University of Texas

Mike Maples' impressive background spans over 35 years in the computer industry, including tenure at Microsoft, where he served as Executive Vice President of the Worldwide Products Group, and as a member of the Office of the President, reporting directly to Bill Gates. He is still a Microsoft Ambassador, advising Microsoft on strategic relationships and management initiatives. Prior to joining Microsoft, Maples served as the Director of Software Strategy at IBM. He is currently on the boards of J. D. Edwards & Co., Lexmark Corporation, Mission Critical Software, Motive Communications, Alibre, and Concero.

Dr. Zvi Yaniv was a founder of Kent Display Systems in Kent , Ohio , the "no-power" reflective LCD Company and of OIS Optical Imaging Systems, Inc. in Novi , Michigan . As President and CEO of OIS, Inc., he led the company during its years of development and in the initial commercialization of advanced active matrix liquid crystal displays and amorphous silicon image sensors. While at OIS, Dr. Yaniv was one of the founders of Unipac, presently AU Optronics, one of the premier display companies in Taiwan. Dr. Yaniv holds a B.Sc. in physics/mathematics and a M.Sc. in electro-optics with distinction from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and earned a M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in physics at Kent State University . He has received awards from both universities and the Scientific Research Society. Dr. Yaniv is a member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Nanotechnology Initiative, the Nanomaterials Applications Center of Texas State University and the Society for Information Display (SID). In May 1989, Dr. Yaniv was elected Fellow of the Society for Information Display for "his innovation and leadership in the development of large area high performance active matrix LCDs and scanners." He has published over 250 articles, holds more than 150 patents and has extensive contacts in the US , Europe, Israel and the Far East . Dr. Yaniv is a Senior Research Fellow of the IC2 Institute of the University of Texas and a strategic advisor to Governor Nobuyoshi Sumita of Shimane Prefecture in Japan in the field of job creation utilizing the advances in nanotechnology.

"As vice president of developer and academic relations at National Instruments, Ray Almgren leads third-party developer relations for NI along with the company's worldwide academic relations program. During his 21 years at NI, Almgren has held positions in marketing, R&D, and applications engineering. His most recent roles include vice president of product strategy, director of R&D for the measurements product group, and director of software marketing. As director of software marketing, Almgren helped guide the NI LabVIEW product family to its industry-leading position in measurement and automation. He also helped establish NIWeek, the company's worldwide conference on graphical system design. Throughout his career at NI, Almgren has devoted significant effort to enhancing science and engineering education and inspiring students to pursue technical careers. He pioneered many of the company's academic and university relations programs, including adaptation of LabVIEW as the software that powers the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT robotics invention system. Almgren currently is a member and former chair of the Texas Engineering and Technical Consortium and chairs the National Experimental Physic and Industrial Control System (EPICS) Program Advisory Council at Purdue University. He also serves on the University of Texas (UT) College of Natural Sciences Advisory Board; the School of Engineering Executive Board at Southern Methodist University; the Advisory Committee for the Tufts University Center for Engineering Education and Outreach; and the External Advisory Committee for the Department of Electrical and Computing Engineering at UT Austin. In 2004, Almgren was named an Outstanding Young Engineering Graduate of UT, an honor bestowed upon individuals age 40 and under for distinguished contributions in the realms of professional accomplishment, community service, and service to the UT school of engineering. In 2005, he was a recipient of the Outstanding Young Texas Ex Award presented by the Texas Exes, the UT alumni association. Almgren serves as vice president and sits on the board of directors for the National Instruments Foundation, a private foundation focused on science and engineering education and research. Almgren graduated from UT Austin in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He and his wife, Lisa, reside in Austin, Texas, with their three daughters, Sarah, Melissa, and Rebecca."

Dr. Fritsche is Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Chief of the Clinical Chemistry Section at The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. During his 35 years at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Fritsche has focused his research activities on the development and validation of cancer diagnostics. Dr. Fritsche has participated in the validation and FDA clearance process for every commercial serum tumor marker product currently in use in the United States. Dr. Fritsche has served as President of the Clinical Ligand Assay Society (CLAS) and on various committees for both the CLAS and the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC). He is a fellow of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry and was awarded the National Award for Contributions in Education by the AACC; the Outstanding Clinical Chemist Award by the Texas Section, AACC; a Dean's Excellence Award for the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Science; a Distinguished Scientist Award from the CLAS; and the Johnson and Johnson Award for Outstanding Research and Contributions to Clinical Biochemistry from the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry. Dr. Fritsche currently serves on the Expert Panel for developing Tumor Marker Practice Guidelines for the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the Laboratory Practice Guidelines Committee for the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry. In addition, he serves on the Editorial Board of six international scientific journals. Dr. Fritsche serves as a consultant/advisor to the National Cancer Institute and for some major international diagnostic companies and biotech start-up companies. Dr. Fritsche has published over 170 peered reviewed scientific papers, invited articles and book chapters. Dr. Fritsche holds 3 patents and has 2 other applications on file. He has lectured extensively for many years at international and national meetings.

Dr. Cunningham became the seventh Chancellor of the University of Texas System on September 1, 1992 and retired June 1, 2000. As Chancellor he was the Chief Executive Officer of the U. T. System and carried out the policies and procedures of the Board of Regents. As Chancellor, Dr. Cunningham led a 15-campus system that has 146,000 students, 76,000 employees, and an annual operating budget of $4.88 billion. The system has annual research expenditures of $871 million, provides more than $800 million worth of health care to indigent patients each year, and is responsible for the investment of more than $12 billion in endowment funds and other assets. Dr. Cunningham held the Lee Hage and Joseph D. Jamail Regents Chair in Higher Education Leadership at the University of Texas System. In addition, he is a Professor of Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin and holds the James L. Bayless Chair for Free Enterprise. Prior to his service as Chancellor of UT System and as President of UT Austin, Dr. Cunningham was the Dean of UT Austin's College and Graduate School of Business Administration for three years. In 1993, he was named a distinguished alumnus of Michigan State University and received an honorary doctor of laws degree from that institution. He has served, or continues to serve, on the Boards of Directors for public companies including, Southwest Airlines, Jefferson Pilot, John Hancock Mutual Insurance, Billing Concepts and Introgen. He earned his BA, MBA, and PhD degrees from Michigan State University. Email: william.cunningham@ibt-technologies.com william.cunningham@ibt-technologies.com

Elaine Agather is Chairman of Chase - Dallas. She also serves as Texas Region Head & Managing Director of the JPMorgan Private Bank. A native of Sherman, Texas, Elaine graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BA in History/Economics and an MBA from the University of Texas. She joined Chemical Bank of New York in 1979, working in London, San Francisco and New York until she relocated to Dallas in 1984. After the 1986 merger of Chemical and Texas Commerce Bank, Elaine was promoted to Chairman of Texas Commerce Bank in Fort Worth in 1992 and joined The Private Bank to manage Client Advisory Groups across the state in 1997. In 1999, she was elected Chairman and CEO of Dallas. Elaine is Chairman of the Dallas Citizens Council. She is also a member of The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Board of Directors, the Episcopal School of Dallas Board of Directors and the Dallas After-School All-Stars Board of Directors. She is on the Advisory Council for the Annette Strauss Institute for Civic Participation. Is a member of Young President's Organization and Charter 100. She is on the Advisory Board of Directors for the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, the Bass Performance Hall, Adea Solutions, Texas Ballet Theater and the Texas Stampede Rodeo. She is a member of the Development Board for the Gordie Foundation, the University of Texas and a member of the Executive Committee for the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show. She is also a member of the Ethics Advisory Board of the Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility. In 2002 Elaine was the recipient of the Maura Award Women Helping Women, the Kim Dawson Attitude Award (Attitudes & Attire) and The Family Place's Trailblazer Award. She was also the recipient of the 2001 Women of Excellence Award from Women's Enterprise Magazine. Elaine and her husband, Neils, have two daughters, Bradley, who is eighteen and Lorene, who is fifteen.

Dr. Livingston is the Senior Vice President of The University of Texas in Austin. A lifelong educator, Dr. Livingston has been Chairman of the government department; the graduate assembly; the faculty senate; and the comparative studies program. He served as Vice Chancellor of Academic Programs for the U. T. System; as Dean of Graduate Studies; and the Jo Anne Christian Centennial Professor of British studies. In addition, Dr. Livingston served as Acting President of The University for two years. He has been a visiting professor at Yale and Duke and was USIS lecturer in the United Kingdom and India. He received his B. A. (Phi Beta Kappa) and M. A. from Ohio State and his Ph. D. from Yale. He has authored numerous publications in the field of political science and has been active in political science and philosophical societies.

Dr. Trahan is currently a practicing general surgeon at the University of Texas, Medical Branch, Galveston, where she covers general surgical services and trauma, and performs endoscopy. She graduated summa cum laude with honors in English from James Madison University. She received her medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed five years of general surgery residency at the University of Texas, Medical Branch, Galveston, in 2003. She achieved board certification in general surgery in February 2004 and is currently applying to the American College of Surgeons for a fellowship.

Stephen Pyhrr is a Senior Managing Director at Kennedy Wilson with responsibility for the firm's southern regional portfolio, including acquisitions and investments in office, industrial, retail and multifamily properties, as well as the company's service lines including property management, brokerage/leasing and market research. Additionally, he is a Managing Principal and an Executive Board member of Kennedy Wilson's Property Fund I and II and oversees asset management and financial reporting for its portfolio properties. Previously, Dr. Pyhrr was President and CEO of SynerMark Investments, Inc., which Kennedy Wilson acquired in 1999. He directed the firm's acquisitions, marketing, research and consulting, asset management, and debt/equity financing activities. He managed a 2.5-million square foot portfolio of multifamily, retail and office properties, and a 700-acre business park. Prior to that, he served as President and CEO of Southwest Classic Properties, a multifamily and land development company in Austin, Texas. Dr. Pyhrr received a master's and Ph.D. in real estate and finance from the University of Illinois, and is a graduate of the School of Mortgage Banking at Northwestern University. For more than 18 years he taught as an associate professor of real estate and finance at The University of Texas (Austin). He serves as the Executive Director and was a past president of the American Real Estate Society and is on the Editorial Board of three real estate journals, including the Journal of Real Estate Portfolio Management (JREPM). He is a member of the International Real Estate Society, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, Urban Land Institute, and Pension Real Estate Association. He also is a member and served as past president of the Austin Commercial Real Estate Society. Dr. Pyhrr has written three books and over 40 articles and papers on commercial real estate (including the textbook Real Estate Investment: Strategy, Analysis, Decisions, which is used in the U.S., Europe and the Pacific Rim). He is recognized globally for his published research and strategy articles on real estate cycles and their impacts on investment performance.

Jack D. Ladd .* Mr. Ladd was elected as a Director by the Board of Directors on March 25, 2008. He is currently the Dean and Professor of Management in The School of Business at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. From 2004 until 2007, Mr. Ladd held the positions of Assistant Professor in the School of Business and Director of the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Prior to 2004, Mr. Ladd practiced law and was a shareholder of Stubbeman, McRae, Sealy, Laughlin & Browder, Inc., a law firm in Midland, Texas. Mr. Ladd is a director of two public corporations other than the Company: Thorium Power, Ltd. and Mexco Energy Corporation.

Jim Cicconi, senior executive vice president-External and Legislative Affairs, is responsible for AT&T's public policy organization. He has served in this capacity since November 2005, shortly after the close of the merger between SBC Communications and AT&T Corp. Previously, Mr. Cicconi served as general counsel and executive vice president-Law and Government Affairs at AT&T Corp. Before joining AT&T in September 1998, he was a partner at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. Mr. Cicconi also served in the White House under two presidents, including two years as deputy chief of staff to President George H.W. Bush and four years as a special assistant to President Ronald Reagan. Mr. Cicconi currently serves as a director of the El Paso Electric Company and the American Council on Germany, as a member of the University of Texas at Austin Development Board, as a trustee of the Brookings Institution and is vice president of the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation. He has also served as a presidential appointee to the Review Advisory Committee for UNESCO and to the Administrative Conference of the United States. Mr. Cicconi earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1974 and a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1977. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the State Bar of Texas.

Charles G. Groat currently serves as the Director of the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy and as the Director of the Energy and Earth Resources Graduate Program at the University of Texas at Austin. Before joining the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Groat served for more than six years as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, having been appointed by President Clinton and retained by President Bush. Dr. Groat, 67, has served as a Director of our company since 2005 and serves as a member of the Audit and Management Committees.

W. Scott Thompson has been a director of the Company from August 14, 2006 to April 30, 2007, and from June 28, 2007 to present. Mr. Thompson is the Chair of the Company s Resources and Reserves Committee. Mr. Thompson was a former director of Oilsands Quest Sask Inc. from June 2005 to August 2006. Mr. Thompson has over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. He has been President and a director of Clear Creek Oil & Gas, Inc., a natural gas exploration company, since November 2000. From March 2005 to present, Mr. Thompson has acted as Secretary/Treasurer and director of Forster Drilling Corporation, which builds land drilling rigs and provides contract drilling services to oil and gas exploration and production companies. From May 2005 to present, Mr. Thompson has been President and director of Harris-Forbes, Inc., an investment banking company to the energy sector. Since 1998, Mr. Thompson has been the president and a director of Process Technology Systems, Inc. Mr. Thompson was president and a director of Eurotrade Financial, Inc., an investment banking company, from June 1993 to May 2005.

Mr. Hassler has maintained his membership in the College of the State Bar of Texas continuously since 1993. The College recognizes attorneys who attend at least 30 hours of legal education courses annually, which is twice the minimum required by the Bar. He has been a member of the Texas Academy of Probate and Trust Lawyers since its inception in 1993. Locally, Mr. Hassler has served as the Course Director for the annual University of Texas at El Paso Estate Planning Conference for Women for nearly 20 years. In this capacity, he recruits speakers from among El Paso's estate planning professional groups, including attorneys, accountants, financial advisors, trust officers, and insurance practitioners, and designs a six-week course with a special emphasis on the needs of women and their families. Mr. Hassler has been active in a number of civic and charitable organizations in the El Paso community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the El Paso Symphony Orchestra Association, and on the executive committee of the Symphony Foundation. He is a past President of the Board of Directors of the El Paso Division of the American Heart Association, and a former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Texas State Affiliate of the American Heart Association. Mr. Hassler is a past participant in Leadership El Paso, and has served on the boards of directors of El Paso Young Life, the Yucca Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Texas Tech University Alumni Association, the Texas Tech Law School Alumni Association, the Texas Tech Foundation, Inc. in Lubbock, Texas, the Providence Memorial Hospital Foundation, and the Coronado High School Band Booster Association. He has also taught Engineering Law courses at the University of Texas at El Paso. Mr. Hassler is an active member of Coronado Baptist Church. He and his wife Rosane, an educator, have three children: Jeffrey, Bryan, and Katie. Jeffrey, a 2008 graduate of the Pepperdine School of Law, is an associate attorney in the Private Wealth Services practice group of McGwireWoods LLP in Richmond, Virginia.

Dianne and Bob Wilson have been married for 36 years and have resided in Fort Bend for almost that long. Wilson earned a bachelor degree in Public Administration from St. Edwards University; is a Fellow in Court Administration from the National Center for State Courts Institute for Court Management; and earned over one thousand hours continuing education hours through several professional associations. She is also co-founder of the County & District Clerks Legal Training Program at the University of Texas, and serves on the teaching faculty at the V. G. Young Institute for County Government at Texas A&M University. Recently, she began a six-month Leadership Excellence for Non-Profits certificate program through Rice University and will graduate in April 2006. Wilson serves on several state committees. She was appointed in 1999 by then Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Phillips to serve on the Judicial Committee on Information Technology. He reappointed her again in 2002 and 2005. She chairs several subcommittees, including the one for E-Filing Standards. Wilson was selected as the first county official in Texas to electronically record court records through TexasOnline (the official State of Texas website).

Joe Jones, President and CEO of Skyonic, earned a BS in Chemical Engineering form the University of Texas and spent the first 25 years of his career in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, working at Texas Industries, Cypress Semiconductors, and others. He participated in the start-up and operation of five wafer-fabrication plants (TI, AMD, and Cypress), the development of one of the first fabless semiconductor companies (Ross Technology), and an independent outsource semiconductor company he founded (BridgePoint Technical Manufacturing). His credits include numerous contributions to the chemistry of wafer-fabrication and semiconductor testing, and his goal is to apply the low-energy lessons he learned in semiconductor development to the problem of creating a low-energy method of sequestering CO2. A businessman, as well as an engineer and an environmentalist, Joe left his position as CEO of BridgePoint when his belief in the need for clean, sustainable energy led him to begin development of the SkyMine technology and found Skyonic Corporation in 2005.

Wheat Bailey is a partner in Aesthetic Business Consulting and a graduate of the University of Texas with a degree in Business Administration. He has over 20 years of comprehensive management, sales, and sales management experience in the healthcare/medical industry. In 1996, Mr. Bailey was appointed national sales manager for HGM Medical Lasers and has been involved with lasers and aesthetics since that time for several companies at different levels. In 2003, recognizing that physicians were requiring more than just equipment and technical support, he founded Aesthetic Business Consulting & Sales to provide aesthetic capital equipment for physicians and assist them with a variety of business aspects surrounding the aesthetic and medical spa market.

Dr. Khera is Head of Cardiovascular Content for HealthTank, LLC. He is Director of the Program in Preventive Cardiology, an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School, and Associate of the Donald W. Reynolds Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center. He also serves as Associate Program Director for the Cardiology Fellowship Program and Medical Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at University Hospital-St. Paul. Dr. Khera received his BA degree in American History at the University of Pennsylvania, with magna cum laude honors. He obtained his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society. He completed an Internal Medicine Residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, followed by a Cardiology Fellowship at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center. There he was a fellow in the Reynolds Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center and completed his Masters degree in Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. He is a recent recipient of the American College of Cardiology/Pfizer Career Development Award.

Dr. Grotta is Chairman of the Department of Neurology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston where he also occupies the Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Distinguished Chair. He is also Professor and Director of the Stroke Program, University of Texas. Dr. Grotta received his education at Dartmouth College and his medical training at the Universities of Virginia and Colorado, and the Massachusetts General Hospital, spent 2 years in the US Public Health Service (Indian Health Service), and first joined the University of Texas - Houston Medical School faculty in 1979. His research focuses on development of new therapies for acute stroke patients. He has played a leadership role in many laboratory and human research studies, including the pivotal NINDS TPA study that established the usefulness of TPA (tissue plasminogen activator) for stroke patients, still the only treatment proven effective for reversing damage after a stroke occurs. He is presently carrying out a series of novel pilot studies aimed at amplifying the existing benefits of TPA, achieving clinically meaningful neuroprotection using a therapeutic combination strategy, augmenting stroke recovery by intensifying the existing rehabilitation paradigm, and introducing an educational program to middle school children. Dr. Grotta has orchestrated development of a very successful collaborative network between UT, Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston Fire Department-Emergency Medical Services, and other regional stroke centers to increase the delivery of appropriate therapy to a large number of acute stroke patients in Houston. He has extended these efforts to rural areas through regional educational programs and, more recently, telemedicine. Finally, Dr. Grotta directs an NIH funded and ACGME accredited stroke training program with a strong emphasis on basic and clinical research. He has assembled a multidisciplinary stroke faculty that has graduated 38 clinician scientists. Dr. Grotta was a recipient of the Feinberg Award for Excellence in Clinical Stroke from the American Heart Association (AHA) in 1999, the AHA Physician of the Year award for 2006, and awards for teaching excellence at UT Medical School for 14 years. He has authored or co-authored more than 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals. He also periodically participates in medical relief work in under-served areas of the world.

Aaron received his Texas Real Estate License in the Summer of 2006 after completing the required courses at The Austin Institute of Real Estate, and passing the state licensing exam on his 1st attempt. As a Student at the University of Texas, Aaron specializes in leasing Central Austin, Hyde Park, Downtown and campus area properties. Aaron's Central Austin and campus area leasing experience stands at the top of the experience ladder. Call Aaron today to schedule a tour to view properties that best meet your criteria.

Alan Vela was born and raised in and around H-town (get down). He got into playing drums at the age of 11, but developed most of his skills in high school playing on the school's drum line, jazz band, and in a rock band he and his friends created. Alan's love for funky fusion beats and cool jazzy licks, combined with having been raised on classic rock and roll, contribute to his own personal style. Alan is currently a student at the University of Texas and in addition to jammin with Caldwell Shine since the summer of '06, he can be seen layin it down in the Texas Basketball Band. If there's one thing you need to know about Alan Vela, it's that he's all about the groove.

Alex is a USFA certified instructor and a staff member of the University of Texas' Junior Fencing Camp.

Amado Maurilio Pena, Jr. was born in Laredo, Texas in 1943. He studied art and education at Texas A & I (now Texas A & M Kingsville), where he received his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees. He was a teacher in his hometown of Laredo as well as in Crystal City and Austin, Texas. He continues to teach as part of the Studio Art League program at Alexander High School in Laredo and is also an adjunct professor in the College of Education at the University of Texas. He has been a presenter at many national education conferences. Of course, Amado's first love is art, and he has been a successful professional artist for more than 30 years. Amado is a Mestizo of Mexican and Yaqui ancestry. His art celebrates the strength of a people who meet the harsh realities of life in an uncompromising land, and his work is a tribute to the Native Americans who survive by living in harmony with an adversarial, untamed environment. His artwork is inspired by places such as Canyon de Chelly, Spider Rock, Monument Valley, Enchanted Mesa, Acoma, and Black Mesa. These sites are part of an enduring landscape that speaks of the ancient heritage of a region that is now known as Arizona and New Mexico. Amado's artwork is defined by its bold color and form and dynamic composition. Through his art, he communicates his vision of a land, its people and their art. Amado Pena is recognized as an Artisan of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona. This is a particularly high honor and one that he cherishes. He is dedicated to furthering

Andrew Dickinson makes his home in Austin, where he is currently pursuing a DMA in music composition at the University of Texas at Austin. His teachers include Donald Grantham, Kevin Puts, and Michael Kurek. Andrew received his master's in composition from U. T. in 2001, and has a bachelor's degree in composition from the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University. An active composer, Andrew has written works for diverse ensembles, including chamber orchestra, piano quartet, guitar quartet, and trombone ensemble, as well as songs and works for various chamber groups and soloists. For the past two years, Andrew has served as an undergraduate instructor in music composition at the University of Texas.

Belinda Bernal , AKA: Healing Bear Woman, is a Sun dancer, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Reiki Master/Teacher, doing her life's work. Belinda is also a full-time employee as well as a part time student at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin pursuing a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. When she is not busy working, going to school, giving massages, teaching Reiki classes and traveling, she finds time to volunteer her services with the Trans-Pecos American Indian Association in whatever capacity she is needed.

Bettie McGiness is a third year doctoral student at the University of Texas and recipient of the IMLS grant "Youth, Community, Libraries: Empowerment for Success." She taught fourth grade for 12 years and was an elementary school librarian for 5 years. Her research interests include school library services to marginalized groups, class and race representations in children's literature, and school librarians' roles as school leaders.

Biff F. Palmer is Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas (UT) Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, where he is also Nephrology Fellowship Program Director. A Fellow of the American College of Physicians, Dr. Palmer is also a member of the Texas Medical Association, the International Society of Nephrology, the American Society of Nephrology, and the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation. He was awarded the Parkland Memorial Hospital Internal Medicine Housestaff Outstanding Teacher Award. Dr. Palmer has authored more than 100 articles in journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, Transplantation, American Journal of Medicine, American Journal of Medical Science, and Advances in Internal Medicine. He has contributed chapters to more than 50 books, including the Atlas of Diseases of the Kidney, Textbook of Nephrology, and Diseases of the Kidney. In addition to his work as an author, Dr. Palmer serves as co-editor for the Southwestern Internal Medicine Conference and the American Journal of Medical Sciences. Dr. Palmer received his medical degree from UT Southwestern Medical School and completed his residency in internal medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. He then went on to complete a research fellowship in the Department of Nephrology at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and a clinical fellowship in the Division of Nephrology at UT Southwestern Medical Center-Parkland Memorial Hospital. Dr. Palmer is board certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology.

As the director, founder and designer of the Institute of Facial and Cosmetic Surgery, Salt Lake City area cosmetic surgeon Brent D. Kennedy has 18 years of experience specializing in all aspects of facial, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. Dr. Kennedy is also highly qualified to perform liposuction surgery of the neck and body. Following his graduation from Weber State College in Ogden, Utah, with a degree in mathematics, Dr. Kennedy chose to pursue the artistic science of facial and cosmetic surgery in the a European tradition,a where specialization in facial surgery requires both a medical and dental degree. After completing his education, Dr. Kennedy established the institute in 1988 to provide specialized diagnosis and treatment of the face and the body. In addition to providing outstanding cosmetic enhancements to patients traveling to the practice from around the country, Dr. Kennedy offers a fellowship program at the Institute of Facial and Cosmetic Surgery in cosmetic and aesthetic maxillofacial surgery. Doctors from around the nation seeking to continue their education in this discipline conver

Brooke Steinberg -- Brooke has been with Career Consultants for over a year in an administrative capacity. She processes our payroll as well as manages much of the paperwork and data entry. As a 3rd year advertising student at the University of Texas, she acts as our "creative director" and has lended her artistic talent to several of our marketing projects. Just wait until you see the 2004 AHRMA booth!

Candace Gilbert, a native of Houston and an Austinite since her University of Texas days, is excited to join the Kirby Hall faculty as a computer science teacher with her husband, Jim. After graduating from UT with a B. A. cum laude in History with a special emphasis in Medieval England, Mrs. Gilbert enjoyed a successful career in residential real estate. After retiring in 1990, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert set out to see the world, and they have continued through the years to travel as much as their son's school schedule will allow. Their son will join the student community of Kirby Hall as a sixth grader in the fall of 2005.

Carol is a licensed attorney and consultant with a Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico Law School and a Masters Degree in Public Policy from the Lyndon Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas in Austin. Her B.A. is in Political Science from Colorado College. Her family roots are in the Mora Valley in Northern New Mexico. Professionally, Carol has been immersed in public policy and government. Currently, she is consulting in environmental policy. Carol served as campaign manager and legislative assistant for her husband, State Representative Peter Wirth. She helped start Think New Mexico, a statewide public policy think tank and served as Assistant Director from 1999 to 2003. Carol has additional public service in both the legislative and executive branches of New Mexico state government including posts at the Legislative Council Service, the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education.

Dr. Denham has had a healthcare product and solution development career that has spanned over 25 years. A graduate of the University of Alberta, he undertook radiation oncology specialty training at the Baylor College of Medicine, with training at Texas Children's Hospital and the MD Anderson Tumor Institute at Texas Medical Center in Houston. He had a 12 year practice of radiation oncology. He was an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas in Austin from 1983 to 2003 and he has also served as an instructor at a number of medical schools and business schools - with focus on innovation adoption, technology transfer, and commercialization. His research has resulted in numerous product and process innovations in surgery, oncology, imaging, image guided surgery, and ophthalmology. He has served on the editorial boards of journals as a technology application specialist and authored several works in basic science, managed care and medication management and safety. He is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Patient Safety. He is CEO of the HCC Corporation (HCC). Launched in 1983, HCC is a business development accelerator in medical, technical, and service product fields. It has led, developed, or supported over 400 product development teams in over 50 product categories including pharmaceuticals, devices, capital equipment, and software applications. Non-medical HCC efforts range from aerospace, e-commerce, fitness, and software to consumer health product categories. HCC is the developer of a care-centered, evidence-based Breakthrough Technology Processing System now used for product assessment and purchase by one third of US hospitals purchasing over $22 billion in products in 2005. Dr. Denham is the inventor of software-based innovation design and development decision support systems. HCC is a private equity investor in high impact evidence based products, services, and technologies. Dr. Denham is a founder and Chairman of the Texas Medical Institute of Technology (TMIT), a non-profit medical research organization dedicated to drive adoption of clinical solutions in patient safety and healthcare performance improvement. TMIT and HCC have established a National Research Test Bed of more than 3100 hospitals, through which it studies and accelerates the adoption of high impact performance improvement solutions consisting of products, services, and technologies that enable best practices. The numerous task forces and practicing communities of TMIT are served by an online knowledge management system which can be accessed at www.SafetyLeaders.org. TMIT sponsors numerous projects in patient safety and collaborates with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, for which Dr. Denham serves as a faculty member in the area of technology assessment and adoption. TMIT is a leading developer of practical practices that enable providers to succeed in national and local Pay-For-Performance programs. TMIT and HCC have had formal collaborative initiatives with numerous federal agencies and associated organizations, including NASA, the Institute of Medicine (IOM), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and the Department of Defense (DOD). Since 2003, Dr. Denham has been Chairman of The Leapfrog Group Safe Practices Program. The Leapfrog Group is a consortium of more than 180 Fortune 500 companies with over $69 billion in healthcare purchasing power who are responsible for more than 34 million covered lives. The TMIT-developed survey and program ranks US hospitals on an annual basis, providing the mechanism for market forces to drive quality improvement and patient safety. The initiative, chaired by Dr. Denham, is served by a Senior Medical Advisory Board, including ten global leaders in patient safety and quality and more than 240 clinical and administrative subject matter experts from a number of our nation's best academic and frontline...

A pianist of varied interests, Christopher Guzman has entertained audiences throughout North America, Europe and Asia . Since his orchestral debut at age 13, he has performed as soloist with many large ensembles, including the San Antonio Symphony, the Fort Worth Symphony, The Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra and The EOS Orchestra of New York City. He has performed concerti with the Juilliard Orchestra in Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, and in Spoleto , Italy during the orchestra's first summer residency at the 2003 Festival Dei Due Mondi. He has recently appeared in recital at such venues as the Gardner Museum and Jordan Hall in Boston , and at the Phillips Collection in Washington , D.C. An avid chamber musician, Mr. Guzman has performed in such venues as Tokyo 's Suntory Hall, Leipzig 's Gewandhaus, Columbia University , San Francisco Performances, the Vancouver Recital Series and others. He performs regularly with acclaimed violinist Ilya Gringolts, and their 2002 recital on National Public Radio's Saint Paul Sunday continues to broadcast across the United States and online. In June 2005, he was one of five Young Artists in Residence at the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival in Florida . Of special interest to Mr. Guzman is music of our time. He has collaborated with one of the nation's preeminent contemporary chamber ensembles, Speculum Musicae, and numerous times with the New Juilliard Ensemble, including tours of the U.S. and France. The New York Times hailed his "coiled, explosive playing" of works by Christopher Theofanidis and Joseph Pereira at New York 's Society for Ethical Culture in 2002. Born and raised in San Antonio , Texas , Christopher Guzman began studying piano at age nine and violoncello two years later. He has studied with Kenneth Thompson in San Antonio , and with Jerome Lowenthal and Robert McDonald at The Juilliard School, where he received his bachelor's and master's degrees. He earned his Artist Diploma with Patricia Zander at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston in May, 2007. Currently, Mr. Guzman is working towards his DMA at University of Texas in Austin with Anton Nel.

Christy began taking piano lessons before she was five years old in Taiwan, the place of her birth. She moved to the United States when she was twelve years old and continued with her piano lessons. When Christy was fifteen, she had the privilege of having Dr. Amy Wang, DMA as her piano teacher. Dr. Wang prepped Christy for the University of Texas piano audition, and under Dr. Wang's tutelage, Christy was accepted into the Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance program. Christy studied with Professor Danielle Martin until the end of spring 2004, and is currently studying with the former Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts, Professor Lita Guerra. In Christy's free time, she accompanies string and brass instrumentalists, as well as vocalists. Besides performance, Christy is especially interested in music theory and piano literature. Christy is an honors student at the University of Texas, and in addition to majoring in music, she is also majoring in biology.

Clint, as former Salutatorian at Stephenville High School, is now a Sophomore Pre-Med Student at the University of Texas. He is from Stephenville, Texas where he was an active member of Valley Grove Baptist Church. His Pastor, Glenn Shock, gave him the highest recommendation as a Christian and as a leader among youth. Clint has been active in teaching a Bible study at the UT-Baptist Student Ministry on campus and comes with high recommndations from the staff there. Our students and parents have been very positive about Clint and we are thankful to God for his provision of this young man to be an example and spiritual friend to our students. Please pray for him on a daily basis. When asked what his goal was for working with the youth, he said, "To lead them to grow closer to the Lord through the Word and to prepare them to live for Christ in this world and as they reach the time they leave home for college."

Clint Ladd faced a difficult decision upon graduating from high school pursue the life of an actor or pursue the life of a scientist. Ultimately, practicality won out, and Clint earned bachelor degrees in Microbiology and Anthropology at the University of Texas in Austin. He is now a graduate student in Epidemiology at the University of Texas in Houston, School of Public Health, but his passion for theater has remained. It was only natural, then, that in the fall of 2000 Clint discovered Stagewright and became an active volunteer. Now he hopes to put his knowledge of both theater and public health to good use as Programs Coordinator for Stagewright, Inc.

Mr. Blanton has been president of Eddy Refining Company since 1988. Prior to Eddy Refining Company, Mr. Blanton had a 38 year tenure with Scurlock Oil Company. After only eight years at the company he was elected president. In 1983, he was elected chairman of the board and CEO and retired in 1988. Mr. Blanton is affiliated with a number of corporate, professional, educational, and civic organizations, including director of Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Inc. and Pogo Producing Company; chairman of the board of trustees for the Houston Endowment, Inc.; director of the Texas Medical Center, and member of the University of Texas Development Board.

David J. Bowlin, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer with Broaddus & Associates, brings over 20 years of diverse experience from the perspective of both the owner and the design/builder. In addition to his operations role, Mr. Bowlin leads the firm's constructability review process, utilizing his extensive background in construction implementation and Best Practices. Early in his career he served in the U. S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps, including a special assignment for the White House Military Office at Camp David during President Reagan's second term. He has additional owner experience with the University of Texas System, where he managed a $300 million program for the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Mr. Bowlin holds a BS in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University and a Masters Degree in Construction Engineering and Management from Stanford University. Mr. Bowlin serves on the Board of Directors of the Design Build Institute of America, Texas Chapter. He is an active member of the Construction Industry Institute, currently serving as the Chairman of Project Team #163-Evaluating On-Site Design and is an Instructor for the CII Continuing Education Short Courses taught at Clemson University and the University of Texas. He was a member of Research Team #133-Project Delivery Systems, that benchmarked performance of CM at Risk and Design/Build against traditional delivery, and was the principal author for the CII Special Publication "Pilot Projects A Tool for Implementation."