About Kathryn

Oil Company Environment and Safety Specialist, Teacher

Commissioner Minter retired from Chevron after 25 years as a specialist in Environment, Safety, Fire and Industrial Hygiene.  Working for Chevron was a great experience; very challenging and so diverse.  She worked in research, corporate staff, marketing, oil and gas, refining and finally overseas in Kazakhstan.  Commissioner Minter fell in love with New Mexico while working for marketing, when her territory covered the New Mexico asphalt and gasoline terminals and stations.  Her husband had lived in Roswell while his Dad was stationed at Walker Air Base.  So, they moved to Alto in 2003 after she retired. 

Commissioner Minter holds a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University.   Right out of school, she taught general science to 9th graders for two years in Missouri before returning for her master’s in biology/botany from the University of Kansas City, Missouri.

Public Service

Commissioner Minter served on the Bellaire, Texas Planning and Zoning Commission for four years.  Bellaire was evolving, tearing down the 1940s bungalows and replacing them with McMansions.  The Commission wrote a comprehensive plan and struggled to balance the needs of new and old.  She also completed the nine month Leadership 20/20 forums, the Southwest Houston equivalent to Leadership Lincoln.

Family and Friends

Commissioner Minter was born and raised in Portland, Oregon.  Her Dad was a carpenter and her Mom a homemaker.  She was the fourth of five children, the first in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University.

Commissioner Minter has been married to Harvey Minter, a Registered Investment Adviser, for 38 years.  They have one son, Matthew, who lives in Richardson, Texas. 

The Minters attend the First Baptist Church in Ruidoso where Harvey served as its Treasurer for three years and is currently on the finance committee.

Community and Organization Involvement

·        Commissioner Minter is a member of the Bonito Volunteer Fire Department and serves as the Public Information Officer.

·        She has also served on fire and water committees for the Ranches of Sonterra Property Owners’ Association, helping to control weeds and educate property owners on measures to prevent and mitigate wild land fires, including defensible space.

·        Commissioner Minter maintains her Certified Safety Professional credential from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.  She is a member of the New Mexico Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers, serving as the newsletter editor for three years.
 

Hobbies and Interest

For R&R, Commissioner Minter enjoys knitting, gardening, reading and hiking.  Her mother taught her how to knit when she was eight and she has fallen in love with all the beautiful wool and natural fiber yarns.  She loads up at the Taos Wool Festival each year.  She enjoys making items for charities and fundraisers.