The Director of Development and Placemaking Named at InnovateABQ

Kelly S. Ward has been named as the Director of Development and Placemaking at InnovateABQ. Ward will lead the capital raise, redevelopment, and renovation of the First Baptist Church building, including the associated five story office tower and educational wing. He assumed the role on December 3, 2018. Ward joins InnovateABQ from the Village of Los Ranchos where he had been the Administrator since 2007.

John Freisinger, Executive Director of InnovateABQ said, “The hire of Mr. Ward comes at a critical juncture for InnovateABQ as we move forward on the next significant project on our seven-acre site.” Freisinger added, “This phase two component of the development will focus on the creation of bioscience research and development office and laboratory space.”

The Community Outreach Team at InnovateABQ 

InnovateABQ has also contracted Roanhorse Consulting, LLC to help meet its community outreach objectives and build a more interconnected tapestry of opportunity for our city and state’s diverse entrepreneurs. “Success for all Albuquerque entrepreneurs will require us to move outside of our traditional modes of outreach and engagement and Roanhorse Consulting is helping us execute a very ambitious plan to reach communities which have rarely felt part of our innovation economy,” said Executive Director, John Freisinger.

Vanessa Roanhorse, Project Director, will provide oversight and leadership that will work with the InnovateABQ Director to ensure alignment and development of initiatives are implemented and coordinated across multiple activities. Vanessa will use her skills at bringing people to the table, building partnerships and effective management to lead a qualified team. She is an active member of the local Living Cities Integration Initiative team, a board member of Siembra Leadership High School, and a co-founder of the Native Women Lead effort.

Jaime Gloshay, Project Manager, will be the day to day program manager supporting the Project Director to ensure needs are met with stakeholders and partners by being available for office hours at InnovateABQ and onsite locations across the city. Jaime is an Opportunity Finance Fellow, a national fellowship, with the goal of ensuring equitable investment in underserved and disenfranchised communities in the Community Development Financial Institute (CDFI) industry. She is also is on the board of Two Worlds Film and Theater and is a co-founder of the Native Women Lead organization.

Annie Sanchez, Project Coordinator, will be the on-the-ground project coordinator supporting the project manager to organize and manage schedules, meetings internally and externally, documenting progress, managing calendars and providing day-to-day support to ensure deliverables are being met and stakeholders are informed on the status of goals being met. Annie was the Director at the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, managing and administering their efforts statewide. Currently, Annie has launched Mariposa Strategies, focused on working with women of color to provide productivity and business coaching.

InnovateABQ is a public/private partnership for the development of an innovation district in Albuquerque’s downtown.  The 7-acre campus is home to innovators, inventors, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and mentors

Contact: John Freisinger, Executive Director

InnovateABQ

505-301-1113