Southern Miss Business Excellence Awards

Southern Miss Business
Excellence Awards

November 8, 2024  |  Noon
Trent Lott National Center  |  Hattiesburg Campus

The Southern Miss Business Excellence Awards is an annual luncheon that recognizes the Entrepreneur of the Year, and
Alumni of the the Year, and the Young Alumni of the Year for
their professional achievements. This event is hosted by the
College of Business and Economic Development.

Meet the 2024 Honorees

Glenn & Richard Mueller
2024 Entrepreneurs of the Year

Richard P. Mueller Jr. and Glenn Mueller have built a legacy within the Domino’s Pizza franchise. Richard's journey began in 1967, while attending the University of Michigan. After working his way up from a delivery driver to a store manager, his knack for suggesting innovative ideas and operational improvements to Domino’s founder, Tom Monaghan, led Richard to franchise his first store in 1971 near Ohio State University. By 1978, he had expanded to 60 stores across Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

In 1981, Richard invited his brother, Glenn, to join him in his business venture and together they co-founded RPM Pizza. Over a span of 40 years, Richard and Glenn built and acquired 510 Dominos locations in nine states and three countries. Before Richard's retirement in 2003, RPM Pizza had 158 stores and was known for piloting several innovative products and store formats. Today, RPM Pizza is recognized as a leading franchise within the Domino’s Pizza brand, achieving record sales of more than $200 million, serving 25 million pizzas annually, and employing 3,400 team members. Additionally, the company has helped more than 155 team members franchise their own stores. In 2024, Glenn received the prestigious Domino’s Chairman’s Circle and Legacy Award.

Beyond business, philanthropy and community outreach have always been important to both brothers. Glenn assisted in the establishment and served as the first president of the Domino’s Partner’s Foundation, a nonprofit supporting team members in need. In 2020, the Mueller family founded the Mueller Foundation, which focuses on caring for communities by building, inspiring, and unifying neighborhoods. In 2023, the brothers opened the world's largest model railroad museum in Gulfport, Mississippi.

Richard passed away in January 2024 surrounded by his family. Glenn continues their work at RPM Pizza alongside three of his five children.

Jim Estes '86
2024 Alumnus of the Year

After graduating from Southern Miss in December 1986, Jim R. Estes III embarked on a distinguished 37-year career with Ernst & Young’s audit practice, where he served global companies and their audit committees. Jim continues to contribute to the profession as a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) governing council.

In 2019, Jim was appointed Vice Chair – Professional Practice after previously serving as the Assurance Managing Partner for the Southeast Region. During his tenure, he also led EY’s Assurance Practice for the Florida market while living in the Tampa Bay area.  

Jim’s career with EY began in the firm’s Cleveland National Office, where he worked as an Accounting & Auditing Researcher. He later became a part of the Southeast Area’s Professional Practice Director Group, providing consultation to partners in 15 offices across seven states on complex accounting, auditing, and financial reporting matters. Throughout his career, Jim has been the lead partner on engagements for some of the world’s largest companies, including The Coca-Cola Company, Tech Data Corporation, Jabil Circuit, and Newell Rubbermaid. 

On a personal note, Jim met his wife, Angela Perusse, during their freshman year at Southern Miss. Together, they are proud parents of two sons: Dr. Nicholas Estes, a surgeon in Connecticut, and Lane Estes, who is preparing for law school. Jim and Angela were both active in Fraternity and Sorority Life, each serving as presidents of Kappa Sigma and Kappa Delta, respectively. 

Jim attributes his success in public accounting to the exceptional guidance of his accounting faculty, who helped him build a strong foundation for his career. His connection to Southern Miss runs deep, as part of a legacy that includes his grandmother, Mary Estes, who celebrated her 50th anniversary of graduating from USM in 1986—the same year Jim earned his bachelor’s degree. Jim’s father, Jim Estes Jr., also earned a degree with Southern Miss in 1960. 

Catalina Villegas '11
2024 Young Alumna of the Year

Catalina Villegas is the Director for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Major League Baseball (MLB). A native of Colombia and a former tennis professional and collegiate player, Catalina oversees cultural engagement and career development initiatives designed to foster an inclusive and belonging culture within MLB.

Before joining MLB, Catalina served as the Vice President of Multicultural Marketing at LST Marketing. In this role, she specialized in sponsorship sales, consulting, and talent procurement, focusing on both retired and active Latino/a/e athletes and influencers.

Catalina’s journey to the United States began with a tennis scholarship to Northwestern State University. After her collegiate career, she became a tennis coach at The University of Southern Mississippi, where she earned master’s degrees in business administration and sport management. 

Fluent in both Spanish and English, Catalina now splits her time between Dallas, Texas, and Brooklyn, New York, with her spouse, Jennifer, their beloved pets. In her free time, Catalina enjoys playing pickleball, kayaking, gardening, savoring a good coffee with a great book, and spending quality time with family.