Jim Richards 2021 Political Outlook Monday, December 7 6:00p.m. – 8:00p.m.
J
im Richards, a Cornerstone Principal and Managing Director, joined the firm in 2005 after serving in both the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. Since joining the Cornerstone family, Jim has successfully managed and
advised a diverse set of clients in the agriculture, defense, technology, higher education, transportation, environment, and appropriations spheres, amongst others. In addition, Jim is heavily engaged in Republican politics at the state, local, and federal levels. Before leaving Capitol Hill, Jim served as the appropriations staff for succeeding chairmen of the House Appropriations Subcommit tee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA and Related Agencies, the Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations at the United States Department of Agriculture, and the chief of
staff to Congressman Steve Pearce. Prior to his government service, Jim was the General Manager of a multi-million-dollar wholesale and retail business in New Mexico and a small business owner in Arizona. He also served as an interrogator, linguist and intelligence specialist on active duty in the U.S. Army with extensive experience throughout Southwest Asia. While in the Army, he graduated as Distinguished Honor Graduate of the Defense Language Institute and Foreign Language Center’s Modern Standard Arabic and Egyptian Dialect courses. Jim grew up on his family’s fifth generation cattle ranch in Southwest New Mexico and resides in McLean, VA with his wife Patty and their two youngest children.
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Riggins Joins NMCGA Team
T
aylor Riggins grew up in Santa Rosa, NM on her family’s cow/calf operation with her parents, Bill & Laurie and younger brother Tyler. She went to high school in Fort Sumner, where she was active in basketball, rodeo and 4-H. Upon graduation, she enrolled at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. Beginning in the fall of 2014 she worked to earn her Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Media and Communication, graduating in 2017. She remained at WTAMU until 2019, becoming a member of the graduate program, furthering her education by earning her Master of Science in Agriculture. She enjoys working with her family on their ranch, listening to live music and spending time in her leather room. Taylor has her own small business called T-RIGG Brand Leather, where she creates leather and braided working gear. Taylor joins the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association as Administrative Assistant and looks forward to protecting the ranching way of life, by incorporating her writing skills, her creativity and her passion for the industry.
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