Board of Directors:

Staff

Debbie Stover – Executive Director
dstover@downtownabq.com

Debbie Stover serves as the Executive Director for the Downtown Action Team, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the revitalization of Downtown Albuquerque as the best mid-sized Downtown in the USA. Debbie joined the Downtown Action Team in July 2012 with many years of  experience in both the public and private sector.  She specializes in urban design and development and is passionate about downtown Albuquerque.  She is a 4th generation New Mexican who has called Albuquerque home for most of her life. She is a graduate of the University of New Mexico and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Geography and a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture. After owning her own business and working for municipal and state government for 26 years, Debbie retired as the city Planning Director, and looks forward to applying those skills in making downtown THE most exciting destination for New Mexico and beyond.

Lola Bird - Associate Director
lbird@downtownabq.com

Lola has been working as an urban landscape designer for more than fifteen years.  Her past professional experience includes corporate identity and wayfinding.  She has experience in a diversity of project types. Lola earned a Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, a Masters of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia, and a Masters of Landscape Architecture from the University of New Mexico. She is a registered Landscape Architect in the State of New Mexico. She is also a trained and certified mediator with the Institute for Environmental Negotiation at the University of Virginia.  Ms. Bird currently sits on the Mesa del Sol Employment Center and Residential Development Design Review Committees, and is responsible for reviewing all commercial, industrial and residential development for the project. She also sits on the Consumer Advisory Board for the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority.

Maia Mullen – Associate Director
mmullen@downtownabq.com

With over 15 years experience in architecture, interior design, community planning and facilitation, Maia has worked on projects throughout the  country. Her educational background in fine arts and architecture combined with her professional experience enables Maia to integrate all aspects of  design and development into a project. She has worked on housing projects and street designs, as well as design contribution to the LA Now books – an  urban study of Los Angeles – and project designer for an integrated health clinic and teaching facility at the University of Nevada Medical School (The  Center for Molecular Medicine). Maia is a native to Albuquerque, and she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Georgetown University and her Master  of Architecture from the University of California, Los Angeles.  She is a sitting commissioner on Albuquerque’s Environmental Planning Commission.

Zoya LoPata – Office Manager/Project Coordinator
zlopata@downtownabq.com

Zoya graduated from Occidental College in Los Angeles, California, with a degree in Psychology, and  attained her 2nd degree in Interior Design from the Illinois Institute of Art, Chicago.  After living in Paris, she worked at an architecture firm in Chicago, where she also  gained a passion for urban issues. Subsequently, she published and spoke at international conferences in Istanbul, Turkey and Leipzig, Germany. Zoya is in charge of many of our ongoing projects involving the revitalization of our downtown.

Adrian P. Garcia, MPA - Operations Manager
agarcia@downtownabq.com

Adrian has been with the Downtown Action Team since September, 2006 and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Masters of Public Administration degree, both from the University of New Mexico. He was the the 2009 Goodwill Industries of New Mexico Edger Award winner in the category of Goodwill Partnering Employer of the year. The awards are named after Edgar Helms, founder of Goodwill Industries in 1906 in Boston, and recognize outstanding New Mexicans in the field of human services. Adrian was also named the SMS Holdings Corporations 2010 Horizons award winner. SMS holdings recognizes each year those individuals who exemplify the company’s core values, provide extraordinary customer service and demonstrate a positive attitude.  SMS Holdings Corporations is the parent company to Block By Block, Downtown Action Team’s Vendor for Clean and Hospitality.

Gina Meyers - Growers’ Market Manager
growersmarket@downtownabq.com

Gina came to New Mexico in October of 2010 fresh from a season managing the Farmers Market in Homer, AK. She was introduced to Albuquerque agriculture working alongside her organic farming family members and friends. After frequenting ABQ Growers Markets as a vendor and a customer, Gina began coordinating the Downtown Growers Market in May 2012. Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, she earned a BA in Art, Design, and Mass Communication from the University of Minnesota. Loving the sunshine and friendly people of Albuquerque, Gina is happy to be involved with such a wonderful community of growers and artists who bring the enchantment of this land to life.