Students at New Mexico State University participated in the 2025 Bold Idea Conference, an event organized by the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship at Arrowhead Center. The conference featured sessions aimed at promoting innovation, career development, and entrepreneurial thinking.
Two key breakout sessions focused on engineering and were sponsored by the Mike Hunt Construction Sprints program. This initiative is designed to give students more exposure to construction, engineering, and industry leadership.
The morning session, titled “From Construction to Enterprise,” was led by Chi Epsilon President Carter Haag and included guest speaker Robert Bellospirito. Bellospirito shared his experience of leaving traditional education to start a landscaping business, which led him to create and eventually sell two additional companies. One of these ventures was a mining operation that secured contracts with major clients such as Apple and Princeton. He encouraged students to remain adaptable and open to unexpected opportunities.
“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 a session called “Business Blueprint.” Frank Spencer, owner of Aztec Contractors, spoke about his shift from planning to attend law school to building a construction company after his original plans changed. AGC President Caleb Klima highlighted the benefits of involving industry leaders in campus events.
“Meaningful industry voices strengthen our chapter’s competitiveness at national-level competitions and expand our footprint on campus,” Klima said.
Spencer advised students to embrace uncertainty and rely on their skills when pursuing new opportunities.
The Mike Hunt Construction Sprints program played a significant role in enhancing the conference’s engineering content by connecting students with professionals who offered practical insights into potential career paths. These sessions supported the conference’s goal of helping students gain confidence, develop skills, and approach future opportunities creatively.
