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.
Mike Hergenrader
Mike Hergenrader serves as Head of Operations for Alitek Solutions, a Houston-based consulting company that specializes in delivering solutions that help organization better capture and utilize their information to achieve better business outcomes. Mike’s background combines engineering, business training and Fortune 100 experience. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska and an MBA from The University of Texas. In addition to his role at Alitek, Mike also serves as founder and COO of 2 early stage start-ups, holds 3 patents in the area of Mobile Collateral verification and runs a successful short term vacation rental business in Galveston. Mike has previously served as VP of the Lutheran Education Association School board. Mike's wife Tina is a nationally recognized Christian author, speaker, and teacher at LSA. Together they have 3 children who currently attend LSA, and their oldest graduated from LSA in 2022. Mike is serving on the Board of Advisors panel for the second time this year and is excited to engage and support the entrepreneurial spirit of the students of LSA.
Mark Morreale
Mark Morreale is the CEO and Co-Founder of Premier Cryogenic Services, LLC, based in La Porte, Texas. Educated at Texas A&M University, he leads a company he co-formed in 2019 that specializes in the manufacturing and repairing of transportable US DOT liquid cryogenic trailers and equipment. Notable achievements in his 20 years in the industry include co-owning and building his former company, WesMor Cyrogenic’s, into an industry leader in which he negotiated the merger and acquisition to Trinity Industries in 2014. Mark is married to Christina Morreale and the pair have two kids that attend LSA, Jake in 5th grade and Teagan in 3rd. This will be Mark's first time serving on the LSA Pitch Night Board of Advisors.