January 7, 2025 – The Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA) today announced its Board of Directors for 2025.
At the start of its fourth year of a 5-year strategic plan, AREA – renamed and converted to a 501c3 public charity in 2022 – is welcoming new leadership to its board and enjoying continued support of its critical initiatives by many long-time organizational leaders.
““AREA has undertaken some ambitious new initiatives as part of our ongoing AREA 1.0 Strategic Plan execution,” said Don Tarry, AREA’s 2025 Board Chair and President & CEO of PNM. “With a concentrated focus on economic growth enabling tools like site readiness, downtown revitalization and talent attraction and retention, we have our work cut out for us but are making great strides. I thank all of AREA’s contributors and the community at large for this opportunity to serve and welcome our new Board members in joining us in this important work and look forward to what 2025 will bring.”
Officers and Executive Committee Members for 2025:
Don Tarry, PNM – Board Chair
Josh Parsons, Sandia National Laboratories – Chair Elect
Teresa Costantinidis, The University of New Mexico – Treasurer
Celina Bussey, Deloitte Consulting LLP – Secretary
Cynthia Schultz, Bradbury Stamm Construction, Inc. – Immediate Past Chair
Brian Brown, Presbyterian Healthcare Services
Michelle Dearholt, Nusenda Credit Union
Joe Farr, Duke City Commercial LLC
Benjamin Gardner, Dekker
Debbie Harms, NAI Sun Vista
Justin Horwitz, Rodey Law Firm
Kurt Browning, Titan Development
Janice Torrez, BlueCross BlueShield of New Mexico
Continuing Board Members:
Mike Canfield, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Kent Cravens, GAAR
Michelle Dearholt, Nusenda Credit Union
Joe Farr, Duke City Commercial LLC
Tracy Hartzler, CNM
Shad James, Jaynes Corporation
Leean Kravitz, Fidelity Investments
Pepper Lang, Albuquerque Publishing Co.
Dan Long, Gridworks
Lori Anne McBride, Manpower of New Mexico
Roxanna Meyers, Century Sign Builders
Robert Nelson, KPMG LLP
Cynthia Schultz, Bradbury Stamm Construction, Inc.
Janice Torrez, BlueCross BlueShield of New Mexico
Eric Weinstein, Hub International
Joan Tafoya, Meta
Brian Brown, Presbyterian Healthcare Services
Celina Bussey, Deloitte Consulting LLP
Jim Chynoweth, CBRE Inc. Albuquerque
Frank Gallegos, Intel Corporation
Benjamin Gardner, Dekker
Joanie Griffin, Sunny505
Debbie Harms, NAI Sun Vista
Justin Horwitz, Rodey Law Firm
Ruth Huning-Gonzales, Huning, LLC
Adam Leyba, Klinger Constructors, LLC
Meg Meister, Modrall Sperling Roehl Harris & Sisk, P.A.
Outgoing Board Members: We are so thankful for your contributions and dedication to AREA’s mission!
Walt Benson, County Commissioner – District 4, Bernalillo County Commission
Phil Casaus – BRYCON Corporation
Ben Spencer – Titan Development
New* and Reappointed Board Members:
*Hank Andrews, Verus Resarch
Kyle Beasley, Bank of Albuquerque
*Kurt Browning, Titan Development
Teresa Costantinidis, The University of New Mexico
Robin Divine, TriCore Reference Laboratories
*Jeff Garrett, Garrett Development Corporation
Marcos Gonzales, Bernalillo County
Troy Greer, Lovelace Health System
Wayne Johnson, Sandoval County
Mayor Tim Keller, City of Albuquerque
Adrian Montoya, Summit Electric Supply Co., Inc.
*Rebecca Napier, UNM Health System
Josh Parsons, Sandia National Laboratories
Ryan Shell, New Mexico Gas Company
Don Tarry, PNM
Exciting new additions to the AREA Board in 2025 include : Rebecca Napier provides executive leadership to the University of New Mexico (UNM) Health Sciences Center as the Vice President for Finance and Administration. She began her tenure with UNM on November 1, 2023. Immediately prior, she was the Chief Operating Officer for Florida Atlantic University Health (FAU Health), as well as Senior Associate Dean for Finance and Administration at their College of Medicine, and served as the President of FAU /Broward Health Medical Group. Her impressive track record also includes leadership roles at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center and the University of Kentucky Health System.
Kurt Browning is a Partner in Titan Development, specializing in Real Estate investment and development. With over 25 years of experience in several Real Estate asset classes, Kurt is instrumental in strategic planning, deal optimization, government relations, and development/construction. Via our investor relations, he sources equity and also manages Titan’s project platform for the Titan Funds in conjunction with our CEO.
Henry L. (Hank) Andrews, Jr. is the Managing Director and CFO of Verus Research and a founding member of the company. He brings a wealth of leadership experience, including senior roles in aerospace, defense, and corporate sectors. Hank served in the U.S. Air Force for 27 years, retiring as a colonel and holding key positions like Kirtland Air Force Base commander. His corporate experience includes executive roles at BBA Aviation, SAIC, and Eclipse Aviation.
Hank is active in community service, holding board roles with organizations such as the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and New Space Nexus. Academically, he holds degrees from Syracuse University, Louisiana Tech University, and the National Defense University and has completed executive education programs at prestigious institutions like Duke and Northwestern.
Jeff Garrett, President of Garrett Development Corporationt, has extensive knowledge of real estate development spans several decades. After graduating from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelors in Business Administration and Management in 1993, Jeff started his career working with prominent home builders, Presley Homes and William Lyon Homes. Jeff then continued his educational pursuit at the University of Southern California graduating with a Master’s degree in Real Estate Development in 2001. He broadened his experience developing master planned communities, shopping centers and a variety of other commercial properties on a national scale as a partner at Evergreen Development.
In 2009 Jeff took his experience in retail, multifamily and residential development services to pursue his own venture and formed Garrett Development Corporation. He continues to be involved in the day to day operations of the business and all development and asset management activities.
———————————————————————————————————-
In accordance with its recent restructuring and new inclusion of public sector service on its voting Board, AREA is excited for the continued service of several public sector leaders including Mayor Tim Keller who joined the AREA Board as a voting member in 2024.
The full 2025 Board of Directors roster can be viewed online.
In addition to those serving in 2025, AREA is grateful for the time and commitment offered by its outgoing board members who served in 2024 and prior, including Walt Benson, Bernalillo County Commissioner; Phil Casaus of BRYCON Corporation; and Ben Spencer of Titan Development.
Danielle Casey, President & CEO of AREA, commented “This is a pivotal year for AREA. We will be celebrating our 65th anniversary, but also entering the last 2 years of the AREA 1.0 Strategic Plan with a huge amout of work still before us. I am honored to serve this Board of Directors as they lead AREA in its transformation into the role of true regional convener, and tackle our top priorities alongside economic development partners across New Mexico.”
In addition to voting Directors, AREA also has Emeritus Ex-Officio Board Members, who are awareded this status by vote of the AREA Board based on long-time service and exceptional leadership with the organization. View our Emeritus Board members.
###
About AREA
The Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead and execute strategies designed to grow and diversify the economic base of the greater Albuquerque region, creating a prosperous, diverse and inclusive economy and elevating the standard of living for all. AREA provides confidential assistance to businesses considering the area for expansion and new investment. Since its creation in 1960, AREA has recruited more than 250 companies and more than 35,000 jobs to the Albuquerque metro area. AREA also provides retention and expansion assistance to existing industry. For more information, visit ABQ.org.