Shelley Flannery could not be happier with her new job for the town of Meeker.

Flannery was chosen as the new economic development and tourism director for the town. She said she could not have written a better job description for herself.

“The things I’ve done in the past and found myself good at are in this job,” she said. “It is a perfect fit for me and for my family.”

Flannery said she and her husband wanted to raise their daughter in a small community because they are convinced the quality of life is better. She said she is new to the area but that her husband spent the summers in Meeker while growing up and always wanted to return.

“We both liked small towns better, and we had a chance to relocate, and Meeker was it,” she said.

She said the first thing on her agenda is getting to know all the groups and how they all work together.

“Meeker Business in Action, the chamber and the town are working together to promote more tourism to the area,” she said. “I think my skills in grant writing will help move those ideas forward.”

While working for the city of Fort Morgan in the recreation department, Flannery honed her skills as a grant writer and was soon approached by other departments for her expertise. Coupled with that experience, she worked for a newspaper in advertising where part of her job was to compile a tourism guide for the region.

“I found out quickly how important tourism is to small communities,” she said.

Flannery looks forward to working with everyone in the community and being a part of moving Meeker and Rio Blanco County forward.