Albuquerque Journal

A Glance with Don Chalmers
By Susan Stiger Of the Journal

The new chairman of the board of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce actually lives in Santa Fe. He wanted to build a racino in Tucumcari, even though he's never so much as bought a lottery ticket. His foot is as comfortable in a stirrup as it is on a Ford gas pedal. And he employs a nurse to inspire good health habits in his employees, but admits he doesn't exercise as much as he should.
      
 That's Don Chalmers. His life is narrow, personally speaking, and broad businesswise.
      
 “I used to tell people I wish I'd dated myself in high school because I can never say no,” he says.
      
 Aside from his car dealerships and his new position with the chamber, he's on the national board of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the National Automobile Association and the National Ford Dealers Council. He keeps small dumbbells in his car so he can exercise his arms during his 55-minute commute. He's busy.
       
But Chalmers' kind of busy comes with a Jerry Jeff Walker soundtrack. With rare fly-fishing trips to the Pecos or San Juan rivers, or all the way to Montana or Alaska. With visits to the grandkids in Texas, not to mention those Dallas Cowboys games. Maybe a golf game or a ride on Junior, his horse. And attention to the aesthetic, his Western art collection — works by Wilson Hurley, Arturo Chavez, Curtis Fort, Dan Ostermiller, Joseph Sharp and Glenna Goodacre. Most of the fun stuff — except for Walker crooning from the stereo in his office — comes under the heading “occasional.” Work comes under “constant.”
       
       
Q: What's with this economy? Are you worried?
       
A: Nothing lasts forever. People are not spending money right now, and I'm speaking as a domestic car dealer. You have to be efficient with expenses, recognize business when it's in front of you. Good habits are formed in bad times; bad habits are formed in good times.
      
 Q: What do you mean?  
      
 A: People don't come into a car business to not buy a car. You have to look through their talk (about just looking) and appreciate what the customer is there for. If they walk out, we didn't recognize why they were there.
      
 Q: You and other investors had proposed building a racino in Tucumcari. (The New Mexico Racing Commission ultimately voted to put it in Raton). If you're not a gambler, why get involved?
      
 A: I didn't go looking for this. Quay County wanted it and they needed private enterprise, and they wanted a New Mexico businessman. They called me. It's business and economic development.
      
 Q: What about the downside of gambling?
       
A: The downside is anecdotal. Some people do go overboard, yes. And you can do that using a lot of things. Part of the gambling revenue goes to help problem gamblers, by law. Yes, there is potential for an unintended consequence. But people need to take responsibility for themselves, take advantage of programs funded.
       
Q: You provide health care to your employees. What do you believe is the role of business in health care?:
       
A: We need incentives and education to show or lead people to a healthier life. Business will win; the community will win. I have a vision for my company. I would like all my employees to know their numbers — their vitals, blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, blood sugar. I have a nurse for my employees on staff downstairs in the building. She makes rounds. She looks at weight, smoking — but people have to volunteer. We give incentives. If you quit smoking, you get $1,000.
       
Q: How is your health?:
       
A: I don't do 30 minutes on the elliptical every day like I should, but my numbers are good. I take a medication for cholesterol. I do weights and the elliptical when I can.
       
Q: You mentioned crime and safety as issues for the chamber to address. Have you been affected by crime?
       
A: I've been burgled, but not in Albuquerque, ... at a horse ranch south of town. As a businessman, I've had cars stolen, not many, and other things, like temporary tags, which runs business costs up. With car thefts, the criminals are usually linked to drugs.
      
 Q: Should government be run like a business?
       
A: A business will be judged by how it meets its objectives. What are the objectives of government? You judge by that. It needs to be efficient and spend money to get the best bang for the buck in a way that benefits the most citizens.
      
 Q: What's with the steers you buy from the 4-H and Future Farmers of America every year? Are you a part-time rancher?
       
A: I used to have 20 horses, but I couldn't ride all of them. I buy steers to preserve the agrarian lifestyle and to help kids with their education. They use the funds as seed money for the next year's project and for school. I've bought a lot of grand champions. It helps fulfill more than one philanthropic goal — education and promoting the rural lifestyle. Generally I donate them, most of the time to the Boys and Girls Ranch to slaughter for meat.
       
Q: What famous people have you met?
       
A: I knew President Ford well, Susan Ford, Sam Donaldson, both Bushes, Reagan.
      
 Q: How old were you when you started losing your hair?
       
A: 30. `I'm losing my hair,' he bawled.