Tucumcari economic director relocating

TUCUMCARI — Ben Kendrick, director of the Tucumcari/Quay County Economic Development Corporation, submitted his resignation Thursday morning.

Leo Thrasher of Citizens’ Bank of Tucumcari said Kendrick has accepted the position as the director of the Hobbs Economic Development Corporation.

His new duties will begin in Hobbs on Sept. 1.

Kendrick, who could not be reached for comment on Thursday, took over the Tucumcari group in late December after an extensive search for a director by the city of Tucumcari and the corporation. Kendrick came from Guymon, Okla., where he had held a similar position.

Thrasher said he will be sad to see Kendrick leave, but he understands his motivation.

“We will miss him,” Thrasher said. “Ben worked very hard while he was here and we appreciate that. He got us started in a number of directions, and it will be up to us to follow through on them. Ben established a credibility for us, and we’ll just have to work at maintaining that credibility.”

Representatives of the economic development group in Hobbs said they have been searching for someone to direct their organization since their last director lasted little more than a month, three months ago.

Kendrick will officially begin in Hobbs Sept. 1.