Board & Staff
Board of Commmissioners
The Mayor of the City of Gallup appoints the five-member Board of Commissioners subject to confirmation by the City Council. The mayor will typically rely on the Board of Commissioners to put forth a candidate or candidates for him/her to consider.
They are the governing officers of a quasi-public entity that functions as developer, landlord, and administrator of local low-income housing programs. Their role is like that of a private corporation’s board of directors. Their primarily duties include: to hire a qualified Executive Director to manage agency operations on daily basis; to review and approve an annual budget; to hold monthly board meetings to received reports on operations and make and take action on agency decisions; to adopt agency policies and procedures to ensure internal controls on financial transactions are in place; to adopt agency policies and procedures to ensure programs are operated in a fair and consistent manner; to ensure an annual audit is completed in a timely manner; and to adopt policy and procedures for proper personnel management and proper procurement of services in accordance with state and federal laws rules, and regulations.
Board Members
- Alfred Abeita, Sr. Chairman
- James R. Morris, Vice-Chairman
- Maryann Ustick
- Peter Gonzales
- Aurelia Johnson-Aragon
Board Meetings
Meetings are held at 9:00 am on the third Friday of every month. Occasionally the board may conduct a special meeting or work session as needed. Public notice must be provided 3-days in advance of every meeting. Meetings are open to the public except when items must be discussed in closed session. Public comment is allowed at the end of every meeting. If a person has a disability which requires accommodation, please call one week in advance to make arrangements. Contact the GHA office at (505) 722-4388, to request a copy of the agenda or to arrange for accommodations.
Leadership and Management
The Gallup Housing Authority’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of public funds is carried out through the leadership of its Executive Director and Deputy Director. The Executive Director has overall responsibility for administering and managing agency programs, budgets, policies, and strategic initiatives, while serving as the primary liaison to the Board of Commissioners, HUD, and state and local partners. Working closely with the Board, the Executive Director leads long-range planning and ensures agency operations comply with HUD regulations and performance standards. The Deputy Director supports these efforts through daily oversight of housing programs, personnel, and maintaining accurate financial records, and serves as an alternate liaison to governing and regulatory bodies. Together, this leadership team ensures that agency decisions, financial management, and operations are conducted responsibly, transparently, and in compliance with all applicable federal and state requirements. The Accounting Assistant supports agency leadership by processing accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll transactions; and assisting with record keeping and audit documentation. The Front Desk Administrative Assistant serves as the agency’s primary point of contact for residents, community members, staff, and vendors, and functions as a central hub for communication, coordination, and administrative support.
Executive Director
Deputy Director
Accounting Assistant
Staff
Executive Management
- Richard Kontz, Executive Director
- Telisia Buggie, Deputy Director
Accounting and Administration
- Tiffany Saucedo, Accounting Assistant
- Vacant, Administrative Assistant – Front Desk
Capital Projects and Maintenance
- Michael Burnside, Capital Projects Coordinator
- Evangeline Benally, Maintenance Manager
- Jaida Betom, Maintenance Assistant
- Watson Benally, Maintenance Tech II
- Michael Sice, Maintenance Tech II
- Herbert Harvey, Maintenance Tech II
- Brittany Begay, Maintenance Tech I
- Sampson Sam, Maintenance Tech I
- Elvert Blackgoat, Maintenance Tech I
Housing Management
- Pearl Reed, Housing Manager
- April Hustito, Housing Specialist
- Raylene Gilbert, Housing Clerk
Reports and Plans
Five Year Plan
Agency Goals and Objectives
- Goals and Objectives - Deputy Director
- Goals and Objectives - Accounting
- Goals and Objectives - Housing Management
- Goals & Objectives - Maintenance & Capital Projects