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WHO WE ARE
ABOUT US
Bert Smith, Chief Executive Officer
Bert Smith officially joined PEP as CEO in May 2010, and has been actively involved with PEP since 2005. He has served in a number of volunteer roles, including executive judge, Business Plan Advisor, teacher, mentor, donor and Chairman of the Houston Advisory Board. In the 1980s Bert served as Director, General Counsel head of Corporate Development for a family owned engineering company that built and operated independent power plants. After the sale of that company, Bert founded and led a group that developed proprietary alternative fuel and energy generation technologies. Prior to joining PEP as CEO, Bert was an early stage investor and CEO for a DVD kiosk rental business. Bert serves on the Board of Directors for a family foundation, is a member of the Vestry at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church and has served as an active board member and volunteer with a number of other nonprofit organizations. He holds an AB in Economics from Princeton University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. He is married and has three adult children. Phi Tran, Chief Operating Officer Phi Tran serves as Chief Operating Officer. Phi is PEP’s longest serving employee, integral in the creation of the program’s back-end services (financial management, receipting, audits, database and technology systems, etc). He is primarily responsible for building out and managing all of our re-entry and reintegration services. Phi has worked for PEP since October 2004 and has served in many different capacities over the last 6 years, beginning with design and development of a comprehensive database for case management. He actively manages PEP’s in-prison programs as well as chairing all of management meetings for the organization, including playing a leading role in the development and fundraising process. Phi brings to PEP a diverse entrepreneurial background with multiple successful ventures in industries ranging from technology distribution to entertainment. He was the founder and owner of a JDP Production, an organizer of entertainment events. Previously, he founded and owned a company called Panorama, a storefront selling Japanese animation products. The business rented videos to a 600-member customer base and sold related products, generating monthly sales of up to $30,000 over two years. Phi holds a Bachelors Degree in Accounting at the University of Houston. Governing BoardDr. Gary Carini Associate Dean of Graduate Programs Baylor University, Hankamer School of Business Mr. Brandon Holcomb Vice President - Investment Management Division Goldman, Sachs & Co. Mr. Mike Humphrey Senior VP Tanglewood Investments, Inc. Mr. John Jackson Individual Mr. Roger Manny Executive VP & CFO Range Resources Corporation Mr. William Meyer Executive VP & CFO Bell Microproducts, Inc. San Jose, California |
