People, Papers and Presentations

Vice President for Public Affairs Linda Thrane has been elected to the board of directors and executive committee of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. The mission of the GHCVB is to improve the economy of Greater Houston by attracting conventions, tourists and international government officials to the area through sales and marketing efforts. Thrane knows the organization’s president, Greg Ortale, from her days at the University of Minnesota, when he was head of the Minneapolis convention and visitors bureau and she served on its board. The GHCVB is running a new “My Houston” television advertising campaign as part of its efforts to improve Houston’s reputation nationally. (See the item about the ZZ Top video.) The engagement with GHCVB is another step toward Rice’s Vision for the Second Century goal of deepening its partnership with the city.

Entries for “People, Papers and Presentations” should be submitted to the Department of News and Media Relations by e-mail to ricenews@rice.edu or campus mail to MS 300.