Middle Rio Grande Housing Collaborative Commission
The Middle Rio Grande Housing Collaborative Commission meets on the fourth Thursday of every other month at 2:00 PM.
Meet the Commissioners
The Middle Rio Grande Housing Collaborative's Commissioners are engaged members of the community we serve. Through their guidance and support, we are able to truly build strong communities.
Our esteemed Board of Commissioners bring a diverse range of expertise and shared passion for creating positive change in affordable housing. Get to know the faces behind MRGHC's success as we work collaboratively to make a difference in the lives of communities throughout Central New Mexico.
Talia Freedman
Owner, Talia Freedman & Co
Talia Freedman is a proud University of New Mexico graduate and the owner and Qualifying Broker of Talia Freedman & Co, a real estate company. She built the company from two people to now having a team and multiple Associate Brokers. Ms. Freedman is committed to growing a company with a productive, collaborative, and supportive environment for staff and brokers alike. She is further committed to achieving positive outcomes for broader society by leveraging her extensive real estate experience, diverse areas of education, and rich personal history to realize a healthy and robust community. She is currently pursuing a ChFC Certification in financial planning and has multiple designations in real estate. Ms. Freedman has been and is active in our community through volunteerism and has served on boards for Camp Fire USA, the Greater Albuquerque Jewish Community Center, and was the founding president of the Sandia Out Professional Alliance. She currently serves on the Professional Standards Committee at the Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors.
Dan Majewski
Executive Director, ULI New Mexico District Council
Dan is an active transportation expert, urbanist, and creative entrepreneur who is passionate about creating safer, healthier places. He has been the Executive Director of the ULI New Mexico District Council since 2020. Previously, he co-managed a Federal Transit Oriented Development planning grant with the City of Albuquerque’s Economic Development Department. Previous public service includes chairing the City of Albuquerque's Greater Albuquerque Bicycling Advisory Committee (GABAC, now known as GAATC) from 2018 to 2020. Dan has a Bachelor's Degree in Regional Development from the University of Arizona in Tucson. In his free time, he enjoys exploring urban and wild places in New Mexico and beyond by bike and on foot. Learn more at danmajewski.com/about.
Ian Robertson
Director of Development, Titan Development
Ian Robertson is a real estate developer with 12 years of experience in the BD+C industry. A former architect, Ian brings a unique blend of development expertise and a deep passion for urbanism and design to his role as Director of Development at Titan Development, one of the Southwest's most active developers of multifamily housing. Ian has lent his expertise to a broad array of public. Prior to joining Titan Development, Ian worked for Perkins Eastman and Rafael Viñoly Architects, both globally recognized architecture firms. In addition to his professional experience, Ian is an active member of several urban planning and real estate development organizations. Ian serves on the board of directors for the Urban Land Institute NM, the Apartment Association of New Mexico, and the East Downtown (EDo) Neighborhood Association. Ian is an active member of NAIOP and was named one of Albuquerque’s 40 Under 40 in 2023. Ian received his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Texas School of Architecture (UTSOA), earned a Business Foundation Certificate from the McCombs School of Business through the Halliburton Business Foundations program, and studied Fine Art at the prestigious California Institute of the Arts.
Lawrence Rael
Mr. Lawrence Rael is a native New Mexican and life-long public servant. Born in Santa Fe and raised in the Northern New Mexico town of Sile, he graduated from Bernalillo High School and stayed in New Mexico for college, receiving his degree from the University of New Mexico. Recently retired as the Chief Operating Officer for the City of Albuquerque. has included signature infrastructure projects including the Railyards, Netflix, the New Mexico Media Academy, the Rail Trail, Maxeon’s relocation to Albuquerque, the acquisition of the Poole property, the Sunport renovation and dozens of other large- and small-scale projects throughout the city. He has also played a leading role with APD’s reform, helping make rapid progress on the DOJ Consent Decree and solidifying strong employee relations, with unprecedented three-year collective bargaining agreements with most of the City’s workforce. His experience is vast. Rael served as the Executive Director for the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG) for eight years. While holding this position he was responsible for the comprehensive planning and development programs for twenty-seven local governments in the region. He was also the driving force behind the New Mexico Rail Runner. Prior to working with MRCOG, he spent twelve years as Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Albuquerque. While there, he coordinated the City of Albuquerque’s purchase of the Elena Gallegos land grant to preserve the area along the base of the Sandia Mountains and he helped expand the Petroglyph National Monument to preserve wetlands in the Rio Grande Valley. In addition, he participated in the revitalization of downtown, as well as the construction or expansion of the Zoo, the Aquarium, Explora Science Center, and Isotopes Baseball Park. Mr. Rael’s tenure with Mayor Keller Rael is the longest-serving CAO in the city’s history.
Steven Anaya
Steven Anaya has a rich history of public service at the local, state, and federal levels. He served as the CEO of the New Mexico Association of REALTORS® (NMAR), where he managed public policy and business matters for the state's real estate industry. Prior to this, he was the Director of Fannie Mae’s New Mexico Partnership Office, leading a $6 billion investment that helped over 66,000 families with affordable housing.
Anaya also held a federal position as State Director for the USDA Office of Rural Development, overseeing a $300 million portfolio and aiding rural families in securing housing. At the state level, he managed the New Mexico State Fair for four years, doubling revenue and spearheading significant renovations.
In addition to his public roles, Anaya holds elected office as a Moriarty City Council member and serves on various executive committees and boards. He is a former Board of Regents member at New Mexico State University and a UNM Hospital Trustee. Among his accolades are the New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Award and recognition as one of the state’s “Power Brokers.”
Anaya holds a Business Administration degree from New Mexico State University and is semi-retired, enjoying family life with his wife, Shara, their three sons, and grandkids.
Membership of the MRGHC will be governed by a board of five (5) commissioners to be formed as follows: The Mayor shall, with the advice and consent of the City Council, appoint two (2) commissioners; The Board of the Bernalillo County Commissioners shall appoint two (2) commissioners; and The fifth commissioner will be appointed by a vote of the sitting 4 members identified above. The commissioners who are first appointed will be designated to serve staggered terms of one to five years from the date of their appointment.