Space Foundation Announces Promotions

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 23, 2011) — The Space Foundation announces two promotions at its headquarters in Colorado Springs, both a result of the global space advocate’s continued growth.

Vinson Promoted to Vice President – Human Resources
Former Director – Human Resources Kathleen Vinson has been promoted to vice president, reflecting her role in creating and managing a top-performing team environment for the Space Foundation. “We are a team-driven organization and Kathy has been instrumental in ensuring that we have top-caliber team members and top-caliber team benefits and programs,” said Space Foundation Chief Executive Officer Elliot Pulham.

Vinson joined the Space Foundation as manager – human resources in 2009 and was rapidly promoted to director and then vice president of human resources in 2011. She was instrumental in the Space Foundation being designated by The NonProfit Times and Best Companies Group as among the Best Non-Profit Organizations to Work for 2011, the only Colorado organization to make the list. She was previously vice president of human resources for NTT America (formerly Verio Inc.) for 12 years.

Vinson, who reports to Chief Operating Officer Chuck Zimkas, is credentialed as a senior professional in human resources (SPHR) by the Human Resources Certification Institute.

Ratkewicz Named to New Operations Post
Art Ratkewicz, formerly Space Foundation manager – cyber initiatives, has been promoted to a new position of senior director – operations, also reporting to Zimkas. In his new role, Ratkewicz has a broad range of responsibilities, including customer service, logistics, facilities management and event management, including overseeing all of the operational aspects of the Space Foundation’s annual National Space Symposium. He will also temporarily continue in his role as Space Foundation cyberspace expert.

This new position was created to enable Zimkas to focus on planning and construction of improvements to the Space Foundation’s new Colorado Springs headquarters, including creating a visitors’ gallery, a Space Technology Hall of Fame®, learning laboratories and various additional public spaces.

“The Space Foundation has been steadily growing,” said Pulham. “That means more facilities, more events, more customers and more moving parts to manage. Art’s expertise and experience are perfect for managing growth while delivering superior service to our constituents.”

Ratkewicz’s experience includes project management with Booz Allen Hamilton and a number of intelligence and information operations positions with the United States Air Force, the U.S. Strategic Command, U.S. Forces Korea and Air Force Space Command. He also held a number of human resources, site management and manufacturing positions with Atmel Corporation and Texas Instruments.

About the Space Foundation
The Space Foundation is an international organization and the foremost advocate for all sectors of the space industry – civil, commercial, military and intelligence. Founded in 1983, the nonprofit organization is a leader in space awareness activities, educational programs that bring space into the classroom and major industry events, including the National Space Symposium, all in support of its mission “to advance space-related endeavours to inspire, enable and propel humanity.” An expert in all aspects of the global space industry, the Space Foundation publishes The Space Report: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity and provides three indices that track daily performance of the space industry. Through its Space Certification and Space Technology Hall of Fame® programs, the Space Foundation recognizes space-based technologies and innovations that have been adapted to improve life on Earth. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation conducts research and analysis and government affairs activities from its Washington, D.C., office and has field representatives in Houston, Texas, and Cape Canaveral, Fla. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and read about the latest space news and Space Foundation activities in Space Watch.

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