2018 Houston Game Changers Keynote and Women in STEM Honorees

AND WOMEN IN STEM AWARD HONOREES TO BE RECOGNIZED AT ANNUAL LUNCHEON ON Sept 19th

GIRLSTART ANNOUNCES 2018 EDITION OF HOUSTON GAME CHANGERS ANNUAL LUNCHEON, WITH FORMER ASTRONAUT EILEEN M. COLLINS AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER, ON WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 19

(Houston) Girlstart, four years into a STEM education program that has grown to serve more than 600 students in 20 high-need Houston schools, has announced its Houston Game Changers Annual Luncheon for 2018 will be on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, at the Junior League of Houston (1811 Briar Oaks Lane).

Former astronaut and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Eileen M. Collins will be the keynote speaker for this year’s edition of Game Changers. The annual event is a key fundraiser for Girlstart’s work in addressing the gender gap in the science, technology, engineering, and math industries by educating and inspiring girls in STEM. Started in Austin in 1997, the non-profit organization has grown to provide summer camps and after school programs for girls across the United States; Girlstart’s Houston program is its second largest.

“With Houston’s history of creating opportunities for women in STEM, particularly with NASA, we’re thrilled to have Eileen M. Collins at our latest Houston Game Changers event,” said Tamara Hudgins, executive director of Girlstart. “We’re also proud to be honoring Houston-area women STEM professionals who exemplify what women in STEM can achieve.”

Girlstart will honor five women role models in STEM at the event:

  • Lynn Dugle, Chairman, President, and CEO, Engility Corporation
  • Marie Lynn Miranda, Ph.D., Howard R. Hughes Provost and Professor of Statistics, Rice University
  • Barbara Morgan, Former Astronaut and first teacher in space
  • Rebecca Richards-Kortum, Ph.D., Professor of Bioengineering, Rice University
  • Nancy Webb, MD, Chief of Ophthalmology, Kelsey Seybold

The event emcee will be Casey Curry,  Community Relations Director at alliantgroup, and meteorologist formerly on Houston’s FOX, ABC and NBC stations, and guest meteorologist on the weekend edition of Good Morning America in New York City.

Individual tickets, at the $100 level, are available for the event and can be purchased online: https://give.girlstart.org/event/2018-game-changers-houston-annual-luncheon/e176405.

Additional info about the event, including more about the Women in STEM honorees, are available on the Game Changers website: http://girlstart.org/game-changers-houston/.

ABOUT GIRLSTART
Girlstart, founded in Austin in 1997, is the only community-based informal STEM education nonprofit in the nation specifically dedicated to empowering and equipping girls in STEM, through year-round programming that promotes girls’ early engagement and academic success in STEM, encourages girls’ aspirations and persistence in STEM education and careers, and incubates a talented and diverse STEM workforce. Its innovative, nationally-recognized programs include after-school and summer camps for students, professional development for teachers, and community and online STEM education outreach programs. Girlstart cultivates a culture where risk is rewarded, curiosity is encouraged, and creativity is expected. As a result, Girlstart girls are connected, brave, and resilient. Girlstart makes girls more successful and inspires them to take on the world’s greatest challenges.

 

# # #

 

2018 Houston Game Changers Women in STEM Honorees

Lynn Dugle
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Engility Corporation

Lynn Dugle is the Chairman, President and CEO of Engility Corporation. She leads more than 8,000 employees around the world as they provide highly technical services in intelligence, cyber, space and defense in support of critical missions for the U.S. government. Her career spans more than three decades as a leader in the high-tech and government services and sectors.

Dugle has led the company since 2016, when the Engility Board of Directors asked her to come out of retirement and lead in a new strategic direction. In her first two years at the helm, she has successfully changed the company’s market position from a low-cost services provider to being well-known for its critical expertise and technology. She has been recognized with numerous awards for her work, and the company has won the largest contracts in its history.

Prior to joining Engility, Dugle held senior leadership positions at Raytheon, including President of the Intelligence, Information and Services business. In addition, she has held a number of management roles at ADC Telecommunications and Texas Instruments.

Dugle has a demonstrated passion for activities and causes that support female leadership, science and education. Dugle dedicates much of her personal time to establishing mentorships with younger women. She also is on the Board of Directors for the Intelligence National Security Alliance and State Street Corporation.

She is well-recognized for championing diversity and female STEM education. Last year, Dugle was the very first CEO in her industry to sign the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion Pledge, which aims to cultivate workplace environments where all ideas are welcomed and employees feel comfortable and empowered to discuss diversity and inclusion. Her actions caused a domino effect in her industry, and leaders in other companies became signatories. She was also invited to address the crowd of female industry leaders at the 2017 Leadership Summit for Women in National Security Careers, organized by Working Mother magazine.

Dugle was named one of the Top 100 Women in STEM by STEMconnector in 2012. She was a Wash100 honoree in 2017 and 2018 for being one of the most influential leaders in government contracting, named to the Washington Business Journal’s distinguished “Women Who Mean Business” list, received the 2015 Diversity in Technology award, and she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in STEM in 2012.

Dugle was named one of the Women Worth Watching in 2017 by Profiles in Diversity Journal, where she offered advice for young women:

“Don’t ever tell yourself ‘No.’ You will face plenty of other hurdles in your life; don’t be an obstacle to yourself. Don’t be afraid to take on a new challenge; have courage and confidence in yourself, you will be amazed at the results. Spend more time on doing great work rather than thinking about the glass ceiling or how close you are to it.”

In 2017, she was chosen by Fortune Most Powerful Women and the U.S. Department of State to participate in the Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership, where influential U.S. female executives mentor, support and prepare women around the world with skills to promote prosperity and growth in their countries.

Dugle will deliver the keynote address at the Intelligence and National Security Alliance forum, The New IC: Empowering Women & Engaging Men on May 17, 2018. The event will address professional issues women encounter serving in and pursuing intelligence and national security careers.

Marie Lynn Miranda, Ph.D.
Howard R. Hughes Provost and Professor of Statistics, Rice University

Dr. Miranda specializes in research on environmental health, especially how the environment shapes health and well being among children. She is the founding director of the Children’s Environmental Health Initiative, a research, education, and outreach program committed to fostering environments where all people can prosper.

Dr. Miranda’s formal educational background is rooted in mathematical, statistical, and economic modeling; her professional experiences integrate environmental health sciences with sound social policies. She has taught courses and conducted research on children’s environmental health, with a particular emphasis on reproductive and developmental toxicants, childhood lead exposure, and allergen and asthma triggers of geospatial health informatics. She is a leader in the rapidly evolving field

Dr. Miranda has applied spatial analytic approaches to a wide range of scientific issues. She also has extensive experience running training, research translation, and outreach programs, especially as they relate to disadvantaged populations. Dr. Miranda maintains an active research portfolio, with a funding history that includes the USEPA, NIH, CDC, the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, the USDA, the State of North Carolina, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Wallace Genetics Foundation, the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, and The Duke Endowment. She maintains a deep and abiding interest in environmental and social justice. Her research group received the 2008 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Award.

Dr. Miranda’s responsibilities as provost include promoting and supporting excellence in all dimensions of the University’s academic, research, scholarly, and creative programs and activities, supported by a ~$700 million annual operating budget. She is responsible for developing and implementing plans for $150 million in strategic investments focused on molecular nanotechnology, data sciences, and overall research competitiveness, as well as $200+ million in major renovations of university facilities. Dr. Miranda has also worked to build more robust relationships with corporate partners, resulting in signed umbrella agreements with multiple corporate entities, along with individual funding of faculty members.

Dr. Miranda is a Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of Duke University, where she earned her A.B. in mathematics and economics and was named a Truman Scholar. She has a Ph.D. and M.A., both in economics, from Harvard University, where she held a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. She served on the faculty at Duke from 1990-2011, and then as dean of the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan for four years. Dr. Miranda became provost at Rice University in July 2015.

Barbara Morgan
Former NASA Astronaut & First Educator Astronaut

Born November 28, 1951, in Fresno, California. Married to Clay Morgan. They have two sons. Barbara plays flute and enjoys reading, hiking, swimming, skiing, and her family.

EDUCATION: Hoover High School, Fresno, California, 1969; B.A., Human Biology, with distinction, Stanford University, 1973; Teaching Credential, College of Notre Dame, Belmont, California, 1974; Honorary Doctorate of Science from Boise State University, 2008.

ORGANIZATIONS: National Education Association; Idaho Education Association; National Council of Teachers of Mathematics; National Science Teachers Association; International Reading Association; International Technology Education Association; Challenger Center for Space Science Education.

SPECIAL HONORS: NASA Space Flight Medal; Challenger Center President George H.W. Bush Award; VFW National Space Award; NEA Friend of Education Award; AARP Inspire Award; NSTA Presidential Citation; USA Today Citizen of the Year. Other awards include: NASA Headquarters Special Service Award; NASA Public Service Group Achievement Award; Idaho Fellowship Award; University of Idaho Presidents Medallion Award; ITEA Lawrence Prakken Award; Challenger Center for Space Science Education Challenger 7 Award; National Space Society Space Pioneer Award for Education; Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Wright Brothers Kitty Hawk Sands of Time Education Award; Women in Aerospace Education Award; National PTA Honorary Lifetime Member; Phi Beta Kappa.

EXPERIENCE: Morgan began her teaching career in 1974 on the Flathead Indian Reservation at Arlee Elementary School in Arlee, Montana, where she taught remedial reading and math. From 1975-1978, she taught remedial reading/math and second grade at McCall-Donnelly Elementary School in McCall, Idaho. From 1978-1979, Morgan taught English and science to third graders at Colegio Americano de Quito in Quito, Ecuador. From l979-l998, she taught second, third, and fourth grades at McCall-Donnelly Elementary School.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Morgan was selected as the backup candidate for the NASA Teacher in Space Program on July 19, 1985. From September 1985 to January 1986, Morgan trained with Christa McAuliffe and the Challenger crew at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas. Following the Challenger accident, Morgan assumed the duties of Teacher in Space Designee. From March 1986 to July 1986, she worked with NASA, speaking to educational organizations throughout the country. In the fall of 1986, Morgan returned to Idaho to resume her teaching career. She taught second and third grades at McCall-Donnelly Elementary and continued to work with NASA’s Education Division. Her duties as Teacher in Space Designee included public speaking, educational consulting, curriculum design, and serving on the National Science Foundation’s Federal Task Force for Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering.

Selected by NASA as a mission specialist and NASA’s first Educator Astronaut in January 1998, Morgan reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1998. After completing two years of training and evaluation, she was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Space Station Operations Branch. She then served in the Astronaut Office CAPCOM Branch, working in Mission Control as prime communicator with on-orbit crews. She also served in the Robotics Branch of the Astronaut Office. Morgan has logged over 305 hours in space, completing her first space flight in 2007 as a mission specialist on the crew of STS-118, an assembly mission to the International Space Station.

Barbara Morgan retired from NASA in August, 2008, to become the Distinguished Educator in Residence at Boise State University, with a dual appointment in the colleges of Engineering and Education. She continues to make public appearances.

SPACE FLIGHT EXPERIENCE: STS-118 (August 8-21, 2007) was the 119th space shuttle flight, the 22nd flight to the space station, and the 20th flight for Endeavour. During the mission, Endeavour’s crew successfully added a truss segment, a new gyroscope and external spare parts platform to the International Space Station. They also activated a new system that enables docked shuttles to draw electrical power from the station, extending missions to the outpost. A total of four spacewalks were performed by three crew members. Endeavour carried 5,000 pounds of equipment and supplies to the station and returned to Earth with 4,000 pounds of scientific materials and used equipment. Morgan served as educator, loadmaster, shuttle and station robotic arm operator, and flight deck crew member for entry and landing. Traveling 5.3 million miles in space, the STS-118 mission was completed in 12 days, 17 hours, 55 minutes and 34 seconds.

Rebecca Richards-Kortum, Ph.D.
Professor of Bioengineering, Rice University

Rebecca Richards-Kortum is the Malcolm Gillis University Professor and a member of the Department of Bioengineering at Rice University. She is also Director of the Rice 360° Institute for Global Health and serves as the special advisor to the Provost on health-related research and educational initiatives.

Dr. Richards-Kortum’s research has been instrumental in improving early detection of cancers and other diseases, especially in low-resource settings. Her Optical Spectroscopy and Imaging Laboratory integrates advances in nanotechnology and molecular imaging with microfabrication technologies to develop optical imaging systems that are inexpensive, portable, and provide point-of-care diagnosis. Her research has led to the development of 40 patents. She is author of the textbook Biomedical Engineering for Global Health, more than 230 refereed research papers, and 11 book chapters. She is a member of numerous academic associations, including the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Inventors. In 2016, the American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineering (AIMBE) presented its highest honor, the Pierre Galletti Award, to Dr. Richards-Kortum and the MacArthur Foundation awarded her one of its esteemed fellowships. In 2008, she was named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor and subsequently received a grant for the undergraduate global health program at Rice. This program won the Science Prize for Inquiry-Based Instruction from Science magazine and the Lemelson-MIT Award for Global Innovation.

Nancy Webb, MD
Chief of Ophthalmology, Kelsey Seybold

Dr. Nancy Rundquist Webb was born in Chicago, and has resided in Houston since second grade. She attended Bellaire High School and was Drum major in the Bellaire Belles drill team. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and received her MD from Baylor College of Medicine with High Honors.

Nancy Webb’s internship and residency in Ophthalmology was at Baylor, where she was Deputy Chief Resident. She did a fellowship in Ophthalmic Pathology and practiced as a full time faculty member for one year before joining Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in 1980.

She became Department Chief at Kelsey in 1981 where two other ophthalmologists were practicing at the time.They now have eye services provided by a network of optometrists and ophthalmologists at eight clinic sites with a total of twenty providers.

She has served in other leadership roles at Kelsey as a member of the Board of Directors for ten years, and Chair of the Peer Review committee for over thirty-five years.

Nancy Webb is actively involved in community service. She is currently on the Board of Trustees of the Lighthouse and has served as a member of the Lighthouse of Houston Board of Directors for twenty years, two years of that time as Chairman of the Board.

She has also been very actively involved with BMI, Benevolent Missions International, a nonprofit medical eye mission group, dedicated to providing needed ophthalmic care to the underserved in many areas around the world.

She has been involved with an annual mission trip since 1997, traveling to Bolivia, El Salvador, Belize, and Fiji. She has served on their Board of Directors for many years and is currently the President of the organization.

Nancy Webb is married to David Webb, a retired attorney. They have two children and two granddaughters. She enjoys needlepoint, piano, book club, and travel, both nationally and internationally. They also enjoy being involved with our church, Palmer Memorial Episcopal.

Meet our 2018 Houston Game Changers Keynote Speaker, Eileen Collins

Our second-annual Game Changers Luncheon in Houston is only three months away, and we can’t wait! We’re honored to have former astronaut Eileen Collins as our Keynote Speaker for the event as an inspirational role model and a former Women in STEM honoree.

Collins spent her childhood fascinated by airplanes and flying and took part-time jobs to save up money for flying lessons. She earned a degree in math and economics from Syracuse University and then began pilot training as one of the first women at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma.

Collins joined NASA in 1990 and gained fame for breaking boundaries for female astronauts. She was the first female pilot of a Space Shuttle in 1995, and 20 years ago, Collins was the first woman to be commander of a Space Shuttle mission. Over her four total space flights, she has logged more than 872 total hours in space.

Before her last mission, Collins gave an interview where she encouraged young women to follow in her footsteps and become test pilots and join her in being a Space Shuttle commander. She has great hope and support for those interested in space, like some of our Girlstart girls, saying: “The young people are going to be the ones to take us on to more exciting adventures.”

We’re excited to hear her speak at our Game Changers Luncheon on September 19 — tickets and table sponsorships available now! Until then, you can read more about her experience as a pioneering female astronaut here.

2017 Houston Game Changers Women in STEM Honorees

The Houston Game Changers Annual Luncheon is a special celebration honoring women who have made a significant impact locally or nationally utilizing their STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education. All proceeds will benefit Girlstart.

Girlstart’s Houston Game Changers Luncheon raises vital funds to support Girlstart’s year-round programs in Houston, including free after school and summer camp programs, now reaching more than 500 girls at 20 high-need Houston schools.

2017 HOUSTON KEYNOTE SPEAKER
LESA ROE, UNT SYSTEM CHANCELLOR

Lesa Roe, former Deputy Administrator for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), took office as University North Texas Chancellor in October, 2017. She is the chief executive officer of the UNT System and is responsible for all aspects of the System’s operations, including general oversight of 10,000+ employees and the three UNTS campuses – UNT in Denton, UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth and UNT Dallas – as well as the UNT System administration. Chancellor Roe is the first woman to lead the UNT System.

As CEO of the UNT System, Chancellor Roe is committed to fostering the continuous enhancement of academic programming by UNTS universities in service to the DFW Region and the State of Texas. She has identified strategic growth, research, inclusiveness, and efficiency as priorities in her first year.

Prior to her arrival in North Texas, Chancellor Roe spent 30 years with NASA and her leadership led to numerous breakthrough science, space, and aeronautics innovations and missions advancing our nation’s leadership and international knowledge of aeronautics and space. Responsible for leading Curiosity’s mission to Mars and the creation of the International Space Station, Chancellor Roe led strategy, execution, and operations nationally across all NASA field centers for a $19.6 billion annual federal agency with $31 billion in assets. She was responsible for general oversight of 17,000 NASA employee and 10 field centers, while also directing program and project teams on product/mission delivery, acquisition strategy, partnership and international strategy and risk management.

Chancellor Roe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Central Florida.  She has served on numerous boards and advisory councils including: the Virginia Governor’s Aerospace Advisory Council, American Astronautical Society, Virginia FIRST Robotics, and the Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission.

Her many honors include: 2017 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics AIAA Fellow, the 2015 Senior Executive Service Presidential Distinguished Rank Award and the 2006 Presidential Meritorious Executive Rank Award; NASA Exceptional Service Medal; University of Florida’s Distinguished Career Achievement and Outstanding Leadership in Engineering Awards; the 2010 Women in Aerospace Leadership Award; the 2010 YWCA Women of Distinction in Science and Technology; and the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 2012 Bridge Builder Award. Chancellor Roe and her husband, Ralph, NASA’s chief engineer, have two sons and a daughter.

 

2017 HOUSTON WOMEN IN STEM HONOREES

Barbara Burger, President, Chevron Technology Ventures

Barbara Burger, Ph.D., joined Chevron in 1987 and is currently the president of Chevron Technology Ventures, an organization that champions innovation and the integration of emerging technologies into Chevron.

Barbara holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Rochester, a doctoral degree in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology and an academic honor MBA in finance from the University of California, Berkeley.

She joined the University of Rochester Board of Trustees in 2015 and is a member of the university’s River Campus Libraries National Council and the George Eastman Circle, the university’s leadership annual giving society. In 2012, she established the Barbara J. Burger Endowed Scholarship in the Sciences to support students pursuing degrees in biology, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences, or physics.

Among her many civic and industry affiliations, Barbara serves as an executive director for the Houston Technology Center and is a governing board director, member of the Executive Committee and chair of the Finance Committee of the Houston Symphony Society. She is also a member of the external advisory council for National Renewable Energy Laboratory, on the governing board for the MIT Energy Initiative and is a member of MIT’s Visiting Committee.

Eileen Collins, Former Astronaut and Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel

Eileen M. Collins is a former astronaut and a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. She retired from the Air Force in Jan 2005 and from NASA in May 2006 after a 28-year distinguished career.  A former military instructor and test pilot, Collins was the first woman pilot and first woman commander of a space shuttle.

After graduation from Elmira Free Academy in 1974, she attended Corning Community College, earning an associate degree in mathematics/science in 1976.  She then received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics from Syracuse University in 1978, where she was an Air Force ROTC Distinguished Graduate.  She has earned a master of science degree in operations research from Stanford University in 1986, and a master of arts degree in space systems management from Webster University in 1989.

Collins graduated in 1979 from Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, where she was a T-38 instructor pilot until 1982. From 1983 to 1985, she was a C-141 aircraft commander and instructor pilot at Travis Air Force Base, California, and spent the following year as a student with the Air Force Institute of Technology. From 1986 to 1989, Collins was assigned to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, where she was an assistant professor in mathematics and a T-41 instructor pilot.

Collins graduated from the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, in 1990.  She was selected by NASA and became an astronaut in July 1991.  After tours at Kennedy Space Center (shuttle launch and landing) and Johnson Space Center (shuttle engineer and capsule communicator), she flew the space shuttle as pilot in 1995 aboard Discovery.  This mission was the first space shuttle to rendezvous with the Russian Space Station MIR.  She was also the pilot for Atlantis in 1997, where her crew docked with MIR.  Collins became the first woman commander of a U.S. spacecraft with shuttle mission Columbia in 1999, the deployment of the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Her final space flight was as commander of Discovery in 2005, the “Return to Flight Mission” after the tragic loss of Columbia. She has logged more than 6,751 hours in 30 different types of aircraft and more than 872 hours in space as a veteran of four space flights.

Collins currently serves on several boards and advisory panels, is a professional speaker and an aerospace consultant. She is married with two children.

Collins is also a member of the Air Force Association, Order of Daedalians, Women Military Aviators, Women in Aviation International, U.S. Space Foundation, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Ninety-Nines.

Sue Payne, Retired, Exxon Mobil Corporation

Sue Payne retired from Exxon Mobil Corporation after a 37 year career in global oil and gas exploration, development and production. After starting her career as a geophysicist in Mobil’s technology center in Dallas Texas, she served in many diverse professional and management roles. As an executive, she held positions in Mobil’s headquarters in New York and Fairfax, followed by roles as South American Business Development Manager, as Vice President of US Exploration and Production, as Geoscience Manager for ExxonMobil Production, as US Exploration Manager, as Global Exploration Planning Manager and finally as Manager of Global Geoscience.

From 2011 to 2013, Sue was the Chief Operating Officer for the National Math and Science Initiative, a national non-profit focused on improving the math and science educational performance in US schools.

She is a 1975 graduate in Physics from Georgia Institute of Technology. She currently resides in Houston, Texas where she is active in many non-profit organizations, currently serving on the board of the United Way of Greater Houston, the board of the Houston Children’s Museum, the advisory board for the College of Science at Georgia Tech and the board of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art.

Janine K. Iannarelli, founder and President of Par Avion Ltd.

Janine K. Iannarelli is the founder and president of Par Avion Ltd.   She has more than 30 years of business aviation experience representing numerous corporations and private individuals worldwide with the sale and purchase of business aircraft. Par Avion is an aircraft marketing firm that specializes in the exclusive representation and acquisition of aircraft with an emphasis on pre-owned business jets valued upwards of $65,000,000 (USD).

Ms. Iannarelli has extensive experience in cross-border transactions, with nearly 90 percent of Par Avion’s business concentrated in this area of specialization. The scope of her experience with aircraft sales transactions reaches well beyond the procurement process in that she has in-depth interactions with the OEMs, maintenance facilities and completion centers specific to these aircraft.  Ms. Iannarelli also works directly with designated representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration as well as with many other countries’ civil aviation authorities where she has placed or procured aircraft.

A 1983 graduate of Montclair State University in Upper Montclair, N.J., Ms. Iannarelli earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration with a specific concentration in marketing and a minor in psychology.  She pursued her studies of the French Language at L’ALLIANCE FRANCAISE de Houston.  She is a current member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), Women in Aviation, International, and the American Marketing Association.   In February of 2016 Ms. Iannarelli was invited to serve on the EBAA Associate Member’s Sales and Acquisition committee providing expert input on international sales transactions and in March of 2017 was appointed its Chair..

In January 2016, Ms. Iannarelli was reappointed and named presiding officer by Governor Greg Abbott to the Texas Aerospace and Aviation Advisory Committee to which she was originally appointed by former Governor Rick Perry in October 2014. As one of 10 state-wide appointed committee members, she works to seek out and encourage business development specific to her area of expertise in the State along with the promotion of STEM education.  Awards and recognition include being named a Great Woman of Texas by the Fort Worth Business Press in 2011: named by the Texas Women’s Chamber of Commerce as one of the final four for the Texas Business Woman of the Year, April 2016 and again in July 2017; one of three inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey, September 2016; named among the “99” finalists for inclusion to the National Aviation Hall of Fame of Dayton, Ohio September 2016; honored by Texas Executive Women as a Woman on the Move November 2016; named by Enterprising Women Magazine as a 2017 Enterprising Women of the Year Champion and honored as one of the “Women Who Mean Business” by the Houston Business Journal, October 2017.

As a sought-after mentor and inspirational advisor, she often speaks before women’s and youth organizations about career development and life skill sets necessary to navigate the business world. Ms. Iannarelli routinely serves as a reliable source on business aviation for local, regional, national and international media on a variety of business aviation and small business topics and is one of NBAA’s “Available for Comment Today” go-to resources.  She is a regular panelist and presenter at industry events that focus on current valuations and trends in the new and preowned global marketplace for aircraft.

Ms. Iannarelli is a passionate supporter of the arts and charities that benefit children and animals. She commits both her personal time and resources to these endeavors. She is a past board member of Mercury, The Orchestra Redefined, and a sponsor of the Houston Police Department’s Mounted Patrol. For more than 25 years, she was a sponsor, board member, competitor and volunteer with The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show which benefits Texas Children’s Hospital and for which Ms. Iannarelli currently serves as an Ambassador.  She is a founding member of the Peace Parks Foundation headquartered in Stellenbosch, South Africa.  Additionally, Ms. Iannarelli is an avid cyclist and an accomplished equestrian who competed for over 30 years in the amateur divisions at hunter/jumper shows at the regional and national level in the United States.