GALLUP-MCKINLEY TRADEPORT LEADERS CONVENE TO ACCELERATE TRANSFORMATIONAL ECONOMIC INITIATIVE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Bruce Armstrong
DATE: April 16, 2026 EMAIL: bruce@gallupedc.com
PHONE: (505) 722-2980

Gallup, NM – Representing one of the Gallup area’s most ambitious economic development efforts, 13 leaders from the recently formed Gallup-McKinley TradePort Authority convened for a strategic retreat March 29–April 1 at the Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown. Board members and Technical Committee representatives gathered to align priorities and accelerate a clear path forward for the TradePort initiative. The retreat was organized and led by Mark-Tami Hotta of Integrity First Consulting & Coaching, a nationally recognized executive consultant and former CEO of the country’s largest automotive proving ground, who is advising the Authority on plans to integrate a similar high-impact facility into the Gallup project. 

Participants included Board Chairman Anthony Dimas, Jr. (McKinley County), Rick Murphy (Murphy Builders), Vice-Chair David Dallago and John Peña (City of Gallup appointees), and Secretary Jake Bracken (Gallup Land Partners). Technical Committee members in attendance were Patty Lundstrom (Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation), Mayor Marc DePauli and City Manager Frank Chiapetti (City of Gallup), County Commission Chairman Bobby Baca, Projects Director Wilfred Noble, Brandon Howe (Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments), Casey McElroy (Kimley-Horn), and Jeff Kiely (Kiely Consulting).

The Gallup-McKinley TradePort has advanced through several years of intensive, adaptive planning to position the region as a competitive inland port. The initiative is designed to leverage Gallup’s transportation, logistics, and energy assets to attract new companies and investment— driving a more diversified, sustainable economy and creating quality jobs for the local workforce. Building on this progress, and supported by enabling legislation passed by the New Mexico Legislature last year, the TradePort is now positioned to secure both public and private investment to develop critical infrastructure and begin recruiting tenants within the TradePort District, including the Carbon Coal Road corridor and the Gallup Energy Logistics Park in the city’s northwest quadrant.

The recent team-building retreat reinforced that momentum, strengthening alignment, communication, and collaboration among Board and Technical Committee members while supporting individual leadership development. Both groups meet monthly, with significant project work advancing between meetings to maintain progress and execution.

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