Houston Grand Opera Company’s Role in Promoting New Artists

Houston Grand Opera
Image: houstongrandopera.org

The pioneer of VOIP in the United States, Shelby Bryan is an entrepreneur and an expert in company start-ups. He founded Pingtone Communication and led the company as CEO for fourteen years. He formerly served as the CEO of Millicom International, the largest cellular company in the world at that time. Apart from his professional endeavors in telecommunications and business, Shelby Bryan also produced an Off-Broadway play and sponsored a show at the Houston Grand Opera Company.

The Houston Grand Opera is an internationally renowned opera company, well-known for producing, promoting, and performing new works as well as outstanding shows. Established as a small regional company in 1955, the Houston Grand Opera has hosted more than 56 world premieres and seven American premieres since 1973. It has been awarded two Grammy awards, two Emmy awards, and one Tony award, adding up to more honors than any other opera company in the US.

The company’s mission is to use its innovative and diverse performances, events, and programs as a means to reach out to communities and contribute to enriching the culture of Houston as well as the entire nation. The company gives opportunities to new or talented artists so that they can actualize their work by raising money through fundraising drives and by supporting new productions.

A Snapshot of The Clean Water Act

Clean Water Act

 

Shelby Bryan co-founded Millicom International, the first cellular company in the United States, with renowned Swedish entrepreneur Jan Stenbeck. Before launching Millicom, Shelby Bryan interned with Ralph Nader while Nader was working on the Clean Water Act.

An American author, attorney, and political activist, Ralph Nader was instrumental in developing the Clean Water Act of 1968. Established to restore and maintain the physical, biological, and chemical integrity of America’s waters, the act has greatly helped preserve the health of lakes, rivers, and coastal waters by keeping pollutants from entering them.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, it is beneficial to restore the Clean Water Act to protect the nation’s drinking waters because we drink it and play in it. Even beer is comprised of 90 percent water. America’s wildlife including migratory birds and fish also need clean water to survive. In a place like Minnesota where more than half of the region’s stream acreage are in headwaters, the trout fishing opportunities would be in jeopardy without protection.

River Oaks Country Club Wine Director Wins 2016 Iron Sommelier

River Oaks Country Club
Image: riveroakscc.net

Formerly the CEO of Millicom International and, more recently, ICG Communications, Inc., Shelby Bryan now operates in that capacity for PingTone Communications, the first VOIP in the United States, which he founded. When not dispatching his professional obligations, Shelby Bryan enjoys playing golf, including at River Oaks Country Club in Houston.

In addition to its links, River Oaks Country Club is noted for its wine offerings, and in November, its wine director, Christian Varas, won the 2016 Iron Sommelier competition, which he accomplished by investigating the impact of different soils on the taste of grapes that are used for wine. During his research, he discovered that most of the soils contain gray schist and red slate, which contributed to the wine’s texture and taste.

Moreover, he engaged the assistance of Mila Sketch, an artist who is noted for her soil sketches. With her help, he impressed the judges with his detailed breakdown of soil and wine.

Clean Water Act – Nutrients Found in Montana Water Being Challenged

Clean Water Act
Image: epa.gov

Shelby Bryan founded and served as the CEO of PingTone Communications, the country’s first VOIP. Prior to studying for his MBA at Harvard Business School, Shelby Bryan assisted Ralph Nader as an intern on environmental projects.

A former presidential candidate, Ralph Nader has been involved with many environmental bills that were eventually enacted into law. The Clean Water Act (CWA) was one such piece of legislation. The Clean Water Act ensures that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforces rules that protect against pollution.

The EPA recently had to submit information about the nutrients found in water within the State of Montana. Per the CWA, water must be tested for nutrients. Significant amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus, components of agricultural fertilizers, appeared in the testing, which is considered a violation of the CWA.

The Upper Missouri Waterkeeper is an organization that focuses monitoring and making improvements upon the Upper Missouri River Basin located in Montana. Because of this, the Upper Missouri Waterkeeper has taken steps to let the EPA know that the appearance of these compounds in the water is unacceptable. The organization is awaiting intervention to ensure that the EPA addresses the issue.

Popular Sailing Trips off Long Island

American Sailing Association
Image: asa.com

Shelby Bryan serves as the founder of Pingtone Communications, having previously established the first cellular company in the United States. A former sailboat racer, Shelby Bryan still takes his boat out off Long Island, New York.

According to the American Sailing Association’s sailing school in Greenport, New York, the best sailing destinations off Long Island include trips to Newport, Rhode Island, and Mystic River, Connecticut.

Newport is regarded as the East Coast’s yachting capital. Places to explore include the Museum of Yachting, the International Yacht Restoration School, and boutique shops along Thames Street. Visitors may also enjoy a walking tour through historic Newport as many structures were built in the 1600’s.

Mystic River, meanwhile, is home to the Mystic Seaport maritime museum. To arrive via sailboat, one must meander through river channels and pass under two bridges. The museum is accessible right from the dock, which contains interesting exhibits, planetarium shows, and hosts special events.

‘Actor’s Studio’ Provides Common Ground for Theater Artists

‘Actors Studio’
Image: theactorsstudio.org

Shelby Bryan built his professional career around startup companies such as Miltope, Millicon International, and Pingtone Communications. Despite his eventful career, Shelby Bryan still managed to pursue some of his personal interests, one of which is theater. He was once able to produce an off-Broadway play as a board member of the Actor’s Studio.

Established in 1947, the Actor’s Studio was initiated by three influential figures of theater and Broadway at that time: director Elia Kazan, actress and producer Cheryl Crawford, and actor-director Robert Lewis. The Actor’s Studio provides a laboratory environment for theater artistes, where they hone their talents through self-directed activities.

Membership is by invitation only, and all candidates are required to undergo and pass several auditions. The auditions are often five-minute scenes of contemporary material, judged by board members of the studio. Actors should be at least 18 years old and local residents to be eligible for membership. The Actor’s Studio has two locations; one in New York and another in West Hollywood.

Common French Cuisine Techniques

Braise
Image: bonappetit.com

With almost four decades of experience in establishing companies, Shelby Bryan continues to offer his skills and knowledge as he oversees America’s first VOIP company, Pingtone Communications. Despite his busy career, Shelby Bryan takes time off to do his favorite personal activities, one of which is cooking French cuisine.

Popular in the world because of its refined and unique taste, French cuisine is about knowing, mastering and applying the right cooking techniques to come up with a delightful piece of recipe. Two of the most common French cooking techniques are listed below.

Braise – To braise means to cook food using dry heat combined with moist heat. Braising relies on three factors – moisture level, temperature and time. Specifically, placed in a covered pot, the meat or any main ingredient goes through searing followed by simmering in liquid with just the right heat.

Sauté – To sauté refers to cooking food very quickly, using a small amount of oil or butter on a relatively hot pan. Sautéeing involves turning the food brown while still retaining its natural flavor, texture as well as its moisture.

American Foundation for AIDS Research Prepares for 2017 New York Gala

American Foundation for AIDS Research
Image: amfar.org

Shelby Bryan is the founder of Pingtone Communications, a telecommunications company that became one of the first VOIP companies in the country. Beyond his obligations to the company, Shelby Bryan supports the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR), which will host its annual New York Gala in February 2017.

Since its establishment in 1998, the amfAR New York Gala has risen to become one of the state’s most successful and high-profile AIDS benefit events, with a history of raising over $17 million to date. It celebrates individuals who made significant contributions to raising awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and honors some of the biggest names in AIDS advocacy.

The amfAR New York Gala also acts as the official kickoff event to the New York Fashion Week and attracts celebrities and individuals in fields of art, entertainment, and fashion. A spectacular black-tie event, it will feature cocktails, a gourmet dinner, a live auction, and musical performances. Ticket prices vary, and attendees may purchase single tickets or full table tickets that seat 10 to 12 people. The event will take place on February 8, 2017, at the Cipriani Wall Street.

A Brief Look at the Clean Water Act

Clean Water Act
Image: epa.gov

Pingtone Communications founder Shelby Bryan has more than 35 years of combined experience in investment banking, international business, and telecommunications. Prior to the launch of his career, Shelby Bryan became one of two law school graduates to intern for Ralph Nader. Throughout the internship, he worked on a variety of environmental projects, including the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972.

Originally established in 1948, the CWA defines quality standards for surface waters and forms the basic structure for regulations regarding the discharge of pollutants into U.S. waters. The act enables the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to administer and control various pollution control programs and establish waste-water standards for the industry. Furthermore, the CWA forbids the discharge of pollutants from point sources into navigable waters without first obtaining a permit.

The CWA was originally known as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act at the time of its 1948 enactment, during which time it became the first U.S. law to address water pollution. Growing public awareness and concerns about water pollution led to significant changes to the act in 1972. In addition to its name change to the CWA, amendments to the act included granting the EPA the authority to implement pollution control programs and approving funding for the construction of sewage treatment plants. It also recognized the need to address critical problems as a result of nonpoint source pollution.

For more details on the CWA, visit www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-water-act.

Sailboat Racing Rules for Beginners

Sailboats
Image: sailing.about.com

After graduating from Harvard Business School, Shelby Bryan focused on building mobile and tech companies throughout his 40-year career. To strike work-life balance, Shelby Bryan managed to wind down through sports and recreation. One activity he is fond of is sailboat racing.

Like any sport, sailboat racing also has a set of rules to keep the game safe and to administer sportsmanship. Some of the basic rules are:

1. Over early – All parts of the boat must be behind the start line prior the signal to begin, or else it will be marked over early and will be required to restart the race.

2. Right-of-way – Leeward and starboard tack boats have the right-of-way. Since they are at an advantageous position, they should give windward boats and pork tack boats time and enough space to safely maneuver.

3. Buoy room – All leeward boats should make room—about two boat lengths—for overlapping boats on the inside. This ensures safe maneuvering while making a pass at any mark, excluding the starting mark.