Chamber director settles in

Learning on the go is how the new director of the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce, Carmen Runyan, describes her first three weeks on the job.

"I am getting up to speed on the current planned events for our community while working on new ideas for promotion," Runyan said.

Runyan said she is getting adjusted to the day-to-day duties as director and becoming familiar with the many groups, organizations and entities she will be working with to promote the area.

"I look forward to the opportunity to work with everyone to promote Tucumcari and Quay County," Runyan said.

Runyan replaces Gail Sanders as the director. Sanders, who served as director since 2015, announced her retirement in January.

Runyan, a Tucumcari native, graduated in 2009 from the House Learning Center. While in high school Runyan was attending dual enrollment classes at Mesalands Community College.

Runyan attended Eastern New Mexico University in Portales and majored in Communications. She graduated in 2013, with a bachelor of science in communications with a public relations emphasis and electronic media minor. In 2015, she received a master of arts in communication from ENMU.

Runyan's previous employment experience includes serving as editor/webmaster, teller and social media director of The Chase, ENMU's campus newspaper. She worked two separate internships with the Walt Disney Company in Orlando, Florida.