Monday, August 17, 2015

Alumni News

L-R: Ann Rhoades, Michael Padilla, Leslie Hoffman

Ann Rhoades (MBA ’85) has been selected as the new UNM Alumni Association President. Ms. Rhoades is a popular, nationally recognized speaker on the subject of customer service and how to build a strong service culture. She was part of the team that launched JetBlue and helped Southwest Airlines and Doubletree Hotels become known throughout the world for their high performing cultures. She is the founding Executive Vice President of People, JetBlue Airways and President of People Ink.  

Leslie Hoffman (EMBA ’09), and Michael Padilla (BBA ’03, MBA ’07) were both elected to serve on the UNM Alumni Board of Directors.

Leslie Hoffman began her career as a journalist, but a tour in the Peace Corps in El Salvador swayed her career pursuits toward community development. She worked as a microfinance practitioner and manager with Acción New Mexico * Arizona * Colorado for eight years before beginning her own consulting group, LEH Consulting. She is particularly interested in small for-profit and non-profit businesses.  She is a member of the APS Education Foundation Board, on the board of the Hank Trewhitt Alumni Award, and teaches marketing and microfinance undergraduate business courses at UNM Anderson and is a guest lecturer for the CNM entrepreneurship program.

Michael Padilla grew up in New Mexico and aspired to be a Lobo from a young age. Michael graduated from Los Lunas High School, and attended UNM on the Lottery Scholarship. While at UNM, Michael was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and UNM Trailblazers. Through the Anderson School of Management, Michael received a BBA in Accounting in 2003. Michael returned to Anderson to receive an MBA in 2007. Since then, he has worked as an auditor for the Albuquerque based CPA firm, REDW, and for Presbyterian Healthcare Services. Michael moved to Orlando, Florida in 2013 with his wife Ashley (also an Anderson Alum) to work for Starwood Hotels. Michael is a licensed CPA, CFE, and CIA. While in Florida, he still follows the Lobos whenever he can, and often listens to Lobo games on the radio.

Congratulations to all!