County hires community relations specialist

MONTROSE — There's a new face for Montrose County communications.

After a months-long search and selection process, county management decided to hire Ana Mostaccero as community relations specialist.

"I'm just excited," Montrose County Commissioner Bill Patterson said Friday. "I've watched Ana in action. I think it's going to be a real positive addition for the county and for the community. She can put together ideas and get people on board and that's what we hired her for."

Mostaccero began her duties last week. According to a county news release, her role is to provide internal and external communications for the county, including the county's Web site, and newsletter. In the release County Manager Joe Kerby described her as the focal point for information flow.

Mostaccero was chosen for her 15 years' experience in marketing communications, relationship building, marketing research and questionnaire design.

She was formerly director of operations for the Global Alliance for Transnational Education, a subsidiary of Jones International University. Mostaccero was also the marketing coordinator of CIGNA Insurance Company and sales and marketing director for Houston's Brookhollow Hilton.

Additionally, she taught undergraduate marketing communications and marketing research courses for Suffolk University in Madrid, Spain.

Patterson said that though the county had been seeking a communications director for some time, commissioners first had to determine how to pay for the position.

They were able to do so because of savings realized in the county attorney and manager's offices. When the county appointed Bob Hill as county attorney, his former position — assistant attorney — was not filled. The county also saved money during the time between Kerby's hire and the 2005 departure of Dennis hunt, former county manager. Plus, said Patterson, the manager's office now costs less to operate.

In the news release, county officials also cited Mostaccero's community involvement, including the Montrose Arts Council and volunteer work as an AARP tax aide and Under Age Drinking Task Force.

According to her biographical information, Mostaccero, a native of Peru, holds a master's degree in international marketing from Boston University in Brussels, Belgium. She has a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Houston.

A certified court interpreter, Mostaccero is fluent in Spanish and has a working knowledge of French. She is a board member of the Colorado Association of Professional Interpreters.

Mostaccero has lived in Colorado since 1999 with her husband, Dan Stright.