Southern Miss College of Business and Economic Development Recognizes 2024 Business Excellence Award Recipients

Tue, 11/12/2024 - 11:11am | By: Bailey Harris Shoemake

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) College of Business and Economic Development held its prestigious Business Excellence Awards on November 8, recognizing exceptional achievements in entrepreneurship and alumni impact. The awards luncheon honored distinguished individuals in three categories: Entrepreneur of the Year, Alumni of the Year and Young Alumni of the Year.

Brothers Glenn Mueller and the late Richard Mueller, who co-founded RPM Pizza, were recognized as the 2024 Entrepreneurs of the Year for their pioneering work within the Domino’s Pizza franchise. Beginning in the 1970s, they built a successful business empire opening Domino’s Pizza locations across nine states and three countries. 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. Their legacy also includes a commitment to community philanthropy, opening the Mueller Foundation in 2020, and the world’s largest model railroad museum, TrainTastic, in Gulfport, Mississippi in 2023. Glenn accepted the award in memory of his brother, Richard, who passed away earlier this year. 

James R. Estes III, CPA, was recognized as the 2024 Alumnus of the Year. Jim, a seasoned professional with over 37 years of experience with Ernst & Young (EY), was celebrated for his success and contributions to public accounting. Recently retired from serving as the vice chair-professional practice for EY, Jim has been the lead partner on engagements for some of the world’s largest companies, including The Coca-Cola Company, Tech Data Corporate, Jabil Circuit, and Newell Rubbermaid. He continues to contribute to the profession as a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) governing council. 

Jim, who graduated from Southern Miss in 1986, has connections to the university that run deep. Not only did both his grandmother and father earn degrees from Southern Miss; Jim also met his wife, Angela, during their freshman year.

Catalina Villegas, director for diversity, equity and inclusion for Major League Baseball (MLB), was honored as the Young Alumna of the Year. 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. After her collegiate career at Northwestern State University, Catalina became a tennis coach at Southern Miss where she earned master’s degrees in business administration and sport management.

“Each year, our college has the privilege of honoring remarkable individuals as part of the Entrepreneur and Alumni of the Year awards,” said Dr. J Bret Becton, dean of the College of Business and Economic Development. “We are incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of this year’s honorees who represent the very best of Southern Miss. Their dedication to excellence, leadership, and service exemplifies the spirit of our college and serves as an inspiration to our students, faculty, and alumni alike.”

The Southern Miss Business Excellence Awards luncheon is dedicated to and sponsored by the late Joseph Boardman Jr., a 1953 graduate of Southern Miss, who majored in marketing. Boardman remained connected to his alma mater through both his generosity and service as a past-president of the Southern Miss Alumni Association and former member of the USM Foundation Board.