Board of Directors
Juan Abeyta
Board President
Organizational Development Specialist
Juan has over 40 years of consulting experience with educational institutions, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. He has assisted with program development and evaluation, institutional relationship building, partnership management, community engagement, group facilitation, and strategic planning and analysis. He is deeply committed to social justice and is an advocate for community empowerment.
Fun fact: Juan is an avid outdoorsman – hiking, backpacking, biking, gardening, star gazing and talking to birds.
Vanessa Peer
Board Vice President
MBA/MSW Business Analyst and Non-Profit Advocate
Vanessa Matuszewski-Peer was born and raised in Rio Rancho, NM, and graduated with her Master’s in Social Work and a Master’s in Business and Accounting from New Mexico Highlands University. She currently works at U.S. Bank as a Commercial Underwriting Credit Review Analyst. Vanessa also served as the President of the Board of Advisors at Fathers Building Futures and serves on the Loan Approval Committee at WESST. Vanessa constantly seeks opportunities to be involved in her community by volunteering. She enjoys hands-on volunteering at Fathers Building Futures, Junior Achievement, and New Mexico Kids Matters, which allows the unique experience of combining her MSW and MBA.
Fun fact: Vanessa is a female car enthusiast that loves getting her hands dirty by wrenching on cars. She has a project car that will someday be track-ready.
Amber Carrillo, MA
Board Secretary
Executive Director, All Indian Pueblo Council
Amber Carrillo has served on the Prosperity Works board for the past five years. As a skilled member of the non-profit world, her experience in grassroots organizing, community and social services, and her knowledge of Tribal Governance and Administration makes her experience invaluable.
Fun fact: Amber is an artist and has been making jewelry since she was age 13. She also paints and does beadwork. She loves designing jewelry and gains inspiration from traditional Pueblo arts and contemporary architecture.
Mike Athens
Board Treasurer
CEO, Rio Grande Credit Union
Mike Athens is the President, and CEO at Rio Grande Credit Union, and has been with Rio Grande CU since May 2010. He has always had a strong affiliation with the local community participating in numerous community service organizations. Mr. Athens previously served as the Vice President of Association Services at the Credit Union Association of New Mexico, a role that allowed him to serve all the credit unions in the state of New Mexico. Mike has been married to his wife Sue Anne for over thirty years and together they have one son.
Fun Fact: Mike is a former Associate Peace Corps Director and helped support the American Mission in Tanzania, East Africa, and the U.S. Peace Corps in Washington, DC.
Karen Meyers
Board Member
For the past few years, Karen has been working with the City of Albuquerque to develop and implement a consumer financial protection initiative (CFPI) to assist in consumer outreach and education to prevent unfair and deceptive business practices, and most recently working to coordinate rental assistance and legislation as a result of the COVID pandemic.