Fueling the Future

The Gentry Center Legacy

On August 5, 2026, community members, educators, and administrators alike gathered together to celebrate the official opening of the Chase Gentry Center for Workforce Development, a state-of-the-art instructional facility created in partnership with Clovis Economic Development to create space and resources for Career and Technical Education (CTE). The Chase Gentry Center, situated just across the street from Clovis Community College, represents a broad, regional movement. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was a tribute to a man whose vision for eastern New Mexico has created lasting impacts in both Portales and Clovis, New Mexico, even after his passing in 2021.

Chase Gentry (BBA '92), an Eastern New Mexico University alumnus, was the Executive Director of the Clovis Industrial Development Corporation (CIDC) and spent almost two decades spearheading regional growth. With quiet yet relentless determination, he brought major industrial drivers to the area, such as Southwest Cheese, which employs over 400 residents today.

Ernie Kos, Executive Director of the Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce and longstanding colleague of Chase, is cited in the Eastern New Mexico News at the ribbon-cutting ceremony saying, "Today is much more than the opening of a beautiful facility. It is about one man whose fingerprints can still be found throughout the community." Kos recognizes the meaningful impact that Chase had on both the Clovis and Portales communities as she continues, remarking, "Those of us who had the privilege of working alongside Chase knew he had an incredible gift. He had a unique ability to bring people together."

Beyond honoring Chase's work and impact on the Portales and Clovis communities, the opening of the Gentry Center paired with the recently established CCC2ENMU fast-track degree partnership, the center functions as an active reminder of the heart of Gentry's work: Portales and Clovis are not competing towns, but a single, thriving community that can create opportunities for the next generations of students and workers.

Roots of a Local Steward

Gentry's legacy and impact on eastern New Mexico began on the campus of Eastern, where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in 1992. On campus, he was an active participant in student life as a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and as a popular college DJ in his spare time, a hobby that nurtured his love for music and local culture.

"He never wanted credit or to be in the spotlight. But he had a genuine desire to help people succeed"

Nancy Gentry, his mother, has just as deep of a connection with ENMU. She was a respected and well-known figure on campus, especially as the house mom of Kappa Sigma for three years. Known as "Mom Gentry," Nancy cared for well over 200 students, offering guidance and support during their foundational college years. Today, she still travels to the ENMU campus for alumni receptions and homecoming, continuing to foster a cherished relationship with the school.

Nancy and Chase were quite close throughout Chase's life. "Chase was my best friend," Nancy reflects on her son, "He was really shy in a lot of ways. He never wanted credit or to be in the spotlight. But he had a genuine desire to help people succeed."

Chase's passion for community development took root during his college years, largely due to the influence of Dallan Sanders (BS 61, MA 69), who took on a mentor role to Chase when Chase took his first job at the Portales Chamber of Commerce.

"Chase learned so much from Dallan," Nancy shares. "Dallan gave him confidence, taught him about life, and brought him into community service. That mentor-mentee relationship is really where Chase got his passion for economic development." After graduating, Chase poured this passion back into Roosevelt County, leading workforce development and chamber initiatives in Portales before moving to Clovis a decade later.

The lessons Chase learned from his time at ENMU and his mentorship under Dallan Sanders became the seed for a blossoming career dedicated to uplifting and connecting the Clovis and Portales communities.

Fueling the Future: Empowering Students with Hands-On Training

The Chase Gentry Center for Workforce Development fosters a mission focused firmly on bettering the practical future of eastern New Mexico's workforce, standing in the wake of Chase Gentry's legacy of leadership. CCC is designing the facility to address the critical regional need for technical and skilled trades instruction.

"When the donation of the building was set up, the desire was to truly create a space where economic development could be accelerated," explains CCC President Dr. Robin Fuentes. "The technical programs we propose for the Gentry Center—electrical, plumbing, HVAC, construction, CDL, and hospitality—are the professions needed critically by our industry partners."

This focus on CTE aligns directly with Gentry's practiced conviction that a thriving economy depends on accessible and practical job training. Even during his early years of working in Portales, Gentry was an avid leader in local workforce development, helping to secure dedicated spaces for trade education on Main Street. The Gentry Center carries that philosophy to an institutional level.

"We believe that our plan for the space will lead to certifications in areas desperately needed by our industry partners, and it will also create a rising group of entrepreneurs," says Fuentes. "The training here will serve as a multiplier that will further strengthen our regional economy. By strengthening the local talent pipeline, CCC can help businesses grow, attract new investment, and give economic developers another reason to say that eastern New Mexico is ready for opportunity."

For both current and future classes of students, the Gentry Center provides an engaging, hands-on path to developing sustainable careers in their home communities, nurturing the connection between higher education and economic innovation with the same passion held by Chase Gentry.

Investing in Tomorrow with the GO Bond

As ENMU and CCC continue to collaborate for the future of both communities, state-level investments are able to provide the essential momentum needed to keep regional infrastructure and development expanding. The New Mexico Higher Education General Obligation (GO) Bond is central to the long-term educational and economic goals that both campuses are striving for. Appearing on statewide ballots this November, the GO Bond will fund capital outlay projects across public universities and community colleges to ensure modern learning environments without increasing local property taxes.

"The GO Bond will provide funding to directly improve the campus quality of life and specialized academic programming"

At both campuses, the GO Bond will provide funding to directly improve the campus quality of life and specialized academic programming. At ENMU, funding will go toward the university's agricultural and arts pathways, providing innovative facilities for students pursuing careers in these areas. At CCC, funds will target necessary upgrades to the Health and Fitness Center and restore recreational spaces for student coursework, public access and wellness.

"The General Obligation bond allows higher education throughout New Mexico to pursue projects that further career opportunities and the educational mission for New Mexicans," shares Fuentes. "I love the community college space because it serves so many important functions in our communities, including career training and improvement to quality of life... These infrastructure investments in the Gentry Center and the proposed GO Bond projects connect education, workforce development, and quality of life." The GO Bond works with the physical campus initiatives like the Gentry Center and the CCC2ENMU program to establish a lasting foundation for economic development where academic progression and workforce training move together in unison.

"Bloom Where You Are Planted"

Five years after his passing, Chase Gentry's impact remains active in guiding the communities of Portales and Clovis. His vision for collaborative success across both communities is echoed in the new initiatives supporting education and workforce development.

"Honoring Chase Gentry shows young people that meaningful leadership comes with purpose and passion, and these can be found right here at home," reflects Fuentes. "It can inspire students to bloom where they are planted... His legacy reminds students that they, too, can make a lasting difference in eastern New Mexico."

As ENMU alumni, faculty, and local leaders look toward the future of the Clovis-Portales corridor, the path forward relies on the very principles Chase lived by— collaboration, humility, and an unwavering investment in people. Through the combined strength of the Gentry Center, the CCC2ENMU fast-track pathway, and a shared community vision, the legacy of a proud Greyhound continues to shape the region for generations to come.

"Honoring Chase Gentry shows young people that meaningful leadership comes with purpose and passion, and these can be found right here at home."