might do for them, or else the right marketing has not been done to promote the study of entrepreneurship at UNMG.

“This will take a lot of work,” Henderson said. “We will need support from area tribes and elected leaders. Key business leaders have to be involved. “

“Al comes to us with a wealth of experience in education, entrepreneurism and economic development,” said Bill Stenberg, chair of UNM-Gallup’s Business Technology department. “The contacts he has in the region have given him a real running start in our race to establish a viable entrepreneur program for the region. It is a real pleasure to have a person of Al’s professional prowess leading this program for UNM-Gallup.”

For more information on the institute or the entrepreneurship degree or certificate program at UNM-Gallup, call (505)863.7634.