LACDC has announced the appointments of, from left, Jacquelyn Connolly as the executive director of Los Alamos MainStreet and Creative District, Vai Reddy-Kruse as the new Event and Social Engagement Coordinator for Los Alamos MainStreet and Creative District, and Alice Holtzclaw as Membership & Program Manager for projectY cowork. Photo Courtesy LACDC
LACDC NEWS RELEASE
Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation (LACDC) has recently made some new hires and promotions. Alice Holtzclaw joined the team as the new Membership & Program Manager for projectY cowork and Vai Reddy-Kruse has been hired as the Event and Social Engagement Coordinator working with Los Alamos MainStreet and Creative District. Jacquelyn Connolly, previously serving as Los Alamos MainStreet Director, is now spearheading Los Alamos MainStreet and Creative District as Executive Director.
Holtzclaw spent the last few years working towards a double degree in Political Science and German from Miami University of Ohio, and is looking forward to building relationships with the community and supporting local economic development. She hopes to bring a fresh perspective on networking and technology to projectY cowork, continuing to build the space into a modern alternative to working from home. A relatively new resident, she moved to Los Alamos in July 2022 with her family. In her spare time, Alice enjoys painting, drawing, and playing with her dogs.
Since its inception in June 2016, projectY cowork has hosted hundreds of entrepreneurial events attracting individuals from across Northern New Mexico. In addition to various membership options and punch card passes to the workspace, projectY also allows non-members to reserve its 10-person conference room and event space for after-hours and weekend use. A new student membership was recently launched for those who’d like an alternative work environment with 24/7 facility access.
Reddy-Kruse most recently worked at an art gallery in Santa Fe, where she acted as an artist liaison, sales representative and administrative assistant. She was also responsible for communications channels and featuring artists through various mediums. A recent graduate of Cornell University in Architecture, Art and Planning, Reddy-Kruse has always been drawn to volunteering and helping her community grow. Back in India, she was the co-founder of the non-profit C3D, which facilitated career counseling and character development for underprivileged youth through in-person art workshops. As the creative head, she designed logos and built marketing graphics for the organization and was behind the execution of almost all creative endeavors. In her role as the Event and Social Engagement Coordinator for Los Alamos MainStreet and Creative District, she hopes to bring local businesses and the community together to help facilitate new conversations and growth and to make the Los Alamos and White Rock downtowns livelier and more welcoming. When not at work, Reddy-Kruse can be found making art for her small business and hiking with her husband and their dog, Katerina Puppyova.
Connolly joined LACDC in May 2022 as Director of Los Alamos MainStreet. Since then, she has been deeply involved in the planning and execution of many of the Los Alamos’ beloved events including Los Alamos ScienceFest, Atomic Follies cabaret productions, Los Alamos Trick-or-Treat on MainStreet and Halloweekend, the Rocky Horror Picture Show with shadowcast, the Fair and Rodeo and Holiday Lights parades, Day of Arts & Culture, and other programming for artists and small businesses, including the Los Alamos Business Accelerator and the White Rock Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA). Hailing from Denver, she previously worked as the curator for the Denver International Airport Art Program and the Director of Emmanuel Gallery at the University of Colorado at Denver. Prior to that, she was a public art administrator for Creative Colorado (Colorado’s State Arts Agency) and the City of Denver. Through her business as an independent arts and project management consultant, Jacquelyn’s experience as an arts administrator brought together artists, the community, businesses, and local government. Organizing events, exhibitions, and public art projects are her specialty. After relocating to Los Alamos in 2018 with her husband and three children. Currently, she is a member of the Art in Public Places Board for Los Alamos, 505 Swing, and part of the 2023 Los Alamos Leadership Class.
About Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation (LACDC)
Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation is 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, Los Alamos Creative District, Discover Los Alamos, Los Alamos Small Business Center, projectY cowork Los Alamos, Los Alamos Research Park, and LEEP (Lab-Embedded Entrepreneur Program).