Gallup Native J.M. DeYoung Named Director of UNM-Gallup SBDC

J.M. DeYoung, a Gallup native and longtime municipal administrator, has been named director of the University of New Mexico Gallup Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a move that expands local access to free business counseling and training. UNM-Gallup announced the appointment on Jan. 23, 2026; DeYoung began onboarding in fall 2025 and will now accept clients at the campus center.

The SBDC provides no-cost services to for-profit small businesses with fewer than 500 employees, including help with business planning, marketing, cash flow and management. The center also refers clients to specialists for intellectual property, government contracting and other technical needs. The UNM-Gallup SBDC is located in Gurley Hall on the UNM-Gallup campus; more information is available through the statewide SBDC location page.

DeYoung’s municipal background centers on public administration and risk management in Gallup. His career includes service as the city’s risk manager and assistant city manager, and an interim city manager stint in 2023. Those roles gave him firsthand experience with local permitting, procurement and the operational challenges that affect small businesses, skills UNM-Gallup officials say he will bring to the counseling program.

DeYoung said his goal is to “help anybody that comes in become successful” and to grow community awareness of the center. Local entrepreneurs, startups and established small firms can seek one-on-one counseling or attend training workshops designed to strengthen business plans, improve cash flow forecasts and sharpen marketing strategies. For firms pursuing larger contracts, SBDC referrals to government contracting specialists can open pathways to state and federal procurement opportunities.

For McKinley County, the SBDC’s strengthened local presence could influence small-business survival and expansion by lowering technical barriers and connecting entrepreneurs to resources they might otherwise miss. Small-business counseling that improves cash flow management and market positioning tends to increase firms’ access to loans and contracts, and localized outreach helps ensure those services reach Navajo Nation entrepreneurs and other underserved business owners in the area.

DeYoung’s leadership will be judged on outreach and measurable uptake: how many clients enroll, how many business plans are completed, and how many firms secure loans or contracts after counseling. In the near term, residents can visit Gurley Hall to meet SBDC staff or consult the statewide SBDC location page for details on services and hours. Longer term, a more active UNM-Gallup SBDC means stronger pathways for Gallup businesses to scale, compete for contracts and contribute to local job growth.