About

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Vanessa Miller is the Executive Director of Corrales MainStreet and is proud to be serving the community she has called home for the past decade.

A longtime Corrales resident, Vanessa and her husband are small business owners in the Village, and their children have grown up in the community. She previously worked in Corrales for five years, building strong connections with local residents, businesses, and visitors—an experience that deepened her appreciation for the Village and its unique sense of community.

With a background rooted in community involvement, leadership, and service, Vanessa is passionate about supporting local businesses, strengthening connections, and creating opportunities for Corrales to thrive.

She believes the spirit of Corrales truly embodies the idea that “it takes a village” and is excited to help the community continue to grow, shine, and thrive—together.

PRESIDENT

Evan Long was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico later relocating to Albuquerque where he attended the University of New Mexico and received his Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing from the Anderson School of Management. He joined the financial industry thereafter in 2013, and is currently a Wealth Advisor for the Horizon Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley. He and his family relocated to Corrales in 2022 and enjoy volunteering and being a part of community events. He enjoys snowmobiling, getting outdoors, traveling and spending time with family.

VICE PRESIDENT

Jim has been an active member of Corrales MainStreet since 2006 when he and his wife, Patty, moved to Corrales from Santa Fe. He has served as CMS’ President, Vice President, Treasurer, and chair of the Economic Vitality Committee, Starry Night, and in a variety of other ways. Jim’s involvement in CMS is driven by a desire to contribute to the community where he lives and a desire to help the local business’ community flourish. His professional career was in commercial banking, having served as President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of three banks in New Mexico. Currently, Jim provides Financial Consulting services to his son’s business, Rio Grande Realty & Investments, LLC.  Being a volunteer for non-profit community organizations has been a big part of his nature. Being a volunteer has provided him the opportunity to meet and know a wide range of people that he might not otherwise have met. Jim’s greatest accomplishment is being Preston’s Grandpa.

TREASURER

Linda Parker started her first family-owned business 26 years ago with future daughter-in-law, Krista Koss.  Since then, Krista assumed the leadership and management of the Cafeteria Plan Company, a third-party administration firm which they sold in 2026. 

Linda has also created three other family-owned businesses with her younger son, Tyson, who designs and develops micro residential and commercial properties.  Needless to say, Linda has a healthy understanding of the challenges families have in running their business. Her additional careers span the array from being a department store clothing buyer to being a museum director of development.

Before launching Retirement Strategies, another TPA firm in 1999 that she sold in 2012, she was a shareholder in an actuarial firm.

Her world has always focused on the not-for-profit world by serving on multiple boards, most recently they include:

• Albuquerque Community Foundation, Trustee

• Corrales MainStreet, Treasurer

• New Mexico Museum of Natural History Foundation, President

• Oklahoma State University Dole Reed Center for the Arts, Taos NM, Trustee

• Parker Center for Family Business, Board Chair

• Small Business of America, Washington, DC, Director 

• UNM Anderson School of Management Foundation, Board Chair

Her late husband, James M. Parker, had a significant dream that was jeopardized by his death in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic that followed. To help preserve his vision for Parker Center, Linda has devoted substantial time to the Parker Center for Family Business, where she serves as board chair.

A former avid tennis player, she can now be found occasionally on a golf course or watching University of New Mexico play football and basketball, as well as watching University of Wisconsin volleyball where her granddaughter, Ella Parker, plays the outsider hitter position.    

BOARD MEMBER

Valerie Burkett is a third-generation New Mexican who has called the Village of Corrales home for more than 13 years. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of New Mexico and spent 15 years in real estate before retiring as an associate broker in 2023 to focus on her family and her passion for community involvement.

Valerie and her husband, Zachary Burkett, chose Corrales as the place to raise their three children, Ella, Coen, and Avery, drawn by its unique blend of rural living, vibrant arts and culture, and strong sense of community. Over the years, Valerie and her family have embraced opportunities to give back and become active members of the Village.

Her family’s involvement in Corrales has taken many forms, from her husband’s service as the District 5 Village Councilor to Valerie’s work with the Corrales Elementary PTA, leadership within the Village Cub Scout Pack, volunteering at community events and Bosque School, and now serving on the Corrales MainStreet Board.

For Valerie, volunteering is about more than giving her time—it is about investing in the community she is proud to call home. She is honored to serve alongside the talented and dedicated individuals of Corrales MainStreet who share a common goal: preserving what makes Corrales special while helping the community continue to thrive.

“I am proud to call Corrales my home, and I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the community that has given so much to my family.”

BOARD MEMBER

Maureen Cook has called Corrales home since 1983. She earned a degree in Finance from New Mexico State University and spent 13 years at Intel Corporation before stepping away to raise her three children, Kate, Ryan and Sara. In 2013, she and her husband, Dave, founded Right Sized Inventory, a supply-chain software company that Maureen continues to own and operate. The company is certified as a National Women’s Business Enterprise.

Maureen has been actively involved in the Corrales and greater Albuquerque community for many years. She has volunteered extensively in her children’s schools, served at the Children’s Grief Center, coached youth soccer for 14 seasons and is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Corrales.

Following the loss of her husband, Dave, in the Colorado mountains in 2016, Maureen and her children created the nonprofit Dave Gives Back to honor his legacy by supporting and raising awareness for Search & Rescue organizations. Maureen also leads the annual Corrales Ditch Run, a longtime community tradition that brings hundreds of runners, walkers, families and volunteers together while raising funds for Dave Gives Back and the Kiwanis Kids Kamp. In 2026, the Corrales Ditch Run celebrated its 30th anniversary.

Deeply committed to giving back to the community she has called home for more than four decades, Maureen joined the Corrales MainStreet board in 2020 and chaired the inaugural Holly Daze online auction in partnership with the Corrales Arts Center.

BOARD MEMBER

As a resident of Corrales since 1995 and a Navy brat since 1960 in Albuquerque, I consider myself almost a native New Mexican. As an Associate Broker for Coldwell Banker Legacy and an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Corrales and Corrales MainStreet, I desire to make a positive difference in our community. Having lived here through many life transitions, I deeply value our Village and consider Corrales an oasis in the middle of urban sprawl.

Beyond my 47 years as a licensed real estate broker helping clients navigate major life changes, I proudly support numerous local organizations, including the Corrales Arts Center, Music in Corrales, and our local Police and Fire Departments. My community involvement also extends to chairing the Kiwanis Charitable Review Committee and chairing Corrales MainStreet's Starry Night, alongside supporting regional causes like the UNM Foundation, Roadrunner Food Bank, and Habitat for Humanity. I look forward to continuing to serve as a trusted advisor and dedicated supporter of the community we love.

BOARD MEMBER

Bernadette Miera is a 13th generation New Mexican (yes, you read right—her family dates back to the 1600s in NM). Miera earned her master’s degree in Community Regional Planning from the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of New Mexico in July 2002. She operated a planning/facilitation consulting company as well as a legal research/courier business. Ms. Miera has experience in community planning and development, visioning processes, asset mapping, research, facilitation and mediation, and strategic planning .In addition to Corrales MainStreet, Bernadette is actively involved in the community as a board member of other nonprofit organizations advocating for access to educational and entrepreneurial opportunities and providing services for New Mexico residents most in need. She moved to the Village of Corrales in 2019 and is enjoying retirement.

BOARD MEMBER

I moved to Corrales in 2005 and told my neighbor that I wanted to get involved in the community. Corrales MainStreet is in my blood… I was the past Executive Director and now serve on the Board and chair the Arts & Cultural Committee. My other involvements are in Kiwanis (as chair of the Harvest Festival Art Show and more) and the Corrales Arts Center Board. I can’t draw a stick person but feel as though art is one of the vital components in the culture of Corrales, for both young and old alike. It takes all of us to make this the great community we are so lucky to be a part of, so find that thing that excites you and get involved too!

BOARD MEMBER

A long time Corrales resident, Sam Thompson joined the board in 2024.  Academically, she comes with a degree in physiological psychology from Cal State University Northridge.  But Sam brings a very checked past of experience to the board – from having worked for the television show the Dating Game to serving as the Communications Director in the NM Attorney General’s office for a decade. In between those extremes she was a research scientist in the defense industry. Since taking early retirement, she has spent a great deal of time gardening and has earned Lifetime Master Gardener status in Sandoval County. When Sam joined the board, she headed up the Corrales Garden Tour project and focused the event on educating the public about sustainable growing in our challenging environment. In 2024 when the Village farming community faced difficulties with surface water delivery, Sam and other concerned Corraleños created the 501(c)(3) Corrales Farmers’ Cooperative (CFC) which is focused on sustaining the farming tradition in the Village. Sam is currently serving as CFC President.

BOARD MEMBER

Retired medical device professional with more than 25 years of experience building relationships, solving complex challenges, and delivering results. I’m confident, curious, and grounded, with a strong appreciation for meaningful connections and new experiences. After a rewarding career, I’m enjoying the freedom to pursue new interests, stay active, and make the most of this next chapter.

BOARD MEMBER