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It was a treat to attend the local technology associations' networking event a few weeks ago.

The meeting brought together members of the New Mexico Biotechnology and Biomedical Association, New Mexico Information Technology & Software Association and the New Mexico Optics Industry Association for an evening of low-tech networking to discuss high-tech opportunities.

It was a great event on several levels including the location, the Savoy Bar & Grille opened recently by Keith and Kevin Roessler, the depth of talent in the room and the breadth of conversation. However, probably the item most worth mentioning was the meeting itself and what it represents.

Why? As I'm sure many of you would agree, I'm seeing more and more disparate groups from throughout the state working together to move their industries and New Mexico forward.

At this meeting in particular, the three groups met to discuss the local technology industry. As Randy Burge, a fellow Tribune columnist and NMITSA president, said, "New Mexico's entire business community stands to significantly benefit from these organizations and these kinds of events."

There are many other similar stories emerging throughout the state. There was the successful Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, which convened here May 13-19. Under the direction of Inquiry Facilitators and a host of local companies, industry organizations and educational institutions, a core committee worked together to bring this prestigious event here.

The science fair is the world's largest pre-college celebration of science and annually brings together nearly 1,500 students from more than 40 nations to compete for scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and a $50,000 college scholarship grand prize.

That same week, I organized the third annual New Mexico MarCom Mixer which brought together members of the 10 key marketing-related associations in the state to network with peers and meet new sales prospects.

As a result, several new collaborative efforts were hatched between the roughly 350 attendees and 15 exhibitors, including the LEARN Consortium (Learn-abq.org), Albuquerque Reads, KNME-TV and the United Ways' Center for Nonprofit Excellence, to name a few.

Probably the best example of local cooperation was the collaborative efforts of several varied groups who came together under Albuquerque Economic Development's leadership to persuade electric car-maker Tesla Motors to bring a manufacturing plant here. The list is too long to include here, but everyone from the city of Albuquerque to the state's Economic Development Department offices, the New Mexico Economic Development Partnership, Rio Real Estate Investment, SunCal Cos. and First Community Bank to start the list.

I don't remember so many people coming together before with a common purpose with the exception of the herculean efforts of the Kirtland Partnership Committee to save Kirtland Air Force Base a few years ago. New Mexicans are working together more and more as one to move the state forward.

As I approach my bi-annual sojourn to the Bosque Del Apache to see the many teams of birds in flight, I'm reminded of the story "Lessons From Geese" by Milton Olson, and how geese work together to create a community much like our recent efforts.

One of the key messages was that as each bird in a formation flaps its' wings, it creates an uplift for the bird following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds 71 percent greater flying range than if the bird flew alone. And whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation.

The lesson, as told by Olson, is that "people who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another."