Mission Statement

"Our mission is to elevate the influential forces in Southeastern New Mexico arenas to promote diverse agendas with multimedia features on family, business development, culture, economic development and environmental awareness, fashion, music, religion, inspiration, and educational, artistic and technological achievements, supplier/workforce diversity and business development."

Founded in Alamogordo

Alamogordo has a rich history of multicultural and diverse settlement.  With the area populated for over 11,000 years, Alamogordo is currently a cultural hot spot that blends Southwestern, Latino, African American, Native American, and even European communities together.  The city also has, as of recently, been host to thousands of German residents due to the German Air Force presence at the Holloman Air base.

We aim to uplift diverse communities and people with features on family, health, fashion, food, travel, historical and cultural awareness, sports and music in the region all in celebration of diversity and inclusion. We'll also spotlight movers and shakers, companies and organizations who are progressive and proactive diversity champions in Southeastern New Mexico.

Meet the Team

We see big potential in every moment and care deeply about what we do every day. Our aim for excellence ensures that we have the very best talent from all over the world and at every level of operation.

Meike Schwarz
Editor in Chief

Meike Schwarz has been a real estate professional for over 23 years, 10 years as owner/broker of Welcome Home Realty, in downtown Alamogordo.  In 2021, Meike embarked on a new venture combining her love for people and storytelling: becoming editor of Southeastern New Mexico's INFLUENCE Magazine.  Meike hopes to highlight the best and brightest community leaders, business icons, and diversity figures both inside and beyond Alamogordo.

Cedric D. Fisher
Publisher

Cedric is a 40-year career publishing executive, a leading publishing authority, author, and instructor having lead publishing operations in New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Antonio. Cedric's a professional speaker, and he and his team also conduct online writing and publishing workshops.

Alayne Merenstein
Writer - Editor

Alayne is a freelance writer of web content, blogs, ads, press releases, social media campaigns, promotional materials, personal and business profiles, proposals, and other digital and print communications. For two decades she was the owner/publisher of her own magazine.

Vince Alexander
Editorial Manager, Senior Writer

Bringing over his journalistic credentials to the team, New Mexico's INFLUENCE Magazine is excited to have Vince Alexander as Senior Writer.  Additionally, Vince is a professional connoisseur of fine beers, spirits, and cigars: which he tends to enjoy and write about while he is embarking on one of his many travels! 

Seth Char
Digital Marketing Director

Seth Char is a seasoned marketing consultant and advertising executive with over 15 years of experience in both print and digital media branding. He's is the Director of KASMA Records and Studios – a boutique recording facility producing both voiceover and musical compositions. He's a YouTube Ads Certified Partner and a graduate of Escil’s Master Course in Google and Facebook Paid Ads.

Elisa Giordano
Design Director

Elisa is self-branded within the industry, with an exceptional ability that allows her to continue to develop and expand her passion for excellence in design. She redesigned several Texas-based magazines, giving them a new and more exciting vision. Additionally, Elisa designed the Lookbook for a contender on Project Runway, Season 13. Her most recent, and highly visible, work was with Texas Creative where she produced an array of design materials through type treatments, spatial solutions, and pictorial presentations.

Liz Liano
Marketing Executive

Liz is a poet and community organizer. She has been organizing mental health centered poetry shows in her community for about four years. All her art forms- from her blog, poetry, painting, music, social media, photography and poetry- follow this theme.
She is the President of a local mental health non-profit, NAMI Southern New Mexico, that helps advocate for people and find resources.
Above all, she advocates for community care and harm reduction: "everyone deserves to find a place to get better and none of us can do it alone."