HOUSTON – Nancy Conrad, founder and chairman of the Conrad Foundation, today announced the appointment of Ross Shott as chief executive officer. He brings more than 25 years of management experience to the education, entrepreneurial and innovation organization.

As CEO, Shott will lead the Conrad Foundation’s management team, providing day-to-day oversight of the organization and its current programs, including the Spirit of Innovation Challenge. Shott’s key focus will be on growing the Foundation and expanding its programs by developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with other science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, entrepreneurial and corporate organizations committed to achieving global sustainability.

Prior to joining the Conrad Foundation, Shott served as the director of executive relations at Singularity University at NASA Research Park in Moffett Field, Calif. He helped train future leaders and developed entrepreneurial teams to innovate solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges. As a graduate student at the university, he worked with 39 other students on the 109+ IMPACT (ten to the ninth, plus) project to improve the lives of one billion people in 10 years using advanced technologies. Shott is currently pursuing a doctorate in the psychology of peak human performance.

“Conrad Foundation programs challenge and engage high school students to design the future,” Conrad said. “Ross truly grasps the concept of sustainability and the power of combining STEM education with innovation and entrepreneurship. His unique blend of foresight, education and strategic experience will be a dynamic asset to the Foundation.”

Throughout his career, Shott has worked with groups and companies ranging from five members to 8,000 employees. In addition to U.S. military service, other career experience includes: regional service manager at Condit Company, general manager at Southwestern Controls, Inc., business development manager at Encompass, Inc., and division operations manager at S.D. Myers, Inc.

About The Conrad Foundation
The Conrad Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to transforming the current methods of teaching science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in high schools. The program is free to all who wish to participate and reaches all socio-economic levels. The Foundation is the only organization of its kind to combine education, innovation and entrepreneurship to inspire solutions for achieving global sustainability. For more information, visit www.conradawards.org.

Related Links

– Conrad Foundation – http://www.conradawards.org/pages/about-us
– Spirit of Innovation Challenge – http://www.conradawards.org/pages/competition
– Singularity University – http://singularityu.org/about/overview/
– 109+ IMPACT – http://singularityu.org/grand-challenges/

# # #

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jessica Ballard
Griffin Communications Group
Office: 281-335-0200
jballard@griffincg.com