WNMU
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IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 7/9/01

SILVER CITY—Rene’ Saenz, former Town of Silver City purchasing agent, has been named the new director of purchasing at Western New Mexico University.

A Lordsburg native, her grandmother, Adelina Altuna Diaz, attended New Mexico Normal School and her aunt, Phyllis Cross, was inducted into the WNMU Athletic Hall of Fame last year. Saenz only has two more classes to complete her Bachelor’s degree. Then, she says, she hopes to get her Master’s degree in management.

"I want to finish up my Bachelor’s before my daughter Meisha graduates from college," she said. "It has taken me a while to earn it". Saenz’ husband, Raul Saenz, works in James Hamilton’s business office. They both have daughters who are attending college. Meisha at Pima Community College and Mandy at New Mexico State University.

"I like it here," she said of her new job. "Everybody has made me feel welcome. I have some temporary helpers who have been real go-getters. John Saffell, Nicole Aguilar and Terry Humble have been filling in in my office and I am so proud to have them. They are all hard workers."

Saenz is one of only eight Certified Public Purchasing Officers in the State of New Mexico, a prestigious certification designation awarded by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing Inc. through the auspices of the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council. She is an active member of the NIGP and the New Mexico Public Procurement Association. She is a NMPPA Board of Directors member, serving as the board secretary.

Saenz said accepting the job was a "challenge" especially as she began her new position just as the fiscal year was ending and the new one beginning.

"I’m looking forward," she says.