2024 NMHBA Senior Officers

PRESIDENT
Chris Hakes, Hakes Brothers Construction

Chris Hakes is the Area President of Hakes Brothers, overseeing operations across the Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Los Lunas, Las Cruces, and Sunland Park regions in New Mexico. With a deep-rooted passion for building, Chris excels at navigating the complexities of the construction industry while ensuring that every homebuyer receives unparalleled service.

Chris was instrumental in the creation of Hakes Brothers, which was founded in 2006. Hake Brothers has grown to become the largest homebuilder based in New Mexico, helping over 5,000 families find homes that perfectly fit their lifestyles. The company provides supreme value in homeownership, emphasizing professional architecture, innovative design, and high-quality construction. With prime locations from Albuquerque and Las Cruces in the north to El Paso, Rio Grande Valley, and San Antonio in the south, and now expanding into Kansas City, Hakes Brothers has set a new standard for excellence in homebuilding across the region.

As the President of the New Mexico Home Builders Association (NMHBA), Chris is a prominent advocate for the homebuilding industry. Over the past [XX] years, he has played a key role on the NMHBA Board of Directors Senior Officers, addressing regulatory challenges that impact housing development. Chris is committed to driving meaningful regulatory reforms that will sustain industry growth and secure its future viability for generations to come.

1st VP / PRESIDENT-ELECT
Kent Thurston, KT Homes

Kent is the owner of KT Homes in Las Cruces. He is a second-generation home builder and has continued his father’s legacy of building energy efficient homes. It is important to him that his homes are comfortable and affordable over the life of the home. Kent has an eye for innovation and continuously looks for new products and business methods he can introduce to better his business and the community.

Kent is passionate about the future of homebuilding and has been actively involved in introducing trade work as a viable career path to the youth of Las Cruces. He has been instrumental in the LCHBA’s efforts to get construction programs back in the Las Cruces Public Schools. In conjunction with the LCHBA and Organ Mountain High School, KT Homes has built a yearly Education House that gives students hands on experience with all the stages of homebuilding.

Kent has served as President of the Las Cruces Homebuilder association and is actively involved in the community. He seeks out projects that bring value to the community by focusing on thoughtfully designed developments that bring beauty, functionality, and recreation to the residents. KT Homes builds in Las Cruces and Carlsbad

ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT
Diana Lucero – New Mexico Bank & Trust

Diana Lucero is Vice President of Construction Lending at New Mexico Bank & Trust. Currently serving as the NMHBA Associate V.P., she is also a member of the Government Affairs Committee and the Finance Committee. Diana is active with her Local – HBA of Central New Mexico – currently serving on their Board of Directors as Advisory Board Member. She is also on the Golf Committee, Parade of Homes Committee, and the Bowling Fundraising Committee. She is very involved at the National level. She is the NM State Rep, Past National Associate Chair (NAC), Past Associate Committee Chair/Executive Committee Member, Past NAHBR Business Associates Chair, Past Remodelers Council Trustee, sat on the CGB Board of Governors and sits on the NAHB’s Board of Directors (Life Director), Leadership Council, Conventions & Meetings Committee, Membership Committee and NAHB BUILD-PAC Board of Trustees.

She has earned Certified Aging in Place Specialist, Certified Green Professional and Certified Graduate Associate designations through NAHB.

Diana sits on the Board of the NM Mortgage Lenders Association and the CNM Accounting and Finance Advisory Committee. She continues to be active and participates in many community events and loves spending time with her grandchildren.

SECRETARY-TREASURER
Jenice Eades, Pulte Homes

Jenice Montoya-Eades is Director of Procurement at the Pulte Group and is a tenth-generation native New Mexican. She graduated from UNM’s Anderson School of Business and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management.

Jenice has been a GB-98 since 2001. Over the course of her 25-year career, she has worked with and for Local, Custom and National Builders in the Albuquerque Metro Area. She has held many different positions within her Home Building career spanning from accounting to General Manager and VP of Construction. Jenice keenly understands Residential construction needs from all angles of the industry.

Jenice was a keynote speaker for Quality Assurance in Home Building at the International Builders Show (2007) and an active member of the HBA of Central New Mexico for many years. Jenice currently serves the HBA of Central New Mexico in the capacity of President and actively supports the UNM Student Chapter, Lobo Builders.