DUNCAN – New Main Street Executive Director Billie Strutton has a passion for her community and that excites her.
Strutton took over the director’s role for Duncan Main Street on May 1 after serving in an interim role since February.
Strutton, who owned and operated a Farmers Insurance agency for 21 years, is ecstatic about her new role in Duncan.
“Just being involved in my community is my passion,” she said. “There’s so many community-minded people in Duncan. I get excited about being involved. We want people to visit Duncan and to bring in new people. We want Duncan Main Street merchants to be successful.”
About 45 businesses are involved in the Main Street program, she said.
Strutton began networking with other Main Street executives throughout Oklahoma when she took the interim post and will receive formal training from the Oklahoma Main Street program later this month.
“I’m trying to learn as much as I can about Main Street businesses and ways we can improve (the program),” she said. “I never anticipated this job but it’s working out pretty well.”
Strutton sold the insurance agency in September 2021, three months after graduating from Cameron University with an accounting degree. She began attending classes in 2017 and “went year-round” for four years, she said.
“I don’t like to sit around and be idle,” she said. “I think that’s why this new job is so exciting.”
Strutton received her first taste of organizing a big Main Street event with the annual “Cruisin’ the Chisholm Trail” car show which was held April 23. It’s one of the program’s biggest events of the year. Now, Strutton and her crew are gearing up for the annual “Team Up to Clean Up” event which will be held June 25 in downtown Duncan. The day is designed to beautify downtown as businesses make minor repairs, perform landscaping work and clean debris and trash from the area.
In September, Duncan Main Street will host the “Wine’n on the Chisholm Trail Festival with a dinner on Sept. 9 and wine tasting on Saturday, Sept. 10.
“It’s a great event for Duncan,” Strutton said. “Wineries from all over the state will be here.”
Strutton is married to her husband Rodney and together they have five adult children and four grandsons.