Executive Officers

			Mart D. Nelson, P.E., ENP, CISSP CTO & Consulting Principal

Mr. Nelson is an Avistas Founding Principal and CTO with five (5) decades of experience in complex computing, applications, communications and radio systems. After 15 years in the Bell System/Western Electric, in 1981 he founded Blythe-Nelson, an independent consultancy providing management and technology services to multiple Fortune 10 companies, many of the top Law Firms in the US, Non-profits and City, County and State Governments. His current business partner, Bill Morgan, worked for him as a key Principal Engineer and Partner-in-Charge of key accounts in that firm. In 2002 they co-founded Avistas, which expanded upon the rich tradition of independent and objective Management and Technology driven advisory services for major corporations, public safety organizations, governments and innovative entrepreneurs throughout the US and abroad.

Complex and business solutions-based consulting engagements across many different industries have provided Mr. Nelson with the experience and wisdom to quickly understand key political and business issues; address people and relationship issues; correct operations and process issues; and assure that the underlying applications and technology meet the real needs of the client.

Specific corporate experience includes major strategic accomplishments at American Heart Association, MCI/UUNet, MacAfee, ExxonMobil, Philip Morris USA, Frito-Lay, Shell-Texaco, J.C. Penney Co., Amoco (BP) and many other corporations. Projects include Strategic Planning, Information Security, Corporate Campus Technology Design, Data Center Design and Upgrades, World-Wide Integrated Networks, Applications Design, Systems Consolidation, Virtualization and Client Mentoring.

He has worked with governments in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Guam on a variety of projects, including new city development, major utility company reforms and utility divestiture projects.

Both an investor and entrepreneur, Mr. Nelson is also licensed in Texas as a Professional Engineer (P.E.), a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and an Emergency Number Professional (ENP). He served on the Board of the Texas Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund, which was responsible for awarding over $1.5 Billion USD in technology grants to Texas Schools, Libraries and Hospitals.

He currently serves as a Board Member and Communications Director of the North Texas Chapter of International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)², is a Life Member of several Engineering, Technical and Communications Societies and is active in both the East Africa Chamber of Commerce (EACC) and the West African American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WACCI), supporting international trade, investment and economic development in Africa.

As a civic servant leader and Irving, Texas-based businessman, Mr. Nelson is a member of and speaker at local Rotary Club and Henry Holmes Breakfast Forum business events.

He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, from The University of Houston and a Master's Degree in Computer Science, also from The University of Houston.

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