BY KARYL ANN ARMBRUSTER
League of Women Voters Los Alamos

Have you ever wondered what the League of Women Voters’ Lunch with a Leader is? Every month the League invites a local or regional expert to talk with the community about current issues. The event is held at the Unitarian Church Fellowship Hall on N. Sage Street in Los Alamos.

On Thursday, June 18, come hear their latest speaker, Elias Isaacson, discuss economic development in Los Alamos County. People arrive around 11:45 a.m. to socialize and begin eating the lunch they brought.  The presentation begins at 12 p.m. and ends around 1 p.m., which includes time to ask questions.

Their speaker, Elias Isaacson, is the Community Development Director for Los Alamos County.  He leads the County’s planning, building safety, affordable housing, and economic development operations. He serves as principal advisor to the County Manager and elected officials on growth, land use, and development policy.  His talk will focus on the evolution of the 2026 update to the County’s Comprehensive Plan.

Prior to joining Los Alamos County, Isaacson served as Community Development Director for the City of Santa Barbara, California, and held senior leadership roles with the City of Santa Fe and the City of Española, where he also served as Interim City Manager.  He holds credentials from the American Institute of Architects, the American Institute of Certified Planners, the International Code Council, and is a LEED Accredited Professional.  He earned a Master of Architecture from the University of New Mexico, a Master of City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in Geography from the University of Wisconsin.  He is currently pursuing an Executive Certificate in Strategy and Innovation from the MIT Sloan School of Management.  He serves on the boards of  The Housing Trust in Santa Fe and the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District.

Outside of work, Isaacson is an outdoor enthusiast and a steady reader of current affairs, geopolitics, and financial markets. He lives in Santa Fe with his wife, Jessie and their three-year-old son, River.

So.try something new— Lunch with a Leader – the League of Women Voters would love to have you join them!