Dr. Lucian Spataro Jr., has a unique viewpoint: from atop a horse. He is an environmentalist, businessman, educator, and adventurer whose accomplishments are both international in scope and local as well. He approaches each of his ventures; corporate, academic, or environmental with an interdisciplinary perspective; one that mirrors the diversity and dynamism of the natural world. The diversity and resilience of the natural systems are his inspiration; they strengthen his perspective and they are the premise upon which he has built a track record of success in a variety of different disciplines. The idea that economic vitality, environmental equality, and social justice are interrelated components of a healthy community is the common thread that weaves it’s way through the fabric of his career.
Dr. Spataro earned a B.S. from the University of Arizona and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Studies from Ohio University, and has held engineering or administrative positions with numerous companies. His international assignments include postings in Mexico, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, England, and Scotland. He began his career in Mexico with Gates LearJet and IBM, and later joined the General Electric Corporation (UK) as Director for the Latin America Division, and in this capacity was responsible for managing various manufacturing programs for GEC and Marconi companies worldwide.
In 1987, Dr. Spataro was asked by the state of Sonora, Mexico, to spearhead the development of the organization now known as PRISSA, to promote industrial growth in the Arizona-Sonora region. He also founded L.S. Systems, developed the Offshore Matrix software program, and became a principal investor and partner in the PRIME Industrial Group. In recognition of his civic and business contributions, he was chosen by Site Selection Handbook as one of the “10 Outstanding Young Leaders of 1988,” and was nominated for a White House Fellowship in 1992.
In 1993, Dr. Spataro was named Vice Rector of Academic Affairs at the Universidad del Noroeste in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. In 1996, he was appointed Director of the Academic Program on Sustainable Development at the University of Arizona’s International Campus. During this time, he authored numerous articles and publications on International Business and Sustainable Development, and was the recipient of numerous grants with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration in that same area of research.
In 2000, Dr. Spataro accepted an offer to become Executive Vice President of the TesseracT Group, and was soon appointed President and CEO and asked to lead the strategic restructuring of this publicly-traded company (NASDQ: TSST). In 2005, he was appointed Chief Operations Officer for Redcat Motors; in 2006, he managed the merger of Redcat with Tank Sports and served as interim COO for the public company Tank Sports Inc. (TNSP). In 2007 he joined Anchor Management as Operations Officer, overseeing and working to improve the performance of Anchor’s portfolio of companies and providing interim management support. This firm serves the founders of Insight Enterprises (Fortune 500 NASDAQ: NSIT). In 2010, Dr. Spataro accepted a position as Chief Operations Officer for Education2020, an educational software and services provider based in Scottsdale, Arizona and in that capacity helped facilitate the sale of the company to the Weld North Fund. Currently, Dr. Spataro serves as President & CEO of the of the Joe Foss Institute, a non profit organization that serves Veterans and students in schools across the country.
In 1981, Dr. Spataro was a member of the H.A.S.E. expedition on Mexico’s Mt. Citlaltepetl, the third-highest peak in North America; the expedition’s goal was to set a world record for high altitude scuba diving. In 1982, Dr. Spataro organized a team of scuba divers to set the Guinness World Record for time and distance in underwater biking. In 1989, he embarked on a record-breaking ocean-to-ocean journey to raise awareness of rainforest protection, riding a team of Arabian horses from Los Angeles to Chesapeake Bay. This event is recounted in Dr. Spataro’s The Long Ride, published in 2011.