I started my career in auto recycling in 1993 managing our family business Capo’s Truck and Auto Parts in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
In December 2009 we sold our company to LKQ Corporation and I continued on with LKQ of New Mexico until December 2010.
In January 2011 I started Blalock Consulting to redirect my focus on helping and giving back to the industry that gave so much to me. I have since January focused my energy on building and managing the New Mexico Certified Automotive Recyclers and the New Mexico Metal Recyclers Associations. I believe strongly in creating working partnerships with agencies and regulators who have oversight of our industry to help both recyclers and our communities which will be the foundation of both these organizations and others I hoped to help in the near future.
I served on the NM Automotive Recyclers Association Board for 17 years and 4 years as President. During my time on this board I helped write and get passed state legislation to change the licensing for automotive recyclers and legislation that mandates non-repairable vehicles being sold only to licensed automotive recyclers in New Mexico.
In August 2011 I hosted the 1st Annual NM Recycling Summit and Training program that brought training to both automotive and metal recyclers in New Mexico as well as the agencies that have oversight of our industry in New Mexico. This was the first time this has been done in New Mexico and I have plans to make it an annual event.
My immediate plans include assisting other states in starting or rebuilding their associations. I will concentrate my efforts in the next couple of years on the Four Corners states including Nevada with the intention of creating a Regional Alliance between New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Colorado.
My auto recycling career also includes serving on the Executive Committee of ARA, President of ARA, Member and current President of the ARA Educational Foundation, member of the Government Affairs Committee, Affiliate Chapters Committee, State Chairperson, Regional Director and the Budget Committee.
During my tenure as President of ARA I attended all by one Affiliate meeting (two fell on same weekend) including 2 trips to Canada and Australia to speak at their annual meetings. I have participated in all the International Recycling Roundtables, traveling to Tokyo, Australia and Quebec. My goal as President of ARA was to find a way for ARA to assist states with State Legislative issues and in July 2008 we convened the 1st Annual State Legislative Summit that has been held every year since. We now assist in monitoring state legislation and work closely with our members in promoting positive legislation and fighting negative legislative attacks on our industry.
All in all I have to say that I got much more than I gave during my career and my life’s ambition is to now give back to the industry as well as my state that we proudly call “The Land of Enchantment”.