10/05/2026
๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฒ โจ
This week, weโre highlighting Michelle Gill, Executive Director of Thrive in Southern New Mexico, whose approach to leadership begins with relationships and is guided by integrity, transparency, and heart.
Michelleโs journey has been built through hard work, persistence, and a willingness to learn. As a single mom raising three children, she built her career one opportunity at a time. Starting in an administrative role with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce, she gained experience in membership, events, and leadership before joining Thrive as Events Manager and eventually becoming Executive Director.
For Michelle, working her way from an entry-level position to her current role is a professional accomplishment she holds close. Each step gave her a better understanding of the work, the people, and the relationships that help an organization succeed.
๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐:
โRelationships are number one. Build those, and the rest will follow.โ
Whether connecting with community partners, supporting local nonprofits, or working alongside her team, Michelle believes strong relationships begin with trust, listening, and showing up for people.
๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ง๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ข๐ญ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ:
โLead with integrity, transparency, and - in Michelle's case - heart. Leading with the heart comes with big risks, and it often hurts. Do it anyway.โ
Caring deeply can make leadership personal, especially when decisions are difficult or relationships become challenging. Still, Michelle believes keeping compassion at the center of her work is worth the risk.
๐๐๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ:
Raising three amazing children as a single mom. Watching them become the people they are today is her greatest source of pride. In her words, they have become โthe version of myself I can only hope to be.โ
๐
๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐จ๐ญ๐:
โYou always want to surround yourself with people who are smarter than you.โ - Randy Rabon
For Michelle, leadership means continuing to learn, welcoming other perspectives, knowing when to talk and knowing when to listen and recognizing the strengths others bring to the table.
Through her work at Thrive, Michelle helps connect community generosity with local nonprofits serving Otero and Lincoln Counties. She believes those connections grow stronger when people understand that their contribution, their involvement, and their voice matter.
Thank you, Michelle, for leading with heart, building meaningful relationships, and helping our community thrive together. ๐ฑ
