Homewise
Board Of Directors
Marissa Ruyle
Chair
Account Executive, Federal Solutions at Gordian
Dr. Shelle Van Etten de Sanchez
Vice Chair & Secretary
Director, Cultural Services Dept., City of Albuquerque
Dr. Shelle VanEtten de Sanchez is the Director of Cultural Services for the City of Albuquerque, serving on the mayor’s leadership team. A business owner, organizer, educator, creative facilitator, and optimist, Dr. Sanchez lives happily with her family in the Barelas neighborhood of Albuquerque. She has more than 25 years of professional experience and leadership in arts, culture, education, and entrepreneurship in a variety of settings. She has a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Education, and a B.A. in Spanish and French from the University of New Mexico. Dr. Sanchez is the owner and principal consultant at Collaboristic, LLC, working on initiatives and projects that sit at compelling intersections of arts, education, and community.
Amanda Kocon
Treasurer
Chief Strategy Officer, Edmentum
Amanda Kocon is the Chief Strategy Officer for Edmentum, an organization committed to being educators’ most trusted partner in creating successful student outcomes everywhere learning occurs. Amanda works to bring Edmentum’s long-term vision to life by connecting strategy to execution and ensuring that our goals for growth and impact are aligned to the current and future needs of our education partners and the students we serve. She has extensive experience setting strategy, growing and diversifying revenue across markets, and leading complex change. Amanda most recently served as Chief Strategy Officer at The New Teachers Project (TNTP) and has also previously held senior leadership positions at JP Morgan Chase, including Chief Operations Officer of Global Futures and Options.
Joseph Kunkel
Member at Large
Principal and Director, MASS Design Group
Joseph Kunkel and citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Nation is a Principal at MASS Design Group, where he directs the Sustainable Native Communities Design Lab based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a community designer and educator, focused on sustainable development practices throughout Indian Country. His work includes exemplary Indian housing projects and processes nationwide. This research work has developed into emerging best practices, leading to an online Healthy Homes Road Map for tribal housing development, funded by HUD’s PD&R Office. His professional career has centered on community-based design, material research, fabrication, and construction. From 2013-2016, Joseph led the development of a 41-unit affordable housing development, supported by National Endowment for the Arts and ArtPlace America. In 2019 Joseph was awarded an Obama Fellowship for his work with Indigenous communities. In 2018 Joseph received a Rauschenberg SEED grant from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and a 2019 Creative Capital Award. Joseph is a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Civil Society Fellowship, a partnership of ADL and The Aspen Institute, and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Most recently Joseph was awarded the 2021 inaugural Elaine Johnson Coates Award, by the University of Maryland’s Alumni Association.
Agnes Noonan
Member at Large
President, WESST
Agnes Noonan is the President of WESST, a statewide economic development organization and Community Development Financial Institution in New Mexico which helps people start and grow their own business. She has over 35 years’ experience in small business development and management. Previously, she served as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, where she worked with local, regional, and international agencies on issues relating to economic development. In Costa Rica, she served as a small business consultant for the United States Peace Corps, working with a variety of small, locally based businesses. Ms. Noonan holds a B.A. in Political Science from Berea College and an M.A. in International Affairs with a concentration in Latin American Business and Economics from The George Washington University. She is a past award recipient of the SBA’s Women’s Business Advocate of the Year, the New Mexico Business Hall of Fame and Top-Performing CEOs.
Anne Messbarger-Eguia
Member at Large
Consultant specializing in strategic planning, Anne Messbarger-Eguia Strategy Consulting
Anne P. Messbarger-Eguia is the Founder and Owner of Anne Messbarger-Eguia Strategy Consulting, an independent consulting firm offering strategic planning support for small and mid-sized organizations. Prior to founding her consulting firm, she spent 22 years with CHRISTUS Health, most recently as the Senior Systems Director of Strategy, Research, and Innovation. Ms. Messbarger-Eguia holds a BA in Spanish/English from the University of Illinois and an MA in Hispanic Literature from the University of Texas. She also holds a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. Ms. Messbarger-Eguia currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and is a past Board Member for Visitation House Ministries and CHRISTUS Muguerza Health System.
Josue Olivares
Member at Large
Executive Director, Rio Grande Community Development Corporation
Josue Olivares is the Executive Director of the Rio Grande Community Development Corporation (RGCDC). A systems thinker, with a strong drive for process and execution, Josue is a serial entrepreneur raised in Monterrey, Mexico. He studied architecture at Universidad Del Valle de Mexico, started several small businesses including a manufacturing company. He’s intricately involved in the Albuquerque nonprofit sector, having served on many boards and committees. He’s presently is co-directing the Color Theory Initiative, a multi-pronged economic development approach. Josue is the vice president of the South Valley Mainstreet Board of Directors and a recipient of the 2018 Albuquerque Business First 40 under Forty awards.
Jade Rivera
Member at Large
Founder of Albuquerque Collegiate Charter School
Jade Rivera founder of Albuquerque Collegiate Charter School, located in Albuquerque’s South Valley. Since it’s opening, Ms. Rivera and her team have led Albuquerque Collegiate to earn designations scoring in the top 10% of NM schools in literacy growth and proficiency, as well as student and family satisfaction. Ms. Rivera holds a B.A. from the University of New Mexico and a M.Ed in Elementary Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 2020, Ms. Rivera was recognized as one of New Mexico’s “Top 40 Under 40” young professionals. Ms. Rivera enjoys volunteering with various non-profit organizations in Albuquerque, serving on the boards for Homewise, the Hispano Philanthropic Society, the Solare Collegiate Foundation, and Public Charter Schools of New Mexico.
Monique Fragua
Member at Large
Chief Operating Officer, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (IPCC) and Indian Pueblos Marketing, Inc. (IPMI)
Monique Fragua is from the Pueblo of Jemez and is a portrait of Pueblo women’s strength, determination, and love of community. She is the first woman to accept a presidency role at the IPCC and IPMI, and now as COO, Monique leads both the non-profit and for-profit entities owned by the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico. She has made it her personal mission to create opportunities for Native communities and individuals by providing encouragement, training, and resources to advance their own goals. Monique currently serves as Board Chair of the Pueblo of Jemez Housing Authority and serves the Albuquerque Community Foundation as a Board of Trustee.
Bianca Ortiz Wertheim
Member at Large
Senior Advisor to the Latino Talent Initiative, Equis Research, Inc.
With experience advising Mayors, Governors, and US Senators, Bianca has overseen multi-million-dollar budgets, driven successful legislative campaigns, and delivered on priorities for the people of New Mexico. As Cabinet Secretary for the NM Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Bianca helped direct millions in federal funding during the state’s response to COVID-19 and natural disasters. Notably, as one of the first Latinas to serve as US Senate Chief of Staff, Bianca brings invaluable Capitol Hill experience, adept at navigating legislation, federal funding, and confirmations. Bianca hails from Nambé, a small town north of Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she was fortunate to grow up in a multigenerational and bilingual household.
Sean Harris
Member at Large
Senior Manager of an Information Technology and Cyber Security
Organization, Sandia National Laboratories
Sean leads efforts to enable the research, development, and delivery of products and services critical to national security. He has over 20 years’ experience in cyber security, information technology, and software and systems engineering. Sean holds a BBA with a concentration Management Information Systems from the University of New Mexico, and a M.S with a concentration in Management Information Systems from the University of Illinois Springfield. He was also the recipient of the 2024 Black Engineer of the Year Award, presented by US Black Engineer Magazine, in the category of Modern Day Technology Leader.
Alex Montano
Member at Large
Executive Vice President, Yearout Energy
Alex oversees the delivery of projects through all phases across the Southwest. He has been instrumental in the development and implementation of comprehensive energy efficiency, renewable energy, and resource conservation projects throughout the US since 2004. Alex has attained broad industry experience having performed job activities in business development, engineering, project management, construction management, performance assurance and commissioning. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology from New Mexico State University, and is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP), Renewable Energy Professional (REP), and LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP). In 2020, Alex was recognized as a 40 under Forty honoree by Albuquerque Business First. Alex also serves on the National Board of Directors of the Energy Services Coalition and is a current or past member of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), TEMA, Vistage, Leadership New Mexico, the Albuquerque Energy Council, and the Albuquerque Climate Action Plan Task Force.