HOWARD FALKENBERG, a senior communications strategist, is president of Staats Falkenberg, a Texas-based marketing communications company.

Howard began his professional career as a broadcast journalist but has served as an advisor to corporations, institutions and governmental agencies for nearly 40 years. He specializes in working with organizations engaged in complex public affairs and legal issues, while his company provides messaging, branding, advertising and publicity services for clients in technology, medical and health care, finance, and non-profit fields.

Howard was a member of teams that attracted the first national technology research consortia to Austin and was instrumental in developing presentations that attracted and supported Microelectronic and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC), 3M, and Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, among others.

He is a member and former president of Austin Area Research Organization (AARO) and is an advisor to the Texas Mathworks program at Texas State University.

PIKE POWERS has played an integral role in developing Texas’ technology capabilities over the past 30 years. By engaging crucial collaboration of universities and state and local communities, he has helped advance Texas’ high tech, information and entrepreneurial economy.

Pike’s leadership was instrumental in attracting landmark research and development operations to Austin (Microelectronic and Computer Technology Corporation [MCC] and SEMATECH) and in recruiting major employers (Applied Materials, 3M and Samsung, among others) to the city. Currently, Pike is participating in negotiations to bring MassChallenge, the world’s largest and most acclaimed tech accelerator, to Texas.

A principal participant in mobilizing the ever-growing high tech community to create a business/civic/philanthropic network, Pike advises newly emerging technology leaders on creating new companies and shaping a collaborative future. In recognition of his efforts, the Pike Powers Laboratory and Center for Commercialization in Austin, an arm of an energy research consortium created by The University of Texas, the City of Austin and others, is named in his honor.

Pike has been committed for many years to numerous educational, business, community, legal and charitable organizations at national, state and local levels. He was a member of Texas Governor Mark White’s Science and Technology Council from 1983 to 1986. He served on Texas Governor Rick Perry’s Science and Bio-Technology Council in 2002-2003. With Governor Perry’s backing, he was instrumental in creating the $295 million Texas Enterprise Fund. He also served as vice chair of the $200 million Texas Emerging Technology Fund for its first two years.

Extending his experience and perspective beyond his home state’s borders, Pike adviseS regions and communities throughout the U.S. and beyond on developing their own resources to achieve economic success.