Nancy Laflin, Executive Director

Photo courtesy Gabriella Marks

Governor Richardson appointed Nancy Laflin as Executive Director of the New Mexico Music Commission at its inception in April, 2005.

Since then, as part of her Music Commission work, she has used her experience in the television and music industries to produce a television series promoting New Mexico music, tourism and culture. In 2008, the show won a Telly Award for content and production. It has aired on stations throughout New Mexico, including ABC affiliate KOAT-TV, PBS, government stations and the Internet.

Prior to becoming Executive Director of the Music Commission, Nancy was an award-winning reporter and anchor for KOAT-TV in Albuquerque, KENS-TV, San Antonio, Texas and KIII-TV, Corpus Christi, Texas. In addition to her television career, she studied voice and music. In 2005, she and several other local musicians completed a compact disc of lullabies in Spanish and English for Presbyterian Hospital. The CDs were distributed to teens who had just given birth to encourage them to sing to their new babies. Nancy was also selected to sing at "Freedom Fest," an event for New Mexico troops headlined by the group, Lonestar.

While living in Corpus Christi, Nancy and singing partner Sally Garcia made a music video to raise awareness and money for the Food Bank of The Coastal Bend, South Texas. The video received an ADDY award for Best Use of Local Talent. They also performed the national anthem for the Houston Astros and the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. Nancy continues to sing at various charitable and sporting events in New Mexico.

She is a graduate of Eldorado High School and the University of New Mexico. For her work in television, she was honored by the New Mexico Associated Press, the New Mexico Broadcasters Association and the Texas Associated Press. Other honors include citation in a New York Times article for being one of the few reporters in the country to score one-on-one interviews with then presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush. She also received the Dean of Students Outstanding Achievement Award for Service while a student at UNM for her many collegiate and community activities.