The White Sands Missile Range community came out to support the Que Pasa Community Resource Fair at the Frontier Club Sept. 10.

WSMR community comes out for Que Pasa

The White Sands Missile Range community came out to support the Que Pasa Community Resource Fair at the Frontier Club Sept. 10.

Over 30 vendors from the local community were present to give out information and some even held on-the-spot interviews.

“This is our fourth annual Que Pasa WSMR hiring, information, and volunteer fair geared towards our WSMR community,” said Maria Pangborn, Army Community Service Specialist. She said they try to focus on service members, veterans, retirees, and spouses but it is also open to the civilian community.

The goal is to provide information and resources both on and off post and there were agencies from Las Cruces, El Paso and even from Arizona present. She said many of the agencies have job postings online to include: America’s Job Center, Dona Ana County Detention Center, Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office, City of Las Cruces and Dona Ana County Fire and Community Services.

Fernando Caro with America’s Job Center said they help veterans and the civilian population find employment and assist with any other barriers they may be dealing with.

He said they have an office in Las Cruces and several offices throughout the state.

“We are here to help out with employment throughout the state,” Caro said.

Stephanie Johnson-Burick with the Dona Ana County Detention Center said they are currently hiring for officer training positions within the detention center. If interested she can be reached at (575) 647-7689 or by email at stephaniej@donaana.gov.

Some of the reasons why veterans would want to seek employment with them includes competitive pay and great benefits. She said their paramilitary structure aligns well with former service members.

Barbara Herrera and Kinsey Cooper with Blue Cross Blue Shield were on hand to give out information about the program.

“We have the pleasure and the honor of servicing all our civilian federal employees. We have nationwide and worldwide coverage for emergency and urgent care,” Herrera said. “We look forward to continuing to provide coverage.”

She said they also do a lot of agency open season meetings and with open season right around the corner they are able to have boots on the ground servicing all their members.

Teddy Provencio, a nutritionist with the WIC program, said they have an office inside ACS, and they come the third Wednesday of every month. “We support women with nutritional benefits from pregnancy to breastfeeding until the child turns 5 years old.”

Miriam Rodriguez

WSMR Public Affairs