New Mexico State University's College of Business will celebrate accomplished alumni, valued corporate partners and community leaders whose careers and contributions have made a lasting impact at the 2026 Hall of Fame banquet.
The event will take place at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 E. University Ave. This year's Hall of Fame honorees are Leslie Moorhead Cervantes '86, O. Dino Cervantes '85 and Jim P. Snee '89. The College of Business will also present the Corporate Traders' Award to New Mexico Mutual.
"I'm very honored to recognize Leslie, Dino and Jim this week and to celebrate their accomplishments. Three amazing people, three amazing careers – three amazing Aggies!" said Bryan Ashenbaum, dean of the College of Business.
Leslie Cervantes earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in human resource management from NMSU in 1986. Her career has included entrepreneurship, higher education, fundraising and community leadership. She served as chief of staff to two NMSU presidents, associate vice president for Alumni and Donor Relations for the NMSU Foundation and interim vice president of the foundation. She previously led the Las Cruces Public Schools Foundation and served as chief of staff to the superintendent.
She now operates a consulting company focused on fundraising, strategic planning, leadership development and organizational planning. She continues to serve NMSU as a member of the College of Business Advisory Council and through student mentorship. Her community leadership has included the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, Junior League of Las Cruces and Appleseed New Mexico.
"Receiving the NMSU College of Business Hall of Fame award is an incredible honor, and it is especially meaningful because New Mexico State University has been such an important part of my life and career," she said. "No career is built alone. Whatever success I have had is the result of mentors who invested in me, colleagues who challenged and supported me, family and friends who encouraged me, and countless people who gave me opportunities to learn and grow."
Dino Cervantes earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in operations management from NMSU in 1985. After beginning his career with Hormel Foods, he returned to southern New Mexico in 1991 to lead Cervantes Enterprises Inc., the family-owned food processing company. He currently serves as president of the Vado, New Mexico-based company, which produces Louisiana-style hot sauce products distributed throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East.
He also leads Cervantes Farming Operations LLC, a diversified agricultural operation managing 3,000 acres in New Mexico's Mesilla Valley and Chihuahua, Mexico. His leadership has extended to national and international agriculture, food industry and trade organizations, as well as numerous NMSU advisory roles.
"The Business College back in the mid-1980s had several terrific professors who provided us with an education and a foundation that allowed us to compete with anyone in the world," he said. "The strength of the Business College was not just limited to the formal education we received, but also to its ability to bring faculty and students together and build a community that was active, engaged and supportive."
Snee earned a bachelor's degree from NMSU's College of Business in 1989 and spent 36 years with Hormel Foods, including nine years as CEO. During his tenure, he led the company through periods of significant change while emphasizing leadership development, organizational culture and long-term growth.
"The College of Business gave me more than a business education," Snee said. "It gave me confidence, a foundation for critical thinking and problem-solving, and an appreciation for the importance of relationships. Business is ultimately a people business, and the ability to build trust, communicate effectively, adapt and work with people from different backgrounds has been just as important as what I learned in the classroom."
Snee remains active in business, leadership and governance and hopes to continue contributing through mentoring, speaking and engagement with NMSU and the College of Business.
In addition to the Hall of Fame honorees, the College of Business will present the 2026 Corporate Traders' Award to New Mexico Mutual, the state's largest writer of workers' compensation insurance. Since its founding in 1991, the company has focused on strengthening New Mexico communities by supporting local businesses, workers and safer workplaces.
"By investing in New Mexico students, New Mexico Mutual hopes to not only create opportunities for students within the insurance industry but elevate the future of all New Mexico businesses," said Kellie Mixon, president and CEO of New Mexico Mutual. "We are proud to support the state's future leaders in NMSU's College of Business and hope our contribution will encourage them along their path to successful and meaningful careers."
For the Hall of Fame honorees, the recognition represents not only their professional accomplishments but also their continued connection to NMSU and commitment to the next generation of business leaders.
Leslie Cervantes said she hopes her next chapter will include "helping the next generation find their own path and discover what is possible for them through student mentorship, continually growing our scholarship in the college and connecting students to industry."
Dino Cervantes said his company will continue to look to NMSU and the College of Business when recruiting local talent. "Our recruiting will always prioritize individuals from the local area, so NMSU and the College of Business will be our 'go-to' higher-education institution," he said. "We do not want to miss out on talented local graduates."
Snee similarly hopes to remain connected to NMSU through mentoring and speaking with students. "Helping students see what may be possible for them would be a meaningful way to support the university that gave me my start," he said. New Mexico Mutual encourages students to never stop learning. "Take advantage of every opportunity to build strong relationships and learn from experienced mentors," Mixon said. "Get involved and seek out ways to gain real, hands-on experience in your field to put into action what you're learning in the classroom."
New Mexico Mutual encourages students to never stop learning. "Take advantage of every opportunity to build strong relationships and learn from experienced mentors," Mixon said. "Get involved and seek out ways to gain real, hands-on experience in your field to put into action what you're learning in the classroom."
To RSVP or purchase tickets, contact Denise Tafoya at 575-646-5572 or
The full article can be seen at https://newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-college-of-business-to-honor-2026-hall-of-fame-recipients--community-partners/s/05e0151f-69be-4f06-bfc5-b3b28c346a2c
