
County Manager Kelly Kuenstler was elected to the New Mexico Association of Counties’ Multi-Line Self Insurance Pool board of directors.
Kuenstler will represent the southwest geographic district of Luna, Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, Sierra and Socorro counties.
She replaces Grant County Manager Jon Saari, who served on the board for six years.
And three Luna County staff members have graduated from the New Mexico EDGE County College.
The New Mexico EDGE – or Education Designed to Generate Excellence in the Public Sector – is an umbrella organization operated through the New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service under which the County College, founded with NM Association of Counties, the NM Certified Public Manager Program, and other continuing education certification programs are administered.
Joanne Hethcox, Glory Johnson and Grisel Melendez completed 54 hours of education and submitted an essay on government service to receive their certificates.
Hethcox, the county’s budget and procurement director, has worked for Luna County for 11 years. Johnson, whose titles include assistant to the county manager and special projects supervisor, has worked for Luna County for 10 years.
And Melendez, an accounts payable specialist and health care coordinator, has worked for Luna County for two years.
The three plan to continue their education through the state EDGE College in an effort to earn recognition as Certified Public Managers in the next year.