Los Alamos Reporter

Cyndi Wells And Pet Pangaea Named 2019 New Mexico Women-Owned Small Business Of The Year

Cyndi Wells.jpg

Cyndi Wells

CHAMBER NEWS

Cyndi Wells and Pet Pangaea LLC of Los Alamos have been named the 2019 New Mexico Women-Owned Small Business of the Year by the New Mexico Small Business Administration.

“It is a great honor to be selected from among the many small businesses who were nominated in New Mexico,” owner Cyndi Wells said. She will be recognized at the New Mexico Small Business Week Awards Ceremony on May 8 in Albuquerque.

Cyndi Wells holds a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin. As an undergrad, she double majored in chemistry and Japanese and earned a B.S. with High Honors from the University of Michigan. Cyndi worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a postdoc, a Technical Staff Member, and a Senior Project Leader from 2000 – 2008. She received a Distinguished Performance Award for her work in Iraq as part of the Iraq Survey Group in 2003-2004. She also taught chemistry at the University of New Mexico – Los Alamos.

When the only pet store in the community closed, she decided to open a pet supplies store and founded Pet Pangaea LLC in 2004. Pet Pangaea LLC is a retailer of pet supplies and carries products for all pets in order toserve the community well. Pet Pangaea’s mission is to improve the well-being of pets and works to help educate pet owners in pet nutrition and other topics, so they may make informed decisions for their pets.

Pet Pangaea believes strongly in community building and hosts Downtown Dogs, a dog walking group that meets weekly for fun, friendship, and exercise. Pet Pangaea is also committed to pet adoption and whole-heartedly supports the efforts of local rescue groups and the animal shelter.

Cyndi is very involved in the community of Los Alamos and White Rock. An example of her commitment to the Los Alamos community is her involvement with the Tour de Los Alamos Bicycle Race. When the previous race director stepped down, Cyndi volunteered to run it and has served as the Race Director for three years now.

“I just couldn’t see a race disappearing from the community, especially one that had been going continuously for over 40 years,” Cyndi said.

Cyndi was also a volunteer for the non-profit Mountain Canine Corps Search and Rescue Team for eight years and served as the President. She is a triathlete who has completed nine Ironman events and founded the nonprofit Triatomics Multisport Club in Los Alamos.

Cyndi is a member of Friends of the Shelter and Companion Members and has served as its Treasurer in the past. As a key sponsor for the annual local Dog Jog, Pet Pangaea helps support spay/neuter and medical expenses for homeless pets. Pet Pangaea is also
a supporter of the Los Alamos Animal Shelter, the Friends of the Shelter, The Española Wildlife Center and multiple rescue groups.

Pet Pangaea received the NM Family Friendly Award as well as the Small Business Development Center’s Small Business of the Year award in 2009. In 2013, Pet Pangaea received the Sonny Brown Small Business of the Year Award from the Rotary International District 5520. In both 2017 and 2018 Pet Pangaea received the Retailer of the Year award from the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce.

“I congratulate Cyndi on her 2019 New Mexico Women-Owned Small Business of the Year Award,” Ryn Herrmann, Los Alamos Chamber Director said. “Her dedication, hard work and community involvement are the drivers of her extraordinary success and she exemplifies our community’s entrepreneurial spirit.”

To become a Chamber member or for more information, visit LosAlamosChamber.com or contact Ryn Herrmann,(505) 661-4807,  ryn@losalamos.org or Ufemia Bernal Rios (505) 661-4816 ufemia@losalamos.org.

The Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce is a program of Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation; a private, not-for-profit economic and community development organization serving the Los Alamos area since 1983. LACDC serves as the umbrella organization for the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce, Los Alamos MainStreet, Discover Los Alamos, Los Alamos Small Business Center, projectY cowork of Los Alamos, Los Alamos Creative District, Launch Los Alamos and the Los Alamos Research Park.

The Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation’s mission is to build a vibrantcommunity through a thriving economy by leveraging public and private sector investment to achieve sustainable economic development. LACDC works to drive economic progress by providing services to businesses using its broad portfolio of programs and initiatives.