AREA announces new board members for 2025

A University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center executive. A chief financial officer from Verus Research. And a president and partner of two separate real estate development companies.

Those are the latest additions to the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance's board of directors for 2025, the organization announced in a news release this month. AREA is a group that aims to grow and diversify the economic base of the greater Albuquerque region

The appointments join a list of more than three dozen AREA board members led by board president Don Tarry, Public Service Company of New Mexico's president and CEO.

“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,” Tarry said in a statement.

New members include:

Rebecca Napier, vice president for finance and administration at UNMHSC. Napier has been with UNM since November 2023, previously serving as chief operating officer for Florida Atlantic University Health and, before that, serving in roles with University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and the University of Kentucky Health System.

Kurt Browning, partner with Titan Development. Browning, who has more than two decades of experience in several real estate classes, provides strategic planning, deal optimization, government relations and manages the platform for Titan Funds in conjunction with the company's CEO.

Hank L. Andrews Jr., managing director, CFO and founding member of Verus Research. Having served in the Air Force for 27 years, including a stint as a Kirtland Air Force Base commander, Andrews brings leadership experience in aerospace, defense and corporate sectors. His corporate experience ranges from roles with BBA Aviation, SAIC and Eclipse Aviation.

Jeff Garrett, president of Garrett Development Corp. Garrett, who has several decades of experience in real estate development, started the company in 2009 and remains heavily involved in day-to-day operations and asset management activities. Garrett, after graduating from the University of New Mexico in 1993, started his career with prominent homebuilders such as Presley Homes and William Lyon Homes. He then received his master's degree from the University of Southern California in 2001 and broadened his reach to include developing master-planned communities, shopping centers and other commercial projects on a national scale with Evergreen Development.