CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – With COVID-19 on the rise and another shutdown, small businesses are struggling, concerned, and in need of some hope. Alene Joyner, the new Cibola County Chamber of Commerce President, believes there is hope in the future and she is excited about her new role in the Chamber and the work she and the board will do.
Joyner was born and raised in Grants, New Mexico and truly loves the Cibola County community and area, referring to it as a “hidden treasure.” Joyner left Grants and went to Albuquerque after high school but eventually returned and opened up the popular boutique store, Jenny’s, with her mother; it offers all sizes of casual clothing, bridal, semi-formal, and even men’s tuxedos. Joyner’s role in the community is not limited to business owner; she is also involved in real estate as a licensed broker with Re/Max Alliance, has been very involved with the real estate market of this area through purchasing several rentals and homes to offer for rent and sale, and even writes and produces her own radio commercials. Both the Jenny’s and Re/Max business are members of the chamber.
Joyner’s business involvement in the community eventually led to her being invited to become a board member of the chamber in 2017. Joyner has developed connections with many of the other board members and chamber members since then and thoroughly enjoys working with all of them. As for stepping into the role of Chamber President, succeeding board member Thomas Whelen, Joyner said, “I am thrilled to be the President and feel my job is to work with the board on all decisions and continue to create new ideas for our local business to help them succeed with prosperity. With the hard times we have all faced, I believe we all could use some encouragement, new energy and new ideas. This is our goal. A healthy community.”
Planning sessions are being organized for the future in order to generate new ideas for the chamber members. Some new coalitions have been the start of Light Up Cibola which will spearhead the decoration of lights all across the town during the holiday season, and also the launch of a new Facebook page entitled Shop Local Cibola, which will be utilized to support and advocate for the local businesses in the area. The chamber also has a new executive director, Brenda Curtright, who has succeeded Tammy Legler, and a new New Mexico Mining Museum and Chamber associate, Katelin Chavez, replacing Stone Gonzales.
“I really feel good about the board I serve on and its members, and [I] am encouraging any member to please reach out to me or any of the board members anytime. I see nothing but good things coming to our community! Hang in there everyone,” expressed the Chamber President. Joyner acknowledges the struggle that businesses are going through right now, including her own, and believes that more than ever, the community must stick together, support one another, take care of each other, shop local, and the chamber will continue coming up with new ideas for local business to thrive on again in the future.