Rob Black is the Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department, leading the state’s efforts to compete in the next generation of innovation-driven industries. Born and raised in Lovington, New Mexico, he is focused on building a resilient, high-wage economy that delivers long-term opportunity for families across the state. As Cabinet Secretary, Black has overseen the launch of a Site Readiness program designed to accelerate business attraction, secured New Mexico’s first fusion energy company, and supported the creation of a $25 million quantum venture studio, and other key efforts that have helped propel New Mexico into the top tier nationally for manufacturing and high-wage job growth. Black brings more than 25 years of experience across the public and private sectors and holds degrees from the University of New Mexico and UC Law San Francisco.

Chris Cassidy is the Director of Private Equity and Venture Capital at the New Mexico State Investment Council, the state's sovereign wealth fund. His career at the SIC has focused on enhancing the state's investment strategies to benefit economic growth and innovation. Prior to the SIC, Chris was an executive at Glencore International AG and an investment banker in the Financial Sponsors Group at Lehman Brothers. Chris graduated summa cum laude from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and is a CFA charterholder.

Nick is a general partner at Upfront Ventures. He focuses on early-stage investments in hard tech and national infrastructure sectors like advanced manufacturing and robotics, industrial automation, energy and utilities, aerospace and defense, and more. Prior to joining Upfront, Nick was at Crosscut Ventures leading seed investments. Before Crosscut, Nick was an early employee at Warby Parker, where he was the general manager of the Home Try-On business. Nick also served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Human Ventures and as an investor with the Dorm Room Fund, First Round Capital’s student-run investment fund.

Nick graduated with a degree in economics from UC Berkeley and earned his MBA from The Wharton School.