by Kathleen O'Connor

A community powerhouse and all-around embodiment of joy, Emily Spencer knew something was a little off. On paper, the high life she was living with her longtime sweetheart and husband, Todd, in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, would be a dream for many. She had a solid corporate job, drove a Cadillac, and spent shopping days at Tiffany's. Yet something was missing. As avid Harley Davidson enthusiasts, the couple took annual motorcycle road trips to Colorado and their love for a simpler life closer to nature was ignited. So, when they pondered the question "If we could live anywhere else, where would it be?" the answer was clear: southwest Colorado. In 2004, the couple took a leap of faith. They quit their six-figure jobs, sold everything, and moved to Vallecito. As a result, our community received an incredible gift in the form of Emily Spencer.

With her background in event planning and catering, Spencer took the role of director of catering at the Strater Hotel, where she worked for 15 years before joining La Plata County Fairgrounds as general manager in January 2020. Though challenging to begin a job during an impending pandemic, Spencer felt incredibly fortunate to be asked by county manager Chuck Stevens to serve on the county's emergency management team. "Who knew wedding and event planning was so similar to emergency management planning?” Spencer said. “But that skill set translates well." As

Photo Courtesy of Emily Spencer

general manager, Spencer also oversees all venue bookings at the fairgrounds, which encompass 32 acres of both indoor and outdoor rental space, including six RV stalls, an exhibit hall, a 1,600-seat outdoor arena, and more. One of the things that drew Spencer to the fairgrounds was the potential she saw for greater community engagement. "I think this is such an underutilized space in Durango," Spencer said. "There's a large segment of folks in town who've never been on the property, so I'm excited for the opportunity to introduce them to this wonderful facility that's here to serve all residents," she added.

Apart from her work at the fairgrounds, Spencer is also a talented mandolin player and performs locally in the professional duo Reeder and Spencer, which offers a diverse repertoire with songs ranging from Fleetwood Mac to Guns N’ Roses.

Spencer's passion for community extends to her service in various rotary clubs over the last 18 years, and in her current role as membership chair for the Rotary Club of Durango Daybreak. "The goal of rotary is service above self, and that became my motto once I joined," she says with a smile.