URGED Board elects new officers for 2022

Contributed photo Craig Barraclough, Rio Grande County Administrator, was elected new URGED Board president.

SAN LUIS VALLEY — A meeting of the Upper Rio Grande Economic Development (URGED) Board of Directors kicked off the new year with election of officers and planning for the upcoming year.

Officers elected include Chairman, Craig Barraclough, Rio Grande County Administrator; Vice-Chair, Kathy Rogers Woods, City of Alamosa, Director of Economic Development and Treasurer, Traci Holmes, Del Norte Bank Senior Vice President.

In addition to the slate of officers, 2022 Board members include Gigi Dennis, Monte Vista City Manager; Jennifer Alonzo, SLVREC/Ciello Marketing/Sales Coordinator; Martha Williamson, RGNF Divide District Ranger and Bernadette Martinez, Del Norte City Manager.  Linda Robinson continues as support staff for the organization. Shon Davis, President/CEO RG Bank, retired from the board in December after serving many years on the board and as chairman for numerous terms.

The board also welcomed new Executive Director Tom Monaco, who replaced the former team leading URGEDC since its inception, Bonnie and Marty Asplin, upon their retirement.

Monaco comes to URGEDC after being the director for the San Luis Valley SBDC, and concurrently serves as the South Rural Opportunity Representative for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade and as the special projects manager for the state SBDC network.

Monaco feels his current positions combined with a background in manufacturing, fabrication and the arts, dovetails nicely with the dynamic and broad opportunities for economic growth and resilience in Rio Grande County.

Member meetings are typically held every second Tuesday of the month at 7 a.m.

For more information on URGED, email Monaco at [email protected] or go online to www.urg-ed.com.


Video News