Celebrating Wilson K. Mason
As we welcome new board leadership, the entire Cornerstones team thanks Wilson K. Mason for his service as Chair of the Board of Directors for the past three years. Wilson exemplifies outstanding leadership, service, passion, and hard work. Among his many accomplishments was his commitment to keeping Cornerstones a resilient organization by maintaining a strong financial position. He implemented strategic policies on Cornerstones’ endowment. We are grateful that Wilson will stay on in a leadership role as Board Chair Emeritus.
New Slate of Board Officers
A new slate of officers was elected in September at the Annual Meeting of our Board of Directors. All are seasoned Cornerstones Board Directors bringing a wealth of experience to the organization’s governance. We are delighted to move into the coming year partnering with the leadership of:
Monie Blum, Chair
Boni Armijo, Vice Chair
Lynne Spivey, Secretary
Angelo Gaziano, Treasurer
Wilson K. Mason, Chair Emeritus
As the new Chair of the Board of Directors, Monie Blum states, “Preservation of New Mexico’s rich history is important to me, and it is an honor to serve on the board of Cornerstones Community Partnerships. I am proud of the work we do to train youth and community volunteers on how to restore and preserve historic structures. The Solar Heritage Preservation initiative is the next big step to combine renewable energy while preserving historic integrity.”
Monie Blum is a native New Mexican and has been a resident of Santa Fe for the last 15 years. Monie was Senior Vice President of Operations at Los Alamos National Bank and had a 35-year career in banking. In retirement she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, two daughters, and granddaughter. Community service is in her heart; she sits on the board of Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity in addition to serving as Cornerstones’ Chair, Board of Directors.
Vice Chair Boni Armijo is a native Santa Fean who has worked in the construction industry for four decades. In 2000, Boni founded Building Adventures Unlimited, a general contracting, remodeling, and building business in Santa Fe. A longtime Director of Cornerstones, Boni is an active community member, having served the Special Olympics, the New Mexico School for the Deaf, Santa Fe’s Planning Commission and Historic Review Board, the Regional Juvenile Justice Board, and the Community College Foundation.
For over 40 years, Treasurer Angelo Gaziano worked for the Burke family, the former owner-operator of Santa Fe-based Outside Integrated Media, the parent company of Outside Magazine and Outside TV. There he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, having previously worked in publishing and business management for companies owned by the Burke family. Angelo received his M.A. in Accounting from Roosevelt University, Chicago, and a B.S. in Marketing from Southern Illinois University.
Secretary Lynne Spivey has lived in Santa Fe off and on since 1974. Lynne worked at The Original Trading Post in the 1970s. She volunteers at the Wheelwright Museum, is active with the Folk Arts Alliance, the library at the School for Advanced Research, and the Laboratory of Anthropology Library at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. Lynne is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where she volunteered in the Southwest Department of what is now Penn Museum.
Chair Emeritus Wilson K. Mason has more than 30 years’ experience in commercial and investment real estate. As a designated MAI, CRE, and head of his own firm in Dallas, he led a team specializing in major commercial properties and provided counseling, court testimony, and mediation/arbitration services. Wilson was active on local, regional, and national real estate boards and an instructor while also serving professional, civic, and community-based organizations. He and his wife have been residents of Santa Fe and Dallas for more than 25 years. Wilson speaks to his experience with Cornerstones, “Service on Cornerstones Board of Directors and as Chair has been a rewarding experience which enables a connection beyond oneself to the rich cultural history, landmarks, and people of Northern New Mexico.”
Left to right: Monie Blum, Boni Armijo, Angelo Gaziano, Lynne Spivey
Welcoming New Board Director Garron Yepa
Garron Yepa (Diné/Walatowa) is an architectural design professional working with Atkin Olshin Schade Architects in Santa Fe. He has worked in tribal communities for much of his career with the intent of including culturally relevant design in his architectural practice. Garron is a board member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and continues to promote increased Native enrollment in architecture, planning, and preservation programs. Garron has a B.A. in Engineering and Native American Studies from Dartmouth College and a Master of Architecture from the University of New Mexico.
Welcome aboard, Garron!