County chamber executive director resigning

Portales Mayor Sharon King has resigned as Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce executive director.

King said she didn’t know when her last day would be because she had committed to help train her replacement. She said she would stay until the chamber board of directors was comfortable with her leaving, but no later than Feb. 28.

King took over as executive director in 2007.

“Really, it just boils down to it’s time to go do something else,” King said of her reasons for leaving.

Despite what some people believe, she said, the problem wasn’t the workload from being both chamber director and mayor, but the physical demand of putting on events. King said her body was tired from strenuous activities such as hanging Christmas lights on the Roosevelt County Courthouse and walking around the county fairgrounds during the Ag Expo.

The search for a new director started Sunday and ends Dec. 13.

“We’re truly going to miss her,” said chamber board President Wanda Graham. “She’s done an excellent job.”

Graham said the board didn’t expect King’s resignation, but the members understood and wished her well.

King said her time with the chamber had been great.

“I’ve loved it,” she said.

Her favorite part was working with a different group of volunteers at every event.

“They’ve just been a real treat to work with,” King said.

Also, she said she enjoyed interacting with business people and other members of the community after being out of touch with them while working at Eastern New Mexico University for 25 years. King said it was fun to meet people from around the state at different chambers of commerce and the Legislature as well.

King doesn’t yet have plans for what she’ll do next.

“I’d like to find something part time so I have some time to do hobbies and other things,” she said.