Hunt Business Career Plan Completes Inaugural Cohort
The Big Picture
The Woody L. Hunt College of Business completed the inaugural Hunt Business Career Plan this week, closing out a 12-week professional development program created in partnership with Hunt Business alumnus, local businessman and philanthropist Bob Wingo.
The six-session program brought together 25 juniors, seniors and graduate students for a structured approach to career development, mentorship and long-term professional strategy.
Why It Matters
The Hunt Business Career Plan moves career preparation beyond the short-term job search.
Students explored how to turn interviews into conversations, identify key connectors inside organizations and build professional relationships with purpose.
The program emphasized a central idea: relationships are not extra. They are part of the infrastructure of a successful career.
What Happened
Over 12 weeks, students met across six sessions with executives, entrepreneurs and community leaders from across the Borderplex.
The sessions focused on professional presence, communication, relationship-building and strategic career navigation — giving students direct access to leaders across healthcare, finance, entrepreneurship, public service, nonprofit work, economic development and higher education.
What’s Next
Planning is underway for the Spring 2027 cohort.
Leila Melendez, CEO of Workforce Solutions Borderplex, will serve as Mentor in Residence for the next group of students.
Hunt Business also plans to expand the program into a microcredential, giving students formal recognition for completing the professional and leadership development experience.
Hunt Business Career Plan
2026 Mentor-in-Residence
Bob Wingo
Chairman, Sanders\Wingo
Mentors
Scott Adkins
President and CEO, PyroCom Systems
Miriam Baca Kotkowski
President, Tecma Transportation Services
Kathrin Berg
Executive Vice President, El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Community Foundation
Bobby Blanco
Partner and Director of Risk Management & Insurance Planning, Strategic Wealth Management
Elsa Borrego
Business Consultant
Brendan Gallagher
Vice President for Business Affairs, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½
Adam Gamwell
Chief Security Officer, GamwellTech
Art Garza
CEO, Del Sol Medical Center
John Hjalmquist
President and CEO, Pizza Properties
Carlos Keating
Assistant Vice President, HUB International
Hazel Kennedy
Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer, GECU
Leila Melendez
CEO, Workforce Solutions Borderplex
Shawn Ollis
Market President, Southern NM & West TX, Nusenda Credit Union
Laura Ponce
Executive Director, Project Bravo
Margie Salazar
CEO, FirstLight Federal Credit Union
Ricardo Samaniego
El ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ County Judge
Peter Spier
President, Avanta Residential
Jacob Stercula
Chief Operating Officer, Las Palmas Medical Center
Cary Westin
Business Consultant and Former Interim City Manager
Brian Metzger
President of Business Development, Crown Wealth Strategies
Last Updated on May 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM | Originally published May 11, 2026
Posted by Hunt Creative
