Our people: Hard work with weddings on the side

Mar. 18—Kathy Elliott has owned and operated her Elliott Marketing firm in Clovis for 21 years. Most recently, she has been working with a partner, former state Sen. Clint Harden, as a lobbyist in the New Mexico Legislature.

On the side, she also does business as a pet crematory owner and officiates at weddings.

Elliot is also a world traveler and plays clarinet in the Clovis Community Band.

She carved a little time from a very busy schedule to talk with The News about her career and business ventures, along with her family and travels.

Here are our questions and her responses.

Q. You just came from the Legislature. How is that going?

A. In the course of a session there are at least a thousand bills. Some make it through committee, some don't — many don't. Some don't get to the House or Senate floor just due to time.

In this session, there is funding available. Having additional funds for the state is much nicer than having to claw back funds that have been in reserve. That comes from our oil and gas revenues.

We spent a lot of money in the budget. I don't fault anyone. There are a lot of people on the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee who put together the budget.

Rep. Jack Chatfield is on the appropriations committee and Sen. Pat Woods is on the Senate Finance Committee. They're both fairly conservative. If they're at the table, I'm confident they are doing all they can.

Q. What do you see that you don't like in this legislative session?

A. What I didn't care for and saw quite a bit of is more government. We're getting much more government, and I don't think government can lead us where we need to go. Small business and medium size business can better get us there. We're very heavy on government in New Mexico and I don't think it's to our benefit.

Q. You and former Sen. Clint Harden have done a lot of lobbying for capital outlay projects, correct?

A. Capital outlay is money put aside for infrastructure projects. It's handed out by local legislators. I work with Sen. Harden for Union County, Quay County, Clayton, Tucumcari, Mesalands Community College, Rural Water and New Mexico Rural Water.

The capital outlay we receive, we're very grateful for. For example, Clayton got a nice chunk of change for their civic center, which was much needed. Tucumcari got a new garbage truck. That was $350,000.

Q. How long have you been in Clovis.

A. I've been in Clovis since January 1990. I worked for the cable company. I wrote and produced commercials. I did that for about 12 years, then I opened Elliott Marketing.

Q. And that has been successful?

A. We have been, as far as I know, the sole ad agency in eastern New Mexico. We have produced TV, radio and newspaper. Recently we have broadened into website production and digital advertising, as well.

Q. How has marketing changed over the years?

A. We are able now to specifically target desirable customers now through behavioral patterns. It's funny how we give out information. The world knows that I own a dog. The world knows where I like to shop. We give out information freely and that's what this data mining is all about.

We are specifically able to use all that information and send our advertising messages to the people who are most inclined to buy that product.

Now we can look at dashboard and see that this many people, of this gender, living in this geographic area clicked on your website and completed tasks. There's real information that allows advertisers to feel confident in what they're doing.

Q. You mentioned you are a wedding officiant. How did that come about?

A. About 10 years ago, my office manager asked me to perform her wedding in Albuquerque. And then at same time, I was told by a friend, a county clerk, that judges were going out of the wedding business, because their dockets were full. Things started to evolve. I got my paperwork online, which is very legal in New Mexico, and made a card, opened a website, and converted my conference room into a wedding room. Now I do an average of four weddings a week.

Q. And you own a pet crematory? How did that happen?

A. My dog died, and I went to Roswell to have her cremated. I also realized at same time the city did not have a pet crematory. I talked to the city about putting one in, but they didn't want to go into that business. I learned that a local mortuary had a crematory for sale and made a very quick decision to start the business, because it was really needed in Clovis. Now it's called the Faithful Friends Pet Crematory, and we're there to help pet owners at their absolute worst hour. People are appreciative. Of all the things I do, the crematory makes me feel like I'm giving back to the community.

Q. What do you like best about Clovis?

A. It is where five of my seven grandchildren live. It's my base.

Clovis gets a bad rap because people say there's nothing to do, but that's absolutely false. There are so many activities. There is a lot of live music that I just really enjoy. I'm a member of the Clovis Community College Cultural Arts Board that brings in many events. There are sporting activities for kids that mine were all involved in. And so, you know Clovis has met my needs for the most part. I see no reason to move.

Q. And what about family?

A. I have four boys. Two live here. One lives in Albuquerque, and one lives in Florida. I am very proud that I raised four boys who are successful adults. One is an engineer, one is a dentist, one is a manager at Discount Tire and one does auto body work. And I have seven beautiful grandchildren. Five of them live around here.

Q. How are you involved in the community?

A. I play the clarinet in the Clovis Community Band, and I'm active in my church, the Living Stones church in Clovis. I'm on the Cultural Arts Council and I'm on the board of the Domestic Violence Resource Center in Albuquerque.

Q. What else do you do when you have free time?

A. I travel. My favorite travel destination is Portugal, but I'm lucky enough to have a family camp on Sylvia Lake in New York. It's my little slice of heaven for family and renewal.

I am also lucky enough to have been in many places around the world. For instance, I lived for four years in England. I love England. It's kind of a second home, and Ireland. I've been to a lot of places.

Q. What makes Portugal special?

A. In Portugal they are multi-cultural, a vast majority of the people speak English, so Americans are welcome. And it's beautiful, clean and friendly and easy to navigate. And it's right on the water, the Atlantic coast.