Clovis Chamber recognizes community members

CLOVIS - Longtime economic developer Chase Gentry on Saturday was named the Clovis Curry County Chamber of Commerce's Lifetime Achievement Award, one highlight of the business community's annual gathering.

Gentry, 53, died in August, almost 20 years after he began his job as executive director of Clovis Industrial Development Corp.

About 300 people attended the banquet at the Clovis Civic Center.

In addition to Gentry, Saturday's award winners included:

Clovis native Jonathan Justice was named Citizen of the Year for his work in helping businesses hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Justice and his family have moved to the Phoenix area, but Justice made a Zoom appearance via the internet at the banquet.

Civic Center General Manager Misty Bertrand was named Chamber Ambassador of the Year Award winner. In accepting the electric guitar given to each award winner, Bertrand sang a song she wrote for the occasion.

Latriece Brooks won the award for Chamber Volunteer of the Year for her volunteer service to the chamber.

The chamber's Heart Award went to Chris Egbert, founder of Operation Phoenix Outdoors. According to his website, Egbert's organization works "to help military, veterans, first responders and their families deal with stressors ... by bringing them on outdoor adventures [that] facilitate fellowship, friendships and healing." 

Business of the Year Award went to Tankersley's.  In leading up to the announcement of the award it was noted that the store in downtown Clovis has been in business since 1961.

Cannon Community Partner of the Year Award went to Rick Masters, 27th Special Operations Wing director of staff.

David Robinson garnered the Ken Huey Patriot Award. The Plateau chief executive officer, past chamber president and member of The Committee of 50 was recognized for his "unwavering patriotism ... and his volunteer service to military personnel."

"Heartfelt connections, endless horizons," the new marketing slogan for Clovis, was brought up in speeches by Clovis Mayor Mike Morris and Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command at Cannon Air Force Base.

As the banquet drew to a close, outgoing chamber President Laura Leal in a speech talked of her business career and thoughts of her service as chamber president.

After the presidential gavel was passed to Robyn Snowberger she delivered her first speech as the new president of The Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce.