BEYOND PROFIT Entrepreneur Spotlight: Chad Houser

Robert DelCampo, Sr. Executive Director of Corporate & Community Engagement, Executive Director of the Innovation Academy and Rutledge Professor of Management has strong roots in New Mexico and the University of New Mexico Community. He grew up in Las Cruces, graduating from Las Cruces High School before moving to Albuquerque to attend UNM. He holds both MBA and undergraduate degrees from UNM and earned a Ph.D. from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ in 2004. Rob served as Associate Dean from 2012-2015 until his appointment in the Provost’s Office as Founding Executive Director of the UNM Innovation Academy—a new university-wide initiative to build entrepreneurial capacity across the curriculum. As Associate Dean, Rob had many successes, including the development and implementation of a new and innovative MBA curriculum and a very successful Hispanic Leadership Development Program in collaboration with the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he holds the Rutledge Endowed Professorship in Management.

Rob’s teaching expertise is in Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, and his extensive research focuses on the underrepresented members of the workforce (particularly Hispanics), generational issues at work, work-family conflict, turnover and psychological contracts. He has authored seven books, published or presented over 75 papers, serves on multiple editorial boards, was founding Associate Editor of the Business Journal of Hispanic Research, helping to secure significant corporate funds for its launch and distribution, and recently served as Editor-in-Chief of Administrative Sciences. He has also consulted for over 25 Fortune 500 companies including Ford, Home Depot, Dell, and Intel. Rob has been recognized for his work and commitment to the community being named to Albuquerque Business First’s “40 Under 40” and as one of Albuquerque The Magazine’s “15 People Who Will Change Albuquerque”.

From working in multinational corporations, to founding and running her own small businesses, Cyndy Bohannon has been active in the business world for over thirty years. She is passionate about increasing the diversity of our local food supply with her latest endeavor, Find the Good Stuff, which aims to connect consumers with local farmers, ranchers and food producers. Through the development of her app, she is pioneering a new way consumers can find great food while helping local food providers to increase their market share. Cyndy continues to serve the community through this venture, along with her participation in the UNM Center for Responsible Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program.

Hilary Kilpatric is a bilingual international social entrepreneur with a BA in Business Economics, a CPA license, and an MA in International Relations. She is also a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer from Guatemala. Hilary worked as an auditor at Deloitte & Touche, earning her CPA license before discovering her passion for helping entrepreneurs create and grow their businesses. She worked in artist development at the International Folk Art Market, helping artisans build and scale their businesses, developing sustainable business models and earning year-round income. She then moved to Laos where she helped a women’s weaving cooperative extend their reach into wholesale markets, growing sales and decreasing their reliance on local tourism. She recently founded The Kitchen Table Santa Fe, where she helps small food businesses scale and grow while aiming to keep the value chain local. The Kitchen Table Santa Fe was named “Business of the Year” by the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce in 2023.

Alexandra Merlino is driven by the conviction that small enterprises wield the transformative potential to address global challenges. Over the past 23 years, she has dedicated herself to this belief, founding and overseeing organizations committed to sustainable economic development, community well-being, and innovative consumer solutions. An avid outdoorswoman with a passion for protecting our wild places and public lands, Alexandra narrowed her focus to zero-waste consumer products and the circular economy with the launch of her new business, Bee Wild Outside. After two-years in development, Bee Wild Outside refillable sunscreen will be available this Fall to outdoor enthusiasts and eco-conscious individuals interested in protecting their skin from the sun and protecting our planet.

Fernando Ruiz is an award-winning chef with a specialty in Southwestern and Mexican cuisine. Fernado holds the distinction of being a three-time Food Network Champion. Ruiz won Guy’s Grocery Games, Chopped, and most recently, he beat the nearly unstoppable Bobby Flay. 

Fernando spent early years in Phoenix and on the family ranch in Mexico. At 13, he started running with a gang, trafficking weapons and drugs. At the age of 16 he got his first taste of “reality” when he was arrested and sentenced to prison. Determined to break the cycle of recidivism, he earned his GED while he was still in prison. Upon his release, he immediately enrolled in culinary school. After earning his culinary degree, Ruiz moved to Santa Fe in the early 2000’s and held stints at Rio Chama, La Boca, and Santacafé.