Monday marked Eva Shepherd’s one-week anniversary as the City of Pelham’s first-ever marketing director.

In those seven days, Shepherd moved into her City Hall office, sat in on meetings, talked with various city managers and scheduled a briefing with Mayor Don Murphy.

Hitting the ground running suits Shepherd just fine. She grew accustomed to the rapid-fire pace as marketing manager for Alagasco, where she retired after 22 years of service. She’s also devoted her time to the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, the Pelham-Alabaster Rotary Club, and most recently, the Montevallo Chamber of Commerce.

As Pelham’s marketing director, Shepherd said her focus is enhancing and promoting city amenities such as Ballantrae Golf Club, Pelham Civic Complex and Pelham Racquet Club. She’s already visited the facilities and plans to draft individual marketing strategies for each location.

“My role is to help them reach the potential they already know is there,” she said. “All those facilities are successful, and I want to help them continue to grow.”

In addition, Shepherd intends to promote tourism and establish Pelham as an attractive destination for retirees.

“Pelham is such a well-rounded city,” Shepherd said. “We have such a sense of community and that’s what (retirees) look for.”

Shepherd’s ambitions match those of Mayor Murphy, who’s supported the development of a marketing strategy since being elected to office. From a business standpoint, Murphy said a city of Pelham’s size needs a marketing director to place extra attention on city venues and services. The added attention, Murphy believes, will lure business opportunities to the city.

Murphy, who met Shepherd through the Pelham-Alabaster Rotary Club, said Shepherd has the experience and drive to put the city’s best face forward.

“She comes well recommended among business leaders and Rotarians,” Murphy said. “They all said, ‘You can’t go wrong with Eva.’”