Meet the Board of Advisors
Paul "Jeff" Bertsch
Jeff Bertsch serves as the division chief for the Flight Dynamics Division in the Flight Operations Directorate (FOD) at JSC. His team provides mission control operations for spacecraft trajectory, navigation, guidance, GNC systems, propulsion systems, booster systems, rendezvous, proximity operations and numerous other disciplines required for the dynamics operations of spacecraft. His career started at NASA in 1987 as a flight controller for the Space Shuttle guidance system, and while there he led the development of over a dozen guidance software changes to automate Space Shuttle aborts. Since then, his career has spanned numerous organizations in FOD including the Mission Systems Division, the Flight Design & Dynamics Division, the EVA Robotics & Crew Systems Division, the Space Transportation Vehicle Division, and the FOD Business Office.
Bertsch earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University and a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University. Jeff is married with two grown children. His recreational interests include flying airplanes and helicopters, and he owns two aircraft: a classic Beechcraft Bonanza and an experimental RV-4. He is also a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). This will be Jeff's first time serving on the LSA Pitch Night Board of Advisors Panel.
Rob O'Donel
Rob O’Donel is the President of Suntrac Services, Inc. in League City, TX. Suntrac is a radiation safety consulting company providing services to customers throughout the United Staes, but primarily to the petrochemical/refining customers in the Gulf Coast region. Rob’s career at Suntrac began in 1992 after graduating from Texas A&M University in College Station with a degree in Geography. After working at Suntrac for 8 years Rob and his wife, Theresa, bought Suntrac and turned it into the Gulf Coast petrochemical/refining industry leader in radiation safety. Rob has served on the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Board, The EL Lago Dorados swim team board and is currently a City of El Lago Police Commissioner for the Lakeview Police Department and El Lago Estates Civic Corp. board member.
Amy Reid
Amy Reid is the Director of the Galveston County SBDC (Small Business Development Center) and Interim Director of the San Jacinto College SBDC. She has owned and operated a veteran-owned small business since 2010. With more than 20 years of experience in small business ownership, human resources, payroll, marketing, web design, management, and facilities operations, she is a resource to small business owners on a variety of topics. She has more than 10 years of experience in business coaching and advising. Reid is active in the community and often speaks at small business networking groups and serves on several community committees.