Los Alamos County names Max Khudiakov new economic development administrator

Los Alamos County has chosen Max Khudiakov to lead its economic development work, a job that will help shape whether White Rock, East Downtown Los Alamos and the county’s business corridors show real movement over the next year.

Khudiakov will start June 8 as the county’s new Economic Development Administrator. County officials cast the hire as more than a staffing change, saying the position sits at the center of efforts to support existing businesses, recruit new ones and push broader economic growth in a community that still depends heavily on Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The county’s Economic Development Division says its work is tied to Council priorities that include housing, local business support, tourism, marketing and intergovernmental economic-development relations. The county’s Economic Vitality Strategic Plan is a 10-year roadmap meant to improve the community’s living and working environment while aligning projects and services with county goals. That makes the new administrator one of the key people responsible for translating long-range planning into visible results residents can see.

Those results will need to be concrete. The county has identified White Rock and East Downtown Los Alamos as Metropolitan Redevelopment Areas, a designation meant to address disinvestment and stimulate redevelopment. The new administrator is also expected to help advance Local Economic Development Act programs, which are designed to encourage investment, job creation and improvements in commercial real estate. In practical terms, that means the public should be looking for fewer empty storefronts, more business recruitment activity and signs that redevelopment projects are moving from plans to permits and construction.

Community Development Department Head Eli Isaacson said Khudiakov’s arrival strengthens the county’s effort. “Max joining our team is a huge benefit to the community,” Isaacson said.

Khudiakov comes to Los Alamos after more than four years as director of economic development and tourism for the Town of Red River. The county says Red River earned International Economic Development Council Gold and Silver Awards in 2025 for work tied to rural residents, tourism promotion and small-business development. Khudiakov also holds certifications in economic development, destination management, digital marketing and program management, including the IEDC Certified Economic Developer designation.

The timing matters. Los Alamos County’s housing plan calls for 1,300 to 2,400 new housing units between 2024 and 2029, and the county’s 2026 Strategic Leadership Plan lists Economic Vitality, Housing and Local Business as ongoing priorities. If Khudiakov’s work has traction, residents should see it in new business activity, stronger redevelopment in White Rock and downtown, and a clearer link between jobs, housing and the county’s tax base.