CRAIG — Liz White, deputy city clerk and human resources coordinator of Craig, recently earned her Municipal Clerk Certification.

The certification, granted by the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, allows the clerk’s office to better serve residents of Craig, said City Clerk Kathy Larson. Both White and Larson are now certified, meaning both can serve customers seeking licenses or information from the city clerk’s office.

White said she feels grateful for the opportunity to become certified.

“I’m hoping that it’s going to make me a better clerk and a better employee of Craig,” White said.

White spent three years earning the certification. She attended the Colorado Institute for Municipal Clerks, an annual, weeklong training event hosted by the Colorado Municipal Clerks Association. There, she learned the ins and outs of city government, including conducting elections, issuing liquor licenses and fulfilling open records requests. She also got to meet Gov. John Hickenlooper and tour the state capitol, which was one of her favorite memories from attending the Institute.

In all, she completed 60 hours of coursework and 50 hours of experience in a municipal setting to earn the certification.

“I couldn’t do my job without her,” said Larson. “She is that skilled and that professional. She’s just a wonderful, wonderful employee.”

White has worked for the city of Craig for nearly 20 years, spending three years in her current position as deputy city clerk and human resources coordinator and 16 years as a parts and purchasing clerk in the Road and Bridge Department. She also owned and operated her own bookkeeping company for more than 20 years.

White said she hopes to continue attending classes to become a better clerk.

“The laws change,” White said. “The liquor laws, the election laws, everything is always changing, so I like to go to these as a refresher course, too.”

Contact Eleanor C. Hasenbeck at 970-875-1795 or ehasenbeck@CraigDailyPress.com or follow her on Twitter @elHasenbeck.