A native Santa Fean, Ria had the unique experience of growing up on the historic East Side, surrounded by creativity and community through her family’s long-established art gallery and classic adobe home on Canyon Road. After many years away, she feels deeply grateful to once again call this beautiful and inspiring city home.

While living in California, Ria pursued her lifelong love of animals. She worked in veterinary clinic management, founded and operated a thriving pet-sitting business for more than 25 years, and volunteered with animal rescue organizations. During this time, she returned to school and earned a degree in Interior Design. After moving back to the Santa Barbara area—where she obtained her first undergraduate degree—Ria focused on residential and hospitality design with a well-known firm, continued her work with animals, and started a family.

Ria’s diverse background in administration, customer service, project management, and architecture and design provides a strong foundation for her work in real estate. She brings a unique combination of empathy, organization, and aesthetic sensibility to every transaction, ensuring her clients feel supported and confident throughout the buying or selling process. She especially enjoys helping first-time homebuyers.

In addition to managing her own clientele, Ria serves as Stephanie Duran’s Assistant, where she streamlines operations, manages documents and contractual deadlines, and coordinates logistics. Her meticulous attention to detail and passion for organization complement the Veritas team’s dynamic and seasoned expertise. Dedicated to keeping every aspect of the business running seamlessly, Ria ensures Stephanie can focus fully on delivering an exceptional client experience.

When she’s not immersed in Santa Fe’s vibrant real estate scene, Ria enjoys remodeling her home in the Turquoise Trail/Highway 14 area, exploring the vast wilderness of the Southwest, and spending time with family and friends.