Ellis Alumni Join UNM Foundation Board of Trustees
The University of New Mexico Foundation recently announced four new members of its Board of Trustees, all of whom are proud alumni of The James and Gail Ellis School of Business Leadership.
The new trustees are Michelle Dearholt, Jose “Joe” Ortiz, Brandon Putnam and Shannon Rainosek. Their leadership and continued commitment to the UNM community reflect the strong impact Ellis alumni have across New Mexico and beyond.
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Michelle Dearholt, President and CEO of Nusenda Credit Union brings over 20 years of experience in human resource management. Dearholt is a double alumnus of the Ellis School of Business Leadership, having received her BBA in human resource management in 2002 and her MBA focusing on policy and planning in 2007.
Jose “Joe” Ortiz, Audit Partner at TKM, LLC, is joining the UNM Foundation Board of Trustees through his role as president of the UNM Alumni Association. Ortiz has over a decade of experience in auditing and consulting with state and local governments as well as nonprofits. Ortiz received his BBA in accounting from the Ellis School of Business Leadership in 2014.
"I'm looking forward to the year ahead and to serving as President of the UNM Alumni Association with a focus on proximity. Bringing our alumni, leadership, and university stakeholders together to strengthen relationships, stay connected, and amplify pride in our great university. As a Trustee for the Foundation, I'm also proud to support the vital work of expanding access to higher education, especially for students who may be the first in their family to pursue a four-year degree. Together, these roles allow me to help strengthen both the Lobo community and the opportunities that make a UNM education possible,” said Ortiz.
Brandon Putnam, Vice President at Marsh McLennan Agency has over 14 years of experience in construction and manufacturing industries where he helps clients to navigate insurance programs and risk management strategies. Putnam graduated from Ellis in 2014 with his BBA in entrepreneurship.
Shannon Rainosek, CEO of Frontier Restaurant, grew up working alongside her parents, Larry and Dorothy Rainosek, in their Albuquerque-based family businesses. She has worked at every level of the restaurant industry, giving her a deep understanding of the operations that go into a successful business. Shannon earned a BBA and Juris Doctorate from UNM and received her MBA in human resource management from Colorado State University.
“I’m excited to keep learning about the many programs and projects underway across UNM. I’ve already learned more about future campus plans and connected with additional members of the UNM community. It has also been rewarding to share those insights with others and help highlight the wonderful work happening at UNM,” said Shannon.
