Rolando Pablos Joins Board That Guides Morgan’s Wonderland, Morgan’s Inspiration Island
SAN ANTONIO – Former Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos has joined the board of directors of SOAR (Sports Outdoor and Recreation), the non-profit organization that oversees operations of unique Morgan’s Wonderland theme park and ultra-accessible™ Morgan’s Inspiration Island splash park.
Pablos succeeds retired Army Major General Josue (Joe) Robles Jr., former CEO of USAA, a Fortune 500 financial services provider that serves U. S. military service members.
“We’re delighted to welcome an experienced and capable businessman like Rolando Pablos, who has a passion for helping those with special needs,” said SOAR Board Chairman Gordon Hartman, founder of The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation. “We’re also truly grateful for General Robles’ wisdom and guidance as a member of our board for the past several years.”
Other SOAR Board members are Heriberto (Berto) Guerra Jr., chairman and CEO of Avanzar Interior Technologies, an automotive interiors manufacturing company; retired Army General James T. Hill, former commander of the United States Southern Command, which oversees all U. S. military forces in Central and South America and the Caribbean; Maggie Hartman, co-founder of The Academy at Morgan’s Wonderland school for students with special needs; Joe C. McKinney, vice chairman of the board of Broadway Bank; Mark W. Roenigk, head of hardware engineering for Facebook; and Dr. Marian Sokol, executive director of the Children’s Bereavement Center of Texas.
Prior to his current position as co-founder of Cross-National Advisory Partners, Pablos was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to serve as Texas Secretary of State and as chief elections officer for Texas. He also served as senior advisor and liaison to the Governor for border and Mexican affairs, and he was the state’s chief international protocol officer.
Pablos, a former public utility regulator, specializes in economic development and advocates for North American manufacturing integration and cross-border collaboration among the U. S., Canada and Mexico. He also has served as honorary consul to Spain to facilitate business and diplomatic relationships between Texas and Spain.
After graduating with a bachelor of arts degree from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Pablos earned an MBA from the University of Texas at San Antonio College of Business and a master of science in hospitality degree from the University of Houston’s Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Subsequently, he completed his law degree at St. Mary’s University School of Law, and he is currently pursuing a master of laws degree in global energy from the University of Texas School of Law. He has been a member of the State Bar of Texas since 2000.
In 2007, The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation created non-profit SOAR to raise funds for building Morgan’s Wonderland, the world’s first ultra-accessible theme park. Construction on the $34 million project began in spring 2009, and the colorful park opened a year later. SOAR has taken on expanded responsibilities as a result of the impressive success of Morgan’s Wonderland. It has become the coordinating function for what’s now known as Wonderland, Texas – facilities in the former Longhorn Quarry in Northeast San Antonio all focused on helping the special-needs community. These include Morgan’s Wonderland, The Academy at Morgan’s Wonderland, Morgan’s Inspiration Island and future developments.
For additional information about Morgan’s Wonderland and Morgan’s Inspiration Island, visit www.MorgansWonderland.com. The award-winning parks are located at 5223 David Edwards Drive, a half-mile west of IH 35 at the intersection of Wurzbach Parkway and Thousand Oaks Drive.
– 30 –
