FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
DATE:  March 3, 2006       
CONTACT: Jorge A. Ramirez, Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Communications, (361) 825-2427; or Debbie Lindsey-Opel, President of Three Dimensional Development, (361) 854-1300

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WHO:   Dr. Flavius Killebrew, President of A&M-Corpus Christi; Dr. Robert Furgason, Executive Director of the Harte Reserch Institute; Dr. Richard McLaughlin, Panel Chair; and Dr. David Yoskowitz, Economic Panel Member 
WHAT: Formal Announcement of the State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit
WHEN:   Tuesday, March 7 at 10 a.m.
WHERE:   Harte Research Institute Building

Details to be Announced for the Upcoming State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit 2006 on Tuesday, March 7 at 10 a.m.  
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi President/CEO Flavius Killebrew and Harte Research Institute Director Robert Furgason will formally announce the details of the State of the Gulf of Mexico Summit 2006 on Tuesday, March 7 at 10 a.m. in the conference room of the Harte Research Institute Building. The Summit will be held March 28 – 30, 2006 at the Omni-Bayfront Hotel.

More than 300 participants will represent key leaders from throughout the U.S., Mexico Gulf States and Washington, D.C. On the opening day of the Summit Gov. Rick Perry will co-host “Governors from Across the Gulf of Mexico” to share insights for developing policies and programs to ensure a sustainable future for the region. He has extended invitations to all of the governors in the U.S. and Mexico states bordering the Gulf. 

In addition to the governors, the Summit will include keynote presentations by Admiral James Watkins and the Honorable Leon Panetta that will focus on planning and regional cooperation to build sustainability for the Gulf of Mexico. Also scheduled are panel presentations on catastrophic events, Gulf of Mexico issues, economy, public health, environment, and governance.