AUSTIN, TX, November 09, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Wayne T. Franke with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Mr. Franke celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of a current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
EDUCATION
Before embarking on his professional path, Mr. Franke pursued an education at San Angelo Central High School, graduating in 1968. He concluded his studies at Angelo State University in 1972, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Brief Overview of Work History
With 50 years of industry experience to his credit, Mr. Franke formed MJWT Consulting upon retiring from GTE Corporation in 1998. Additionally, he helped establish, and is still a partner of, Business Partners Ltd. and majority owner of DOBWEST L.P. Previously, he served GTE Southwest as the Director of Government Affairs from 1986 to 1998, Manager of Government Affairs from 1979 to 1986, Assistant Manager of Government Affairs from 1975 to 1978, and Communications Consultant from 1972 to 1975. Mr. Franke began his career as an administrative clerk for GTE Southwest from 1968 to 1972 while attending college at Angelo State University. In addition to his business career, Mr. Franke was named Adjunct Professor at Angelo State in January 2018 where he's been assisting with the teaching of the Housley Principled Leadership Course since 2014.
Involvement in Business and Professional Associations
In addition to his primary vocation, Mr. Franke has been affiliated with various organizations in relation to his areas of expertise. He was active with the Lewisville, TX Chamber of Commerce as Ambassador in 1974-1975 and the San Angelo, TX Chamber of Commerce as Ambassador in 1976-1977. In addition, Wayne has been active in numerous capacities over the years with the West Texas Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Association of Business, and the Texas State Chamber of Commerce.
In the 1980s, Mr. Franke also held a number of roles for the Texas Industrial Development Council, including on the Energy and Awards Committee from 1978 to 1979 and as Austin Chairman from 1981 to 1983.
Additionally, Mr. Franke served with the Business Insurance Consumers Association on the Executive Committee from 1990 to 1995, the Texas Self Insurance Association as Co-Chair of the Legislative Committee in 1993, and the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association on the State Affairs Committee from 1985 to 1997. He's also been a member of the Lewisville Area Chamber of Commerce, the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, and was a founding member of the Austin Economic Club.
During his time in government affairs with GTE Southwest, Mr. Franke was a participant in U.S. Speaker Jim Wright's Diplomatic Mission to Moscow in 1987, and served as chairman for the Texas Statehood Sesquicentennial Program at the Texas Capitol in 1996.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Community Organizations and Associations
Beyond his business pursuits, Mr. Franke has participated in numerous civic engagement endeavors. In the 1970s, Mr. Franke held many titles for Optimist International, including Secretary of the Irving chapter from 1973 to 1974, Vice President of Youth Work from 1974 to 1975, President in 1975, on the Board of Directors for the San Angelo chapter in 1977, and Lieutenant Governor for the North Texas district from 1978 to 1979.
Additionally, Mr. Franke served as a loaned executive for United Way of Tarrant County from 1973 to 1974, on the Issues Management Advisory Council for the North Texas Commission from 1985 to 1987, and as Corporative Drive Co-Chairman for United Cerebral Palsy Austin from 1990 to 1996.
Likewise, Mr. Franke was a fundraiser for the Austin Performing Arts Center 1998 to 2000, the Boy Scouts of America from 1987 to 1988, and the ARC of the Capital Area. He also served on the steering committee for the Architectural Control and Protection Committee for Hays Country Oaks from 1993 to 1996. Mr. Franke was part of the initial Board of the West Texas Boys Ranch Foundation, including as a trustee from 1995 to 2005, the Executive Committee Treasurer from 1999 to 2001, and Chairman from 2001 to 2002.
John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Forum
Mr. Franke has also been associated with the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Forum since the 1980s. Mr. Franke served as the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Forum Program Chairman in 1986, Statewide Chairman in 1987, and Chairman of the John Ben Shepperd Alumni Forum in 1988. Additionally, Mr. Franke served as the Finance Chairman for the John Ben Shepperd Governing Board from 1990 to 1991, on the Financial Committee from 1990 to 1992, on the Advisory Board from 1991 to 1993, and Vice Chairman of the John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Foundation, Inc. from 1997 to 1998 and Chairman from 1998 to 1999. He's served on the Board of Directors since 1997.
Church Leadership
Beginning in the mid-1990s, Mr. Franke has been associated with St. Paul's Catholic Church in multiple capacities, including serving on the Vision Committee from 2001 to 2002, as co-chair of the Parish Festival in 2005, and on the Pastoral Council from 2007 to 2009. He also has been a member of the Knights of Columbus since 2001, including serving as Recorder in 2003.
Public Education
Mr. Franke has also given energy and resources in developing local public education. He served Hays Consolidated Independent School District, the district in which his daughter attended grade school and high school, on the task force for Schools and Committees Offering Positive Experiences (SCOPE) from 2003 to 2005 and on the Hays CISD Education Foundation from 2005 to 2011.
He has also been actively involved with his alma mater, Angelo State University (ASU), in numerous capacities. He has held multiple posts for the Angelo State University Foundation, including as a member from 2006 to 2013, Vice Chairman from 2009 to 2010, and Chairman from 2010 to 2013. Mr. Franke served on the Board of Directors for the ASU Alumni Association from 1999 to 2005, and has been serving on the ASU President's Circle since 2009 and the ASU Norris-Vincent Business School Advisory Council since 2017. In 2002, as a way to permanently honor his parents, Wayne initiated with his siblings the establishment of the Bernie and Henrietta Franke Scholarship Endowment. The endowment has grown to being able to provide four scholarships each semester to deserving students at Angelo State.
PERSONAL PURSUITS
Mr. Franke found success with his written works as well, having collaborated with his daughter, Mauri Jane, on The Adventures of Pootsey the Wonderbug, a children's book published in 2016, based on notes he left for his daughter by her cereal bowl each morning when she was a young girl.
At the moment, he is authoring stories about specific instances in his life and career where he has been blessed to learn a life lesson from a family member, trusted personal friend, or business friend.
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
In what he views as an extremely blessed career, Mr. Franke has received multiple recognitions. Among them are Ambassador of the Year by the Lewisville, TX Chamber of Commerce in 1975; Ambassador of the Year by the San Angelo, TX Chamber of Commerce in 1976, being listed in Texas Business Magazine among the Ten Rising Stars of Texas Business in 1988, and being recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus by Angelo State University in 1989. On October 14, 1989, Mr. Franke was honored with "Wayne Franke Day" by proclamation of the City Council of San Angelo, Texas.
Additionally, from GTE Corporation, Mr. Franke was presented with the Salesman of the Year Award in 1974 by GTE Southwest, GTE Corporation Lobbyist of the Year honors in 1987 and in 1991, the Strive for Excellence Award in 1992, and the External Team Excellence Award in 1993.
In 2012, The New York Times and Texas Tribune featured Wayne and his unique passion for networking by publishing a story about his routine of calling over 3000 people each year to wish them a happy birthday and/or wedding anniversary.
Mr. Franke has also been selected for inclusion in many editions of Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Politics, Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Who's Who in the World, and Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to his profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Mr. Franke has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
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