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DRI 2006 News Releases

~ for immediate release

news release February 23, 2006

Contact: Heather Emmons, DRI PIO, heather.emmons@dri.edu, Reno (775) 673-7313 (w), (702) 743-3435 (c)

All DRI News Releases are available at: http://news.dri.edu/

DRI Research Foundation expands by eight, welcoming back one trustee and bringing on seven new faces

Every year, the DRI Research Foundation seeks new members as others rotate off the board when their terms are over.  And every year, the board finds talented, educated, community-service oriented new members who are as unique and dedicated to furthering cutting-edge environmental research in Nevada and around the world as the Desert Research Institute itself.  This year, the foundation welcomes a returning board member and seven new ones:

Tom Atkinson, accountant for Atkinson & Atkinson, CPA
The board welcomes the return of Tom Atkinson, who was first appointed in 1999.  Born in Carson City, this native Nevadan has become a pillar in the Reno community supporting the University of Nevada Reno boosters, the Kiwanis Club, the American Baptist Fellowship and, of course, DRI.  He is a retired member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Nevada Society of CPAs, and has retired his Nevada State Board of Accounting license.

Ralph James Brodd, president of Broddarp of Nevada, Inc.
With more than 105 publications and five patents under his belt, Brodd brings decades of technological expertise to the foundation, as well as an M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in physical chemistry.  In 1982, he established Broddarp of Nevada, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in technology assessment, strategic planning and battery technology, production and marketing.  He has served on numerous technical advisory and review committees for the National Research Council, International Electrotechnic Commission, NASA, DOE, NRC and NIH government laboratories and technical programs.   <> 

Robert “Bob” Goff, founder and chairman of the Sierra Angels
Goff’s background is a blend of managing high-technology growth companies and venture investment-related activities.  He has more than 30 years of marketing and senior executive experience in forming, building and managing the rapid and profitable growth of three semiconductor product companies ranging in size from start-ups to 1,000 employees with annual revenues reaching $100 million, each resulting in IPOs or strategic mergers.  From his home in Lake Tahoe, Goff now heads up the Sierra Angels, a group of about 50 members who analyze, coach and fund meritorious business investments at the “angel,” or earliest level of development.  In 2002, he was inducted into the Technology Business Alliance of Nevada’s High-Tech Hall of Fame.

Dr. Charles Goldman, professor of Limnology, UC Davis
Many around DRI know Goldman as the 2003 Nevada Medalist who has dedicated more than 45 years of his life to studying Lake Tahoe’s water clarity.  His persistence in documenting the lake’s environmental decline was a key factor leading to the dramatic increase in Tahoe Basin research in recent years.  His scientific accomplishments have established an international reputation in limnology, or the study of fresh-water ecologies.  As professor of Limnology in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at UC Davis, Goldman developed the school’s first Limnology and Oceanography courses, served as chair of the Division of Environmental Studies, founded the Institute of Ecology and was the director of this institute.  Goldman received his Ph.D. in Limnology and Fisheries from the University of Michigan.

Vicki Hafen Scott, owner, Hafen Financial Services
Hafen Scott is a native Nevadan whose roots lie in Pahrump on a cotton and alfalfa farm.  With a Masters in Education from UNLV, her career has spanned three diverse fields, beginning with education as a high school teacher of business education, government, history, economics, journalism and photography.  After serving as a high school vice principal she moved into financial services owning Money Management Services, a San Diego, Calif. company that offered financial planning, securities, insurance products, real estate sales and management, accounting and income tax services.  Today she works in real estate development, doing acquisition, sub-division and commercial projects and as a co-owner/manager of a rapidly growing water and sewer utility company in Pahrump. 

Greg Heinrich, president, Henderson Chevrolet
When he assumed the presidency of Fairway Chevrolet in 1988, Heinrich completed his rise to the top that began in 1969 when he went to work in the parts department at the age of 16.  A 1975 graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he is the third generation family member to be involved in the sale of Chevrolets.  He attended Dealer/Son Dealers College in Detroit to gain an in-depth knowledge of dealership operations, and, under his leadership, Fairway Chevrolet has been recognize many times with achievement awards in the areas of sales, performance and outstanding customer service.  Heinrich is a member of the Kidney Foundation of Nevada, the Las Vegas and Henderson Chambers of Commerce, and he serves as vice chairman of the YMCA of Southern Nevada.

Edwin Ricks, real estate developer and broker for Edwin A. Ricks & Associates
Although he certainly has made his mark in Nevada in the real estate arena with 34 years of experience, Ricks also has a unique past as a professional skier and bull rider.  During his college years, he was featured in ski movies, feature films and many television commercials for companies such as Ford Motor Company, Hamms beer and Ultra Brite toothpaste.  Beginning at age 14, he also defied gravity by riding bulls in junior rodeos, competing in Western stock horse competitions and riding hunters and open jumpers on the California horse show circuit.  He has worked his way across the North Atlantic on freighters, and has been a ski racer, motorcycle racer, auto racer, sailor and lifetime wilderness traveler.

Jeffrey Shaw, chief executive officer, Southwest Gas
Shaw joined Southwest Gas in 1988 as director of Internal Audit.  He rose through the ranks, being promoted from controller and chief accounting officer, to vice president/controller and chief accounting officer, vice president and treasurer, senior vice president/finance and treasurer, senior vice president of gas resources and pricing, president and finally CEO in June, 2004.  He has a B.S. in accounting from the University of Utah and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Nevada Society of CPAs and the Leadership Las Vegas Alumni Association. 

ABOUT DRI: A nonprofit, statewide division of the Nevada System of Higher Education, DRI pursues a full-time program of basic and applied environmental research on a local, national, and international scale. Nearly 500 full- and part-time scientists, technicians, and support staff conduct more than 300 research projects at DRI annually.  DRI generates $45 million in total revenue consisting predominately of competitively won research contracts and grants. The State of Nevada provides critical funding in support of DRI's administration, operations and maintenance, through the Nevada System of Higher Education's budget. While DRI’s portion of the NSHE budget is less than 1 percent, the institute leverages these funds to enhance its competitiveness.