Bernie R. Fette

Fette, Bernie

Senior Research Specialist

Teens in the Driver Seat Center - Gilchrist, Room 262
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
The Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 78213
ph. (979) 845-2623 Ext. 52623 · fax (979) 845-9848
b-fette@tamu.edu

Short Biography

Bernie Fette is a senior research specialist for the Center for Transportation Safety, and also serves as the public affairs manager for CTS, coordinating the center's activities in the areas of news media relations, website communications and marketing. He also manages state legislative affairs for the center, concentrating on legislative bill and public policy analysis, and providing direct assistance to members and staff of the Texas Legislature. Mr. Fette's primary focus in recent years has been the promotion of the Teens in the Driver Seat program, which has grown to become active in more than 350 schools across Texas, and many more in California, Connecticut and Georgia. His efforts have resulted in extensive nationwide news coverage of the TDS program, as well as coverage of TTI's associated research in teen driver safety issues and nationwide crash trends. He earned a B.A. in journalism from Texas A&M University before spending several years in the news business, city government public relations, and bank marketing. He has been at TTI since 1990.

Education

  • B.A., Journalism, Texas A&M University, 1982.

Experience

  • Senior Research Specialist, Teens in the Driver Seat Center, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, September 2010 - Present.
  • Research Specialist, Public Affairs, Texas Transportation Institute, January 2007 - September 2010.
  • Public Affairs Officer, Public Affairs, Texas Transportation Institute, October 2002 - December 2006.
  • Assistant Head, ITEC, Public Affairs Office, Texas Transportation Institute, March 1996 - September 2002.
  • Media Relations Coordinator, Information & Technology Exchange Center, Texas Transportation Institute, January 1990 - January 1996.
  • Technical Writer, Texas Transportation Institute, June 1990 - August 1992.
  • Vice President for Marketing, First American Bank, 1989 - January 1990.
  • Assistant Research Editor, Texas Transportation Institute, September 1992 - December 1989.
  • Public Information Officer, City of Bryan, 1985 - January 1989.
  • Copy Editor, The Bryan-College Station Eagle, 1984 - January 1985.
  • Managing Editor, The Muenster Enterprise, 1982 - January 1984.

Affiliations

  • Member, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
  • Member, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), International Accreditation Board.
  • Board of Directors, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), U.S. District 5.
  • Judge, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), New York ACE Competition.
  • Member, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), International Executive Board.
  • Judge, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), International Chapter Management Competition.
  • Assistant Director, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), U.S. District 5.
  • President, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Brazos Valley Chapter.
  • Vice President, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Brazos Valley Chapter.
  • Board of Directors, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Brazos Valley Chapter.
  • Judge, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Nashville Gold Pen Competition.
  • Director, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), U.S. District 5.

Honors & Awards

Brazos Bravo Award for Media Relations Programs, Brazos Bravo Competition, 1995.

Award of Excellence for Newsletters, Brazos Bravo Competition, 1994.

Award of Achievement for Publications, Brazos Bravo Competition, 1993.

Award of Excellence for Annual Reports, Brazos Bravo Competition, 1992.

Brazos Bravo Award for Speech Writing, Brazos Bravo Competition, 1992.

Award of Excellence for Communications Program, Brazos Bravo Competition, 1992.

Award of Merit for Publications, Brazos Bravo Competition, 1991.

Brazos Bravo Award for Communications Programs, Brazos Bravo Competition, 1988.

Participant, John Ben Shepperd Forum on Public Leadership, 1987.

Graduate, Leadership Brazos, 1987.

Outstanding Young Man of America, 1987.

Award of Excellence for Annual Reports, Brazos Bravo Competition, 1993.