Four members within the Anderson School of Management community at the University of New Mexico have been recognized in the latest version of New Mexico Business Weekly’s annual ‘Forty Under 40’ list. The movers and shakers include Associate Professor Rob DelCampo, BBA Student Lameck “Humble” Lukanga, Rob Melendez, M.D., PMBA student and Nicholas Spezza, UNM employee and EMBA student.
DelCampo, 29, teaches organizational behavior, diversity in organizations and human resources management. He is also the associate editor for The Business Journal of Hispanic Research. DelCampo has written five of the mere 12 articles published on Hispanic business professionals since 2000 in the U.S.
For DelCampo, receiving the honor of being on the ‘Forty Under 40’ list is important to him because it shows that his efforts are valued. “It shows that the work I’m doing is interesting and useful to people,” said DelCampo.
Lukanga, 21, founded a recording company, Royalty Life Records, at the age of 18, with the goal of helping inner city kids chase their musical dreams. Although Royalty is still in its early years, it has already signed four artists and two producers, helping it to become one of the top independent recording companies in the Southwest.
Lukanga, a junior at Anderson, maintains a 3.5 GPA while carrying 18 credit hours. Lukanga is also president of F.A.M.E (The Foundation of the Application of Music and Entertainment), a group that helps college students interested in working in the music industry. His marketing teacher, John Benavidez, nominated Lukanga for his standout talents and ambitions.
“In my 10 years of teaching, I have never come across a student as talented, caring and ambitious as Lameck. I was impressed with him from day one,” said Benavidez.
Lukanga considers this award as a sign of progress towards his goals. “It feels so good to get recognized for what we’re doing and to know that what we’re doing is important,” says Lukanga who is bringing business partners Will McMullen and Brandon Burnett with him to the ‘Forty Under 40’ awards ceremony.
Melendez, 36, is a PMBA student at Anderson who has shown extraordinary achievement. A practicing eye surgeon (ophthalmologist) at Eye Associates of New Mexico, he has been included in the Top Docs Magazine in Albuquerque for the past two years.
Melendez also helped start the first ophthalmology Chief Resident Leadership Forum with CareerPhysician. He is the secretary/treasurer of the New Mexico Academy of Opthalmology and is actively involved in the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
Melendez is the chief editor of Pearls in Ophthalmology and senior editor for CP Chiefs newsletter. He is also an assistant clinical professor at UNM where he mentors medical students and is working on a book on eye emergencies. He recently launched his first audiobook to help residents and young ophthalmologists study diseases of the eye. His passion is helping his patients see better.
“I often times say that it is almost wrong that I get paid to do what I do. I love performing eye surgery and helping patients see better,” said Melendez.
Spezza, 37, is an EMBA student and senior program manager UNM’s employee wellness program. He is also the co-founder of the Santa Fe nonprofit, IMPACT Personal Safety, which offers self-defense training classes for all ages.
To see photos and to read more about DelCampo, Lukanga, Melendez and Spezza, see the ‘Forty Under 40’ list in the June 1 New Mexico Business Weekly.
Media Contacts: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu or Erin Gardner, (505) 306-9575; e-mail: news@mgt.unm.edu
Posted by scarr at June 4, 2007 04:46 PM