Our Los Poblanos Family

Meet the Owners

Three generations of the Rembe Family have owned and help operate Los Poblanos. In 1976, Penny and Armin Rembe purchased one-half of the property from Albert and Barbara Simms, where they raised their four children and maintained the property as gentlemen farmers. In 1999, the second half of the property, which included La Quinta Cultural Center, came up for sale and was under threat of being developed. Together with their four children, they decided to reunite the properties and undertake a preservation plan to maintain the architecture, gardens, and open farmland in perpetuity. In their retirement, Penny and Armin ran the inn for five years. In 2004, their son Matthew Rembe became Executive Director, and continues to develop all areas of the business, including the boutique inn, artisan lavender product line, casual fine dining, event space, retail shop and cultural programming.

Meet the Team

Matthew Rembe, Executive Director
Matt grew up at Los Poblanos and now oversees all aspects of the business on behalf of the Rembe Family.  He worked as Director of Mary-Anne Martin/Fine Art in New York City, where he became a specialist in the field of 20th Century Latin American Masters. Matt attended Syracuse University, where he obtained a BA in Spanish and received his MBA from the prestigious Thunderbird School of Global Management. His wife Teresa, and sons Mateo and Max have had a significant influence on Los Poblanos’s dedication to quality food and can often be found enjoying the myriad sights, sounds and tastes of the Inn and Organic Farm.

Katherine Trujillo, Executive Assistant
Hailing from England, Katherine has called New Mexico home since 2007. Katherine is Matt Rembe's Executive Assistant, and also provides administrative support to the Leadership Team. Katherine has a passion for Excel PivotTables and a weakness for Los Poblanos House-Made Caramels. 

Marietta Crane, Director of Finance
Marietta grew up in Northern Virginia, but moved to San Francisco right after high school. She received her BS in Accounting and Finance from San Francisco State University. Subsequently, she spent almost 20 years in progressively responsible positions in finance in professional service organizations, most recently as the CFO of an international law firm with offices around the world. During that time she visited New Mexico frequently and fell in love with its beauty and diverse culture. Several years ago, she decided to leave the high-pressure San Francisco corporate rat race and move to New Mexico where she then spent over four years leading the finance department at the oldest and largest pistachio ranch in New Mexico. When the opportunity at Los Poblanos arose, she was thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of one her favorite resorts in New Mexico. Marietta is now proud to be a member of the Los Poblanos family and is looking forward to contributing to its success.

Barb Swanson, SPHR, 
Director of Human Resources

Barb oversees all aspects of human resources for Los Poblanos. She has over 25 years of HR experience and received her Senior Professional in Human Resources certification in 2005. She had served as a VP of HR at an environmental service firm in Houston, Texas. She also was part of the Associate Development team at The Best Small Company to Work for in America as designated by the Best Place to Work Institute. Barb is committed to ensuring every employee is an engaged member of the team by partnering with the managers to provide an encouraging and open work environment. Barb is familiar with employment law and stays abreast of all regulations. She says Los Poblanos has a company culture that truly appreciates and works for the development of its people.

Sarah Sheesley, Marketing Director
Sarah first worked at Los Poblanos in 2005 when it was a six-room B&B and fell in love with the property’s rich New Mexican history and mission. She went on to develop a marketing career built on her passion for visual arts and creative writing, working with designers, museums, nonprofit organizations and universities. She has led market research, product and licensing development, and worked as a teacher, writer, editor, designer and strategist for digital content. She brings this experience back to Los Poblanos, where she is inspired to share the stories of this unique and vibrant place.

Amy Carrara,
Design & Brand Manager
Amy was born and raised in Albuquerque and over three decades, has worked in all areas of design and advertising. Amy did design work with the Rembe Family over twenty years ago and was so excited that she was able to return and call this beautiful property her work home. With such beauty and inspiration around every corner at Los Poblanos, she continually feels that luck has fallen upon her and that this might be the most perfect place where a designer can spend her days.

Kim Vollers,
Director of Hospitality Operations

Originally from New Jersey, Kim spent 27 years raising her family and working in Vermont. With over 30 years in the hospitality industry, she has developed her craft by working in many aspects of the industry including Food and Beverage, Spa and Guest Services. Her passion is to create a truly authentic and lasting experience for her guests.

Beo Afantodji,
Director of Rooms & Revenue

Born and raised in West Africa, Lomé, Togo, Beo received his master's degree in business administration and management there, and then relocated to Vermont where he fell in love with hospitality. Over a decade, Beo has grown and built his experience in hospitality by working mainly in housekeeping and guest services. Throughout his journey, Beo met his wife, Jaymie, and has two wonderful children, Leo and Adi. Beo's passion for hospitality and the drive for exceptional and authentic service is what led him to Los Poblanos, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the family.

Melissa Rivera,
Director of Spa and Wellness

Born and raised in New Mexico, Melissa brings 10 years experience in the hospitality industry with an emphasis on guest services and spa. Intrigued by the beauty and culture of Los Poblanos, Melissa knew this is where she belonged from the moment she first stepped onto the grounds. Passionate about the legacy and impact Los Poblanos has had on the local community, she is dedicated to the preservation and history of the property. Her love for hospitality stems from an inclination to host those from near and far.

Sarah Morrow, Inn Manager
As a well-traveled native New Mexican, Sarah has always been attracted to New Mexico's rich culture and natural beauty. She brings a love and passion for the customer experience, guest services and sustainability. Her many years in hospitality and customer service continuously drives her desire to enrich the guest experience. Sarah has two adventurous girls and enjoys exploring and traveling with them. She strives to be a resource for both guests and staff alike and enjoys creating personalized experiences by helping create memories that will forever be cherished.

Christopher Bethoney, Head Chef
A native New Mexican, Chris began cooking professionally at the Hyatt Downtown in Albuquerque while in high school. Chris went on to graduate from The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. After receiving his bachelor's degree, he spent time cooking in New Hampshire, Italy, and various parts of New York and New York City. Then, after over a decade on the East Coast, he came back home to raise his family. Chris has been at Campo since it opened in 2017 and has been instrumental in shaping the dinner menu, dining experience and Chef's Tasting Table. He believes in learning from the traditions of many cultures and supporting local farmers and producers. His style draws inspiration from the world of fermentation and preservation, immigrants and natives alike.

Mona Purvis, Campo General Manager
After spending many seasons as Banquet Manager for our private events business, Mona's role has grown to oversee all front of house dining operations at Los Poblanos. With extensive hospitality experience, from working in local restaurants and retail to fine dining establishments across the country, Mona's warm hospitality and dedicated work ethic make her a natural asset to our team. Born and raised in Albuquerque, Mona spent a few years working and traveling before settling down back in her hometown. Happily married, she is effusively proud of her three children, and loves to run, hike and volunteer.

Dylan Storment,
Director of Wine & Spirits

Born and raised in Santa Fe, Dylan began working in restaurants, bars and cafés in his early teens and quickly felt at home in the industry. Dylan’s passion for food, wine and fine dining brought him to Los Poblanos in 2008. Dylan started out as a server but quickly climbed the ladder to management. With over 23 years experience in hospitality and dining, he has been an integral part in building the restaurant and events departments at Los Poblanos. Dylan has also been instrumental in the development of our Wine & Spirits program, and was awarded the opportunity to lead the beverage program in 2014. Dylan is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers Americas with a certificate in Foodservice Management from eCornell. In 2021, his wine list won the Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator. 

Kate Garner,
Culture & Community Event Director

Born and raised in Toronto, Kate has been living in the Southwest since 2017. The sunshine, mountains and rich history here have captured her heart and imagination. After spending a few years in Phoenix, Kate relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico. While she was working towards her Masters in Sustainable Tourism, she completed a capstone project at Los Poblanos on the subject of transformative travel. When the opportunity arose to bring the ideas in her project to life, Kate jumped at the chance to join the team. In her role, Kate enjoys developing creative guest experiences that showcase the property's history, sustainability mission and incredibly talented teams from the farm to the kitchen and beyond.

Karen Converse, Director of Manufacturing
Karen is a proud New Mexican and is native to the Albuquerque area. Her passion for the beauty, culture, and food of New Mexico drew her to Los Poblanos. She grew up in a local family business and left Albuquerque after high school to study Industrial Engineering at New Mexico State University. Karen has over 20 years of extensive manufacturing and consulting experience. The better part of her career has been spent helping small manufacturers in New Mexico grow and strengthen their businesses. Karen also earned her Masters in Engineering Management from New Mexico Tech in 2017. Karen lends her expertise to the wholesale lavender team where she uses her experience to help bring Los Poblanos Lavender to new markets. Along with her work at Los Poblanos, Karen teaches International Management at UNM; sits as the President of the Board for Southwest Creations Collaborative; and can be found piloting her hot air balloon on the weekends in Rio Rancho.

Brandilyn Fagan LE, Director of Sales
Brandilyn is truly in love with the Land of Enchantment. A New Mexico native, Brandilyn grew up in the Albuquerque area and is a champion for a local and sustainable economy. While managing a boutique spa in Portland, Oregon, she discovered that natural and organic skin care was her calling, so she came back to Albuquerque to attend the New Mexico Aveda Institute to become a licensed Esthetician. For more than 15 years, Brandilyn has worked in the boutique and natural, organic skin care industry and has cultivated her passion for holistic skin care. During this time, Brandilyn co-founded the New Mexico of Skincare Professionals Association, which served to educate and develop skin care professionals in New Mexico. Our artisanal lavender products first drew Brandilyn to the farm and when she learned more about Los Poblanos' commitment to sustainability and drive to elevate skin and body care in New Mexico, she knew this is where she was meant to be. Brandilyn is thrilled to bring her passion for skin care and her deep love of New Mexico and its rich and vibrant culture to Los Poblanos and looks forward to developing innovative and exciting ways to contribute to the health of New Mexicans and their local economy.

Tameron Reynolds,
Retail Operations Manager

Tameron joined the Los Poblanos family after 14 years as the owner of a much-beloved boutique shoe store in Albuquerque’s Nob Hill. She served as the Farm Shop Manager for two years, bringing a depth of retail management expertise and a passion for creating exceptional guest experiences. Her upbeat approach, attention to detail, and supportive leadership help create a strong sense of camaraderie and teamwork across Los Poblanos retail operations. Originally from Santa Fe, Tameron has a double bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico and 20 years of retail experience.

Daniel Gonzales, Maintenance Manager
With over 20 years of maintenance experience across Albuquerque, Danny is a vital addition to the Los Poblanos family. You’ll find him maintaining, repairing and constructing everything from kitchen hoods to hand washing stations. His vast knowledge on all things maintenance make him an essential part of our hardworking team.