2025 New Mexico Housing Summit

Josh Howe has been a development loan manager for Housing New Mexico | MFA since October 2023. He brings more than 20 years of retail and commercial banking experience to the role and is focused on funding the development of single-family homes throughout New Mexico. Josh supports local organizations that align with his passions for animal welfare and youth development and currently serves on the board of directors for Animal Humane New Mexico.

Isidoro Hernandez came to Housing New Mexico in 1992 as the organization’s management trainee. Over the next 27 years, Hernandez worked in every area of the organization and held a variety of positions, including the director of single-family programs and the community development department, as well as the deputy director of programs. In December 2019, Hernandez was named as Housing New Mexico’s sixth executive director, bringing a wealth of experience and institutional knowledge to the position. In addition to his work at Housing New Mexico, Hernandez served in the New Mexico Army National Guard for 32 years, retiring as a colonel in 2016. He attended the Senior Service College/Inter American Defense College (aka War College), had two deployments, and commanded as many as 1,000 soldiers at the brigade level. Hernandez, raised in Dexter, New Mexico, has a bachelor’s degree in finance and real estate from New Mexico State University and a Master of Business Administration from TOURO University International. He served on the National Council of State Housing Agencies Board, on the Federal Home Loan Bank Dallas Affordable Housing Advisory Committee and is currently a member of the Opportunity Enterprise & Housing Development Review Board. He is married to Melinda, and together they have built a family of six children and ten grandchildren.

Jeff Payne joined Housing New Mexico in February 2017 as senior director of mortgage operations. Payne initially led the homeownership and servicing departments and played a pivotal role in establishing the secondary market department. 

Currently serving as the chief lending officer, Payne is responsible for leading the single-family lending efforts in Housing New Mexico’s Homeownership and Secondary Market Departments. Furthermore, he plays a crucial role in overseeing multifamily construction and financing in Housing New Mexico’s Housing Development Department, in addition to managing Housing New Mexico’s Information Systems Department. 

Prior to joining Housing New Mexico, he served as manager of single-family mortgage lending originations for a major national bank in central and northern New Mexico. He has worked in the mortgage industry for nearly 40 years, with experience in single-family mortgage origination, underwriting, loss mitigation, construction, and development lending.

He also previously served as president for one year of a three-year term on the Greater Albuquerque Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management with an emphasis in finance from Brigham Young University.

Monica Abeita is a native New Mexican and community planner with a strong passion for working with New Mexico’s diverse communities. Monica currently serves as the Executive Director of the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District and was the former director of Policy and Planning for Housing New Mexico. Her career includes work with local, tribal, and state government, as well as her own consulting business.

As a Pueblo of Laguna matriarch, Brandi Ahmie embodies resilience, cultural heritage, and unwavering service to her community. A visionary leader, she’s committed to advancing equitable maternal healthcare, revitalizing Indigenous traditions, and fostering sustainable community development. 

Before joining City of Albuquerque’s Office of Equity & Inclusion, Brandi worked as a Health Administrator at Changing Woman Initiative, working to close gaps in prenatal and postpartum care for BIPOC mothers. She is also a certified doula, inspired by her own transformative home birth experience. Most recently, she raised $5,000 for maternal health initiatives by representing Every Mother Counts at the 2024 Boston Marathon. 

From managing complex pension accounts at Fidelity Investments to leading culinary operations as a sous chef, Brandi’s diverse career reflects a dedication to service and systemic change. She also champions agricultural sustainability as a beekeeper and advocates for the revitalization of traditional women’s knowledge through the Mother Moon initiative. 

Brandi’s work exemplifies the power of Indigenous leadership in building a resilient, equitable future.

Mary Ann Chavez-Lopez is the Executive Director for the El Camino Real Housing Authority (ECRHA) in Socorro, New Mexico. Mary Ann is the mother of nine children, 22 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She has worked at the El Camino Real Housing Authority for 27 years.

Mary Ann began her career with the Housing Authority as a receptionist and moved her way up to Executive Director. Since becoming the Executive Director of the El Camino Real Housing Authority, the ECRHA went from Administering a Section 8 HCV Program with a budget of $880,000 to administering ten programs with a budget of $4.1 million. 

In her tenure, the ECRHA has become a high-performing housing authority. Her experience includes 27 years of experience in Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, Section 8 Homeownership and Family Self-Sufficiency Program, seven years of experience in Home Rehabilitation, four years of experience working inside Tribal Lands (Navajo Nation), six years of experience working with Homeless Programs, and seven years of Shelter Plus Care.  

In 2011, Mary Ann was instrumental in the Socorro County Housing Authority becoming a tri-county housing authority, which includes Socorro, Valencia, and Torrance Counties, and is now known as the El Camino Real Housing Authority.

She was instrumental in applying and receiving low-income tax credits to build a 32-unit complex which included funding from various sources. She is currently responsible for all aspects of the ECRHA.

Mary Ann also is very active in her community. She is currently a City Councilor for the City of Socorro in her 4th term. She and her husband have been foster parents for the past eight years and since then have adopted three children. She is the President of New Mexico NAHRO. She serves as a board member for the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness. She is a board member for the Southwest Workforce Solutions and a board member for Southwest Central Council of Governments. She has won numerous awards, including the Woman of Influence Award for the State of New Mexico, Woman of the Year for Socorro County, and Member of the Year for Southwest NAHRO in 2007, 2017 and 2019, and the NM Outstanding Service Award.

Representative Janelle Anyanonu was first elected to office in 2022 to represent House District 19 and the International District in the New Mexico State House of Representatives. Representative Anyanonu serves on the Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee, serves as Vice Chair of the Commerce & Economic Development Committee, and Chair of the Mortgage Finance Authority Interim Oversight Committee. She has sponsored and championed numerous pieces of housing legislation and is passionate about making housing more accessible, available, and affordable for her community and all New Mexicans. 

Mike Awadis has more than 25 years of experience in capital markets, secondary marketing, and public finance, including national experience as a master servicer/program administration to 45 state and local Housing Finance Authorities (HFA). Mike manages relationships with HFA clients focusing on To-Be-Announced (TBA) program administration and other single-family financial products and services. Prior to joining Hilltop Securities, Awadis served as senior vice president of mortgage revenue bonds at Bank of America where he purchased and securitized in excess of $45 billion of HFA mortgages. Awadis received his Bachelor of Science in Business Finance and Securities Analysis from California State University-Los Angeles.

Jake Bates has worked for the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness (NMCEH), directing the statewide Homelessness Management Information System (HMIS) since 2021. He is originally from Illinois and earned his Master of Public Policy at the University of Southern California prior to joining NMCEH. Jake’s work is instrumental in supporting coordinated data collection and analysis, which are critical for informing policy, improving service delivery, and advancing statewide efforts to prevent and end homelessness.

Brandon Bay, a Pacific Northwest native and father of two girls, has passionately worked in the affordable housing industry in many capacities over the last ten years. He is eager to use his knowledge and experience to serve the clients and partners of US Housing Consultants. 

His journey began as an investor in multifamily properties. Shortly thereafter, he began to develop properties and subsequently founded his own real estate investment, development and holding company in Oregon. 

During this time, Brandon worked on all areas of multifamily housing and often refers to himself as “Maintenance Guy-CEO,” having truly learned to understand and appreciate all the roles involved in operating affordable housing. 

The pandemic was eye-opening to many people, and the impacts to the housing industry were monumental. This motivated Brandon to have a broader impact on housing availability to low-income families. Ultimately, he joined the team at Oregon Housing and Community Services, where his skills could positively affect more people. 

Brandon took on the role of Senior Inspection Compliance Analyst in Oregon. He developed inspection protocol training and procedures for the state’s physical inspectors. Brandon worked to help remove subjectivity from inspections by sharing his knowledge about UPCS Standards through curriculum development and field training. 

Brandon is an enthusiastic and engaging trainer. His passion for sharing knowledge is self-evident in his presentations. He conducts public and private trainings and delivers information at industry conferences. He offers open forums with positive interaction, and assures attendees, “There is never a question that doesn’t benefit the entire room.”

Natasha is Diné (Navajo) and her clans are Bįįh bitoodnii, Tábąąhá, Naasht'ézhi Dine'é Tábąąhá, and Honághááhnii. She grew up on the Navajo Nation and now lives in Flagstaff. Natasha holds an MBA and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management from the University of Phoenix, and a BA in Psychology and Marketing from Fort Lewis College.

She has over 14 years of experience in the nonprofit and healthcare sectors, including program development and organizational management. Since January 2024, she has overseen weatherization efforts on the Navajo Nation as the HHESI Program Manager at Red Feather Development Group, where she leads energy efficiency and healthy home initiatives in tribal communities.

Nick Berger has been with Rocky Mountain Community Reinvestment Corporation (RMCRC) for seven years, bringing more than 20 years of experience in commercial lending to the team. Prior to joining RMCRC, Nick built a robust career in commercial real estate and lending, which has equipped him with the expertise to oversee all lending and business development activities at RMCRC.

 A proud graduate of the University of Utah, Nick is an avid fan of their football team. Nick also holds an MBA from the Huntsman School of Business and is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM). Nick's educational and professional achievements and dedication to the field are well-recognized. Nick has been instrumental in expanding RMCRC's geographic footprint from Utah to the surrounding seven states and is currently leading efforts to expand nationally. His dedication to RMCRC's vision of increasing and preserving safe, clean, and affordable housing drives his daily efforts. Nick finds great personal fulfillment in knowing that every deal RMCRC completes provides a family with a place to live. 

Outside of work, his motivation is fueled by RMCRC's vision and the tangible difference it makes in the community. On weekends, Nick can be found outdoors either riding his mountain bike, hiking, or fly fishing.

Scott is a licensed Professional Engineer with 39 years of experience in civil and environmental engineering, mine and post-fire reclamation and construction management. Scott served as Raton City Manager for nine years and has also served on numerous community and state boards and commissions. Currently, he serves as the Colfax County Coordinator of the Restoring Our Communities program that seeks to acquire and rehabilitate vacant houses to create additional affordable workforce housing throughout the county.

Ketan is the Principal Architect at H+Mdg, where he leads the firm’s mixed-use and multifamily residential projects. With a deep passion for affordable housing, Ketan believes that housing is a fundamental human right. To Ketan, architecture is more than design—it is a vehicle for social impact. He leverages architecture to create affordable, innovative spaces that are rooted in sustainability and designed to promote safety through Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). Ketan thrives on problem-solving and embraces the unique challenges that come with designing affordable housing. His extensive experience includes numerous projects that comply with LIHTC, HOME funds, Housing New Mexico, and HUD regulations, including the Fair Housing Act. This background has given him a nuanced understanding of the regulatory and design complexities involved in such developments.

He approaches each project with a developer’s mindset, ensuring that the design is not only functional and compliant but also financially viable and community focused.

When he is not immersed in architecture, Ketan enjoys sketching, building things by hand, riding his motorcycle, and cherishing time with his wife and their three boys.

Chris Billey is a recognized leader in tribal homeownership, with a career dedicated to advancing housing equity across Native communities for over twenty years. As Executive Director of the Tribal Homeownership Coalition of the Southwest, he champions innovative, sustainable housing solutions rooted in tribal sovereignty, economic growth, and community resilience.

Chris brings a unique blend of experience to this role, having worked extensively in affordable housing, tribal governance, commercial development, and entrepreneurship. Previously, as an active real estate agent, he helped over 100 Native families become homeowners—a testament to his deep, hands-on commitment to this work. Today, he maintains his real estate license specifically to support the Coalition’s mission of creating more homeowners on the reservation.

His impact extends beyond housing:  Chris previously served as President of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona, where he helped drive economic growth and opportunity for Indigenous entrepreneurs. He is a proud graduate of Arizona State University, where he focused his studies on Housing and Real Estate Development.

With deep expertise and an unwavering passion for community empowerment, Chris continues to be a driving force in transforming the landscape of tribal housing and development throughout the Southwest.

Mackenzie Bishop, Co-Founder & Owner of Abrazo Homes, has been in the new home building and construction industry for nearly 20 years. He is a New Mexico native and attended the University of New Mexico's Anderson School of Management where he received his BBA. In his capacity as co-owner, Mackenzie oversees the day-to-day construction, purchasing, and product design departments for Abrazo Homes and its affiliates. Additionally, he directs much of the accounting and finance functions of the business. Outside of Abrazo and the portfolio of businesses in which he and Brian are partners, Mackenzie is actively involved in the Homebuilders Association and NAIOP, where he is highly engaged in government relations and advocacy for the industry as a whole and at local and statewide levels. At the age of 27, he was recognized by the Albuquerque Business First as a 30 under 30 honoree. He also sits on the New Mexico Finance Authority’s Opportunity Enterprise Board, as well as the UNM Lobo Club. He previously served as the president of the HBA of CNM and of the East Mountain High School Foundation. He and his wife, Laura, live in Corrales with their three children: Jenson (13), Ali (12), and Hazel (6 months).

Greg Blake serves as the chief information officer (CIO) and vice president of administration for Idaho Housing and Finance Association. With over 35 years of experience in real estate and IT, Greg has honed his skills in IT system governance, IT security consulting, cybersecurity, process improvement, software engineering, and artificial intelligence (AI). He has consulted with more than 100 companies, providing expert guidance on Information Technology in the real estate industry.

Greg has presented to numerous industry groups on the future of IT, including AI's transformative impact on business. In his current role, Greg oversees information technology, marketing and communication, and human resources, ensuring that Idaho Housing and Finance Association stays ahead of the curve in leveraging AI for improved decision-making, customer experience, and operational efficiency.

Greg is an active member of various industry organizations, including ISACA, ISSA, MISMO, Idaho Tech Council, and the College of Western Idaho technical advisory committee. His expertise in AI, combined with his extensive IT background, makes him a valuable resource for organizations seeking to harness the power of artificial intelligence.

Wiliam has worked as the Albuquerque Continuum of Care (CoC) program officer at the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness (NMCEH) for nearly three years, overseeing three different Point-In-Time Counts and facilitating the governance and decision-making committee and board meetings required to keep the Albuquerque CoC running. William's work and education background is in policy and systemic thought, and he brings those lenses to his work at NMCEH.

Linda Bridge is the Executive Director at the Albuquerque Housing Authority, a position she has held since December 2012.  At AHA she is responsible for overseeing the agency’s programs, operations, employees, strategic planning, business development, and community partnerships. Previous work experience includes working in the Housing Development Department at MFA for 11 years responsible for managing the agency’s independent, state and federally funded rental and single-family housing development programs; and working in the banking industry for fourteen years primarily in the areas of commercial and commercial real estate lending.  Through her work experience she especially proud of having an influence on affordable housing in the state of New Mexico, and now the opportunity to serve the people of Albuquerque by providing quality affordable housing opportunities.

Recognized as one of Phoenix Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business, Jean Briese is a nationally acclaimed speaker and leadership expert known for transforming high-performing teams and igniting extraordinary results. With over two decades of experience leading award-winning teams at a Fortune 10 tech company, Jean now empowers leaders across industries to harness their potential, elevate their influence, and create cultures where people thrive. Her dynamic approach and personal story—from overlooked to unstoppable—remind us that greatness isn’t born; it’s built.

Justin Carmona is a Development Loan Manager at Housing New Mexico | MFA. In this role, he is the primary manager of federal affordable rental housing loan programs, such as HOME and National Housing Trust Fund. He has worked at Housing New Mexico for the last five years, starting while he was obtaining a master’s in business administration and a bachelor’s in sociology and political science, both from the University of New Mexico.

Mina Choo is a Managing Director at RBC Capital Market’s National Housing Group. She has over 30 years of experience working with numerous state and local housing finance agencies throughout the country, developing programs and issuing debt to finance low- to moderate-income single-family mortgages and affordable multifamily developments. Mina has worked with Housing New Mexico | MFA since 2011, having financed 44 series of mortgage revenue bonds totaling over $3 billion. She is based in San Francisco, where she has served on the boards of The Women’s Foundation of California, Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, West Coast Advisory Council of Yale School of Management and is an assistant scout master for the first female BSA Troop in San Francisco.

Todd Clarke is a second-generation CCIM, a fourth-generation New Mexican, and a commercial realtor. 

Prior to being Realtor of the Year, Todd was co-founder of Commercial Association of Realtors in NM and is a three-time award-winning international instructor for the CCIM institute—opening the eastern European and Chinese markets for commercial real estate education. In the last 28 years, he has taught more than 5,000 students in over two hundred courses, a half-dozen of which he has authored. 

Todd has received awards from his local commercial association (Realtor of the Year), the city-wide residential realtor association (Good Neighbor Award), the statewide apartment association (Industry Champion), as well as the statewide realtors association (Leadership Award). He has also received multiple marketing awards from two different CCIM chapters. CCIM National has honored him with the Peoples’ Choice Award (for the highest scoring instructor), and the instructor of the year award, and IREM with its Academy of Authors. Todd and his wife, Kahleetah, run a two-person boutique apartment investment brokerage firm that is one of the top ten commercial real estate firms in NM based on transaction size/volume.

Todd authored the 320-page textbook on “Understanding NM’s Property Tax System” and has been a consultant to the NM Real Estate Commission in their overhaul and replacement of the mandatory course with a CORE Course, including running three bootcamps to train three dozen new instructors.

For the last 36 years he has focused his brokerage efforts on apartments in the Southwest, and he has listed and sold over 18,520 units totaling $881M in over 975 transactions. As a consultant, he has handled thousands of property tax protests, in excess of a billion dollars, winning 97% of his cases with an average reduction of 27%. 

Todd has been a development consultant and property tax consultant on over $2.5B in properties—mostly focused on housing that benefits from new zoning and transportation corridors.

Todd and Kahleetah own and manage an apartment portfolio of 60 units, most of which are located in their community in downtown Albuquerque. As a volunteer, he has been actively involved as a community leader for low-income and affordable housing and has served as the chairman of the board for the Albuquerque Housing Authority as well as co-founder, board chair and executive director for the Ventana Fund—a $50M CDFI focused on creating and preserving affordable multifamily rental housing.

Brittany Coats is the program manager of the Home Improvement Program (HIP) at Housing New Mexico. Now in her fifth year with the agency, Brittany has been the lead in launching HIP—Housing New Mexico’s first direct-service initiative focused on rehabilitating owner-occupied homes across the state. With more than 12 years of experience in affordable housing, she has played a critical role in updating and strengthening the HOME Rehabilitation Program by contributing to policy and manual revisions, aligning program materials with federal regulations and agency standards, and improving overall compliance and usability. Her experience spans emergency rental and mortgage assistance, federal housing compliance, and home rehabilitation projects throughout northern New Mexico. Through this work, Brittany has contributed to helping more families stay safely housed and made the programs easier to use and more effective for everyone involved.

Troy serves as the Green Initiatives Supervisor for Housing New Mexico’s NM Energy$mart Weatherization Program. Troy has 26 years of experience in the home retrofit industry. He has been with Housing New Mexico’s Weatherization Assistance Program since 2006, where Troy’s professional mission is to help people who cannot afford high energy costs and upgrades to their homes. Troy is committed to Housing New Mexico with transparency, accountability, and efficiency through continuous improvement efforts in pursuit of program objectives.

Misty Dalke is a director with Raymond James National Housing Group, located in Denver, Colorado. She focuses on transaction execution and quantitative structuring for both tax-exempt and taxable municipal issuances for state housing authorities throughout the U.S. Misty has more than 20 years of experience in finance. She spent the first seven years of her career on the investor side with Oppenheimer Funds and Brown Brothers Harriman. From there, she moved into the banking side, spending six years with George K. Baum & Company’s National Housing Group. Ms. Dalke joined Raymond James in May 2019 and continues to work with state HFAs on single and multifamily issuances across the country. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in finance from the University of Denver, as well as her Juris Doctor. She is a member of the American, Colorado, and Denver Bar Associations, as well as Women in Public Finance.

David Davenport is the managing partner of BC Davenport, LLC, a law firm specializing in the representation of developers, sponsors, community-based non-profits and mission-based organizations, housing authorities, and other stakeholders in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) industry in year-15 disputes and other LIHTC partnership matters across the United States. He has led successful litigation efforts across the country, in both state and federal courts, in cases involving aggregators and others who have begun to adopt their strategies. As a result, David and his firm routinely advise clients on the year-15 planning process and on best practices for year-15 in the creation of new LIHTC partnerships. He has authored numerous articles on year-15 issues and is a frequent speaker at various LIHTC industry events and conferences.

For Kenzie, home is her sanctuary. For over 20 years, she has collaborated with families having challenges accessing safe, affordable homes. Kenzie knows homes are the foundation for building thriving families and communities. Fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and building her conversational Spanish skills, Kenzie prioritizes accessibility and clear communication with residents. She is currently building a tiny home with her partner using rainwater catchment, greywater systems, composting toilets, and additional avenues to support the health of our native landscape. She also loves acroyoga, horse vaulting, improv, dance, and nature. Kenzie is grateful to be a part of an incredible team that creates beautiful, accessible homes in her favorite state.

Michelle Den Bleyker, Senior VP of Real Estate Development at YES Housing, Inc., has more than 30 years of experience in the affordable housing industry, working in development, investment and lending. She is well-versed in successfully utilizing federal, state, local, housing programs, grants, loans, tax credit equity, etc., to accomplish YES’s mission – creating and preserving quality affordable housing. Prior to YES, Michelle worked at Housing New Mexico in various roles, including serving as the Housing Tax Credit Program Manager. She has received her Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

Jill Droge is the Assistant Vice President, Community Investment Manager at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas. She is responsible for managing a subset of the portfolio of affordable housing and economic development grant programs offered by FHLB Dallas, as well as the overall department operations. Jill joined the FHLB in 2019, previously serving as a Senior Affordable Housing Analyst and in other management capacities. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Studies and Human Services from Kansas State University.

Mark Duran is the Executive Director of the New Mexico Manufactured Housing Association, a position he has held for 34 years. Mark is also the association’s lobbyist, which was his expertise prior to becoming the association’s Executive Director. Mark has over 40 years of experience lobbying at the State and National level for Manufactured Housing and Housing in general. Mark is born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico and currently resides in Albuquerque.

Brian A. Eagan, a native of Albuquerque, graduated from Sandia High School in 1999 and then obtained a bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico (UNM). He is married to Albuquerque realtor, David T. Gilpin. During law school, Brian was an intern at the City of Albuquerque Legal Department. He also completed the District Attorney (D.A.) Clinical Law Program at Bernalillo County Metropolitan (Metro) Court. He became member of the State Bar of New Mexico in Fall 2006. From 2006 to 2014, he was the Assistant City Attorney for Albuquerque Housing Authority (AHA), working from City Hall. He also advised the City’s Human Rights Board, and city staff at the Human Rights Office on Fair Housing law issues. He also worked with the City’s Office of Neighborhood Revitalization (ONR), on the Home Rehab Loan Program (mortgage issues). In 2010, at the Mayor’s request, Brian wrote City Resolution 2010-97, which the City Council passed, to create the five-member AHA Board of Housing Commissioners in July 2011 to govern AHA, and to allow AHA to be reorganized as a Public Body Corporate.

Since 2006, Brian has represented AHA Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program, Public Housing Program, Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Project Based Voucher (PBV) rental assistance programs, with appearances in Metro Court nearly every week on landlord-tenant cases (evictions). He has appeared in more than 450 civil court cases about AHA lease enforcement, mostly on issues other than rent debt. He also represents AHA at the City’s Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) multiple times a year and has appeared in about 40 appeals in District Court from Metro Court. In Spring 2023, he served as an expert panel presenter at the Housing & Development Law Institute (HDLI) in Washington, D.C. He has been attending HDLI’s annual Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses since 2012.

Since 2011, he has advised the AHA Board of Housing Commissioners, the governing body of AHA, speaking at monthly public meetings of the five-person AHA Board that the Mayor appoints. HUD provides federal grant funds to help operate AHA programs and capital funds for buildings, in order to fulfill its mission to empower people in our community with affordable housing and opportunities for self-sufficiency. Brian’s mission for AHA is to enforce the lease to preserve the peace and to collect revenue to sustain the operation.

Since 2014, Brian has served the public full-time as attorney for AHA. In 2014, his desk moved from City Hall to the AHA main office in the Carnis Salisbury Building at 1840 University Blvd SE. He has also served as president for more than 10 years of a local condominium association and for many years as president of a local neighborhood association.

Brian has also successfully defended the City and AHA in administrative investigations by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) when people file Fair Housing Act Discrimination complaints against City of Albuquerque staff and AHA. He has helped train AHA staff annually on how to comply with the federal Fair Housing Act, the NM Human Rights Act, and related city laws and regulations.

Mr. Fabian serves as Managing Director and Team Leader for the Western Region.  He has been with NEF since 1997.  Over the years he has overseen, underwritten and closed over 200 projects totaling more than $1.5 billion in equity and thousands of units.  Todd’s 25+ years of real estate and tax credit experience include a variety of very complex transitions including multi-funded developments targeted to special needs, families, seniors and rehab projects with FHA financing and deals that involve HUD financing.  Todd’s history also includes asset management duties, operating expense analysis and special asset work.  Mr. Fabian graduated from the University of California at Riverside with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Jacqueline Fishman, AICP, has over 33 years of experience in planning and project management on complex, multi-disciplinary community planning and private development entitlement projects. She has been responsible for Consensus Planning’s long-range, public sector community planning efforts, and has been the primary author on dozens of approved community plans and studies for cities, counties, and tribal governments throughout New Mexico. Jackie is an avid practitioner of active listening and works extensively with neighborhood groups and diverse communities to establish rapport and build trust. Jackie has worked on numerous affordable and supportive housing projects in Albuquerque, such as Pah! Hiland Plaza, Somos, Hope Village, and the City of Albuquerque’s Gateway Center. Jackie is registered with the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Alton Fitzgerald White, the unparalleled star who captivated audiences with a staggering 4,308 performances as the majestic King Mufasa in Disney's iconic production, The Lion King on Broadway, has now embraced the roles of author and sought-after keynote speaker, adding even more prestige to his already impressive repertoire. His book, “My Pride: Mastering Life’s Challenge Daily Performance,” an awe-inspiring biography published by Disney Editions, has taken the literary world by storm, earning nominations for numerous prestigious national book awards. This remarkable tale offers profound insights and invaluable secrets to finding fulfillment and joy in both work and life. Beyond his triumphant reign as King Mufasa, Alton has graced the Broadway stage in a multitude of leading roles, including Mister in THE COLOR PURPLE, Coalhouse Walker Jr. in RAGTIME: THE MUSICAL, Ken in SMOKEY JOE’S CAFE, John in MISS SAIGON, and The Hawker in THE WHO’S TOMMY. His extraordinary talents have also shone across the Atlantic, as he made his West End debut as Ken in SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ in London, leaving an indelible mark on the international theater scene. Alton's magnetic presence has mesmerized audiences worldwide, as he has performed in concerts alongside illustrious orchestras such as THE BBC ORCHESTRA at the legendary ROYAL ALBERT HALL in London, THE BOSTON POPS, TANGLEWOOD, THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY, WOLFTRAP, and THE CINCINNATI POPS and orchestras in Japan to name just a few. These enchanting performances often featured the timeless melodies from his best-selling album, “DISNEY MY WAY!” where he skillfully reimagined beloved Disney Broadway classics. Not limited to the stage, Alton has made guest star appearances on the hit series DEXTER: NEW BLOOD (SHOWTIME), MANIFEST (NETFLIX) , THE BLACKLIST (NBC), DEAR EDWARD (APPLE TV) , LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (SHOWTIME), THE GIRLS ON THE BUS (MAX), POWERBOOK II: GHOST (STARZ), MINDHUNTER (NETFLIX), MADAM SECRETARY (CBS), BULL (Recurring as Judge Tahani) (CBS), THE GOOD FIGHT (PARAMOUNT), ELEMENTARY (CBS), LAW AND ORDER S.V.U (NBC), LAW AND ORDER (NBC), CODE BLACK(CBS) and he was also featured in RENT LIVE for The FOX Network. On the big screen, Alton has appeared opposite Academy Award winners Nicole Kidman, Marcia Gay Harden, Academy Award nominee Sam Elliott and he is featured in the 2023 Blockbuster INDIANA JONES 5! Alton recently made his directorial debut and starred in The US Premiere of RAGTIME SYMPHONIC, an exciting new version of the Tony Award winning hit RAGTIME: THE MUSICAL with The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.

Dimitri is the Green Initiatives Manager II and Quality Control Inspector for Housing New Mexico | MFA. Since 2019, he has managed the NM Energy$mart Program with programmatic, fiscal, and mostly technical aspects of weatherization. Dimitri serves as an Executive Board Member for Energy OutWest, which hosts nationwide weatherization training conferences every two years to advance and promote the technical capacity of weatherization. Dimitri’s qualifications include six years of weatherization field experience, a Building Analyst Certification, an Energy Auditor Certification, the Quality Control Inspector Certification, and a bachelor’s in economics from the University of New Mexico.

Scott began his title career in Carlsbad, New Mexico, in 1993. He was a student employee through the Business Professionals of America Program and began working at an abstract company during his senior year in high school. Scott worked at the local Carlsbad title company for seven years, working in both the title plant as an examiner, commitment typist, and policy typist, eventually transitioning to the closing side of the business. He has worked for national and regional title insurance underwriters which has included managing the Quality Assurance/Audit Departments of two underwriters. Scott owns and operates Title Land Consulting LLC specializing in manufactured home titling for New Mexico. Scott is also the New Mexico Agency Account Manager/Regional Education Specialist for First American Title Insurance Company, supporting independent title agents in New Mexico and throughout First American Title’s South-Central Region. Most recently Scott served as President of the New Mexico Land Title Association. Scott has lived in Albuquerque for almost 25 years and is an animal lover—now proudly considering himself as one of those crazy cat people!

Florence Frank brings a multidisciplinary background to her role as the Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellow with the City of Santa Fe. Her work centers on expanding opportunities for those who work in Santa Fe to also live there. Over the past two years, she has focused on strengthening the connection between housing, the local workforce, and long-term community sustainability. She previously served in the office of Congresswoman Katie Porter and has experience in health advocacy and political campaigns. She holds a Master of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College.

Daniela Freamon is the program manager of the Housing Innovation Program at Housing New Mexico. Since joining the organization as an intern over three years ago, she has advanced through several roles before ultimately landing in the Housing Innovation Program. The program has become a cornerstone of Housing New Mexico’s efforts to develop creative, community-centered housing solutions as it serves as a catch-all for housing projects that do not fit in current programs. Daniela has been with the program since inception and offers valuable insight as the program has grown in success and evolved to meet community needs.

Carlos Gemora is a city planner and project manager with 15 years of experience working on housing, land use, policy, and community planning issues. Carlos’ recent projects include housing needs assessments, housing plans, and zoning codes for Santa Fe, Silver City, Los Alamos, and Taos. His work with the Office of Housing at the 2025 New Mexico Legislature produced bi-partisan efforts to address barriers to affordable and accessible housing. He speaks around the state about the importance of housing supply, understanding housing needs data, and the levers available to public entities.

Terry Gentry is Executive Vice President of The Richman Group Affordable Housing Corporation. Gentry is a professional banker and is passionate about affordable housing. He is responsible for working with investors to form low-income tax credit funds and identifying and underwriting individual transactions to place into those funds. Since joining The Richman Group, Gentry has placed over $2 billion in tax credit equity in over 350 developments representing over 20,000 homes. This includes 37 developments in New Mexico with over 2,000 homes. Gentry is a practitioner in USDA and HUD structured financed developments with extensive experience in rural markets and an enthusiastic supporter of preserving and expanding public housing with all the tools available, including the Rental Assistance Demonstration program. He is a recognized authority with year-15 disposition matters utilizing best practices and remaining involved throughout the compliance period. He has a master’s degree from Portland State University with a specialization in sustainable development and is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington and ABA National Commercial Lending School at the University of Oklahoma.

Brian Gerritz is the founder and President of Pavilion Construction, bringing over 27 years of experience in the construction industry with a deep focus on affordable housing. Throughout his career, Brian has championed the development of high-quality, cost-effective housing solutions that serve communities across the Southwest, including more than two decades of dedicated work in New Mexico. His leadership has resulted in the successful delivery of numerous multimillion-dollar affordable housing projects.

Brian holds a degree in Mathematics from Linfield University and continues to support education through leadership roles as a trustee. He is committed to advancing construction practices that prioritize equity, efficiency, and long-term community impact. He ensures that Pavilion’s projects consistently meet client goals while elevating the standards of affordable housing development.

Johanna Gilligan is the Deputy CEO at Homewise, a CDFI and developer in New Mexico. She leads the organization’s Housing & Community Development Department, which encompasses Homewise’s new construction and rehabilitation projects, as well as its community and political advocacy for cleaner, more walkable, and more affordable cities. In addition to Housing & Community Development, Johanna also manages Resource Development, and a green lending program for LMI homeowners, called Energywise.

Before joining Homewise, Johanna lived in New Orleans for many years. After hurricane Katrina, she founded Grow Dat Youth Farm, a space for employment, education and leadership development for young adults. Prior to that, she collaborated with middle-school students on an approach to school food reform that generated national attention for its innovative approach and hard-hitting success, profiled on HBO’s “Weight of the Nation.” 

In 2017, she was awarded a Loeb Fellowship at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. She was also selected as a Rockefeller Urban Innovation Fellow at Tulane University. Additional awards include the City Park Presidential Award (‘12), the Newcomb Young Alumnae Award (‘14), the Scott Cowen Tulane Service Award (‘16), Gambit’s 40 under 40 (‘17) and City Business Woman of the Year (‘15). Her work has appeared in HBO, NPR, the Washington Post, Architectural Record, CityLab and Grist, and she is a contributor to Huffington Post and Shelterforce.

Rachael Gilman is a Home Purchase Advisor Manager at Homewise whose mission is to help create successful homeowners and strengthen neighborhoods, so that individuals and families can improve their long-term financial wellbeing and quality of life. With more than a decade in the mortgage industry and an international background in training and education for all ages, Rachael puts the homebuyer first, helping ensure they have the information and tools they need to achieve their dream of successful homeownership. The Homewise approach to homeownership supports all, but especially those who are less familiar with finances and mortgages. A leader in the industry, Homewise offers free financial coaching to help perspective buyers improve their financial picture toward qualifying for traditional financing (via HUD184 and as the only Fannie Mae-approved conventional lender in NM). They work closely with Tribal leaders and organizers to help close the wealth gap for Native Americans.

Sara Gonzales has over 20 years of experience in land development, including subdividing land for residential uses, navigating permitting processes, and overseeing the construction of housing and supporting infrastructure. Most recently, she played a key role in the City of Las Cruces’ adoption of the Realize Las Cruces Development Code, a four-year effort focused on removing barriers to both commercial and residential development. This work paves the way for more flexible mixed-use zoning, expanded housing options, a walkable urban core, and improved access to goods and services across all neighborhoods, supporting long-term growth while aligning with the community’s transportation and livability goals.

As a Research and Development Manager II at Housing New Mexico | MFA, Stephanie Gonzales oversees the New Mexico Housing Trust Fund, serves as the organization’s liaison for the Affordable Housing Act, and leads research on the economic, social, and policy impacts of housing programs. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in finance and a Master of Public Administration, both from the University of New Mexico. Since joining Housing New Mexico, Stephanie has served in a variety of roles—including Homeownership Intern, Management Trainee, and Investor Accounting Analyst—each contributing to her broad expertise in affordable housing. Outside of work, Stephanie can be found on a pickleball court, practicing yoga, or enjoying a latté at her favorite coffee shop.

Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales has served New Mexico since 2019, championing education, rural communities, and working families. A former educator and legislator, he has advanced initiatives in early childhood development, school safety, and workforce development. As a member of the Mortgage Finance Authority Board, he supports affordable housing and homeownership across the state. Morales also oversees the State Board of Finance and promotes infrastructure and economic development through his work with the New Mexico Border Authority. A lifelong resident of Silver City, he holds a PhD in Education from New Mexico State University.

Natalie has worked for the City of Las Cruces for 16 years. In her current role, she oversees the City’s Affordable Housing Development, Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Programs. She works on improving policy, partnerships, and funding, to advance the City’s delivery system and address the full continuum of community and human service needs, especially in the areas of housing, food insecurity, poverty, health, and economic well-being for Las Cruces residents. Natalie earned a bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University, with a double major in government and Spanish. She also earned a Master of Arts in Education at NMSU. Prior to her employment with the City, she worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Natalie was born and raised in northern New Mexico and currently lives in Las Cruces with her husband and two children.

A home is about far more than a roof over the head. Hannah co-leads Dekker's multifamily housing design studio with this conviction, ensuring that our teams are supported and that our projects run smoothly. Bringing years of experience as a project architect and project manager on complex affordable housing projects with multiple financing sources, robust design/code requirements, and critical schedules and budget – designing communities gives her the ability to shape the details of daily life while also meeting a profound social need. Whether working on multifamily, senior living, or mixed-use projects, her focus is on bringing dwellings to life one building block at a time. As one of the first WELL accredited professionals in the country, she is passionate about blending creativity and scientific data to create a healthier, happier world. An active community member as a board member of the Ventana Fund, member of ULI and the AIA among other professional organizations, she believes that community engagement and knowledge sharing lifts everybody up. With Dekker's portfolio of over 8,000 dwelling units designed in her back pocket, Hannah is driven to help communities grow beyond the ribbon cutting.

Rosanne Haggerty, President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Solutions, is an internationally recognized leader in developing innovative strategies to end homelessness. Community Solutions assists communities throughout the US and internationally in implementing systems that measurably end homelessness and change the conditions that produce it. Their large-scale initiatives include the 100,000 Homes Campaign and Built for Zero. Earlier Rosanne founded and led Common Ground Community, a pioneer in the development of supportive housing models and other research-based practices that end homelessness.

Chris Herbert received his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Briar Cliff University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Mr. Herbert has been the Executive Director for the Eastern Regional Housing Authority based in Roswell, New Mexico since 2006. Before coming to New Mexico, he served as the Deputy Director for the Housing Authority of Kansas City, Missouri.

Raised in New Mexico, Jesse completed a master’s degree in social work at the University of Denver with a focus in child welfare, and positive youth development. After working as a high-risk child abuse and neglect investigator in Colorado, she returned home to put her experience and skills into working for her community.

Jesse has specialized experience in community engagement, leadership development, population health, social determinants of health, grant writing, philanthropy, cross-sector collaboration, data-driven results-based assessment, crisis management, high utilizers, domestic violence, trauma-informed resilience, substance use disorders, intentional systems change and burn-out-prevention. 

Jesse is the Program Development Manager for Alianza of New Mexico where she administers the Linkages Permanent Supportive Housing program, oversees the ESG, HOPWA, and HOME ARP housing programs, and helps provide Prevention and Harm Reduction Services with a wonderful team. Jesse also serves as the Board Chair of the New Mexico CASA Association.

Miriam’s journey to Sol Housing in 2018 was fueled by a profound dedication to creating affordable housing solutions. With over two decades of architectural experience at Dekker/Perich/Sabatini in Albuquerque, she brings a wealth of knowledge in entitlements, affordable housing projects, construction administration, and design. As a licensed architect, Miriam excels in guiding projects from initial funding applications to successful community occupancy. Her expertise in coordination and communication ensures seamless project execution. Miriam holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and actively contributes to her community by serving on multiple community and governmental boards focused on affordable housing and equity. Outside of her professional and civic commitments, Miriam enjoys spending quality time with her family, engaging in backyard farming, and pursuing various healthy living and homesteading projects.

Ethan Howe is the program manager for Housing New Mexico | MFA’s newly developed Restoring Our Communities (ROC) program, which offers funding for the acquisition, rehabilitation, and resale of vacant or abandoned properties. He has been with Housing New Mexico since 2022 and has also worked with the organization’s Homeowner Assistance Fund program, providing mortgage assistance to households financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

Lisa is currently the Supportive Housing Manager with the Behavioral Health Services Division (BHSD)/Health Care Authority (HCA). She has been employed by BHSD/HCA since 2014, beginning as the Screening Brief Intervention Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Coordinator, until moving into roles as the Supportive Housing Coordinator and then Supportive Housing Manager. Her tenure with state government began in 2004, and she has been a state employee for over twenty years. Lisa worked for Children Youth and Families Department for nine years. Under CYFD, she was an investigator of child abuse and neglect with Child Protective Services (CPS) for over a year and a Juvenile Probation/Parole Officer with Juvenile Justice Services (JJS) for eight years. Lisa has enjoyed the learning and growth involved with state government roles and more specifically the knowledge that she has acquired related to housing.

Colleen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education from the University of New Mexico. She also holds a certification in Nutrition and Personal Training from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Colleen has worked in various capacities, including weight loss and nutritional health coaching in a private clinical setting, integrating organic nutritional health at Presbyterian Hospital Community Health Services, and with a mobile local farmer’s market for the international districts of New Mexico. Colleen also has a public speaking background as an education coordinator for Business Networking International. Colleen has a passion for empowering people to learn, grow, and implement simple steps to improve their health and wellness. When she is not in the Natural Grocers store you can find her exercising at the gym, or out walking her cute, little dog, Kala.

Catherine Hummel has over 20 years of experience working in housing and homeless services. She is the Executive Director of DreamTree Project, an agency serving youth, adults, and families in crisis in Taos, New Mexico. DreamTree Project offers street outreach, emergency shelter, and a variety of supportive housing programs across six counties in northern NM. Ms. Hummel was previously a program manager at the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority. Prior to that, she managed HUD housing programs at HopeWorks / St. Martin’s Hospitality Center in Albuquerque. Ms. Hummel has an M.B.A. and an M.A. in Liberal Arts.

Lisa has nearly 20 years of experience leading policy and programmatic initiatives related to affordable housing in both the nonprofit and government sectors. Lisa is the Chief Government Affairs Officer with and has previously served as the Senior Director of Real Estate Development at Homewise. Before joining Homewise, Lisa managed a broad range of affordable housing strategies as the Deputy Director of Housing for the City of Albuquerque and developed long-term solutions to homelessness as the Associate Director of the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness. Lisa has a master’s degree in community and regional planning from the University of New Mexico.

Dan has dedicated 28 years to public education and 20 years to state corrections as an educator, technologist, and data analyst. He serves as a current Hagerman town councilor, a national certified trainer for aha! Process and is the executive director of HagermanForward, a nonprofit focused on bringing together resources for individuals in poverty. Dan also leads the 100% Chaves County Initiative as the County Connector, striving to ensure every family in Chaves County can access high-quality services across ten critical sectors. Dan is committed to fostering trauma-free childhoods, resilient families, and well-resourced communities through innovative, community-focused solutions.

Daniel Johncox, co-owns and operates YCI with his wife of 35 years, Becky. With over 40 years of experience in manufactured home sales, land development and manufactured home communities, he has worked full time with Young’s Homes in Hobbs NM since 1988. Young’s Homes was established in 1958, with NM License #0001.

David Jones is the Chief Financial Officer at CSG Advisors and a Municipal Advisor with Series 50 qualifications. With over 20 years of experience, he leads financial advisory services for state and local housing finance agencies, specializing in HFA finance, strategic planning, and public finance. David has structured more than $5 billion in housing bond transactions and advises clients on liquidity, refunding strategies, and long-term financial sustainability. He is a CPA with a Master of Accountancy and BBA in Accounting from Millsaps College.

Laura Kuehn has been employed with the Albuquerque Police Department since 1997 as a crime prevention specialist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science, a supplementary degree in law and society, and minors in criminal justice and psychology. Laura is designated by the International Society of Crime Prevention Practitioners as an International Crime Prevention Specialist (ICPS); she is certified as a National Crime Prevention Specialist (NCPS) by the National Crime Prevention Association. Laura received training in crime prevention through environmental design from the University of Louisville. She is a certified instructor through the International Crime Free Programs Association.

Peter Lawrence is Chief Public Policy Officer of Novogradac & Company LLP, primarily responsible for leading the firm’s Public Policy department. Mr. Lawrence collaborates on the development and execution of Novogradac’s public policy strategy, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders to respond to legislative and regulatory developments and provide insights and guidance to leadership on policy matters in the firm’s practice areas of affordable housing, community development, historic preservation and renewable energy. 

Prior to joining Novogradac Consulting LLP, Mr. Lawrence was the senior director of public policy and government affairs for Enterprise Community Partners where he led the execution of Enterprise’s policy and advocacy agenda. 

While at Enterprise, he helped found the Affordable Rental Housing A.C.T.I.O.N. (A Call to Invest in Our Neighborhoods) Campaign, the big tent industry coalition of coalitions bringing investors, syndicators, for-profit and nonprofit developers, and other LIHTC professionals in all 50 states together to advocate for the credit.

He has served on the board of directors of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition, as well as the board of directors of the New Markets Tax Credit Coalition. Mr. Lawrence was also previously a legislative and policy associate at the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), a housing policy analyst for the Center on Budget Policies and Priorities, a congressional fellow for Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island in his capacity as the Ranking Member of the Senate Housing and Transportation Subcommittee and a presidential management fellow for the Office of Policy Development & Research at the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.

Cory Lee has over 14 years of experience working with federal contracts and has also worked on and supervised various Housing and Urban Development (HUD) contracts. In 2023, Cory was hired by Barrett Foundation as the Chief Executive Officer. Over the past two years, Lee has supervised and supported staff in complying with requirements of various agencies Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Continuum of Care (CoC), Emergency Solutions Grants, Emergency Homeless Allowance Program (EHAP), and Home Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funding.

Alex Lundy has been Finance Manager at Housing New Mexico for two years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in classics from Grinnell College and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from Middle Tennessee State University. Alex has nearly a decade of experience in affordable housing, working for both non-profit and public sector roles across three states.

Tony Mabe spent 43 years in the building industry, in both commercial and residential construction, and is the owner of Artisans Guild Construction. The last 17 years he has been devoted to developing residential sites in Kansas, Texas, and New Mexico to provide quality homes for first time home buyers, veterans, and those with disabilities. Working with community leaders in New Mexico over the past four years to bring building solutions to the housing needs in rural communities. Additionally, Tony builds homes using the latest LEED-certified materials and techniques, with the purposes of reduction of energy costs and net-zero impact on the environment, achieving as much as 70% reduction in energy costs in each home.

Barbara has spent the last 5 years working as an advocate for the unhoused in the housing field. Her experience in this field has ranged from case manager to housing administrator and has contributed to her passion for helping families rediscover their self-worth and equipping them with the tools needed to regain stability and independence. Barbara is the Linkages Program Manager at Housing New Mexico, where she provides oversight to the program's overall operations by partnering with 7 service providers across 9 counties throughout the state.

In addition to her professional pursuits, Barbara is a loving mother to two boys, 20 and 12. She excels in balancing her responsibilities at work and at home. Barbara is a true NM United fan and a loyal Pittsburgh Steelers supporter! On days when she’s not cheering on her teams, you’ll find her reading a psychological thriller or enjoying a good movie.

Donna Maestas-De Vries joined Housing New Mexico in March 2020 as the organization’s chief housing officer. She oversees Housing New Mexico’s Asset Management, Community Development, and Marketing & Communications Departments.

Before coming to Housing New Mexico, Maestas-De Vries was appointed as the director of the property tax division and tribal liaison for the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Prior to that, she worked at the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration as acting director and deputy director of the state board of finance and as an equal employment opportunity officer. She also served for three years as a senior public lending officer for the New Mexico Finance Authority.

Maestas-De Vries worked for more than two decades in residential and commercial real estate in California before coming to New Mexico. She was also the project manager for a large multifamily development project in San Diego. Maestas-De Vries earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego, with a major in psychology and minors in physics and mathematics.

As a third-generation contract surety and commercial insurance agent, Michael knows how to help his clients stay competitive and profitable in today’s changing market. For the past 20 years, his focus has been on risk control, risk transfer and security, as well as offering insight into the unparalleled competition of the construction market.

Lisa has served as the Executive Director of the San Ildefonso Housing Authority (SIHA) since 2022. SIHA, a tribally designated housing authority (TDHE) was formed in 2021 by the Pueblo of San Ildefonso. As the Executive Director, Lisa administers SIHA's $460,000 annual Indian Housing Block Grant funding and accesses new funding to increase housing opportunities for Tribal members. She has secured over $8 million since 2023 to plan and complete Deer Tail II, a 27-unit homeownership subdivision on San Ildefonso. Lisa is an enrolled citizen of the Jicarilla Apache Nation located in Northern New Mexico. Prior to her role at SIHA, Lisa worked at Jicarilla Apache Housing Authority (JAHA) for 29 years, serving as Executive Director for 16 years, creating new mortgage programs and successfully completing several new construction projects.

Art Marrujo is the Executive Director of the Mesilla valley Public Housing Authority.

Tim Martinez is an Assistant Director with Housing New Mexico’s Housing Development Department overseeing multifamily and single-family lending of state and federal funds. Tim directly handles and works with loan staff on project underwriting, loan approvals, loan closings, and general loan and grant program administration. Tim holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning and graduate certificate of real estate development from Portland State University and has over six years of experience in the affordable housing development and finance industry.

Jacobo Martinez is Assistant Director of Housing Development at Housing New Mexico, where he leads initiatives in affordable housing finance, policy, and compliance oversight. He brings over two decades of experience spanning local government, asset management, and regulatory enforcement, including prior leadership roles at the City of Albuquerque and Housing New Mexico. With a strong foundation in planning, LIHTC underwriting, and cross-sector collaboration, Jacobo has advanced strategic housing efforts across New Mexico’s urban and rural communities. He holds a master’s degree in community and regional planning from the University of New Mexico and is committed to building equitable, sustainable housing systems.

Nicole Martinez has served the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope (MVCH) in Las Cruces, NM, for 19 years, where she is known for her leadership in addressing homelessness and housing insecurity. Nicole has been instrumental in developing and expanding key programs, including Camp Hope, the Mano y Mano Day Labor program, and the Desert Hope Apartments—a permanent supportive housing initiative for 40 formerly chronically homeless individuals. She is currently a partner in the development of Amador Crossing, a 50-unit supportive housing project on the MVCH campus. Nicole brings deep expertise in Continuum of Care funding, rental assistance, supportive services, and staff development, and her leadership continues to drive impactful change for both individuals and the broader community.

Jeneva is a dedicated community advocate and is a native to southeastern New Mexico, raised in Roswell. With over 20 years of experience in advocating for marginalized communities, Jeneva currently serves as the organizer of With Many Hands-Roswell where in 2023 the team launched The Affordable Housing Rehab Loan Pilot Program to meet two tremendous community needs: more affordable housing AND fewer abandoned properties. Jeneva also serves the housing sector for 100% Chaves County Initiative and currently serves on the subcommittee for City of Roswell to address housing needs for the city’s new master plan.

Representative Marian Matthews represents District 27 in Bernalillo, New Mexico. Representative Matthews is a member of the Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Committee.

DuJuan is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, who has lived in Albuquerque since 2015. He has several years of higher education experience in both department coordination and academic advisement. DuJuan has served as a volunteer board member for the local nonprofit, Faithworks, for the past year. He believes that affordable housing is a right to all regardless of background or income. DuJuan is also an advocate for human rights and equity in outcomes for all communities.

Lisa McNiven, MPA is Deputy Director of the New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Disability (GCD). Lisa’s areas of expertise are disability awareness, emergency preparedness, medical access, employment issues, systematic advocacy, and public management/public policy. Some of the current projects that Lisa oversees are the Statewide Emergency Preparedness Networking project, the annual Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) event, Disability Statistics Data Portal Project, Affordable and Accessible Housing Project and Medical Access Symposium. 

One of Lisa’s roles is to supervise and support the operation of three out of four programs GCD has to offer to the public, Disability Awareness and Advocacy Unit, NM Technology Assistance Program (NMTAP), and the Brain Injury Advisory Council (BIAC). The fourth program, Access Unit, with its site and plan reviews, and the RAMP program is something that Lisa is passionate about and provides support where it is needed. Lisa brings extensive disability and project and public management experience to her role as Deputy Director, after having served the GCD for 18 years in various roles, including the last seven years as a Disability Specialist. 

Lisa was born Deaf and graduated from the only liberal arts university in the world for Deaf people at Gallaudet University in Washington D.C., with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology. She received her master’s in public administration (MPA) from the University of New Mexico. Lisa has also volunteered for 30 years for the Deaf Culture Center of New Mexico, working on an affordable accessible housing project for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafblind community, which opened August of 2023 in Albuquerque. Lisa received awards and recognition for her work from Gallaudet University, Santa Fe Disability event, City of Albuquerque, and from the NM State Senate.

Ada Mendez is the Tax Credit Program Analyst in the Housing Development Department at Housing New Mexico | MFA. She is responsible for the review of the LIHTC 9% and 4% applications and multi-family tax-exempt bonds and their respective milestones.

Prior to working at Housing New Mexico, Ada worked with M&T Bank as a closing coordinator in their single-family sector. Ada has also worked at the Arizona Department of Housing as a project specialist. Ada graduated from Arizona State University in 2013, with a bachelor’s degree in housing and community development.

Jamie Michael serves as director of the Doña Ana County Health and Human Services Department where she oversees county health care funding, health promotion programs, as well as behavioral health and criminal justice efforts. Under her direction, the county opened a behavioral health crisis triage center and implemented several jail diversion programs. 

Jamie earned a Bachelor of Science in education, with a major in community health, from the University of New Mexico. She has worked in the public health field for over thirty years. In addition to her work with county government, she has worked in academic institutions and non-profit organizations. Jamie has also been a certified collaborative action team facilitator, child passenger safety instructor, and mental health first aid instructor.

Tess brings three decades of experience in the non-profit social service sector, focusing on supportive service programs that assist seniors aging in place, individuals with disabilities, and under-resourced youth and their families. For the past eighteen years, she has been an integral part of YES Housing, where she has contributed to program implementation and compliance, as well as providing ongoing training and guidance to enhance the efforts of service department employees in delivering essential services to YES Housing residents. 

With a personal commitment to promoting healthy living, Tess is also a certified personal trainer. She leverages her expertise to motivate both YES staff and residents towards more active lifestyles and nutritious eating habits. The Healthy Living Service Coordination program, which she has helped model for YES Housing, combines quality affordable housing with fresh on-site gardens to address food insecurity and fosters the development of vibrant, walkable communities.

Chance Mitchell is the President of JH Homes, a New Mexico-based development company exclusively focused on modular housing. With degrees in Accounting and Finance from Baylor University, Chance brings a strong financial foundation to his work in real estate and development. His background includes experience as both a residential and commercial realtor, giving him a well-rounded perspective on the housing market. Over the past year, he has led JH Homes in partnership with BiltWise to deliver high-quality, efficient modular homes that offer innovative solutions for homebuyers, municipalities, and developers alike.

Jim Mitchell is a New Mexico-based developer and civil contractor leader with over 27 years of experience. As founder of J&H Services, he has developed over 10,000 residential sites and led the company’s growth into one of the region’s top infrastructure contractors. In 2024, Jim launched BiltWise Structures of New Mexico to bring modular housing manufacturing to the region. His investment in factory-built construction reflects a commitment to faster, more efficient homebuilding and to creating jobs and housing across the Southwest.

Veronika has been with Southwestern Regional Housing and Community Development Corporation since 2011 and serves as Executive Director. As an affordable housing practitioner, Veronika is dedicated to the support and provision of affordable housing by implementing and administering affordable housing programs that assist communities, promote housing opportunities, and have generational benefits for families of low to moderate income. She is responsible for writing policies and procedures for the programs that she administers to ensure the advancement of affirmative action and equal opportunity for marginalized and low-income families.

Jazmin is the System Improvement Lead for Albuquerque’s Built for Zero initiative, advancing community-wide strategies to reduce homelessness. Her work bridges data, policy, and collaboration to strengthen cross-agency partnerships, improve outcomes, and center racial equity. Jazmin supports the Continuum of Care by making data actionable, elevating lived experiences, and advocating for sustainable systems change. With a background in community organizing and a deep commitment to housing justice, she brings a practical and compassionate approach to equity-driven transformation.

Cindy Nava is a public policy advocate, former political strategist, and trailblazing elected leader whose work is rooted in the power of lived experience. She has dedicated her career to empowering communities of color, youth, and emerging leaders nationwide through policy, education, politics, leadership development, and advocacy. Guided by a belief in civic engagement, culturally responsive education, and transformational leadership, Cindy champions conscious policy initiatives that strengthen underserved communities. As a former DACA recipient, she has opened pathways for immigrants to enter policy and politics, creating leadership development and training opportunities that position them to lead. 

Cindy has set historic precedents throughout her career, becoming the first undocumented person to intern for a national political party in Washington, D.C., and the first DACA recipient to serve as a Majority Pool Analyst for the New Mexico House of Representatives. She has held senior roles including Political Director for U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan and Chief Administrative Officer of the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute in Chicago. From 2021 to 2022, she served as Executive Director of Transform Education NM, leading a statewide coalition to advance equity in public education.

In 2022, Cindy made history as the first former DACA recipient appointed to a White House political post, serving as Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She broke barriers again in 2024 when she was elected to represent New Mexico's Senate District 9-becoming the first former DACA recipient in U.S. history to win a State Senate seat. Currently the youngest woman of color in the New Mexico State Senate, Cindy brings her voice and leadership to the Health & Public Affairs and Education Committees while continuing her work as a national consultant in housing and education policy.

Benjamin Navarro leads Fannie Mae’s Duty to Serve Plan for the rural housing market. In this role, Ben works to expand Fannie Mae's single-family and multifamily conventional lending products to Native Americans, among other rural communities. Prior to his current role, Ben led the manufactured housing Duty to Serve plan where he contributed to a number of innovations, including creating Fannie Mae’s Manufactured Housing (MH) Advantage loan for high-quality MH and Fannie Mae’s loan for single-width MH. Ben studied at the University of Virginia and Georgetown University and is a native of the Washington, DC area.

Jamie B. Navenma, Executive Director, Laguna Housing Development and Management Enterprise, was hired by LHDME in February 2022. He has worked in and with tribal communities throughout the United States. Mr. Navenma has worked for the Yavapai-Apache Nation (YAN) and the Hopi Tribe in their respective energy programs, serving as the Economic & Energy Program Coordinator for YAN for two years and as a Project Manager for the Hopi Sustainable Energy Program for more than three years. Mr. Navenma also has experience and knowledge in tribal housing, which started in 1993 as a Homeownership Counselor. He has worked in various positions in tribal housing and was the Executive Director for the Hopi Tribal Housing Authority for two years, the Housing Director for Hualapai Housing Department for four years and the Executive Director for Northern Circle Indian Housing Authority for more than a year. He currently serves as the President of the Southwest Tribal Housing Alliance (SWTHA), representing Region VIII (AZ, NM, and W. TX) on the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC), and serves on the Red Feather Development Group’s Board of Directors.

Guillermina Osoria wears many hats in her community. She provides wrap-around services to the most vulnerable members of her community. She is very passionate about the wellbeing of her community. She believes everyone on this planet deserves food, shelter, water, heat, love, and a bed. Her goal in life is to help everyone achieve the basic needs in life.

Alexandra is the Coordinated Entry Director for the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, where she has worked for nearly five years. She has ten years of experience in providing homelessness services, including street outreach, housing case management, and client advocacy.

Growing up on the Pueblos of Laguna and Ohkay Owingeh, Alexandra found her passion for this work after graduating from the University of New Mexico and serving as a Pathways Navigator. It was in that role that she first saw the impact and extent of urban homelessness among Indigenous people, including members of her own tribes. Having seen her own people—sometimes friends and family members—struggle with homelessness, she is driven to keep working toward solutions that address the many complex ways people enter and exit homelessness.

Born in Albuquerque, Representative Cristina Parajón is a proven public servant who has been entrusted with Albuquerque's biggest projects from the COVID isolation hotels to the multi-million-dollar Gateway Project. As the youngest woman in the legislature, she fights for affordability in housing, better jobs, and stronger democracy. She has served House District 25 in the New Mexico State legislature since 2023. She holds a B.A. from Harvard University and is currently working towards her JD at the University of New Mexico. 

Kelly has been with Housing New Mexico since 2018. She is the program manager for the three landlord programs—the Landlord Collaboration Program (LCP), the Landlord Engagement Program (LEP), and the new Statewide Landlord Incentive Program (SLIP)— and handles the fiduciary portion of these programs. Kelly was a part of the Action Team that worked to help create the original landlord collaboration program with Children Youth & Families (CYFD). She also serves as the program manager for the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP).

Anabel began her career with the Income Support Division (ISD) in August 2014, where she quickly discovered her passion for public service and helping others. Through dedication and hard work, she advanced to a Family Assistance Analyst in 2023.  In 2024, she took a position as a Management Analyst Advanced, and later that same year she was promoted to TANF Program Manager.  In her role, Anabel is committed to supporting families, empowering communities and driving positive change through the programs she manages.  She brings both experience and vision to her work and is excited about her future with ISD, where she continues to make a meaningful impact on the lives of New Mexicans.

Marta is the Deputy Director of Client Services at Enlace Comunitario, where she oversees all intervention program activities and supervises program staff. With over fourteen years of dedicated service to the organization, Marta has held several key roles, including five years as a case manager and nearly a year as Interim Co-Executive Director.

Her extensive expertise spans all areas of domestic violence, with a particular focus on supporting survivors through trauma-informed, culturally specific services. Marta is responsible for coordinating and managing programmatic reporting for more than twenty local, state, and federal grants—including housing-related grants—ensuring compliance and effectiveness across multiple funding streams.

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to victim advocacy, she was honored as “Advocate of the Year” in 2014 by the New Mexico Crime Victim’s Reparation Commission. She holds a BA in Psychology and Spanish from the University of New Mexico and has completed several advanced leadership trainings, including the Regional Institute for Health and Environmental Leadership (RIHEL).

Marta’s passion for social justice and her steadfast advocacy for the holistic well-being of domestic violence survivors continue to drive the impact of Enlace Comunitario’s mission.

Robyn Powell, Senior Director of Policy and Planning, brings a decade of dedicated service to Housing New Mexico. In this role, she is focused on shaping the organization's strategic direction, fostering key government relations, and driving resource development initiatives that expand affordable housing opportunities across the state. Robyn holds a Bachelor's degree in Interpersonal Communication with a minor in Business Management from the University of New Mexico.

After spending 18 years in public homebuilding, Garret Price formed Price Land & Development Group in 2017, recognizing the need for a full-service consultancy and development company in New Mexico. His vision was to combine modern analytics with the best talent, experience, and ethics to create a right-sized development firm specializing in acquisition, entitlement, and the development of residential communities and residential/mixed-use master plans.

With over 25 years of experience in residential acquisition, entitlement, and development in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe MSAs, Garret has developed pro formas and managed budgets totaling more than $1 billion dollars and has led the acquisition, entitlement, and development of more than 14,000 lots. Garret is widely recognized as an expert in both development and the New Mexico market.

Felipe Rael has strategically positioned Sol Housing (formerly known as the Greater Albuquerque Housing Partnership) as a premier affordable housing developer in the Southwest by delivering beautifully designed, energy efficient, and award-winning homes for the hardest to serve residents. Prior to his time at Sol Housing, Mr. Rael was Director of Housing Development at Housing New Mexico and an investment banker at Bank of America & ABN AMRO. His experience with capital markets, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac executions and bank balance sheet offerings, gives him broad expertise in real estate finance, with over one billion in originations in his career. Mr. Rael also serves as an Independent Director for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas.

Gilbert A. Ramírez, MSW, LCSW serves as the Director of the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Health, Housing, and Homelessness, where he leads a pioneering approach to integrating public health, housing stability, and homelessness response under one coordinated municipal system. With over 25 years of experience in behavioral health, education, and public service, Ramírez has consistently driven innovative, equity-centered solutions at the intersection of social services and city governance.

Appointed by Mayor Tim Keller in 2018, Ramírez first served as Deputy Director for Behavioral Health and Wellness, where he was instrumental in launching several first-in-state initiatives—including New Mexico’s first Medical Sobering Center, the Recovery Housing Pallet Community, and the Albuquerque Community Safety Department, a nationally recognized alternative response model to 911 calls involving behavioral health crises, substance use, and homelessness.

His leadership in designing scalable, trauma-informed systems has secured cross-sector support and blended funding from federal, state, and county partners. Ramírez also led the development of the Violence Intervention Program (VIP) and continues to shape citywide strategies that prioritize upstream prevention and whole-person care.

A licensed clinical and school social worker, Ramírez brings a social work lens to policy innovation. He is a national expert in youth violence prevention, having co-authored three Oxford University Press publications, and served as a fact witness in the landmark Yazzie/Martinez v. State of New Mexico case advocating for educational equity. His work has consistently focused on closing gaps in service access, dismantling systemic barriers, and building sustainable public sector frameworks that serve the most vulnerable.

At the New Mexico Housing Summit, Ramírez offers insights on how municipalities can break silos, embed behavioral health and housing within public infrastructure, and use governance as a lever for community-centered systems transformation.

Shawn Rasmussen currently serves as a Lending Specialist III for Housing New Mexico | MFA. Shawn joined Housing New Mexico in February 2013, where she has held various roles. She has held titles as processor, closer, shipper and auditor throughout her 30-plus year career in the mortgage industry. Shawn is the primary resource regarding manufactured homes and industry guidelines for Housing New Mexico. As a Lending Specialist, Shawn’s current responsibilities include managing the reservation/lock desk, among other responsibilities. Shawn works closely with Housing New Mexico’s contract service provider, Idaho Housing and Finance Association, in resolving purchase conditions.

Suzan Reagan has been with the Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) since 2013 and oversees the BBER Data Bank. The Data Bank is a member of the U.S. Census Bureau State Data Center as a coordinating member. As such, the Data Bank assist researchers, grant writers, businesses, and the public in accessing and using U.S. Census data. She has been active within the network, being elected to two terms on the State Data Center Steering Committee. 

Reagan has more than 30 years of experience in analyzing industry and occupation statistics for New Mexico’s economy. Prior to working at BBER, Suzan worked for New Mexico’s Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS), Economic Research and Analysis Bureau from 1994 to 2013, where she worked on a variety of programs involving labor market information. As a labor economist, she oversaw the Workforce Information Database at NMDWS and wrote many articles for the Labor Market Review.

Over the years, Suzan has been invited to present around the state to a variety of audiences ranging from students, career counselors, and labor boards; and including the annual NM Data Users Conference, which she now runs.

Jeanne Redondo is Tax Credit Program Manager for Housing New Mexico | MFA and is certified by Grow America as a Rental Housing Development Finance Professional. Jeanne’s 28 years of professional real estate experience includes 13 years administering affordable housing program funding sources such as Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, HOME and Housing Trust Funds. Prior to that, she developed affordable housing projects totaling over $200 million using those sources, as well as private activity bonds, HUD’s 202 and 811 Capital Advance, and Neighborhood Stabilization Programs. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University and a Master of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Albany.

Sharlynn Rosales is Research and Development Manager at Housing New Mexico | MFA, where she assists in shaping statewide housing initiatives. With nearly a decade of experience at the organization, Rosales began her career as an intern and steadily advanced through the ranks. Rosales holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental planning and design with a minor in sustainability studies, and a master’s degree in community and regional planning—both from the University of New Mexico. Prior to her current role, she spent seven years as a program specialist, managing the Primero Loan program, underwriting loans, and overseeing compliance with HUD regulations. In her current role, Rosales engages in program development, grant writing, and outreach. She assists in producing Housing New Mexico’s statewide housing plan and serves as Tribal Liaison.

Daniel is a Program Manager for Housing New Mexico’s HOME Rehabilitation Program. He started as an intern at Housing New Mexico in January 2025 and was named program manager for the HOME Rehabilitation Program in March 2025. Daniel recently graduated from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. While he has only been with Housing New Mexico for a short time, Daniel has already contributed to the HOME Rehabilitation Program by assisting in bringing in a new service provider to the Program. Daniel is contributing to Housing New Mexico’s core vision of “All New Mexicans will have quality affordable housing opportunities” by assisting homeowners to make their homes safe and comfortable places to live.

Frankie Salcido serves as Housing New Mexico’s Servicing Supervisor. With over 30 years of experience in mortgage servicing, Frankie is a seasoned professional specializing in default management. Throughout his extensive career, he has gained in-depth knowledge and expertise in navigating the complexities of loan defaults, foreclosure processes, loss mitigation strategies, and client relations.

Salcido began his career in the mortgage industry with a focus on default servicing and quickly advanced through various roles, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies involved in default management and mortgage servicing. His experience spans loan modification, repayment plans, short sales, deed-in-lieu, and foreclosure prevention strategies, all aimed at assisting borrowers and minimizing losses for investors.

Throughout his career, Salcido has successfully led teams, streamlined processes, and developed strategies that have improved operational efficiency and helped borrowers find sustainable solutions during challenging financial situations. His commitment to customer service, combined with a thorough understanding of regulatory compliance and industry standards, has made Salcido a trusted expert in the mortgage servicing field.

In addition to technical expertise, Salcido is also known for his leadership, strong problem-solving abilities, and dedication to mentoring and training staff. He has a proven track record of building strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams, always focused on delivering optimal results while maintaining the highest level of professionalism and ethical standards.

Whether dealing with complex default scenarios or collaborating with industry professionals to enhance mortgage servicing practices, Salcido is dedicated to improving processes and ensuring the best outcomes for borrowers, lenders, and investors alike.

Oriana Sanchez is the Supportive Housing Development Manager at BlueLine Development, Inc., an affordable housing development company. BlueLine Development promotes dignity, equity, and quality of life through housing. As the Supportive Housing Development Manager, Oriana acts as a bridge between BlueLine Development teams, Supportive Services Partners, BlueLine or outside property management companies and community stakeholders in the development of supportive housing developments. To date, Oriana, in her role at BlueLine, has developed eleven Supportive Housing developments in Colorado with BlueLine and is currently working on five Supportive Housing developments in Montana, New Mexico and Utah. 

Oriana has over 25 years of experience in the affordable housing industry and has been responsible for managing, maintaining, and developing affordable housing throughout Colorado. She holds Real Estate Broker Licenses in both Colorado and Wyoming.   

Oriana came to BlueLine after thirteen years with the Mental Health Center of Denver, now WellPower, as the Real Estate Director where she oversaw the management of housing for over 300 individuals receiving mental health services. She also oversaw the development of Sanderson Apartments, a 60-unit Supportive Housing apartment development built with Trauma Informed Design principles, the first in Colorado.   

Sarita Nair currently serves at the Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. Prior to her appointment at the Department, she served as Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Albuquerque, Chief Governmental Accountability Officer, and General Counsel of the Office of the State Auditor. She holds a law degree and master’s degree of community and regional planning from the University of New Mexico.

Max Schroeder is the Owner of Fiesta Homes, a role he has held since 1997. With a near- lifelong connection to New Mexico, Max's roots run deep, including earning his BBA in Finance from New Mexico State University. His extensive career in the manufactured and modular housing industry encompasses retail sales, financing, and real estate development, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the sector.

Max has been a member of the New Mexico Manufactured Housing Association since 1997, a board member since 2014, and for the past five years, Max has also dedicated his expertise to serving as Secretary, actively shaping the future of housing in the state. Max can draw on his decades of experience to discuss manufactured homes as a vital affordable housing solution.

Jennifer Schwartz is the Director of Tax and Housing Advocacy at the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), where she manages NCSHA’s policy and legislative advocacy work with specific focus on the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and tax-exempt private activity Housing Bonds. On behalf of NCSHA, Jennifer co-chairs the Steering Committee of the A Call to Invest in Our Neighborhoods (ACTION) Campaign and heads the ACTION Legislative Subcommittee. She also leads NCSHA’s work on the Emergency Rental Assistance program and oversees other NCSHA housing policy priorities, including HUD funding and programmatic issues. She rejoined NCSHA in 2014 after previously holding the role of Senior Legislative and Policy Associate at the organization from 2001-2005. 

Prior to returning to NCSHA, Jennifer was Director of Policy and Programs for the Southern Governors’ Association, where she focused on facilitating bipartisan collaboration on policy areas including economic development, healthcare, trade, workforce development, and energy/environment. Earlier in her career, she worked as a counselor and case manager at Women’s Protective Services, a domestic violence shelter and rape crisis hotline and counseling center in Massachusetts, and as a project consultant for the Massachusetts Advocacy Center (now Massachusetts Advocates for Children), a Boston-based nonprofit children’s advocacy organization.

Jennifer earned a Master of Science in Public Administration and Public Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University with a double major in psychology and sociology, graduating magna cum laude with Phi Beta Kappa honors.

With a passion for property management and community advocacy, Kelle offers Sol Housing over fifteen years of industry expertise and a decade of non-profit leadership. Her career is marked by significant contributions, including nine years as Executive Director of the Apartment Association of New Mexico, where she advocated for and educated rental property professionals. Kelle’s academic and professional achievements include a bachelor’s degree from ENMU, ARM® designation in 1996, and CPM® designation in 2022 from the Institute for Real Estate Management. She currently serves on the local IREM New Mexico Chapter Board of Directors and on IREM National’s Governance Committee. Her commitment to education extends to her roles as a faculty member of the National Apartment Association Education Institute and an approved instructor for the New Mexico Real Estate Commission. She is a past Board President of the New Mexico Society of Association Executives, and a past president of the Governing Council for Mountain Mahogany Community School. Beyond her professional life, Kelle is a dedicated community member, enjoying the vibrant culture of New Mexico through community workouts, theatre, and exploring the local craft beer scene.

Janice Shije is from the Pueblo of Tesuque. She has 12 years of experience in tribal housing and 15 years in supportive housing. Her career includes work at the Supportive Housing Coalition of NM, Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, and Housing New Mexico | MFA. Janice is currently a Supportive Housing Coordinator with the Behavioral Health Services Division (BHSD)/Health Care Authority (HCA) for the State of New Mexico. She is a firm believer in Housing First!

Monet Silva is the Executive Director of the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness (NMCEH), bringing over 18 years of experience in non-profit leadership, strategic planning, advocacy, and policy. Passionate about social justice, Monet is dedicated to creating sustainable solutions to address homelessness and improve community well-being.

Monet believes in the importance of building strong relationships with all stakeholders, especially individuals with lived experience, to ensure that policies and programs effectively address the realities of homelessness. Outside of work, she enjoys salsa dancing, reading, and is a strong believer in self-care as a key to maintaining balance and effectiveness in leadership.

Quentin F. Smith is a shareholder/director in the law firm of Stelzner, Winter, Warburton, Flores & Dawes, P.A., where he focuses his practice on employment and labor law. Smith has an AV® Preeminent Rating and was selected as a SuperLawyers® Rising Star (Employment Litigation Defense) for eight straight years. Smith is a graduate of the Leadership New Mexico CONNECT Program and a former recipient of the 40 Under 40 Award from Albuquerque Business First; he has been Legislative Director for the SHRM NM State Council since 2018, and he was the recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Faculty Award from National Business Institute. Smith has successfully defended employers against wide variety of lawsuits, such as discrimination and sexual harassment, retaliatory discharge, breach-of-contract, and whistleblower claims. Smith also has a robust preventative counseling practice advising employers on difficult personnel matters and conducting wage and hour audits, reviewing, and drafting policies and procedures, conducting workplace investigations, and providing management training.

Sonja Unrau, Assistant Director of Policy & Planning, has been with Housing New Mexico | MFA for six years. She began her public service career with the Local Government Division of the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration. Previously, Sonja served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Indonesia, teaching vocational English to high school students. She holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Portland State University.

Lisandra is a long-time social justice advocate. She has worked with nonprofit organizations for over ten years supporting and advocating for unhoused communities and human trafficking survivors. Lisandra recently moved to Albuquerque and has worked with the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness for two years. She believes that housing is a human right and is proud to be part of an organization that pushes policy change for affordable and safe housing for all.

Though she did not fully recognize it at the time, Winter L. Torres (she/her/ella) grew up the daughter of a biracial couple in New Mexico rural poverty in a secondhand trailer in the Silver City area. She graduated as Valedictorian from Cobre High School, where Dr. Luis Quiñones fortified her with knowledge of the Chicano movement, including her family’s deep involvement with the Empire Zinc Strike, upon which the McCarthy blacklisted movie Salt of the Earth is based. Winter later graduated with triple honors and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of New Mexico, where she was a Regents’ Scholar mentored by Professor and former United States Senator Fred Harris. 

Early in her career, Winter worked for a number of political campaigns, including those of former NM Governor Bill Richardson, former U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, and NM House Majority Floor Leader Gail Chasey. Winter also worked in the U.S. Capitol leadership office of David E. Bonior, then Democratic Whip of the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as for then U.S. Representative (later Obama U.S. Labor Secretary) and now Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis. Winter experienced September 11th during her transition to the Solis Office, and in both positions handled immigration, civil rights, and labor matters and liaised with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Immediately before attending law school, Winter gained insight into the New Mexico criminal justice system while serving as the Assistant to the NM Secretary of Corrections in the Richardson Administration.

In 2007, Winter graduated from Cornell Law School, where she served as the President of the Latina/o Law Students’ Association and earned a CALI Excellence for the Future Award as the only second-year law student admitted to Professor Stephen Yale-Loehr’s Asylum Clinic. In the summer of 2005, Winter witnessed the labor schism first-hand as an intern with the AFL-CIO Office of the General Counsel in Washington, D.C. As part of the Human Rights Clinic, Winter worked on the case of a Guantanamo Bay detainee who had been secreted away to a CIA Black Site. Upon joining the NM Bar, she clerked for the only Article III judge in Las Cruces, U.S. District Judge Robert C. Brack.

Between 2008 and 2018, Winter practiced law in Colorado, where she gained extensive plaintiff and defense experience working with an array of organizations, including the large, regional law firm Holland & Hart LLP and a plaintiffs’ employment firm. Winter practiced movement lawyering with the National Treasury Employees’ Union (NTEU) and the education equity nonprofits Padres y Jóvenes Unidos and Law School Si Se Puede (Yes We Can!). Also, during this time, Winter was the caretaker for her mother and father during their last years.

Winter returned to New Mexico in late 2018 to become Albuquerque’s first-ever Deputy City Attorney for Policy. First under the auspices of her law firm Torres Legal Solutions LLC, Winter founded and led the NM Eviction Prevention & Diversion (NMEPD) program during the COVID epidemic. In 2023, she converted NMEPD to a nonprofit organization via initial capitalization with her own private funds. 

Today, both as the CEO of NMEPD and as a private attorney, Winter continues her work to innovate most of the systems that touch housing and homelessness, including most aspects of the legal and funding systems. Her efforts include learning all she can about other housing and homelessness systems and bringing that knowledge home to New Mexico. Winter served on Housing New Mexico’s Housing Trust Fund Advisory Board where she advocated to make homelessness prevention a priority. She is also an ex-officio member of the NM Supreme Court’s Equity Commission, where she was key to the addition of an annual equity continuing legal education requirement. Finally, Winter is currently under consideration to join the Board of the NM Coalition to End Homelessness.

David is Program Manager for the Weatherization Assistance Program for Housing New Mexico | MFA. He recently retired from the City of Albuquerque and has 11 years of experience in program management, four years of experience in purchasing, and 10 years of experience as a contract manager. Before working for the City of Albuquerque, he worked for St. Martin’s Hospitality Center for 11 years as Housing Coordinator.

Kathryn Turner is a resolute and passionate affordable and supportive housing policy analyst with over 12 years of experience in affordable housing development. As Senior Community Investment Officer with CSH, Turner works on the evaluation of supportive housing markets and underwriting of loans in her geographies, including Texas, Georgia, and Florida. Prior to rejoining CSH, she worked for Housing New Mexico as Assistant Director of Housing Development, where she oversaw the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program for the State of New Mexico, along with other federal housing programs. Turner’s original work with CSH focused on the development of, and underwriting for, a Capital Subsidy Fund for gap financing of Houston-based permanent supportive housing units. She holds a master’s degree in urban policy from the New School’s Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy.

Carl has more than 39 years of experience in the housing industry, with a deep focus on manufactured housing as an affordable and energy-efficient building solution. Based in Albuquerque, he has served as President of the New Mexico Manufactured Housing Association and Chair of the Manufactured Housing Division Committee, appointed by three governors to help shape statewide policy and installation codes for factory-built housing. Through his company, NM Home Solutions, LLC, Carl has participated in key initiatives to integrate energy efficiency into manufactured homes, improve regulatory compliance, and align the industry with evolving federal standards and tax incentive programs. 

Carl holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Anderson School of Management at UNM and a range of professional licenses and certifications. A recognized subject matter expert and advocate for energy-efficient housing, he continues to influence the industry through mentorship, policy advisement, and strategic collaboration.

Tracy Weaver has been providing Saranam with inspired leadership since the organization’s founding in 2004. She drives all organizational activities and oversees strategy, fundraising, and program expansion. Weaver has 28 years of experience working with unhoused populations. Her previous experience includes establishing a residential program for unhoused families in Florida and a reintegration program for ex-offenders and their families in Oklahoma. As Saranam’s Executive Director, she developed and shaped programming to meet current community needs and spearheaded Saranam’s growth, including recent scaling efforts. She is the recipient of the Jennifer Riordan Community Impact Award, Women of Influence Award, and New Mexico Humanitarian Award. Under her leadership, Saranam received the Ethics in Business Award for Non-Profit Organizations. Ms. Weaver has a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Oklahoma City University and is a licensed professional counselor.

As Principal of Concept Consulting Group, LLC, since 2007, Deborah has assisted tribal communities in securing funding and developing affordable and mixed income housing using federal, state and private sector financing. Prior to this, Deborah co-founded the Enterprise Community Partners Native American Program in 1996 and served as its director until 2006. She has 40 years of experience in affordable housing development, beginning in Baltimore in 1985. Deborah provides technical assistance and training to non-profit organizations nationwide. She has an AA degree in Paralegal from Villa Julie College.

Christi Wheelock is a dedicated professional with nearly three decades of experience in the affordable housing sector. Since 1996, she has worked extensively with Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), Section 8, and HOME housing programs, demonstrating a deep commitment to expanding access to quality housing for communities in need.

Christi joined Housing New Mexico in 2016 as Housing Program Analyst in the Asset Management Department, where she applied her expertise to ensure the effective management and compliance of affordable housing assets. Prior to her tenure at Housing New Mexico, Christi served as the Regional Property and Compliance Manager for Yarco Companies, overseeing affordable housing communities across New Mexico and Arizona.

In 2019, Christi transitioned to Tax Credit Analyst in Housing New Mexico’s Housing Development Department, where she played a key role in supporting the development and financing of affordable housing projects. Her dedication and leadership were recognized in 2024, when she was promoted to Tax Credit Program Manager.

Throughout her career, Christi has been known for her professionalism, collaborative spirit, and unwavering commitment to serving others. She continues to be an invaluable resource in the field, working tirelessly to ensure that affordable housing programs create lasting, positive impacts for individuals and families.

Dr. White is the Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning and Professor of Finance with tenure at the University of New Mexico. Dr. White also supervises the 20^th largest student-managed fund in the country, the UNM Regents’ Portfolio. Prior to his career in academia, Dr. White worked as an analyst for a large Boston-based bank, where he learned about company analysis, funding, and maintaining ethical corporate leadership. He has consulted with investment managers and municipalities on maintaining optimal portfolio strategies, particularly in response to economic challenges. Dr. White was awarded the 2022 Paul Bartlett Ré Emerging Promoter of Peace Award and serves as a trustee on the $17 billion New Mexico Educational Retirement Board, the Cancer Support Community Los Angeles, and Chair of Voz Collegiate Preparatory School. 

In addition to his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut, Dr. White graduated summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth with a degree in finance. Dr. White has published twenty articles in finance and financial technology in the last few years, including articles in Physica A, Journal of Corporate Finance, IEEE, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, and the Journal of Banking and Finance. With his students, he co-authored Financial Literacy for Immigrants and Refugees, a free financial literacy handbook that has been translated into Spanish, Arabic, and Dari. Since 2020, Dr. White has been interviewed over 400 times by local and national media outlets on various economic and financial topics. 

Priscilla is the Albuquerque Built for Zero Data Manager at the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness. She leads data-sharing and analytics efforts to advance progress toward Functional Zero, working closely with service providers, HMIS (Homeless Management Information System), and community partners.

Priscilla manages Albuquerque’s Family and Chronic By-Name Lists, supports HUD-aligned reporting, and fosters a data-driven culture to guide local strategy and identify system gaps. Her work strengthens data systems and promotes equitable, collaborative solutions to homelessness in Albuquerque.

Stockton Williams was appointed Executive Director of the National Council of State Housing Agencies in March 2018. He leads NCSHA’s wide-ranging efforts to advocate and strengthen the central role of state housing finance agencies in the nation’s housing system.

Stockton has held senior leadership positions in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors throughout a career dedicated to expanding housing opportunity. He has been an advisor to local communities across the U.S., an author of original research, and a media commentator on real estate and economic development issues.

Stockton was previously Executive Vice President of Content and Executive Director of the Terwilliger Center for Housing at the Urban Land Institute. Before that, he was Managing Principal of HR&A Advisors’ Washington, D.C., office. Stockton previously served as Senior Advisor in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Energy. He has also held senior leadership positions at Enterprise Community Partners, Living Cities, and with an affordable housing developer.

Stockton earned a master’s degree in real estate development from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in religion from Princeton University.

Joe holds multiple active certifications including OSHA, Lead Based Paint Renovation, and Building Professional Institute (BPI) certifications for Building Analyst, Energy Auditor and Quality Control Inspector. Joe is a key problem solver for unique energy efficiency problems found within homes throughout Northern New Mexico and is considered an expert using the energy modeling software. Joe has been using these skills with Central New Mexico Housing Corporation to help the families of New Mexico for the last 16 years. Helping the families of New Mexico has been a career achievement for Joe during this time, and he is looking forward to helping countless more in the future.

Denise Zuni owns Sh’eh Wheef Law Offices in Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico. Denise is from Isleta Pueblo and has been a practicing attorney for 36 years. She represents Indian Tribes, Tribally Designated Housing Entities, Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), native coalitions and non-profits in New Mexico. Denise has developed mortgage codes and home loan programs for Pueblos in New Mexico and was instrumental in creating Native CDFIs in New Mexico and their mortgage lending programs. She was instrumental in obtaining congressional sponsorship and subsequent passage of the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act (HEARTH), which allows tribes to enact their own leasing laws. Denise also served as a former tribal appellate judge and a tribal court judge in Isleta Pueblo. She holds a BBA from the University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management and a JD from the UNM School of Law.