STTE Welcomes Three Visionaries to Its Board
The STTE Foundation is thrilled to announce the addition of three exceptional leaders to its Board of Directors: Cory Grenier, Jack Loveridge, Ph.D., and Mica Short, MPA. Their expertise in technology, education, and entrepreneurship, combined with a passion for community impact, marks an exciting new chapter for STTE as it continues to lead innovation in the Borderplex region and beyond.
Meet the New Board Members
Cory Grenier: Advancing Technological Breakthroughs in Education
Cory Grenier, CEO and Co-Founder of Geenee Holdings, Inc., brings a wealth of experience as a seasoned technology leader. His career includes pivotal roles as Chief Revenue Officer at Firework and Director of Sales & Marketing at Snapchat, where he helped scale the company from a startup to a multibillion-dollar enterprise. Cory has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Peking University Guanghua School and Cal Polytechnic Orfalea College of Business.
Cory Grenier, is CEO and Co-Founder of Geenee Holdings, Inc., a WebAI virtual try-on platform for personalized spatial paid media applications. Previously, Cory was Chief Revenue Officer at Firework, a live shopping video platform backed by $269M VC capital, and played a pivotal role at Snapchat as its first Director of Sales & Marketing. He contributed to the growth of Snap from a 30-person startup to a multibillion-dollar publicly traded tech firm. A Silicon Valley native, Cory’s career includes Global Marketing roles at Lenovo, and as an Advisor to Talespin (acquired by Cornerstone). A co-inventor of four patents and a Cannes Lion recipient, he earned an innovation and entrepreneurship certificate from Stanford GSB, and holds M.S. and B.S. Business degrees from NBS (UK), and SJSU respectively.
Cory’s Goals at STTE:
- Accelerate Virtual Teaching Technology: Evaluate technologies to bring virtual teaching assistants into classrooms.
- Strengthen STEAM Enrollment: Identify industry partnerships that provide resources to boost STEAM field enrollment.
- Optimize Opportunities: Conduct cost-benefit analyses to prioritize entrepreneurial education initiatives.
“I’m motivated to bring these skills and insights to STTE,” Cory shared. “By collaborating with fellow board members, I’m confident we can make a lasting impact within the bilingual communities of the Borderplex region.”
Dr. Jack Loveridge: Innovating at the Intersection of Education and Entrepreneurship
Dr. Jack Loveridge, CEO and Co-Founder of Panoculum, Inc., offers a unique perspective as an educator-turned-entrepreneur. His experience includes serving on the EPISD Board of Trustees and co-leading the Texas Chapter of Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs, where he supports ventures across the Southwest.
Jack Loveridge, PhD, is a historian of technology and the CEO and co-founder of Panoculum, Inc., a digital startup in El Paso focused on preserving and interpreting stories from families, friends, and close-knit communities. Co-lead of the Texas Chapter of Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs, supporting Southwestern U.S. ventures, and advocate for digital rights as a co-founder of Initiate: Digital Rights in Society. Academic journey includes advanced research on South Asia’s Green Revolution and international fellowships at institutions like Oxford, Yale, and Harvard. Jack currently serves on the EPISD Board of Trustees.
Jack’s Vision for STTE:
- Expand Reach: Support collaborations to connect STTE with national and international audiences.
- Lead in Applied Learning: Position STTE as a prominent voice in innovation at the nexus of education and entrepreneurship.
- Refine STEAM Models: Develop a STEAM learning approach rooted in the unique context of the Borderplex region.
“STTE has the opportunity to be at the center of crucial discussions about the future of education and entrepreneurship,” Jack noted. “This is an exciting time to scale our ideas and amplify our voice.”
Mica Short, MPA: Strengthening Community Through Strategic Partnerships
Mica Short, Vice President of Development at the Paso del Norte Charitable Foundation, has witnessed STTE’s evolution over the past six years. Her extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, advocacy, and relationship-building aligns perfectly with STTE’s goals. “STTE is a wonderful organization integrating technological innovation and entrepreneurship into education,” Mica shared. “I am passionate about our community and eager to help shape its future as a board member of STTE.”
Mica holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science and Government from The University of Texas at El Paso. Currently serving as Vice President of Development at the Paso del Norte Foundation, she works with various stakeholders to enhance health, education, and quality of life in the region. Previously, Mica was the Community Relations Manager at Texas Gas Service and the Executive Vice President of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, where she led advocacy efforts supporting El Paso’s economic growth and sustainability.
Mica aims to enhance STTE’s visibility and prominence as a nonprofit by leveraging her relationship-building skills, fostering strategic partnerships to support the organization’s mission, and strengthening its impact within the Borderplex community.
A Message from the Chairman
Dr. Beto Pallares, Chairman of the STTE Board, welcomed the new members, stating:
“On behalf of the board, the addition of Cory, Jack, and Mica marks a pivotal moment for STTE. Their expertise and dedication will drive innovation and growth, creating transformative opportunities for the Borderplex region and beyond.”
About STTE
Since 2018, STTE (Success Through Technology Education) has been a leader in innovation, fostering entrepreneurship and STEAM education in the Southwest Texas Borderplex Region. The organization has grown from a $50,000 seed-funded initiative into $500,000 in annual revenue, impacting over 110,000 lives through innovative education programming.
STTE’s programs, such as the Startosphere AI Accelerator, the LatinX EdTech Summit, and the Skills for Sustainability workforce initiative, address critical challenges while fostering innovation and preparing a future-ready workforce. STTE’s Ventures Program has also generated $1.6 million in economic impact, solidifying STTE’s role as a leader in entrepreneurship.
Looking Ahead to 2025
With the addition of Cory, Jack, and Mica, STTE is poised to amplify its impact and expand its reach. STTE is set to make 2025 a year of groundbreaking innovation with programs like AI in the Borderlands, a summit with Carnegie exploring AI’s role in regional competitiveness, and TechTeach, an accelerator empowering educators to create transformative EdTech solutions. The organization will also unveil an AI-powered virtual teaching product. Learn more about these initiatives on our About Page.
Be part of the journey as we continue to drive change, empower communities, and inspire the next generation of leaders.
