The New Mexico State University College of Business announces this year’s inductees. Each inductee has distinguished themselves in their career and provided exceptional service to the College of Business. They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on September 26th, 2024.
Hall of Fame Recipients:
Joe Christian
2024 Hall of Fame Inductee
Joe Christian, president and CEO of Nusenda Credit Union, was the first in his family to attend college. He shared that NMSU transformed his life after earning a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance in 1983. He added that his success, along with this recognition, is a testament to his nearly 40-year career at Nusenda.
“NMSU’s educational foundation allowed me to influence Nusenda Credit Union’s exponential growth and collaborate with other technology focused companies in the early days of the scramble to deliver financial services and advice via the internet,” he said. “The concepts taught in the MBA program at the College of Business helped me impact the strategic direction of the credit union and inspire the incorporation of modern thought around leadership, project management, employee development and the integration of technological innovation at the employee and consumer level.”
In addition, Christian is a Business Advisory Council Member and other boards across New Mexico. He’s been personally recognized with a leadership award by the Albuquerque Journal in 2019 and 2022, and was also named as one of the 100 nationally recognized influencers in finance by the Business Journals.
“The professors at the College of Business genuinely love what they are doing and are creating an educational experience for students that will provide many opportunities for success,” he said. “I will continue doing what I can to advise the COB and individual students to impart the knowledge I have gained during my career. This is one of the best parts of my role as President and CEO of Nusenda Credit Union."
Kellie Mixon
2024 Hall of Fame Inductee
Kellie Mixon, president and CEO of New Mexico Mutual, graduated from NMSU in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She’s held various senior leadership roles within her 28-year career at New Mexico Mutual, the state’s largest workers’ compensation insurance provider, and works to advance the company’s legacy of innovation and providing service excellence for policyholders, workers and agency partners.
“I’m very proud to be chosen to receive this award and join the successful group of NMSU College of Business Hall of Fame awardees,” Mixon said. “The College of Business provided me with the building blocks to have a successful future by creating the right learning experiences and opportunities to grow. NMSU is a perfect example of a dynamic institution that invests in their student’s continuous growth and learning to help benefit the state of New Mexico. I took this with me throughout my career as it was important to me to understand the needs of our state and how I could make an impact. Now, I work with other business leaders to help make New Mexico thrive.”
The Los Alamos native was recognized in 2019 as Woman of Influence by Albuquerque Business First. She is a graduate of Leadership New Mexico and serves on the Board of Directors of United Way of North Central New Mexico, Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, and Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails.
Berry J. Mullennix
Traders’ Award
Berry J. Mullennix will receive the 2024 Traders Award, and Lauterbach Borschow & Co. will receive the 2024 Corporate Traders Award. These awards recognize outstanding contributions by corporations to the College of Business.
Mullennix, president and CEO of Panther Energy III in Tulsa, Oklahoma, took an interest in business administration as an NMSU student. He considers himself an entrepreneur and has worked in the oil and gas industry for more than 35 years. He started and sold a construction company as well as four exploration and production companies. Over the past few years, Mullennix has visited NMSU, spoke with students, attended Business Advisory Council meetings, and pledged financial support to the College of Business and the University Art Museum. Mullennix also has a classroom named in his honor.
“I give back because my time at NMSU laid the groundwork that helped me become a lifelong entrepreneur and businessman in multiple industries,” Mullennix shared.
Lauterbach, Borschow & Co.
Corporate Traders’ Award
Lauterbach, Borschow & Co. is the largest team of certified public accountants in the region. The company’s goal is to help their clients make business and accounting decisions and understand tax and investment implications.
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