Twelve new trustees have been appointed to the DRI Research Foundation, the fund raising arm of the Desert Research Institute, DRI President Stephen G. Wells announced. The new trustees were approved by the Board of Regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada at its December meeting.
Wells said the new foundation members include J. Robert Anderson, a private investor residing in Incline Village, Llee Chapman, manager of administration for Barrick Goldstrike Mines in Elko; Paul F. Erickson, vice president and division director of R.R. Donnelly & Sons Reno Manufacturing Division; David Fulstone II, a Yerington farmer and Nevada agricultural community leader; Nevada State Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons of Reno; Bryan Gresh, president of The Gresh Group, a Las Vegas government and media relations firm; Nevada State Treasurer Brian Krolicki; James Kropid, president of James Kropid Investments and retired president of Centel Telephone Company; Rose McKinney-James, president and chief executive officer of Corporation for Solar Technology and Renewable Resources in Las Vegas; Robert L. Polvi, president of Polvi Farms of Las Vegas and retired president of Bechtel Civil Company; Scott Scherer, legal counsel and soon to be chief of staff for Gov. Kenny Guinn; and Joe Stockett, vice president for systems support for Lockheed Martin in Las Vegas.
"This excellent group of new board members brings the foundation an additional reach and awareness to help DRI meet its long term development goals," Wells said. "The foundation is still fairly young but has already successfully conducted two major fund raising efforts for research equipment and new research initiatives," The foundation board of 41 is chaired by Lou Emmert, vice president and general manager of Sprint in Nevada.