Susan Martin, business manager at Think New Mexico, spends her days juggling responsibilities that range from human resources to bookkeeping to property management. Behind the administrative role lies a tapestry of experience in the arts, technology, and community service. A former arts administrator, opera staffer, and garden coordinator, Martin brings decades of behind-the-scenes leadership to her current role.
“At Think New Mexico, [I wear] a lot of hats,” Martin says. “The one that I don't wear is the policy wonk, but I do all the sort of human resources stuff, all the budgeting, the bookkeeping… working with our auditor on the audits… I process all of our incoming gifts and outgoing thank-you letters.” Since the organization moved into its new building two years ago, she has also taken on the role of property manager. “All the things about maintenance and upkeep sort of fall under my umbrella.”
Her New Mexico residency began in the performing arts. “I originally came to New Mexico to go to the College of Santa Fe in the Theater Arts department,” she says. “I thought that I would like to be an actress… but I decided that I'm really not kind of a front and center sort of person.” She found her niche behind the scenes and switched to an arts administration major.
Her career eventually pivoted to the tech world with Deep Web Technologies. “They were a company that developed search engine technology,” including “specialized search engines that would be used by universities,” she says. Martin helped manage grants from the Department of Energy and worked with agencies like the Air Force Research Lab. “We ended up selling or providing our search engines to different government agencies.”
She sees strong continuity in her current work. “From the position where I'm sitting, I don't know how different it is… other than the way the companies make their money,” she says of moving between the nonprofit and private sectors. “I've not been in the position… selling something in a for-profit organization or raising the money in a nonprofit organization. For me, I don't think it was all that different.”
At Think New Mexico, Martin helps donors and citizens get involved in the policy process. This includes outreach and helping New Mexicans use the organization’s website tools. “The interface will help you find your legislator, and will direct your comments.”
Martin plans to continue supporting bold ideas by providing infrastructure support, and helping others grow. “It’s social. It’s providing. That’s kind of neat,” she says.
