
Chance encounter leads woman on a business-helping path
A chance encounter at a local coffee shop led Sydney Smolla to a career opportunity she didn’t see coming. Smolla is a small business owner, and the barista knew she was looking for clients, so he set her up with Gallup’s Tourism and Marketing manager Jennifer Lazarz.
Smolla moved to Gallup in November after marrying her husband, who works as a pharmacist for the Gallup Indian Medical Center.
Thanks to that chance encounter, Smolla is now working for the city and helping with the Coal Avenue Commons project. She serves as the liaison between business owners, the community, and the construction company to ensure...