Associate Professor & Program Coordinator, University of Houston, Houston, TX,
Foresight Program September 2020 – present
Assistant Professor & Program Coordinator, University of Houston, Houston, TX,
Foresight Program August 2014 – September 2020
University of Houston, Futures Studies Program, Houston, TX
Lecturer & Executive-in-Residence June 2010-present
- Teaching two classes and performing program development activities
Innovaro (formerly Social Technologies), Washington DC/Houston, TX
Managing Director May 2006-May 2010
Oversee all single-client research and consulting engagements, as well as doing public speaking, workshops, and other promotion and new business development related activities
University of Houston, Futures Studies Program, Houston, TX
Lecturer May 2006-May 2010
Teaching a class in Graduate Program Futures Studies Graduate each semester
University of Houston, Futures Studies Program, Houston, TX
Lecturer & Educational Specialist January 2005-May 2006
- Dual appointment teaching in the College of Technology Futures Studies Graduate Program and Consumer Science & Merchandising Undergraduate program, as well as performing program marketing and development support
The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI
Sr. Ideation Leader & Futurist January 2000-January 2005
- Developed and led new process for generating alternative business strategies that been used with several dozen business units
- Custom designed and led processes filling the new business pipeline with new growth concepts for several dozen business units
- Designed and executed several dozen workshops in support of general ideation for business and business functions
- Responsible for developing the “Best Practices” in New Business Exploration and “Alternative Strategy Development” for Best Practice Group
- Co-founder of Dow’s Explorers Network, of practitioners doing exploration work and founding member of Dow’s IDEAS Council, charged with seeking out large scale cross-business growth opportunities,
- Developer of new global human resources training courses “Approaches to New Business Exploration” and “Juicing the Lightbulb: Tapping Your Creative and Innovative Potential”
Kellogg Company, Battle Creek, MI (Global Trends Program Sr. Manager, June 1998-December 1999)
- Expanded scope of N. American program globally.
N. American Trends Program Manager June 1997-July 1998
- Pioneered and established a trends program to provide the company with a comprehensive understanding of emerging consumer, technological, food, and other trends worldwide for input into market research, marketing, product development, and long-term R&D.
- Raised awareness of key trends through auditorium and small-group presentations, trend and implication briefs, the establishment of a “futures roundtable” discussion group, and in project work.
- Responded to internal customers by providing ready access to trend information and identified experts to assist in strategy formulation, project work, and by leading trends ideation workshops.
The Futurist, Washington, DC (The magazine of the World Future Society, a non-profit association with 25,000 members aiming to improve our understanding the future).
Contributing editor 1996-1997
- Edited and wrote feature articles, shorter trend items, book reviews, and helped with redesign of magazine.
Coates & Jarratt, Inc., Washington, DC (A consulting firm specializing in the study of the future. Its mission is to help organizations anticipate and prepare for the future.)
Futures research analyst/partner 1990-1996
- Principal analyst on over three dozen projects on the future focusing on trends, developments, and issues affecting organizations. Projects ranged from the future science and technology, human resources, the environment, and globalization of the economy.
- Honed presentation and facilitation skills in keynote addresses, presentations, and workshops for clients and professional conferences.