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| :: Board of Directors |
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Dr. Ronald Robinson - CEO &
Chairman of the Board
Dr. Robinson was the President of Texaco Technology Division
and in October 2001 he became Professor and Department
Head of the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering
at Texas A&M University where he held the Albert B.
Stevens Endowed Chair in Petroleum Engineering. His background
also includes the founding of several technology start-ups.
Robinson currently serves on the Texas Governor's Science
and Technology Council, in addition to being a board member
to a number of industry's top institutions. |
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Dr. Carson Watt - Board Member
Dr. Watt is a Professor Emeritus of Texas A&M University
in the Dept. of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences.
He spent his academic career assisting the citizens of
the state of Texas develop tourism and recreational opportunities
working for Texas Cooperative Extension. Dr. Watt spent
his entire career working to grow tourism and help rural
communities to be sustainable throughout the U.S. In 2002
Dr. Watt was recognized by Governor Perry and the Texas
State Legislature in Senate Proclamation No. 809 for 31
years of service and contributions to the tourism industry
for the people of the state of Texas. |
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Andrew Sansom - Board Member
Mr. Sansom has been involved in a number of non-profit
and government conservation efforts, ranging from his
early work in land protection at the Department of Interior,
to his role as executive director at the Texas chapter
of the Nature Conservancy, to his service as the director
of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Most recently,
he is helping improve water policy in his capacity as
executive director of the International Institute for
Sustainable Water Resources at Texas State University.
Throughout his career, Mr. Sansom has been a prolific
writer on historic and natural resource conservation issues,
producing such books as Texas Past and Texas Lost. |
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Dr. Rick Giardino - Board Member
Dr. Giardino is the founder of Camp Planet Earth, an academic
outward bound-type of environmental camp for middle and
junior high minority students. His professional career
has focused on studying the changing surface of Earth
through extensive field work and the use of satellite
imagery and GIS. His experiences range from the Canadian
and European arctic to the tropical regions of Latin America,
Africa and Southeast Asia and the arid regions of the
Middle East. Through his research he has been involved
in the search for Columbus's caravels in Jamaica, studies
of rainforest deforestation in Sumatra, and sustainability
of national parks in Africa. He designed the interpretative
galleries of Victoria Falls for the Livingstone Museum
in Zambia. Giardino is a prolific writer of scientific
papers and books. His most recent book is a co-authored
volume, Water for Texas (2004). Giardino is a Fellow of
the Geological Society of America and a Fellow of the
Royal Geographical Society (F.R.G.S.). He is Professor
of Geology & Geophysics and Geography; he presently is
Dean of Graduate Studies at Texas A&M University. |
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Dr. Joseph O'Leary - Board Member
Joseph T. O'Leary is a Professor and Department Head in
the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Sciences
at Texas A&M University. He arrived at Texas A&M in July
2001. His graduate degrees are from the University of
Washington and Yale University. He is on the Board of
Directors for the Bryan/College Station Convention and
Visitors Bureau, a Board Member with the Texas Travel
Industry Association, and was Program Chair for the 2004
International Travel and Tourism Research Association
meetings in Montreal. His research has involved knowledge
management, and analysis of large national and international
studies of travel and recreation behavior, the results
of which have been used by public and private organizations
throughout the world. |
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| :: Executive Staff |
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Jose M. Quintana - President
Mr. Quintana has a wealth of startup experience. As a
lifelong entrepreneur, he has started several successful
companies and has acted as consultant to many of the world's
top corporations including Nokia, Sprint, Qualcomm, Frito-Lay,
Schering-Plough, Disney, Lockheed, Sun Microsystems, Verizon
and Novartis International. He is an active board member
of Global Knowledge Group, PowerKids, The Texas Lyceum
Association, Westcar Consulting Group, and The Research
Valley Technology Alliance (RVTA). Mr Quintana is also proud to serve as Advisory Council Member at the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), a Texas A&M University System Agency. |
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Dr. J. Warren Evans - Director, Strategic Initiatives
Dr. Warren Evans has served as Assistant Vice Chancellor
of Agriculture for Resource Development at Texas A&M University
since the early 1990s. He has had responsibility for development
of resources for agriculture research and teaching programs
and corporate relationships. Prior to 1985, he served
as Assistant Dean in the College of Agriculture and Environmental
Sciences at the University of California, Davis. During
his career, he has served as a director or on advisory
boards for various types of entities including banking,
equine, professional societies and nonprofit foundations.
In many of these organizations, he has held leadership
positions and been honored for his service. He has been
an international consultant for the past 30 years. Throughout
his career, he has been involved in equine related tourism.
He has led tours in Russia and Morocco. For several years
in the high Sierras of California, he taught horse and
mule packing and outfitting for wilderness adventures.
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Brian Hickert - Director, Process Improvement and International Trade
Brian Hickert Mr. Hickert holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University and a MBA in Executive Management from the Monterrey Institute of Technology. Offering 11 years in managing regional P&L, strategy planning and multi-site operations combined with 8 years in strategic program/project management and process improvement initiatives for organizations with $28 million to $900 million in annual revenue and up to 450 employees. Extensive international experience establishing branches, joint ventures, relationships and contractors in Mexico, Canada, Central America and Asia Pacific. .
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Casey Jensen - Vice President, Business
Development
A former executive at Google, Casey Jensen has more than
10 years of experience in Internet marketing and advertising.
During his three years with Google he helped develop the
next generation of media sales. Casey worked with clients
such as Hewlett Packard, Wyndham, La Quinta, CompUSA,
Kenneth Cole, Fossil and National Instruments, creating
new distribution models with search advertising that revolutionized
their ROI. Prior to working with Google, Casey managed
the online media sales for 170 websites and more than
200 e-newsletters for Meckler Media. Casey began his professional
career as an ad agency account manager working with such
brands as Apple, Coors, Sun Microsystems, IBM, Fannie
Mae and Paramount Pictures. |
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Bill Smith - Director, Web Solutions
Division
Bill Smith has considerable experience developing and
implementing web strategies for lodges and outfitters,
as well as state agencies, and university departments
and programs. He founded and established Wired Lodge,
an internet solutions provider for nature tourism operators.
Formerly with The Texas A&M University System Health Science
Center, he provided web design and data solutions for
the School of Rural Public Health. He also served as a
web consultant for the Knowledge Engineering Center at
the Texas Engineering Extension Service. Bill holds a
BS in bioenvironmental science from Texas A&M University
and a MS in biology (aquatic) from Stephen F. Austin State
University. |
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Stan Meador - Director, Nature
Tourism Development
Stan Meador is the Director of Nature Tourism Development for AdventGX Corp.
and founder and general manager of the recreational division on his family's five-generation X Bar Ranch near Eldorado, Texas. He has a BA in public relations and marketing from Texas Tech University with an emphasis on international marketing. Stan's involvement in numerous associations and boards includes the Texas Travel Industry Association, chairman of the Texas Nature Tourism Council, the Texas Tourism Foundation, the Texas Mountain Bike Racers Association, Images for Conservation Fund, the Texas Forts Trail, Texas Agriculture Lifetime Leadership (TALL), & the Southwest Texas Tourism Partnership, among others. He is frequently invited to speak to groups on topics related to nature and rural tourism and ranch diversification through sustainable means; he has also acted as a consultant to landowners and institutions.
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Brad Cunningham - Director, PowerVox
Division
Mr. Cunningham directs the PowerVox division of AdventGX,
providing new channels for communications between communities,
businesses and organizations. Brad has extensive experience
in web-based application design and enterprise system
implementation. Prior to joining AdventGX, Brad served
as Director of Internet Systems and Information Technology
for American Lightwave Communications, a Houston telecommunications
company. He also founded Proactive Intelligence, a company
specializing in the Internet education-to-consumer market,
and served as Manager and Senior Technical Consultant
for Insource Technology. After graduating from Emporia
State University, in Emporia Kansas, Brad served in the
United States Navy, and then taught computer science and
webmastering for the Katy, Texas Independent School District.
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Kelley Stewart – Comptroller
Kelley Stewart manages all financial aspects of AdventGX’s operations, with oversight of corporate and operational finance, tax, and accounting. Having been a key player in the launching of several successful high tech start-ups, Kelley brings valuable experience and expertise to AdventGX as the company expands its product base and moves into new markets. Kelley serves as Director of Finance for Reservation Management Solutions as well as Director of Operations for VerCom Systems and Knowledge Deployment Corporation. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University where she also served as an officer with the Society of Women Engineers.
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Aristo Setiawan – Systems Architect
Mr. Setiawan has diverse experience in information systems design, development, integration and deployment. He has been involved as the key technologist for a handful of start-ups, many of them from their inception. Currently, he leads the Systems Development division for AdventGX, a technology-based tourism consulting and Vestivo, a Premier Reservation Management Solution for RV industry. He designed and developed Vestivo from the first step and has been overseeing the development since. Mr. Setiawan graduated magna cum laude from Texas A&M University with degree in Computer Engineering and the completion of Engineering Scholars Program. While attending school, he gained invaluable experience by working for a variety of well-known research groups and organizations including Marconi Communications, Knowledge Engineering Center at Texas Engineering Extension Service, Pattern Recognition and Intelligent Sensor Machines Laboratory at Department of Computer Science, and The Logic Machine at Department of Philosophy.
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| :: Executive Advisory Board/Consultants |
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Dr. Jim Kimmel
Dr. Kimmel focuses on the learning/educational activities
of tourism (interpretation). He is certified by the National
Association for Interpretation as an Interpretive Guide,
an Interpretive Trainer, and an Interpretive Planner.
He provides full service interpretive development, from
comprehensive planning to the development of specific
interpretive programs and staff training. He holds graduate
degrees in both the natural and social sciences. He has
conducted work for the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority;
the Texas Historical Commission; the Texas Department
of Transportation; Bandera County, Texas; various rural
communities; and large ranches. Interpretation is crucial
to tourism development because it often is the main tangible
product. Virtually any place can be made interesting to
visitors if it is interpreted effectively.
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Dr. Andrew Skadberg
Dr. Skadberg's professional career and experiences have
involved many roles and responsibilities in the tourism
industry. Over time, Dr. Skadberg has gained recognition
as an expert on rural tourism, the development of technology
tools and the use of the Internet for tourism, and in
the development of information and educational resources
to support business development. Before joining AdventGX
full-time he was a professor and Extension Specialist
with the Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences
at Texas A&M University. He still assists the Dept. with
Extension programs showcasing tourism as a means for rural
economic diversification and for enhancing people's quality
of life.
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Dr. Jianbang Gan
Dr. Gan is an economist with expertise in natural resources,
tourism, and marketing. Dr. Gan has conducted consulting,
training, and research work in many countries across several
continents. He specializes in training, marketing studies,
assessments of recreational resources and users, and economic
impacts of recreational events/activities domestically
and globally. |
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Victor Aguilar
Victor Aguilar is an independent financial advisor and trust officer. He provides financial services to private and institutional investors seeking expertise in wealth management, real estate investments, insurance, and trust administration. Victor previously worked for Stanford Financial Group, JP Morgan Chase and Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor with an active portfolio of new business in excess of 40 million for US and Latin American clients. He previously held the position of Agricultural Specialist for the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) a USDA Agency at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala. Victor served as member of the board of directors for Sending Out Servants, a Texas non-profit dedicated to improving the Maya quality of life in Guatemala. He holds a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics and a Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy, both from Texas A&M University. |
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Juan Gonzalez
Mr. Gonzalez holds a BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering
from the Monterrey Institute of Technology, graduate studies
in Strategic Planning at Harvard University, completed
the Entrepreneurial Program sponsored by the Foundation
for Entrepreneurial Excellence at St. Edwards University
in Austin, and an MBA at the Mays Business School at Texas
A&M University with a special focus on Services Marketing.
Prior to his MBA studies, he worked at CEMEX, the second
largest cement manufacturer in the world, managing the
implementation of IT tools to align all operational activities
with CEMEX's global strategies. In 1997, he joined Pulsar
International Ventures where he had a significant role
in managing a 120 Million Dollar Investment Fund in Silicon
Valley. He has had a variety of business experiences and
been involved in a variety start-up companies in Mexico
and Silicon Valley. |
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William Rutledge
Mr. Rutledge has a MS degree in Aquatic Sciences from
Texas State University - San Marcos. He is a 31 year veteran
of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. As Director
of Communications he directed the Department's programs
in public information, education and marketing. He also
developed and ran the Parks and Wildlife retail catalog.
He was a member of the consulting team for the Komodo
Mariculture Company. This Nature Conservancy project promoted
sustainable fish culture as an alternative livelihood
to non-sustainable fishing practices of the indigenous
people in and around Komodo National Park, Indonesia.
For 2 years, he directed a division level program to develop
an environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture
industry in New South Wales, Australia.
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Craig Tutor
For the past two years Craig has been the Marketing and
Development Manager for the Oregon Travel Information
Council. He is responsible for new program development,
legislative communication, Tourism Industry liaison, revenue
generation, fund raising and the over all marketing of
TIC programs to business and the public. Recently Craig
was given the responsibility for the management of the
State Welcome Center Program which includes 9 Welcome
Centers and the management of the brochure distribution
program. Prior to coming to TIC, Craig worked for 25 years
with the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department in a variety
of roles. Craig's work the Parks Department started as
a park aide at Champoeg and then moved on to Ranger, Regional
Planner, District Park Manager (South Beach SP and Fort
Stevens SP), NW Regional Manager and for 6 years he was
head of the Public Services section, which included, public
relations, marketing, volunteers, interpretation. Craig
has a BS degree from Oregon State University in Resource
Recreation Management with a minor in Business Administration |
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Rosa Elena Saenz
Ms. Saenz's professional areas of interest involve the
development of business relationships with Latin American
tourism-related public and private entities, the implementation
of technology-based resources in bilingual education,
and the publication/edition of bilingual newspapers/magazines.
Ms. Saenz's work experience has been related to elementary/middle
school education and public works in local and state agencies
in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. Ms. Saenz is currently
the President of the Mexican Student Association at Texas
A&M University and a graduate student in the Department
of Hispanic Studies, where she is the Project Coordinator
of the "Cervantes Project" and Editorial Assistant for
the "Cervantes Bibliography Online" and the "Anuario Bibliografico
Cerventino." She is also a Co-Editor and translator for
"El Pueblo Bilingual Magazine." |
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Nancy Millar
Mrs. Millar is Director of the McAllen, Texas Convention
and Visitors’ Bureau and Vice President of the McAllen
Chamber of Commerce. She is a recognized authority on
nature festivals, and has written a text, “How to Organize
a Birding Festival,” which is used and distributed by
the American Birding Association, as well as several articles
on nature tourism product development, the value of community
buy-in to nature tourism, and nature festivals and their
economic impact. Her expertise is in marketing, an area
in which she has worked for 20 years. |
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Jennifer Bohac
Jennifer Bohac is the Director of the Traveling Aggies
program, the travel program for former students of Texas
A&M University. During her four years with The Association
of Former Students, one of the largest and most respected
alumni associations in the world, Jennifer more than doubled
the size of the Traveling Aggies program. Today, Traveling
Aggies is among the most successful travel programs of
its kind. As Director, Jennifer travels extensively and
has become a noted expert in hospitality and creating
unique travel experiences. |
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Patrick McMillan
Patrick McMillan is Senior Designer with Toxey McMillan
Design Associates, a creative design firm that specializes
in the development of interactive exhibits and displays
for such clients as the Texas Department of Transportation,
the City of Austin, Texas, Walt Disney Imagineering, Continental
Airlines, Warner Brothers, The Dallas Museum of Natural
History and The American Heritage Airpower Museum. He
is an exhibit designer, art director, producer, and filmmaker
who melds his entertainment industry experience of Cannon
Films, Landmark Entertainment, Walt Disney Imagineering,
and Warner Brothers with the theatrical potential of the
museum industry to provide entertaining and inventive
displays. His designs have won numerous awards including
the Nature Conservancy Award. He teaches graphic design,
sculpture, and computer-aided design. |
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Anne Toxey
Anne Toxey is the Director and Architect with Toxey McMillan
Design Associates, a creative design firm that specializes
in the development of interactive exhibits and displays
for such clients as the Texas Department of Transportation,
the City of Austin, Texas, Walt Disney Imagineering, Continental
Airlines, Warner Brothers, The Dallas Museum of Natural
History and The American Heritage Airpower Museum. Anne
is an art historian, architect, preservationist, and researcher
specializing in Italy and France. She is adept at designing
within existing building fabrics and at designing new
environments. She is also an archaeologist affiliated
with University of Texas's Institute of Classical Archaeology
and is undertaking doctoral studies at UC Berkeley where
she is studying the rehabilitation of a city of Paleolithic
cave dwellings. She is editor and contributing author
of 2 books including the award winning The Chora of Metaponto:
The Necropoleis. |
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Ed Brooker
Ed Brooker is a campground and RV park consultant, assisting potential owners with building an RV Park or campground as well as RV Park and campground management consulting, planning and design. Ed has managed a number of parks, campgrounds and RV parks for a variety of public and private corporations. For the past 15 years, he has offered customized consulting services specifically targeted towards newcomers to the industry and veteran operators across Canada, the United States and Australia. Ed has traveled extensively throughout Canada, the United States, Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Australia and New Zealand in a continuous search for insights of best practices, unique design, and promotional ideas.
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Brian Smith
Brian Smith is a licensed attorney in the State of Texas and a Certified Economic Developer. He currently serves as a Government Affairs Representative for such clients as Texas Association of Public Educators Interlocal Agreement Self-Insurance League, and Texas Association of Political Subdivisions Interlocal Agreement Self-Insurance League. In this capacity, he provides legislative support for the roughly 110 member school districts and 93 member political subdivisions. He also represents developers before local governmental bodies across the state with permitting, land use, and other ordinance compliance matters. Prior to entering law school on a full time basis, Brian volunteered his time and expertise as a member of economic development professional organizations including Texas Economic Development Council, American Economic Development Council, the International Development Research Council, and the Texas Municipal League, Regulation of Development Committee. He is also an alumni director with the Texas Lyceum. Brian is a graduate of St. Mary's University School of Law and has a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning and Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Development from Texas A&M University.
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Guadalupe Reyes, Jr.
Guadalupe Reyes, Jr. is currently serving as Dean of Technical and Workforce Education at the Blinn College Bryan (TX) Campus. Mr. Reyes has over 30 years of community and technical college administrative experience as Dean and Vice President at large institutions in Chicago and Seattle. He built and founded the West Side Technical Institute, a $40 million satellite of the City Colleges of Chicago and also built another center in Seattle focused on computer and information technology certification training. In addition, Mr. Reyes is published nationally and internationally in the workforce development and contract education arenas. He also has served his community well over these years in the area of economic and community development. Lastly, he holds a BA Degree in Mathematics from Aurora (IL) University and a Master's Degree in Education from Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL).
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Jed Elrod
Jed Elrod has served 5 years as Pecos County's Ag & Natural Resources Agent dealing with myriad responsibilities for agriculture and community development. Prior to his involvement with Pecos County, he worked more than 13 years as a Specialist for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) dealing with wildlife and range resource policy analysis and conflict arbitration. Mr. Elrod has also worked with Tide Products, Inc, the Texas Department of Transportation, USDA Soil Conservation Service, the USDI Bureau of Land Management Young Adult Conservation Corps, and Farm Credit System. Mr. Elrod graduated from Texas A&M University in 1973, and received his Masters degree in Range Animal Science in 1975.
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Hank Phillips
Hank Phillips is a noted travel industry executive, having served as chief staff officer for
the National Tour Association, and executive vice president of Host Communications, Inc., a national
leader in association management and collegiate sports marketing. He specializes in strategic planning, convention & event
planning and execution, corporate partnership & sponsorship marketing, and fundraising, tourism
development and publishing. Since founding Phillips Consulting in 2006, some of Hank’s clients
have included the American Tourism Society, GE Money, the International Tour Management Institute,
and Paintsville Tourism Commission. Paintsville is home to Butcher Hollow, the childhood home of
Loretta Lynn which was made famous by the movie Coal Miner's Daughter. A thought leader in tourism
development, Hank was instrumental in the formation of Tourism Cares, an organization that supports
the preservation and restoration of important historical, natural and cultural sites around the world.
He is a writer and columnist, having contributed to Business Lexington and The Group Travel Leader and
is a Certified Tour Professional. Hank has served on the board of directors of Tourism Cares,
the Travel Industry Association and is a former member of the American Society of Association
Executives and the Travel Industry Association Travel & Tourism Coalition.
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Dr. Linda Glessner
Doctor Glessner is the Director of the Continuing & Professional Studies Office at Texas A&M University. She specializes in the design, development and delivery of professional credentialing and career enrichment programs for the adult learner. She is a consultant for the startup of cost recovery continuing education and conferencing service enterprises and has 17 years of experience in product development, public outreach, strategic marketing, organizational planning and leadership. Over the past two decades, she has been an accomplished advisor to industry, public schools, non-profit volunteer organizations and higher education and is a current liaison for such organizations as USDA, Center for Reform of School Systems, Texas Transportation Institute, Transportation Security Administration, Halliburton and Toyota. Her work as a visionary and execution architect has laid the groundwork for dozens of outreach initiatives to include the USAA Mentoring Program, The ABC’s of Mentoring Toolkit, The Governor of Texas: Lone Star Leaders Program, Texas A&M’s Continuing Education Office, Texas A&M’s America Reads & Counts Initiative and numerous other state and local efforts.
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Dr. Salih Yurttas
Doctor Salih Yurttas holds a PhD in Computer Science from Ege University, Turkey. He has been on the faculty of Texas A&M University, Department of Computer Science 1982-1991 as Visiting Assistant Professor and 1991 to present day as Senior Lecturer. He taught undergraduate and graduate courses at Texas A&M, Turkey, and People's Republic of China. His main interest is Programming Languages Design and Implementation for Large-Scale software development. He has developed reusable, modular language collections in Ada, C++, Java, and several imperative languages.
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Dr. Ulrike Gretzel
Dr. Gretzel is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences at Texas A&M University and Director of the Laboratory for Intelligent Systems in Tourism. She received her Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds a Masters degree in International Business from the Vienna University for Economics and Business Administration. Her research focuses on persuasion in human-technology interaction, the representation and strategic marketing of sensory and emotional aspects of tourism experiences, and issues related to the development and use of intelligent systems in tourism to support travelers' information search and decision-making processes. In addition, she studies the motivations, attitudes and behaviors of consumer communities, including RV travelers.
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Dr. John Schliesser
Since completing his doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley, Doctor Schliesser has been on a mission to create groundbreaking tourism platforms from the latest communication technologies. Schliesser uniquely combines hands-on technical production skills with a powerful creative vision, and has worked in Hollywood, Hong Kong, San Francisco, and Seoul. He is an expert in user experience design, digital storytelling, and mobile tourism. From 2004-2007, Schliesser co-led an international research project sponsored by the South Korean Government’s Ministry of Information and Communication to develop a new tourism experience for South Korea’s advanced 3G wireless environment. Schliesser has consulted with an array of leading companies, including Viacom, Samsung, SK Telecom, and the Korea National Tourism Organization on topics ranging from emergent digital entertainment paradigms to mobile tourism content. He is currently partnered with international corporations focusing on tourism and entertainment oriented ventures.
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