Sep 24 2008
In announcing the award today, organizers of nanotxUSA'08 said these leaders recognize that the beginnings for many of the nanotechnology organization in Texas got early inspiration from colloquiums that have taken place for many years and fully supported by the Winstead, PC law firm.
The colloquiums started five years ago when Dr. Zvi Yaniv and Dr. Richard Fink first established a colloquium in Austin Texas dedicated to nanotechnology. Originally this colloquium took place at IC2 Institute where the few participants gathered on a monthly basis to listen to speakers with expertise in the nanotechnology field and to share information. Later, based on requests from the nanotechnology community in Texas, the colloquium became an integral part of the Nanomaterials Applications Center of Texas State University. At that time Pete Winstead and his firm volunteered to host the colloquium in their offices located widely over Texas in cities such as Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, The Woodlands, etc. Pete offered not only comfortable space for the lectures to take place, but also use of the excellent video-conferencing system so speakers can participate from any of these locations in interactive ways with listeners. Currently this colloquium is running bi-weekly (http://www.nanotxstate.org/Schedule.htm) and the colloquium is expanding to other locations in Texas such as Texas A&M University, UT-El Paso, Texas State University in San Marcos, etc.
The number of participants is increasing steadily, and in addition all participants receive an electronic publication dedicated to nanotechnology (NanoExpress) http://www.nanotxstate.org/Schedule.htm.
With the occasion of the nanotxUSA’08 event, Dr. Yaniv, chair of the colloquium and editor of NanoExpress, and Dr. Fink, program coordinator, will honor Pete Winstead with an award in grateful recognition of Pete's vision and support for this important activity, and service to the nanotechnology community in Texas.
The award will be presented at the luncheon taking place 12:30pm on Oct. 2 for dignitaries/speakers, and conference attendees. nanotxUSA’08, Hyatt Regency Dallas convention hotel.
Pete Winstead is a man held with high regard in the Texas business community. As a founder of the firm's Austin office, he has become active in working with early stage and "start up" companies that need appropriate mentoring on financial backing, management procurement and legal matters. Many of these companies have become important mainstream clients for Winstead. The firm guided Dell Computer Corporation through its initial public offering and its dealing with municipalities on the concessions related to the company's relocation to Round Rock, Texas. Pete remains active in personal legal matters for the founders of that company, many of whom have become venture capital players. His major involvement in civic, political and philanthropic matters in the Austin area has made him a "go to" person to secure the award of various projects from political entities in the region or just to position a client to understand and succeed in Texas. He has been part of building winning teams to secure and build public facilities and infrastructure and has become active in the public private partnership arena. In 1997 he was appointed by Governor Bush to be the first chair of the Texas Turnpike Authority (TTA).
“We are honored the committee chose to have the award presented during our luncheon at nanotxUSA’08,” said Richard Mason, General Manager, “indeed, the Winstead law firm has been generous in their support of our Conference/Expo from the beginning, and the very first sponsor we ever had. We have an abiding affection for the entire Winstead organization.”