HOUSTON (Feb. 9, 2017) — Lone Star College-University Park and the Energy Conference Network will hold the first-ever Texas Open Innovation Conference. Innovation leaders from across the country will speak about how new approaches in technology, education and leadership are creating synergies and opportunities that were unheard of a decade ago.

“Our College was founded in 2012 based on an ‘Invitation to Innovate (i2i),’” said LSC-University Park President Shah Ardalan. “Hosting this national conference demonstrates just how far we have come in four years fueled with our i2i focus. We know innovative practices will lead to cutting-edge discoveries in every field that our students may choose, including those that we can’t imagine today.”

The event takes place March 28 – 29, in suburban northwest Houston, one of the fastest growing communities in the country thanks to the city’s role as a global energy hub.

Speakers include:

§  Dr. Jose Gutierrez, director of Technology & Innovation for Transocean.

§  Steven Gonzalez, deputy Strategic Opportunities & Partnership Development , NASA

§  Shah Ardalan, president of LSC-University Park

§  Michael Matthews, chief information officer, Oral Roberts University

§  Rustom K. Mody, Baker Hughes, vice president of Technical Excellence-Enterprise Technology

§  Julie Hall-Barrow, vice president of Virtual Health & Innovation, Children’s Health System of Texas.

§  Melanie L. Brown, IT Strategic & Analytics Manager, CenterPoint Energy

§  Brett Trusko, president, International Association of Innovation Professionals

Gonzalez will talk about how Collaborative Innovation could lead the way to explore Mars, and Mody, an engineer who holds 17 patents, will talk about “Pumps and Pipes – Innovation in the oil field and Cardiovascular Medicine. Trusko founded his organization three years ago in search of innovative solutions to increasingly complex problems. Zuniga’s responsibilities include developing projects that could lead to the commercial utilization of the International Space Station’s national laboratory.

View a complete list of speakers and sponsors by visiting TexasOpenInnovation.com.

Innovative practices are moving higher education institutions ahead. “Academia is joining business and industry in the search for new ideas that can transform operations,” said Christina Robinson, chief strategist for Innovation at LSC-University Park. “This conference will focus on an open exchange of ideas and conversations about the future in education, business and industry.”

LSC-University Park is collaborating with the Energy Conference Network. “Advancing discussion about innovation across all areas is vital to growth and now more than ever,” said Symon Rubens, Energy Conference Network CEO. “Executives realize that encouraging innovation and collaboration across organizations will exponentially improve outcomes.”

Lone Star College-University Park has hosted Innovation Week during which students, faculty, staff and community members have presented new ideas and products for the past two years. The week has encouraged those involved to look at new ways of doing things.

Conference goers will hear and meet with high-level executives who are pioneering new processes and ideas. Conference organizers have already issued an e-book and a special LinkedIn Group will help participants connect before and after the conference.

Register now at TexasOpenInnovation.com. Discounts are available for members of academic institutions.

“The Texas Open Innovation Conference is going to be a fascinating, exciting event – we can’t wait,” said Rubens.

Those interested in sponsorships for the event may contact Robinson at Christina.Robinson@LoneStar.edu or Melissa Zerber at Melissa.Zerber@energyconferencenetwork.com.

For more information, visit the conference website: www.texasopeninnovation.com.

The conference is presented by Lone Star College-University Park and the Energy Conference Network.

Supporting partners include Shell, Conduent and Aramco Services Co.

Endorsing partners include Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce, Australian American Chamber of Commerce, Houston Technology Center, Great Houston Black Chamber, North Houston Regional Center for Economic Development, Columbia (Texas) Chamber of Commerce, the German American Chamber of Commerce, the Society of Oil & Gas Entrepreneurs, BABChouston and ProMexico Trade and Investment.

Association partners include the International Association of Innovation Professionals, the League for Innovation in the Community College, and the Houston Angel Network. Media Partners are the Innovation Leadership Forum, the CIO Review and Pink Petro.

LSC-University Park is one of the fasted growing community college campuses in the country. Located in the former Compaq Computer’s world headquarters complex on 71 acres, it houses a University Center with two university partners – University of Houston-Downtown and University of Houston. It is also home to a Law Enforcement Academy, the college’s Energy and Manufacturing Institute, iSchoolHigh, a charter high school; several business partners and Lone Star Corporate College. Under its first President, Shah Ardalan, LSC-University Park has been recognized nationally as a model for the innovative college of the 21^st century. The college is located at the corner of State Highway 249 and Louetta Road. For more information about LSC-University Park, call 281.290.2600 or visit LoneStar.edu/UP.

 Known for its leadership, innovation and steadfast commitment to student success, Lone Star College provides high-quality academic transfer and workforce education / career training programs to more than 85,000 credit students each semester, and a total enrollment of 95,000 students. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to promote student success and economic prosperity. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., is the chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, which consists of six colleges, eight centers, two university centers, Lone Star Corporate College and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.