Even as the economy remains tentative, New Mexico's tourism industry has grown. In 2005, tourism brought $4.2 billion to the state and employed some 80,000 New Mexicans. Four years later, it was a $5.7-billion business with more than 110,000 employees — the state's largest private-sector employer.

Having headed the agency since 2004 (his second time in the position), tourism Secretary Michael Cerletti recently received national recognition for his contributions to New Mexico's tourism industry. In early August the National Council of State Tourism Directors named Cerletti State Tourism Director of the Year for 2010.

Among the state's tourism achievements behind the award: the creation of numerous successful regional and national advertising campaigns; the creation of the first state-level ecotourism program in the country; and New Mexico's four-time participation in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calf., netting the Grand Marshal's Trophy and other top awards.

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Jerry Brinegar, a project manager in the state Corrections department's Information Technology Division, is known among colleagues as an "excellent leader" who performs his job with "ease and brilliance."

For these and other reasons Brinegar was chosen as the latest employee of the quarter in the agency's Central Office. Brinegar was especially commended, along with Toni Rodriguez, for helping the agency meet national standards in a performance review by the Association of State Correctional Administrators.

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The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department recently earned national recognition for improvements to its web-based behavioral health case-management tracking program.

The 2010 Innovation in Behavioral Health Services Award was presented by the State Associations of Addiction Services. It went to data analysts in the Juvenile Justice Division, along with community behavioral health clinicians from the Youth and Family Services Division.

Judith Harmon, a senior data analyst in Santa Fe, accepted the award on behalf of her colleagues. Harmon also earned an employee of the month award for her leadership and contributions to the award-winning tracking program.

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Marlin Mackey, New Mexico's chief information officer and Department of Information Technology cabinet secretary, has been appointed to serve on an advisory committee within the Federal Communications Commission.

Mackey is one of 20 government representatives from around the country on an FCC committee that looks at technical aspects allowing for diverse systems to work together in the realm of public safety broadband communications.

And Bob Mayer has joined the Department of Information Technology as the agency's new deputy secretary. With four decades of computer experience, Mayer comes to the position from the state Department of Health, where he served as chief information officer.

If you have news about a public employee, contact Fauntleroy at gussie7@fairpoint.net