Students at New Mexico State University explored innovation, real-world career pathways and entrepreneurial thinking during the 2025 Bold Idea Conference, hosted by the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship at Arrowhead Center.
Among the event's most engaging breakout experiences were two engineering-focused sessions sponsored by the Mike Hunt Construction Sprints, a program dedicated to elevating student exposure to construction, engineering and industry leadership.
The morning session, "From Construction to Enterprise," was led by Chi Epsilon President Carter Haag and featured guest speaker Robert Bellospirito. Bellospirito's nonlinear journey resonated with attendees as he described how traditional schooling wasn't the right fit for him, ultimately leading him to take a major risk by launching a landscaping business. It was "a risk that paid off," he said, as he later grew and exited two additional companies, including a mining operation that secured major clients such as Apple and Princeton. His story encouraged students to stay adaptable and recognize opportunities in unexpected places.
"We want students to see how Chi Epsilon's values carry into their careers," Haag said. "Speakers like Robert inspire students to adopt those mindsets and envision what's possible."
In the afternoon, the Associated General Contractors (AGC) student chapter hosted the "Business Blueprint" session featuring Frank Spencer, owner of Aztec Contractors. AGC President Caleb Klima emphasized the importance of bringing industry leaders to campus.
"Meaningful industry voices strengthen our chapter's competitiveness at national-level competitions and expand our footprint on campus," Klima said.
Spencer then shared his own path into construction. Originally planning to attend law school, he pivoted when those plans fell through, leaning into practical skills, resilience and determination to build a successful company from the ground up. His message encouraged students to embrace uncertainty, trust their abilities and pursue bold opportunities.
The Mike Hunt Construction Sprints support strengthened the conference's engineering-focused programming by providing access to industry professionals, hands-on insights and stories that help students envision their future careers. The sessions reinforced the event's mission of helping students build confidence, develop new skills and think creatively about the opportunities ahead.
The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/engineering-organizations-lead-high-impact-sessions-at-nmsu-s-bold-idea-conference/s/273807b7-a0ad-4c6e-b77c-e9ba5934d913
