The lights dimmed, a jazz band played softly in the background, and the Fort Lewis College Student Union Ballroom filled with applause. Seated at round tables draped in linens, students, alumni, judges, and guests celebrated a decade of big ideas during the 10th Annual Hawk Tank Awards Gala.鈥�
The night started a new chapter for Joey DeMartino, a 36-year-old student at San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico. His business, Noise Hub, won the Grand Prize of the 2025 Hawk Tank competition – earning an additional $5,000 on top of the $5,000 first-place award in the San Juan College track.
“I know I had a strong business plan, a deep background in the industry, and a tenacity that is unwavering,” DeMartino said after the event. “A big reason we stood out – we did our due diligence on the numbers side of it, breaking down everything to the minute detail.”
DeMartino, who launched Noise Hub with his wife Jillian Gonzales in February, is a longtime audio professional who got his start as a radio DJ in high school. He later toured with bands and worked in studios before focusing on building a business at home in the Four Corners.
“In this area, there aren’t a lot of options,” he said. “I’ve worked with artists, rappers, rockers – all genres really – and they all say there’s no sustainable place to record, build a project, or get guidance on how to turn their goals into a potential career.”
Noise Hub aims to change that, DeMartino said. The business offers professional audio engineering, voice-over work, and support for local creators. DeMartino, who will graduate this spring with a degree in film and digital media, currently operates the studio from home but said the prize money will help him expand.
“I’m turnkey, equipment-wise, and we’ll always be looking to grow,” he said. “But hopefully we can get into a space and hit the ground running. I need a bigger footprint so we can offer full services and even have a community aspect, like hosting art nights.”
Fueling businesses
Hawk Tank is a business plan competition modeled after the show “Shark Tank.” The ballroom celebration capped off a months-long program that challenges students from Fort Lewis College, San Juan College, local high schools and recent alumni to pitch original business ideas to a panel of judges.
This year’s panel included regional business owners, executives and 麻豆免费高清无砖码区faculty: Kass Kremer of Sasquatch Campers, Mark Walker of Citywide Banks, Elveta Bishop of Bishop Management Associates, Allison Aichele former La Plata County Treasurer, Tina McCallum of RW Baird, Dr. Antonio Lecuna from the Katz School of Business, Bo Maloney from J. Bo’s Pizza & Rib Co., Zeb Mielke from Z’s Performance and Repair, Wes Bond, Josh Bishop and Robert Martinez from Zia Drone Operations, Scott Bird from Four Corners Economic Development, Jim Magnuson from Souder Miller & Associates, Ehap Alahmead, Ph.D., from San Juan College, Scott Smith from Imagesmith Photo, Nate Lee from Bank of America, Paul Clay, Ph.D., from the Katz School of Business, and John Keogh from Annabelle, LLC. Participants work with mentors, build full business plans and present their ideas at the final event.
This year also marked a major milestone: the 10th anniversary of Hawk Tank. When the competition began, said Michael Valdez, professor of management at Fort Lewis College, the goal was to create something more than just a class assignment.
“We created a program that would allow a non-business student to be successful – and we’d provide resources so they could take their businesses to the next level.”鈥疭koden Farm by Kiera McCabe was the first time the first-place award in the Fort Lewis College track was earned by a sociology major. McCabe is also earning a certificate in Regenerative Food Systems.
Since its inception, Hawk Tank has:
Lorraine Taylor, Ph. D., associate professor of Tourism and Hospitality Management and co-director of Hawk Tank, developed a course in which the students practice their event management skills to put together the competition. 
“Students are involved in every aspect of planning the event, from marketing to logistics to budgeting. This experience helps them build skills and confidence, so they are competitive in the job market with plenty of stories to share about what they achieved and how they navigated challenges in the real world. It is really empowering,” she added.
Anthony Ponzo, who graduated from 麻豆免费高清无砖码区with a degree in Business Administration next month, took the Event Management class in 2024 and was invited to lead the operations team for Hawk Tank 2025. Through an Independent Study course, Ponzo managed the competition and awards teams.
“I can take the experience gained from the challenges and successes of the event and apply it to other real-real world real- real world applications to overcome obstacles,” Ponzo said. “I feel more confident in my leadership abilities, not only as a person, but as a colleague as well.”
Hawk Tank also featured a keynote address from 麻豆免费高清无砖码区alumnus John Keogh, who shared his entrepreneurial journey – from struggling student with a “skiing problem” to co-owner of a company that sold for $80 million. In 1999, Keogh said he and his wife, Carol, bought ESI Ergonomic Solutions, a keyboard accessory company in Arizona, for $500,000.
“We knew nothing of ergonomic office furniture,” he said. “But we knew sales and marketing.”
His talk focused on what it really takes to build a business: focus, urgency, and deep knowledge of your industry. He encouraged students to write everything down, know their numbers, read constantly, and speak clearly – skills he said helped him succeed after Fort Lewis College.
“I consider passions to be a hobby,” he said. “Being a business owner is an obsession. If you want a work-life balance, do not become a business owner.”
DeMartino’s story echoed some of those lessons. He said he’s been serious about audio engineering and production for years, always knowing he’d start his own business. But in the past year or so, he started making moves for his own studio.
“I had a son two years ago, and at the time, I was working on the road constantly,” he said. “I wanted to start something for my family.”
Now, he’s focused on connecting with the community – marketing the studio to music venues, podcasters, and creators across the region.
“We’re definitely trying to keep striking while the iron is hot,” he said. “It’s a mad dash to talk to anyone and everyone.”
La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) signed on as a three-year presenting sponsor of Hawk Tank. As presenting sponsor, LPEA will contribute $20,000 annually over the next three years as part of its ongoing efforts to invest in bright, innovative thinkers shaping the future.
“For us, this is just a really special opportunity to partner with our local college and support entrepreneurship, support students, and support our community,” said Elizabeth Howe, vice president of business services at LPEA.
“That Hawk Tank has had such a major impact on the lives of so many participants over the past decade is a huge accomplishment to be proud of, and we are thrilled to have LPEA serving as our Presenting Sponsor for a three-year term,” said Steve Elias, Dean of the Katz School of Business.
2025 Hawk Tank Winners
Grand Prize (Top 麻豆免费高清无砖码区team vs. Top SJC Team)
$5,000 – Noise Hub, Joey DeMartino
A full-service audio studio offering production, voice-over, and creative support for artists and storytellers. 
Fort Lewis College Track
1st place ($5,000) – Skoden Farms, Kiera McCabe
Blue corn granola and snacks made with traditional Indigenous ingredients to support local food banks and food sovereignty.
2nd place ($2,500) – Hangxiety App, Kahlil Ballenger
A nightlife safety app that helps users find safe places to go out and report problems
3rd place ($1,000) – Hanhepi Wi Resort, Rosie Foolhead, and Michael Dillon
An ecotourism resort on the Pine Ridge Reservation that offers workshops and cultural learning for visitors. 
San Juan College Track
1st place ($5,000) – Noise Hub, Joey DeMartino
2nd place ($2,500) – L.R.A.R.S., Benjamin Selph and Erik Westover
A rescue device to help carry injured people from rough terrain.
3rd place ($1,000) – Airtrez, Andres Garcia, and Ellen Narvaez
A business support company offering websites, marketing, and automation tools for small companies. 
Alumni Track
1st place (USD 5,000) – Blue Castle, Jeremy Schmit
A mountain bike freeride event company offering invite-only competitions in 2026. 
High School Track
1st place ($500/student plus scholarship) – Rent to Teachers, Jude Alderton
An app to help teachers and first responders find affordable homes.
2nd place ($250/student plus scholarship) – Green Clothes Designs, Gabriella Cowan, and Mira Quayle
A fashion company that redesigns old clothes from landfills into new outfits.
3rd place ($100/student plus scholarship) – Apps, Aletta Holley, Marley Huwer, and Nicolina Lasher
A restaurant concept offering healthy, local food in small portions to reduce waste.