By Mary Alice Murphy

Colleen Morton has moved from Eastport, Maine, to take on a new job as the Silver City Arts and Cultural District executive director.

"I bought a house here five years ago," Morton said. "I've been trying to get back here ever since. I had looked at Silver City for future retirement or a job, because I still need to work. "

She said, professionally, she has been in high-stress jobs working on policy with leaders and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.

"This job professionally will be relatively low-stress," Morton said, "but it gives me new opportunities to explore my creative side. I've been slowing down for a while. This job gives me the chance to use my organizational skills and explore new skills."

She said she had just started thinking that she really wanted to get to Silver City, when "I saw this job posted. It turns out that Lee Gruber (SCACD board member and founder of the Clay Festival) was in Maine, when I applied. The very next day she called me, and said: 'When can we get together?'"

Morton landed the job.

"I hope to have an impact in terms of professionalization of the job," Morton said. "I've been in the business of performance improvement in non-profits. I have a model I use." She also has worked in the field of tourism, which is another aspect of the job.

She said she really likes Silver City, "from the point of view of the engagement with arts and culture. I love Latin America and the culture. I lived there, so I like the Hispanic culture here."

Morton said she is "at the bottom of the learning curve, but I'm trying to absorb information at a lot of different levels. I am meeting the community leaders and artists. I will absorb by osmosis the culture."

She said, having lived overseas, she appreciates different cultures. "We have the opportunity here to bring them together for dialogue. There may be friction, but friction can cause positive creativity."

She said she believes the university is an asset, and "I look forward to working with Dr. Shepard and Faye McCalmont." She had lunch with Shepard recently and said she appreciated his hosting the reception where she met many more of the town's residents.

Morton grew up on a farm, so she appreciates agriculture and hopes to spend time on a local ranch. "I have worked on mine issues as part of the Institute of the Americas, where I worked with the Colorado School of Mines."

"It's never easy in an industrialized world," Morton said. "I think technology will save us."

She said she appreciates how the Native American culture has a respect for limits. "But at the same time, we need jobs, especially for young people."

"I keep hearing about the need for broadband in the area," Morton said. "I think a solution is improving satellite access to broadband. It will provide more opportunities for young families to stay here or to come here and work remotely."

The attraction for many young people is the remoteness of Silver City and being close to the Gila National Forest.

"We need Silver City to become a hub of internet-savvy people," Morton said. She suggested setting up a center where people could build small businesses where there is good wifi service. "It could have an area for public wifi. It would be a draw for tourists. We could bring in tours and put them up where they have good internet access."

As she mentioned the possibilities, she concluded by saying: "It's a very widely defined job."

Welcome Colleen Morton to Silver City and Grant County.