Meet Elaine
Dr. Elaine Sena Cortez was born in Roswell and was raised in Hobbs, New Mexico, for the past 37 years. This is her home, where she has chosen to stay, raise her family, and build her professional career. Recently, she took the risk of starting a small business, which has been one of the best decisions of her life, but now she understands firsthand the challenges that job creators face in New Mexico. Elaine is currently the Owner/Business Consultant of Sena Cortez Consulting, LLC. She is also a Professor at the University of the Southwest and Eastern New Mexico University, her two alma maters.
Elaine is married to the love of her life and best friend, Efren Cortez. The couple shares a loving home with their daughter Layla, and their two dogs – Termite and Huckleberry. Elaine is the daughter of pastors and is a faithful member of King's Gate Church in Hobbs, New Mexico, a non-denominational Christian Church founded by her family. Elaine is a proud American and the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran. Elaine is a lifelong resident of New Mexico and a staunch believer that New Mexicans have the potential to move our Nation forward.
For her educational achievements, Elaine committed to opportunities offered in Southeastern New Mexico. Elaine holds a Doctor in Business Administration degree from the University of the Southwest in Hobbs, New Mexico. In 2006, Elaine graduated from the University of the Southwest (Hobbs, NM) with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a minor in Marketing. In 2012, Elaine graduated from Eastern New Mexico University (Portales, NM) with a Master of Business Administration. In 2018, Elaine graduated from the Maddox Leadership Institute (Hobbs, NM). Elaine is also an alumnus of the Leadership New Mexico Connect Program (2016). Elaine is proud of the educational opportunities in Southeastern New Mexico and advocates for higher education.
Elaine grew up on the south side of Hobbs, New Mexico. Elaine's goals and dreams as a child were greater than her family's income. Elaine's family has always been her most significant source of inspiration. Elaine's late mother, Barbara Sena, was a pastor and educator and serves as Elaine's inspiration for support of education. Elaine's father, Pastor Fabian Sena, is a combat veteran who faithfully served in the United States Army in the Vietnam War and serves as Elaine's inspiration for the support of veterans. Elaine's parents instilled in her the love of God and compassion for helping people. Elaine's brother, Matthew Sena, and his wife, Jennifer, currently serve as pastors of King's Gate Church. Elaine's brother Jonathan Sena, a local politician/youth pastor, and his wife Valeria also serve in the ministry at King's Gate Church.
Elaine embodies the overarching principles of honoring God, loyalty to Country, and service to New Mexicans. When asked for her inspiration for seeking to serve in the New Mexico House of Representatives for District 62, Elaine stated:
“The government was never intended to be the most powerful moving force in a free society. PEOPLE were created to be the most powerful moving force. I am here to help move the government out of the way of prosperity and advocate for giving the power back to the people. I am asking for your vote to put me to work in building a better New Mexico.”
Elaine began her career as an educator at King's Gate Academy in Hobbs, New Mexico, where she was first a teacher and then served as a principal for seven years. In 2010, she became the local outreach director for King's Gate Church. Elaine has conducted mission work worldwide, including in South America, Central America, and Africa. Through her mission work, Elaine has volunteered in orphanages, AIDS hospices, and schools teaching English to children. Elaine then led MyPower, Inc. (the largest youth development program in Lea County) as the Executive Director for more than a decade, where she impacted thousands of young girls and spearheaded the community effort to reduce teen pregnancies.
Elaine proudly serves her community and has committed to making Lea County a great place to raise families. She was a founding Board Member for the Legacy Pregnancy Resource Center in 2012 and served faithfully for five years. She served as a Board Member for Viante, New Mexico from 2018-2022. She also served as a Hobbs Jaycees member from 2012-2022. Currently, Elaine serves on the Board of Trustees at the University of the Southwest.