Maxine Velasquez

Biography

Maxine R. Velasquez is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna Indian Reservation, located 46 miles west of Albuquerque New Mexico. She was named President and CEO of Laguna Development Corporation (LDC) in April 2020. An attorney by training, Maxine became the first woman to steward a multimillion-dollar tribally owned corporation for her community.

LDC’s businesses include three New Mexico Indian gaming establishments, twenty-two food and beverage establishments, entertainment and hospitality, a grocery store, two travel centers, and three fuel stations. Under her leadership, LDC’s gaming, food & beverage and hospitality operations have enjoyed record-breaking revenues, facility expansion and job growth. During her term as leader of Laguna’s largest business entity tribal member promotions to executive leadership positions has steadily increased. The LDC subsidiary Fuego Enterprises LLC has led the growth and expansion of the World Famous Laguna Burger, a growing fast casual restaurant brand with six locations. In 2022 she was the lead negotiator in the sale of the company’s Racing and Gaming facility in Kentucky to a nationally recognized casino and racetrack operator. The deal generated a 305% return on the company’s original investment.

Before becoming President and CEO of LDC, Maxine served as In-House General Counsel and was in private practice for more than twenty years representing tribes and their business entities on the full range of legal and policy issues, including Indian gaming, economic development, land, water, taxation, contracts, ordinances and regulations, and rights-of way negotiations.  She also advised and represented Tribes before a wide range of governmental departments, agencies, and committees at the local, state, and federal level.

Maxine received her Juris Doctor, Master of Public Administration, and Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of New Mexico, an associate’s degree in administration of justice from Allan Hancock College and is currently pursuing her MBA at the University of New Mexico. She also received a Business Administration Certificate from the University of Notre Dame.  She continues to be licensed to practice law in New Mexico. In 2023 she was named Executive of the Year by the Native American Finance Officers Associations, a national organization. In 2024 she was named the winner of the prestigious Distinguished Alumnus Award by Leadership New Mexico. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exemplary leadership and commitment to benefit the state of New Mexico and their community.

In her spare time, she enjoys golf, martial arts, RVing, hiking, weightlifting, gardening, and is learning to play the guitar.