TAB Fort Worth

Ed Riefenstahl is living his personal vision of helping others achieve theirs.  Ed started and leads the Fort Worth Chapter of TAB. TAB Global is a 3,300 member organization that has been existence since 1990. Ed started TAB Fort Worth in 2006. Ed is also the Director of Experiential Learning for the Neeley School of Business’ recognized MBA program. In that capacity, Ed started the Neeley & Associates Consulting program. Clients have included Sabre, Bell Helicopter, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Sony Electronics, Half Price Books, DFW Airport, Amon Carter Museum, the Davey O’Brien Foundation, the UNT Health Science Center, and local entrepreneurs such as Cliff Morris of Americredit and Chad Horany and Judge Graham of Rassai. Even while working with or consulting for some large organizations in the commercial, public and nonprofit sectors – such as Cummins Engine Company, AMR, KPMG Consulting, the American National Red Cross Medical Services and the U.S. Peace Corps Small Business Development program – his career has been entrepreneurial.
To some degree, Ed has always had an inclination to develop, implement or lead “firsts.”

• As the Managing Director for ROI Associates, he conceived and – partnering with Gina and Victor Puente – launched the world’s first winery at an airport: La Bodega Winery
• While at Ernst & Young Consulting, hired and led an outside sales team charged with bringing the world’s first online consulting service and consulting tools to market: Ernie.
• While serving as the Administrator at BloodCare in Dallas (formerly Wadley), returned the organization to profitability and – through initiating collaborative projects – prepared it for its eventual mergers with Parkland and Carter Community Blood Centers.
• While at the American National Red Cross, was part of the team that planned the national implementation of the world’s first AIDS blood test.
• Also while at the American Red Cross, designed and implemented that $1 billion organization’s first integrated planning, resource allocation and performance management system.
• In addition to developing and launching the Neeley & Associates Consultants program at TCU’s Neeley School of Business, in 2008 arranged for and orchestrated that institution hosting its first national business case competition: a sales and marketing case sponsored by Sony Electronics.

Ed has postgraduate business degrees from both Emory University in the U.S. and the Manchester Business School in the U.K.
Locally, he helped found and was a former president of the DFW Airport Rotary and the North Texas Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, and also served on the boards of Ronald McDonald House and United Cerebral Palsy in Fort Worth. He also chaired the board of directors of Grapevine Springs Vintners, an organization of 25 investors interested in developing the Texas wine industry in Grapevine. Currently, he serves on the board of the Fort Worth Business Assistance Center.
He has been married to his 6th generation Texan bride of 29 years, Valerie. Ed and Valerie are blessed with three wonderful sons.
Ed’s diverse and exceptional background has prepared him for today, achieving his personal vision by assisting and aiding other small business owners to achieve theirs.

Valerie, a 6th generation Texan, comes from a long line of teachers and healers and is happiest when she is working for the betterment of people and
nature.

A businesswoman and teacher for the last 30 years, her background includes Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for an international manufacturer and distributor, manufacturing in China and marketing in the US, Europe, and Japan,  Mergers and Acquisitions with the Federal government, and teaching Spanish in the public school system.

She has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Texas Permian Basin and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.

Valerie teaches Business, Science and Business Online Networking at Everest College in Arlington, Texas and runs BÓN ~ Business Online Networking, teaching businesses how to shape their brand across all marketing platforms and create visibility for their businesses through the business and social networking sites and manage it even with their already busy schedules.

She has been married to the naturalized Texian, Ed Riefenstahl, for the last 30 years and has three adult sons, Alex, Austin and Andrew, who are mostly out of the house, two dogs, one cat and one very old potbelly pig, all of which are also mostly out of the house.