Beyond Your WHY

Meet Jeff Apodaca.

His WHY is Contribute.

Interviewed by WHY Institute Founder Dr. Gary Sanchez (Better Way).

Jeff Apodaca is the president of 47 LLC, a venture group that is incubating and developing new investments and businesses in New Mexico and the surrounding region. He is also connected with businesses such as Fathom NM and High Desert Hemp, both company’s he co-founded and now serves as president of.

He is also the co-founder and partner of Go-Station, a new green technology that is powering electric vehicles. In addition, he advises the APO Action Foundation (Advancement, Progress, Opportunity), a nonprofit group working with business, social, and political groups to advance economic and educational opportunities for New Mexico. He launched, produces and co-hosts a weekly TV Show called, “Lets Meet in the Middle”, where he brings political and business leaders together to discuss ideas that will bring other together rather than divide them. The goal is to work together to grow NM. He is also a former gubernatorial candidate in the state of NM 2017- 2018.

Mr. Apodaca was formerly a media executive, and has over 30 years’ experience, most recently as Executive Vice President of Univision Television, Radio, and Digital properties. Prior to that, he was the SVP of Integrated Strategies and New media for Univision Inc (Based in Los Angles & NY) where he started and lead his team in creating a new division for Univision. This division was valued at over $1Billion before the company sold it in 2008. In 1999 he launched AOL Studios, which was based in LA, and from 1987-1998 was with CBS Television Network (both in NY and LA) before returning to New Mexico in 2010.

Mr. Apodaca started his broadcasting career in Albuquerque with the NBC station, and holds a Business Broadcast Management degree from the University of New Mexico, where he also lettered in football. He sits on numerous Boards & Charities in NM, and has worked within the private sector, city, county and state leaders to enhance economic growth.

A cancer survivor of 40 years, Apodaca spent 1983 as the American Cancer Society’s National spokesperson. He continues to work with children and teens fighting cancer. In 1999, Apodaca and his wife Jackie founded the Jeff Apodaca Celebrations of Life Fund, which has raised over $1.5 million dollars benefiting cancer survivors. They also opened the Jeff Apodaca Multimedia Center at UNM Children’s Hospital, which is where he was treated for his rare sarcoma from 1979-1980. In 2000, he and his wife Jackie established the JACOL scholarship fund for nurses and students at UNM. They are currently working with UNMCC to develop their AYA Program (Adolescent Young Adult Cancer survivor program), a first-of-its-kind program in NM.

Apodaca grew up in Santa Fe & Las Cruces, New Mexico where he still has family and friends that he keeps close ties with. Today, Apodaca makes his home in Albuquerque with his wife Jackie Moss Apodaca and their two children, Asher & Gage.