‘Spirit of the Workforce’ Winners Announced

The following four individuals received special recognition at this year’s Carlsbad Mayor’s Energy Summit.

Alicia Smith, Chevron HSE Specialist

Nominated by Beverly Allen

I am pleased to nominate Alicia Smith for the Spirit of the Workforce recognition. Since beginning her oil and gas career in 2009 as a North Texas lease operator, she has advanced professionally while raising three children as a single mother. Alicia joined Chevron in 2019, became a Workforce Safety Specialist in 2022, and relocated to Carlsbad with her youngest son.

Committed to growth, Alicia earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and nursing, maintained her Registered Nurse license, and completed OSHA certification courses through Texas A&M University to strengthen her HSE expertise.

Despite the challenge of leaving family and friends, Alicia quickly made Carlsbad home and gave back through Chevron-sponsored events. She has supported back-to-school programs, provided clothing and backpacks, volunteered with CASA, joined community improvement projects, and encouraged local young women to pursue oil and gas careers.

Alicia’s family has also put down roots in Carlsbad, where her son and his fiancée welcomed her granddaughter, Lacey.

As a Workforce Safety Specialist, AlicQia coaches employees and contractors on Operational Excellence, environmental stewardship, and protecting New Mexico’s natural beauty. Her journey reflects resilience, lifelong learning, service, and a commitment to making a difference.

What I wish you could see in person is how much Alicia means to our Chevron team. She makes everyone smile, feel heard, and most importantly, protected. Alicia watches over the lives of our workforce in the field as if they were her own family. She is always there and has your back.

Alicia embodies the Spirit of the Workforce through her service, community investment, support for coworkers, and commitment to a safer, stronger future. I am proud to nominate her for this recognition.

David Smith, Mesa Power Solutions Inspector

Nominated by Valerie Murrill

Although I am not David’s employer, I have spent a great deal of time with him, including coaching him on how to advance his career. David has earned numerous accolades and certifications at work, including Safety Employee of the Year and Safety Employee of the Quarter due to his dedication to keeping his workplace safe for everyone. His performance reviews reflect a man who does what it takes for the team to be successful, not just himself. He consistently goes above and beyond, both at work and in his personal life. He teaches new employees the right way to get the job done and always has time to help others, even when he is off the clock.

Even as an outsider, I am still able to clearly see his dedication and work ethic. He works long hours and always volunteers to do the jobs no one wants, including traveling to North Dakota in the dead of winter to support his team. He leads by example and sets a high standard for others to follow, while remaining humble and approachable.

Even with his heavy workload and long hours, David is always ready to help others in the community. Whether it is doing community cleanup or bringing his team together to donate to worthy local causes, David always makes time for others.

When my husband’s obituary was published, it listed some local non-profits that were dear to him. David rallied his coworkers, and they all pitched in to make significant donations to both Noah’s Ark and the Carlsbad Battered Family Shelter. He enjoys teaching the younger generation just entering the workforce not only how to do the job, but how to make a difference to others and the community.

In addition to being a dedicated, hardworking employee, David is most importantly a family man. He is an amazing husband and a wonderful father to his two daughters, as well as a great friend. Despite long hours at work, he always makes time to be available for the people he loves and cares about.

After decades of running multiple companies, David is the type of employee that I would be thrilled to have. There are not too many like him in the workforce anymore. For these reasons, I believe David embodies the “Spirit of the Workforce,” and I am proud to know him.

Kelly Smith and his team, Mewbourne Oil Company, Field Production Foreman

Nominated by Meghan Mooney

Each one of us holds meaning in community, family, and work. They do not exist in silos for Kelly Smith. It is important to Kelly that his company invests in the community where he lives and works, where he sees opportunities for growth and prosperity.

Kelly Smith is the type of employee and community member who will bring ideas to leadership whether they want the ideas or not. The best part about it is that he is willing to bring the ideas to life.

For the past year, Kelly has taken the lead in coordinating packing sessions with Packs for Hunger and his field team at Mewbourne Oil Company. Kelly is able to gather a group of 18 coworkers plus himself to meet at Packs for Hunger’s Pack Room to fill bags with food and available essentials to be delivered to schools for students to take home.

Packs for Hunger’s mission is to provide food assistance to school-age children in the Carlsbad and Loving communities on the weekends and holidays. Some students do not have the resources at home to avoid food insecurity, and Kelly’s leadership in this service has motivated his team without them ever meeting a single child receiving assistance.

When Kelly and his team show up, Packs for Hunger is able to cancel their next packing session due to the efficiency of Kelly’s team. The Mewbourne team covers so many bags that only one packing session is necessary for the week, and Kelly’s Mewbourne team volunteers at least twice a month. If Kelly has not received an update on the next packing session, he is the first to ask when his team can get back on the Packs for Hunger calendar.

It doesn’t matter what Packs for Hunger or the community needs; Kelly and his wife or members of his team are willing to donate their personal time on the weekends and after hours to United Way on Saturdays or unload for a local Pumpkin Patch. Currently, he and his wife are looking for options to purchase reusable bags for the children of Packs for Hunger.

For three years in a row, Kelly has coordinated a team of approximately 20 Mewbourne employees to attend the Day of Caring projects assigned to his company. They have remodeled office spaces, constructed part of a disc golf course, painted a mural along a city walking/jogging trail, and they truly look forward to more! They enjoy convening together afterward to discuss the effects and what can be considered for future years’ projects, whether it’s for the same event or whenever someone needs it.

Leslie Brashers (Packs for Hunger volunteer) shared:

“The Mewbourne team jumps wherever and however it is needed as soon as they arrive. They unload and load pallets when they arrive, pack bags, break boxes, and they are familiar enough with us to know what is needed by now. They step in without even being asked. They learn our system quickly and step in as soon as they see the supplies to get them in place. They make a huge difference with their great attitudes, happy and excited to be there. Their mere presence provides a fun atmosphere.”

Neal Appel (Packs for Hunger volunteer) shared:

“These guys show up passionate with enthusiasm, and they have made it competitive. It’s all over Kelly’s face and his interactions; his team feeds off this. He has an infectious personality. All it takes is mentioning an idea or having these guys around for them to get involved and make it better. We are so grateful for their generosity and help with our missions in this community.”

Kelly, his team, and his family are helping make our community safer and healthier while providing invaluable services.

Javier Quezada, Bergalia Power Line Inspector

Nominated by Valeria Bannister

My dad is one of the hardest-working people I know, if not the hardest. Throughout my life, I have watched him work his way up from the bottom, earning every opportunity through years of dedication, hard work, and reliability. He genuinely loves what he does, and it shows in the way he talks about his work and the pride he takes in it. Watching him build his career has been one of the greatest examples for me and my brothers of what it means to work hard, stay committed, and earn your success.

One thing that has always stood out to me is how dependable he is. Growing up, I watched him answer calls and immediately head out whenever he was needed, whether it was raining, snowing, extremely windy, or a storm was moving through the area. Even on weekends, he was always willing to go when work called.

As his daughter, it was sometimes frightening to watch him leave home in those conditions, knowing what he might be heading into. But he understood that people were counting on him, and he never hesitated to show up. I have never heard a single one of his bosses speak poorly of him, and I believe that speaks volumes about the kind of employee he is.

Even though he has worked his way into a supervisory position, he has never become someone who simply stands back and tells others what to do. He gets out there and works alongside his crew, willing to get his hands dirty and help wherever he is needed. His crew enjoys working with him, and I believe that is because he leads by example and treats the work as a team effort. He knows what it takes to do the job because he has worked his way up and experienced it himself.

To me, my dad represents the Spirit of the Workforce because he embodies hard work, reliability, and dedication. He takes pride in his job, cares about the people he works with, and understands the importance of being someone others can count on. His career has shown my brothers and me that success is earned through commitment, perseverance, and a willingness to put in the work. I am incredibly proud of the career he has built and the example he continues to set for our family. He may not be someone who seeks recognition, but I believe his dedication and the respect he has earned throughout his career make him deserving of this honor.