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Thread: EarthQuest Institute Fraud Continues / Don Allen Holbrook CEO

  1. #101
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    Re: Don Allen Holbrook IEDC International Economic Development Council Rogue Member

    Don Holbrook



    Podium Speaker and Presenter at Blue Green Resorts BXG


    Las Vegas, NevadaCapital Markets




    Background

    Summary

    Expertise in managing talented teams and very exceptional professionals as well as bottom line responsibility for budgets and attaining corporate goals, milestones and promoting a productive work environment within the values and mission of my employers.

    Professional consulting practice consists of private sector and public sector clients. On the private sector side it assisted businesses in need of capitalization for their operations and/or those in search of a new location for relocation and/or expansion for new business opportunities and market expansion for business development. Pointing out the most advantageous business climate and location and negotiation of public incentives and inducements that lower the upfront costs for the client thus lowering market entry risks.

    Also public sector clients to recommend the creation of incentive and capitalization strategies and tools that will increase their ability to attract investment into their locales. Our focus is on deals that create quality jobs, significant investment and improve the quality of life for residents of our community clients. Typically this helps the community's economic development organization diversify their economy and improve their outcomes to their communities. Assisted in creating conceptual catalyst projects that can achieve their economic development expectations and design the business case to attract such opportunities to our client communities. We can assist EDO's in vetting developers, operators and investors in such concepts. Specialized in destination tourism projects that create branding value, additional jobs & tax base and greater economic impact than many more traditional economic development projects.

    Specialties: Site Location Analysis, Business capitalization, Hybrid capitalization using special economic development tools, public policy such as incentive strategies tied to ROI, deal negotiations for public incentives and investment inducements




    Don A Holbrook, TV45 Interview - Moving Beyond A Fragile Economy








    Experience

    Podium Speaker and Presenter

    Blue Green Resorts BXG

    August 2012 – Present (6 months)Las Vegas, Nevada AreaResponsible for creating an economic desire to purchase the company's time share product of flexible vacation ownership. This position requires two 60 minute presentations each day in front of a mixed audience of solicited attendees and converting their built in resistance to acting today into a sense of urgency and desire to make a choice to do so now.




    Board of Director

    CDC Small Business Finance

    March 2007 – Present (5 years 11 months)CDC Small Business is the largest SBA Certified Lending Organization in the USA, they serve the California, Nevada and Arizona markets. CDC has over $1B in capitalization and loans nearly $300M per year to economic development based business needs.

    Keynote Speaker, Economist, Author, CEcD

    Don Allen Holbrook, LLC

    January 2007 – Present (6 years 1 month)Don speaks on the topic of the impact of globalization and how local economies can rebuild and retool themselves to better compete, survive and thrive in globally chaotic times. He discusses the perfect storm that set this in motion in simple understandable details and advocates for fearless leadership as the first line of defense and the best offense to address globalization. His approach is any city or town can become a world class locale.
    Member, CEcD, FM

    IEDC


    January 1990 – December 2012 (23 years)
    Professional Economic Developer and Site Location Consultant specializing in public policy incentives to attract business. In addition I actually do turn key financing for projects that I am involved in from inception to construction through my network of non-traditional capital market sources.




    Board of Director

    International Economic Development Council

    January 2004 – October 2012 (8 years 10 months)Washington D.C. Metro AreaI have been active in the volunteer leadership of the economic development industry for approximately 16 years, serving first on the Mid-American Economic Development Council, MAEDC and eventually becoming Chairman of the Board. Now I have served for four terms on the International Economic Development Council, IEDC. My greatest contribution has been to remain a neutral thought leader advocating for the needs of the practitioners. I am one of the most active writers and public speakers in the industry on leadership and business investment attraction strategies in the world. As an economist I take a critical look at how to use public-endorsed and/or backed incentives to grow local economies in smart and responsible manner, but I am definitely pro-incentives and not against their responsible use.

    The Next America: Moving Beyond a Fragile Economy

    Author and Keynote Speaker

    January 2010 – August 2012 (2 years 8 months)worldwideI have just released my third book in a series started prior to the Global Financial Crisis that engages the discussion of rebooting, rebuilding and renewing America to remain the most competitive economy in the world. The lighthouse of hope for those that want a better quality of life, the most competitive business climate for investment and the hub of innovation and world class quality of life.
    (Open)2 recommendations
    • Ed Burghard

      CEO and Manager at The Burghard Group, LLC

      Don is one of the most deeply thoughtful and insightful economic development professionals I have encountered. He has the...View


    Managing Partner

    Economic Developer, LLC.

    January 2006 – August 2012 (6 years 8 months)Las Vegas, Nevada AreaI am the chief executive officer and primary consultant for all contractual obligations to clients and business manager of the enterprise to create business development opportunities with particular focus on public incentives negotiations and public affairs for corporate clients seeking to expand or relocate their businesses. This included site location screening and systemic site search considerations for capital investment criteria that best benefits the corporate clients.


    Author

    Knights Templar Fictional Book Project

    2008 – July 2012 (4 years)Las Vegas, Nevada AreaI have written the first of a series of fictional history novels that are based on the Knights Templars... the series incorporates actual history but is set in modern day. It is a combination of spy, mystery, adventure and action thriller all in one. The book is now ready for publication.


    Interim President & CEO (acting on pro-bono basis currently)

    The EarthQuest Institute

    2009 – May 2012 (3 years)East Montgomery County TexasI helped to found and organize the non-profite and developed the mission and objectives. I later negotiated for their acquisition of their future site for the construction of their public demonstration facility and showcase pavilion for green strategies and products that will raise consumer awareness. Currently EQI is not soliciting funds as they are awaiting the announcement of the new theme park developer by EMCID and the expected official business relationship that EQI desires to have with the new developer. At that time I expect the new board will hire a new President/CEO for renewed and sustained operations going forward. I am still a major supporter of this concept and believe in it's purpose greatly!


    Consultant

    EMCID

    October 2006 – May 2012 (5 years 8 months)East Montgomery County TexasI have been a working project director under a consulting agreement to help create EMCID as the largest central time zone tourism destination in the US. It is anchored by the EarthQuest Theme Park & Resort, but we have expanded the concept to focus on ancillary and stand alone additional destination tourism concepts and opportunities to build the district's over-all tourism capacity even greater.


    Site Location consultant/Managing Partner

    The Vercitas Group

    January 2007 – January 2012 (5 years 1 month)Las Vegas, NVVercitas is a consulting firm that specializes in economic development services for community based economic development organizations. In addition, they provide site location and business capitalization services which include negotiation of incentives and investment inducements that lower front end business investment costs for projects. I am the only partner in the firm and I utilize world-class associates in response to our clients needs, such as economists, subject matter experts, investment bankers, creative venue and thematic attraction design & costing consultants, land use & planning experts, tourism experts, market feasibility and others depending on the unique needs of our client base. It is important to note that Vercitas and Economic Developer are both entities that are controlled by Don A. Holbrook and collaboratively supported each other.

    President/CEO

    Professional Economic Development Organizations

    January 1990 – February 2006 (16 years 2 months)Don worked in several economic development non-profit organizations as the chief executive officer. His tenure included Port Authority's, County wide EDC's and local Muncipal EDC's. His breath of experience covers most economic development agency types. He served on MAEDC Board of Directors and as their Chairman in 1996.
    (Open)1 honor or award(Open)1 recommendation
    • Jeff Finkle, CEcD

      President, International Economic Development Council

      Don is an innovative economic developer and a thoughtful writer and presenter on the tends in the field of economic development. Don has been at the forefront in the use of technology in the profession and is now cutting new ground in the area of...View
    Holbrook's explanation of how he sells timeshares (the unexploded Pinto salesman's approach) is quite telling. What a perfect fit for a dishonest, dirtbag. Does he throw in a few lawsuit threats for good measure???

    When party boy Holbrook received his Fellow Member award, he was accompanied to that party by his drinking buddies from the East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID). Holbrook had his hand in every pie with that group while consulting on that Earthquest international destination theme park fiasco. The real question is did the taxpayers get to fund the trip to that award ceremony???

    Since he dropped out of the IEDC (International Economic Development Council), he is no longer a Fellow Member and can quite bragging about that phony designation he got whilst dishonestly pimping the Earthquest project years ago. The IEDc says, "A Fellow holds the classification as long as membership in the Council is maintained." I am sure that was good riddance for the IEDC!!!
    Anyone needing assistance please feel free to use this e-mail in addition to the PM system here to contact me: soapboxmom@hotmail.com

    Dallas College Richland Campus Music Advising Derrick Logozzo / Melissa Logan / Not NASM Accredited / Out of State Tuition Nightmare!

    Love some Bunny! I do!

  2. #102
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    Re: EarthQuest Institute Fraud Continues / Don Allen Holbrook CEO

    Where is Houston's replacement for Astroworld? Part 2 | News - Home

    New questions arise about amusement park project | News - Home



    Right to Transact Business in Texas
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    If Right to Transact Business is... Then...
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    I took the liberty of calling the EarthQuest Institute. One of the scammers is still paying for the phone service to this non-existent fraudulent charity. The entity can't do business. The state is listing the address of the attorney who set up the Institute Earthquest but formally filed to end his listing as a registered agent after conversing with me quite a while back. The scammers never appointed another registered agent or bothered to satisfy their obligations to maintain the entity in good standing with the state of Texas.

    The website for this fraudulent charity is still listing the charity's address as the East Montgomery County Improvement District office. Why were taxpayers' dollars used to fund this complete frost as Ourtribune.com, the local TV news (first two links on this post) and I reported?

    Why are Leon Cubillas, John Marlin and Don Lessem still listed on the website? Cubillas is no longer on the EMCID board. Scammer / failed developer John Marlin made a bundle off of this deal and he and Trey White let the land go into bankruptcy and bailed after having made a pretty penny off of this scheme. Don Lessem bowed out long ago. Don Allen holbrook is still listed as well even though he has not been involved for ages. He was being paid a ridiculous $185.00 an hour even though Don Lessem pointed out in the Houston Press article:
    Lessem outlined his concern in a few letters to the EarthQuest Institute board. In one he wrote, "Not one person among us has significant national or local contacts among the business and personal philanthropic communities. None of us has the right kind of board experience for leading what was chartered as an international educational effort. None of us has been able to set this organization on the right course...We all need to remember that this is an organization we SERVE, not our fiefdom to control."


    I demand the papers be turned over to me as required by law. I strongly suggest those who donated contact the IRS and the Texas Attorney General's Office and file formal complaints.
    Anyone needing assistance please feel free to use this e-mail in addition to the PM system here to contact me: soapboxmom@hotmail.com

    Dallas College Richland Campus Music Advising Derrick Logozzo / Melissa Logan / Not NASM Accredited / Out of State Tuition Nightmare!

    Love some Bunny! I do!

  3. #103
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    Re: EarthQuest Institute Fraud Continues / Don Allen Holbrook CEO

    IRS says:
    Most tax-exempt organizations are required to file an annual return or notice with the Internal Revenue Service. (See Annual Return Filing Exceptions for a list of organizations that are not required to file.) Section 6033(j) of the Internal Revenue Code automatically revokes the exemption of any organization that fails to satisfy its filing requirement for three consecutive years. The automatic revocation of exemption is effective as of the due date of the third required annual filing or notice. Organizations on the Automatic Revocation of Exemption List (Auto-Revocation List) previously recognized as exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are no longer eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions under Code section 170.
    The scammers have not filed since they turned in the 990 forms for 2010. If there is no filing turned in for this year the Institute Earthquest will be automatically revoked by the IRS. The IRS has already had complaints and should have shut this money wasting scam down. No legitimate charitable activities took place as the TV news pointed out. The money collected from the unsuspecting taxpayers through EMCID and donors went for the most part to pay the salaries of a few overpaid buffoons. Holbrook got the lion's share of that money!
    Anyone needing assistance please feel free to use this e-mail in addition to the PM system here to contact me: soapboxmom@hotmail.com

    Dallas College Richland Campus Music Advising Derrick Logozzo / Melissa Logan / Not NASM Accredited / Out of State Tuition Nightmare!

    Love some Bunny! I do!

  4. #104
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    Re: EarthQuest Institute Fraud Continues / Don Allen Holbrook CEO

    EarthQuest Resort




    EarthQuest Institute

    The EarthQuest Institute is the fundamental heart of the EarthQuest Resort. It is a Not-For-Profit, scientific center for research and dissemination of information regarding our planet and the ways in which we can act to help provide the best possibilities for sustainable lifestyles. It is intended as a flagship LEED Platinum Certified building to demonstrate environmental sensitivity and best practices with respect to development. The core concept of the EarthQuest Institute is a quest for knowledge and an invitation to participate in the restoration and maintenance of the intricate web of life on Earth through ecology and evolution.
    From the perspective of visitors to the Institute, guests will be able to participate in many interactive and hands-on activities that will help them understand the value of our natural resources, show cause and effect relationships and offer positive approaches to preserving many aspects of nature that we so deeply value.
    The Mission and Goals of EarthQuest Institute

    The mission of the EarthQuest Institute is to further the public’s understanding about the connections between society’s need for energy and environmental conservation and to empower people to make informed decisions about living in ways which preserve the planet and its resources.
    Interactive, Engaging Exhibits




    Education and Outreach Programs


    • Touring exhibits, documentaries, books, children’s TV…
    • Web/media production, games, social networking
    • Mobile programming for schools
    • Workshops/camps for teachers, researchers, students
    • Workshops and meetings for businesses
    • International seminars, national conferences



    Technology Evaluation


    • Green Tech Incubator at EarthQuest
    • Living Laboratory at EarthQuest
    • GreenTech business plan competition
    • Technology development, refinementand deployment

    Information and Communication


    • What is “green”? What can I do?
    • What are new technologies and research?
    • earthquestinstitute.org

    - Web 2.0
    - Games, media, contests
    - Leading thinkers, writers and content


    Partnerships With Academia


    • Collaborative research
    • Research dissemination
    • Graduate/undergraduate fellowships
    • Summer internships
    • Visiting researcher sabbatical destination
    • New technology deployment and evaluation



    Partnerships With Industry


    • Deploy, test and evaluate new technologies
    • Technologies as exhibits in the Institute
    • Visiting scientists and engineers from industry
    • Professional development/workforce training
    • Sponsorship opportunities

    International Programs


    • International seminars and courses
    • Collaborations with international research groups
    • Networking for researchers
    • Technology development and deployment

    Rollout Activities: 2009 – 2011


    • Fundraising and development
    • Establish relationships with research, education and local corporate communities
    • Launch initial programs in years 1-3
    • Recruit international science advisory boardHow Will the EarthQuest Institute be Funded?

    How Will the EarthQuest Institute be Funded?


    • EQ “For Profit” contributing $24 million in land and infrastructure
    • State of Texas, EMCID and others providing $25 million in funding for construction
    • Charitable donations for start-up and on-going operations



    Navigation




    Investor Contact

    e: info@earthquestadventures.com





    THE RESORT





    THEME PARK





    Other Links






    Contact Form get in touch with us Search Site



    All content Copyright © 2010 EarthQuest Adventures

    When did the taxpayers agree to fund this pipe dream? Why would the shysters behind this debacle that cost the taxpayers millions of dollars and lined the pockets of scumbags like Don Holbrook leave this page up? As I said, the donors should contact the IRS and Texas Attorney General's office!
    Anyone needing assistance please feel free to use this e-mail in addition to the PM system here to contact me: soapboxmom@hotmail.com

    Dallas College Richland Campus Music Advising Derrick Logozzo / Melissa Logan / Not NASM Accredited / Out of State Tuition Nightmare!

    Love some Bunny! I do!

  5. #105
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    Re: EarthQuest Institute Fraud Continues / Don Allen Holbrook CEO

    Quote Originally Posted by Soapboxmom View Post
    When did the taxpayers agree to fund this pipe dream? Why would the shysters behind this debacle that cost the taxpayers millions of dollars and lined the pockets of scumbags like Don Holbrook leave this page up? As I said, the donors should contact the IRS and Texas Attorney General's office!
    LOL, Why does any scam leave their webpage up after they've run with the money...?
    It seems like in this "industry" common sense is not all that common!

  6. #106
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    Re: EarthQuest Institute Fraud Continues / Don Allen Holbrook CEO

    I published Holbrook's first version of this insane rant. Best archive the Gone With the Wind version:
    EarthQuest Institute

    September 11, 2012

    Hello Everyone,

    I wanted to give you all my assessment of the situation with regard to EarthQuest Institute and the connection with the now reorganized EarthQuest Adventures Theme Park project. These are my opinions alone.

    First, Dr. Matt Gardner and myself (Don A. Holbrook) have not been formally affiliated with the project since 2010. That is because the Non-Profit lost it's financial support from EMCID, and could no longer pay us for our time spent on the project. When this occurred the former staff ceased all fundraising efforts seeking clarification on how to progress EQI from the board and EMCID, but did not get any direction from the Board of Directors and EMCID suggested we place the status on hiatus until the Theme Park could be finalized. In fact, Dr. Gardner, Myself and another staff member continued to perform our contractually obligated services at the request of EQI and EMCID and we have not been paid after almost two years for our time, which was deferred under a promise of payment that EMCID assured us would be forthcoming. Finally, the former staff resigned and have awaited our final compensation now for over two years. Therefore, while I remain very supportive of EQI, I cannot represent EQI or respond to requests for more information uncompensated for my time. I am not representing the opinions of the former staff with this statement, just explaining my own assessment and opinions of the situation. I do feel an obligation to continue to seek payment for all those that have not been paid by the non-profit at this point as a responsibility in looking out for those that trusted the Non-profit would pay it's obligations. It has been over two years and still as of last week I was told by EMCID that they would seek some avenue to provide payment of these obligations through EQI but do not want to provide such payments directly to the staff and vendors. In my opinion EMCID is just trying to deflect the scrutiny that they must face for the oversight of this situation and the existing financial obligations that exist mostly due to their pledge of support originally to the EQI.

    At this time, the original board of directors no longer exists or is not functional. Leon Cubillas the EMCID Chair was unelected, so I believe according to the formation by-laws the new Chair Person of EQI would probably be Connie Bloodworth of EMCID or whomever the EMCID board chooses to appoint to that position. The original developer also had a required seat on the EQI board. But John Marlin, the original developer representative no longer controls the Global EarthQuest Adventures Theme Park project. It will now be a discussion by EMCID the only remaining board member as to how to fill that position or whether to seek the new developer as a participant, and of course the new developer would need to decide if they want such a responsibility. It was EMCID that created the guidelines for the original requirements of the board structure for EQI as a point of consideration in the original theme park development agreements. Mr. Don Lessem the original creative idea and founder was the third seat by rule of the formation and by-laws but he has formally resigned and does not want to be responsible for EQI debts and/or mission any further. This was confirmed yet again today when he emailed and copied me on his position. That seat will need to be filled by EMCID's involvement in this matter as well.

    All the files related to the EQI have been turned over to the Federal Government until EMCID and the remaining board members can take corrective action to address the EQI debts and on-going concerns. I do not want any involvement with the responsibility of such records. It should be noted that in my opinion the records are not only very factual and correct at least through the time the staff was involved, but also all tax filings were filed as well. Therefore the financial records should be very accurate to my knowledge.

    Please do not reference the former staff, who were contracted to manage the EQI and implement the Board of Directors ideas for how to progress EQI as part of the basis for why EQI is not functioning or responding to the media. Nothing could be further from the truth.

    In fact, during the recent EMCID election I sought out input from the EQI board members and EMCID as to posting information that would be accurate so no blame could be unfairly aimed at the staff or others involved because there was no reason in my opinion not to be transparent on the EQI status. But even after we wrote a media statement, it was not released to the media by EMCID, who had paid for the creation of the statement by their media consultant. I do not know why EMCID choose not to release the press release, but in my opinion that was a mistake in judgement that created additional negative speculation on the situation, where none should have been merited.

    In my opinion the EQI situation is squarely the results of the original board of directors not fulfilling their obligations to provide adequate funding and direction for the EQI on obligations they approved. These obligations include the payment of the former staff for undertaking and carrying out their instructions and the payment of all authorized vendors.

    Furthermore, EMCID has stated to me that once the new theme park project gets funded that EQI is going to be addressed and brought forward again in connection with the for profit project as a major element of the projects vision for a sustainable message underlying the fun elements of the theme park. I do not know the definitive position of the new developer on this subject at this time. What I believe is that by being silent on this issue EMCID is further damaging the EQI reputation and making it ever more difficult to reestablish trust in the Greater Houston community.

    I wish EQI nothing but good luck, and I believe the original message and mission is still very valid and critical. In my opinion, without the continued support financially of EMCID as it was pledged and without the developer providing a well documented funding strategy for the phase one construction of a facility and operations of EQI the non-profit will struggle and more than likely be a complete failure. The mission was always critically aligned with the theme park. When that becomes an actual reality it may be possible to resurrect EQI, but not with all these unpaid obligations, which give the non-profit a very poor image and a bad reputation with regard to their ethical posture on their business operations.

    The original fundraising was carried out as the board of directors had desired and directed it to be and was not adequate enough to maintain the mission. The responses that EQI received from the Greater Houston community were mostly positive but also mainly tied to participation based on the theme park getting funded as a catalyst. Most companies wanted to support it only when the theme park was given the green light and under construction.

    Both I and Dr. Gardner have been assured by EMCID in the past that our unpaid time would be addressed and that EMCID would make sure that we are fully paid at some point. I feel we have been more than patient in waiting for our payment and I believe I and the others are owed but a definitive time for who and how we are going to get paid and a plan B for payment if EMCID's plan to cause that to happen fails. This should include the final payment due to the other staff members and the remaining vendors in my opinion. EMCID had given me and others the promise that our time would be paid off. We took EMCID at their word on this matter.

    I just recently was informed of yet more media requests related to EQI and at this point I feel it is most appropriate that any such information requests should be addressed to EMCID in the future. They were the organization ultimately responsible for the formation of EQI and they funded the first two years of operation for the staff and EMCID has control of the development agreement with the new developer with regard to the themepark, so they are the best point of informational contact on this matter.

    EMCID will need to decide how and if they intend to stand by their promises and be ethical in their handling of affairs they instigated with EQI and that myself and other relied upon to undertake and perform their work for EQI. Without the assurance of payment by EMCID I can assure you that I do not believe I or anyone else would have given the EQI credit beyond what they were able to pay for monthly out of cash flow.

    It is my sincere hope that EQI does get back on track and that the new board of directors restore the good reputation of EQI to the greater Houston community by making sure that they pay-off the original obligations undertaken on EQI's behalf at the direction of the original board of directors.



    151Share


    • Sheila Sturgeon Hebert likes this.

    • Al Tilley I was raised on the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid) and this whole project just doesn't pass the smell test putting it mildly. To ask for anymore $s from the citizens in Montgomery county is the height of arrogance. If this turns out to be a possible scam then those perpetrating this fraud need to be fined heavily and spend possible jail time. I hope I am wrong as I would love to see this project be a reality one day.
      September 11, 2012 at 9:52am · 3

    • Wendy Tise Al your wrong..Believe in the dream. The timing hit hard times..its not over.
      September 11, 2012 at 9:58pm via mobile

    • EarthQuest Institute The concept and mission are still very valid. I agree with Wendy the timing suffered because our entire planet went through a financial crisis. The project will begin anew once the local economy and national economies stabilize.
      April 24 at 7:05pm

    • Wendy Tise 100 percent confident in the people and the Power behind this project will make it happen. Doubt is not a part of The Team!
      April 24 at 10:05pm via mobile

    • EarthQuest Institute I know everyone on the original team feels strongly that they want EarthQuest to succeed. Even though they are all owed a tremendous amount of money they believe inevitably the project will succeed and be worth their belief and investment of their time. Thanks for your support
      April 24 at 11:57pm via mobile
    • Frank McCrady should be wearing stripes. Why in the hell were the taxpayers funding this ridiculous charity. The for-profit theme park never had funding and the land was not owned by the developer. Just what were Holbrook and his cronies doing that furthered the missions of a charity that existed only on paper?
    Anyone needing assistance please feel free to use this e-mail in addition to the PM system here to contact me: soapboxmom@hotmail.com

    Dallas College Richland Campus Music Advising Derrick Logozzo / Melissa Logan / Not NASM Accredited / Out of State Tuition Nightmare!

    Love some Bunny! I do!

  7. #107
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    Re: EarthQuest Institute Fraud Continues / Don Allen Holbrook CEO

    Tuesday AM April 14th, 2009
    April 13, 2009
    by: Ed Mayberry
    Plans are still underway for an Epcot-styled green theme park, as part of a "green" community here in Houston. Ed Mayberry talked with economic development consultant Don Holbrook for an update.

    The new EarthQuest development will encompass retail stores, an outlet mall, restaurants and hotels, a convention center, office space, a research facility, a zoo — and "green" homes, according to Don Holbrook, president and CEO of the EarthQuest Institute.
    "We're excited about it. I mean, it's — we've been in the process of planning this for six years, so we think the kind of a perfect storm came along and helped us. But we're going to break ground probably next year — first or second quarter of 2010 — with opening planned in 2012, late 2012. My original undergraduate degree was in urban planning and environmental studies. So I joke that I've been a 'green' developer for all my career, which I won't say how many years that is, but it's getting up there now, at this point."
    EarthQuest Institute is a non-profit entity advocating green technologies. The institute is overseeing a planned museum and various education components in conjunction with the “green” vision of this master-planned community, according to Holbrook, who attended a recent forum on alternative energy.
    "We're excited by it. We're hoping that President Obama will get the credit markets opened up! We're not worried about the equity, we're worried about the debt markets! But very excited, we think Houston's a great place for this. It's the energy center of the country. There's no one pixie dust solution for all this. It's a collaboration of all the energy companies and technologies that we believe are going to create the solutions. And so we're excited to be kind of that showcase, to show those off for people here in Houston — to make Houston not only just a huge eco-tourism and green tourism destination in the country, but a great place to come and learn about sustainable energy, clean technologies, energy conservation and see things from around the world."
    The EarthQuest Resort will be located off of highway 59 in New Caney.

    Ed Mayberry, KUHF Houston Public Radio News.
    Friendswood Development is laughing all the way to the bank. They got the property for a song in bankruptcy court and will not be working with the "EarthQuest Institute" on any green anything! Another tragic reminder of the millions of tax dollars and donor dollars spent for naught. Frank McCrady and crooks can't even cook up another imaginary ground breaking date at this late juncture! There is dead silence about this DreamQuest project.
    Anyone needing assistance please feel free to use this e-mail in addition to the PM system here to contact me: soapboxmom@hotmail.com

    Dallas College Richland Campus Music Advising Derrick Logozzo / Melissa Logan / Not NASM Accredited / Out of State Tuition Nightmare!

    Love some Bunny! I do!

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    Re: EarthQuest Institute Fraud Continues / Don Allen Holbrook CEO

    Channel 2 News Story is Jaded and Highly Inaccurate | economicdeveloper
    Channel 2 News Story is Jaded and Highly Inaccurate

    27 Saturday Oct 2012
    Posted by economicdeveloper

    These days the media has a great way of skewing their facts to make folks believe the direction they would like you to believe. In an effort to maintain transparency and respond to this video news story, I would like to provide some additional facts that were somehow overlooked by the news station… imagine that… an investigative report based on pure opinion.

    First, the Theme Park from the beginning was envisioned to utilize a non-profit research and educational organization (EarthQuest Institute) to provide validity to the founder Don Lessem’s vision for the green and sustainable theme behind the for profit theme park. Quite common for major projects such as Disney and others to support their favorite causes and control the board of directors. In this instance the developer and the founder had agreed that the non-profit would commence ahead of the for profit to build awareness for the for profit project. Both the developer and EMCID (East Montgomery County Improvement District) had pledged funds to hire the three person consulting staff to build the awareness. Each of these staff members including myself signed an hourly compensation agreement, and each of us were private consultants at the time. We sold our time at our published rates.

    This for profit theme park is approximately a $500M phase one build out and would have an economic impact on EMCID of billions of dollars and thousands of jobs. The project hired some of the worlds best consultants in the theme park industry to advise them on how to construct the project, what the genre and theme should be and what type of visitor expectations should be provided. In addition, as the site location consultant I provided the site evaluations, special legislation for the establishment of a special economic zone and worked as a contracted subject matter expert on public policy to support the capitalization phase with the developer and his investment banking team. All of us worked under signed contracts that were agreed upon in public open meetings at the East Montgomery County Improvement Districts open public meetings. There was no lack of transparency here by the paid staff. The failure of the project to gain funding in the first attempt can be squarely placed on the developers failure to raise the funds he had promised EMCID he would be able to do. Of course nobody had foreseen the 2008 global financial crisis coming during that process. So just like many communities EMCID had to go back to the negotiating table and find a suitable developer for the project and seek financing all over again with their new developer.

    The original developer failed to provide his funds to the non-profit project and EMCID soon found out he was unable to fly the mission on the for profit project as well and they too ceased funding the project in 2010. The BBB made calls about the EQI but the staff had already resigned and was not about to provide work to an organization that had failed to pay their compensation contracts for their time provided, as I believe most paid workers would do if the shoe was on their foot. Secondary to this the Developer, Founder and EMCID were the named board members and they made all decisions regarding the project, including hiring the staff, which to this day has not been fully paid for their agreed upon time provided to the organization. In addition, there was much disagreement between the board of directors as to how to fund the organization, but when the CEO found out the developer was not going to fulfill his obligation to EQI, he closed down the non-profit and informed every one of his findings and let the staff go. Then the CEO asked that the EMCID and Developer pay off the debts they had all run up on the EQI, including promised payment of the staffs unpaid time served over the two years. To this day the staff has not been paid, despite promises made to them by EMCID that if they continued to work through that time they would make sure the staff was paid for their time.

    With regard to the theme park, it is a great idea and the market study which was recently updated I am quite confident will continue to demonstrate the value of moving forward with the project under a new developer with specific theme park experience. From the beginning EMCID was told that they type projects require massive upfront funding and risk from the public sector and can take from 8-14 years on average to come to fruition. Let’s not forget that the 2008 Global Financial Crisis hit and created a very difficult scenario for the original developer to find venture capital funding.

    The new developer has agreed to make the taxpayers whole as part of his funding strategy and has agreed to move the project along once he has updated the market study, developed a strong financial business case and secured acceptable terms for financing. All this was done by the team of experts that EMCID hired (me being one of them) once they found that the original developer was not going to proceed in 2010. When this occurred EMCID rehired me to bring the new developer on board and assist them in securing the rights to the theme park intellectual capital and the rights to the site from the developers bankruptcy filing with his land company. All of these items were achieved by me and my advisors I brought to the project, without us this project would have failed and left EMCID stranded with no options in the future.

    Without these actions the project would truly be a lost cause and the tax payers money would have been lost for sure. Now once the project gains financial footing the taxpayers will be made whole and Houston will finally get a new major theme park. Then I suppose all the naysayers will not bother to apologize to all the hard working staff of consultants who also took risks to get this off the ground and to this date still remain unpaid for a large portion of their time served under specific contracts approved by the EMCID, original developers and founder.

    Here is the clip of the inaccurate news story from channel 2 in Houston I am referring to. Now at least when you watch it you will have some additional background on the subject. The staff hiring was agreed upon by the Developer, Founder and EMCID, and then solicited by them to provide their services. The staff is not the financiers, developers, or brain children of this project, merely the contractual help brought in by the various members of the boards of the directors.

    New questions arise about amusement park project | News - Home
    Texas Statute of Limitations
    Libel / Slander / Defamation: 1 year.
    Holbrook is ranting like a complete lunatic and threatening suit once again. If the movie deal on his silly Knights Templar book that he mentions in that rant is real, then that is just more potential income he has not disclosed in his bankruptcy. He had better hurry as the statue of limitations on this news report and other posts is quickly running out.

    That news report is completely based in verifiable facts. The charity being set up to advertise the for profit theme park is beyond unethical. Promoting money making schemes is not in any way a legitimate purpose for a charity. Apparently, it was little more than the Don Holbrook self-promotion program. He made $144,000.00 a year ($185.00 an hour) for working 15 hours a week for the EarthQuest Institute charity while also being paid by the for profit theme park developer, East Montgomery Improvement District and more as he brought in the fund raisers and other contractors for various aspects of this boondoggle. Holbrook is also to get $250,000.00 if the Earthquest Instutute is contructed in addition to possibly millions out of the money raised for the theme park. Paying this clown $185.00 an hour when Don Lessem said himself, "Not one person among us has significant national or local contacts among the business and personal philanthropic communities. None of us has the right kind of board experience for leading what was chartered as an international educational effort. None of us has been able to set this organization on the right course...We all need to remember that this is an organization we SERVE, not our fiefdom to control."

    Holbrook admits the original developer quit funding this boondoggle in 2010. John Marlin and fake multi-billionaire Trey White took the taxpayers money and ran all the way to the bank laughing. Obviously, they had concluded the thing would never get investors lined up to fund it and they got out while the gettin' was good. Holbrook lied to Pahrump and bragged of all his 100 successful projects that created 50,000 jobs with nary a failure among them. Frank McCrady deliberately mislead the Texas taxpayers by not honestly disclosing the project was in serious trouble. The Texas taxpayers didn't learn of this bankruptcy until January 2012 when the incredible Cynthia Calvert of the Tribune broke the story. Holbrook and the goons left just kept milking the public cow and lining their pockets as quickly as possible as they were likely very well aware that this theme park and charity would never be anything more than pretty pictures on some very expensive paper.

    Holbrook continues to demand more payment for the defunct charity that accomplished no charitable purpose. $144,000.00 a year for that is already way too much to be paying for the services of this fool who is lots of talk, but very short on relevant experience and credentials for the work he contracts to do.

    Holbrook's continued claims that the taxpayers will be made whole by the investors are laughable. Who would agree to pay millions upfront to EMCID, and line Chris Brown's (of Contour) and Holbrook's pockets to the tune of possibly millions of dollars? A theme park is already such a risky venture when it is a project set up with no well known names involved. Not to mention the millions upon millions that will be needed to advertise this international destination theme park. Also, Holbrook claiming he set up the terms in the bankruptcy that would allow Contour to repurchase the now lost property and that that is a great achievement is laughable. That repurchase option ends in exactly 11 weeks. Show us the money and the deed!

    The tragic end of this Titanic is coming and we can thank Holbrook. The IRS will soon be revoking the charitable status of this joke of an entity that can no longer conduct business in Texas. We still have no papers from the EarthQuest Institute available as required by law and this charity scam still lists the address of the EMCID office as its office. So, the taxpayers are paying for those digs, yet cannot access any information as required by law. It is high time for some answers! Let's have some honest disclosure from Holbrook!
    Anyone needing assistance please feel free to use this e-mail in addition to the PM system here to contact me: soapboxmom@hotmail.com

    Dallas College Richland Campus Music Advising Derrick Logozzo / Melissa Logan / Not NASM Accredited / Out of State Tuition Nightmare!

    Love some Bunny! I do!

  9. #109
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    Re: EarthQuest Institute Fraud Continues / Don Allen Holbrook CEO




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    The federal tax exemption of this organization was automatically revoked for its failure to file a Form 990-series return or notice for three consecutive years. The information listed below for each organization is historical; it is current as of the organization's effective date of automatic revocation. The information is not necessarily current as of today's date. Nor does this automatic revocation necessarily reflect the organization's tax-exempt or non-exempt status. The organization may have applied to the IRS for recognition of exemption and been recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt after its effective date of automatic revocation. To check whether an organization is currently recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt, call Customer Account Services at (877) 829-5500 (toll-free number).

    Revocation Date (effective date on which organization's tax exemption was automatically revoked):
    15-May-2014
    Employer Identification Number (EIN):
    26-2454184
    Legal Name:
    INSTITUTE EARTHQUEST
    Doing Business As:
    Mailing Address:
    21575 US HIGHWAY 59 NORTH
    NEW CANEY, TX 77357-8355
    United States
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    501(c)(3)
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    15-Oct-2014
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    after the organization's exemption was automatically revoked and the organization applied for reinstatement of exemption.):




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    Don Allen Holbrook ran this charity right into the ground while making quite a pretty penny. Who would pay a fool like him $185.00 an hour??? Don Holbrook, president of the Institute (and a consultant for EMCID and EarthQuest), received total compensation of $328,255 plus over 8 grand a month for 6 months in 2012 (as he led Frank McCrady around like a kid who had wet his pants.) All this money, 1.4 million dollars, and no charitable activity whatsoever. And, this scam of a charity certainly didn't promote the for profit theme park either as that has never come to fruition (though that is clearly not a legitimate charitable function.)
    Anyone needing assistance please feel free to use this e-mail in addition to the PM system here to contact me: soapboxmom@hotmail.com

    Dallas College Richland Campus Music Advising Derrick Logozzo / Melissa Logan / Not NASM Accredited / Out of State Tuition Nightmare!

    Love some Bunny! I do!

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    Re: Trey White Fake Multi-billionaire / Marlin Atlantis / EarthQuest Park / Don Holbrook of IEDC

    Hollbrook is busy with his wife and cohorts bilking many innocent people many again. The feds need to investigate what they are up to and put them all in jail for good.

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  12. #111
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    Re: EarthQuest Institute Fraud Continues / Don Allen Holbrook CEO

    Proposed Disney-like theme park faces uncertain future - Houston Chronicle

    But now McCardy and Brown believe the financial climate is improving and they have active discussions with potential developers who would be able to write the check, but they said they could not disclose the names.

    Seeks Texas investors
    Brown would only say he is focused on Texas investors, who would benefit the most from the enhancement of their community and other properties being developed.

    "I feel very comfortable," said McCardy, adding that if his preferred developer, Contour, is unsuccessful with fundraising he has two others "ready to step in and build it."

    He said he feels good about the project because three theme-park experts have said this spot has perfect demographics. Houston is the only one of the 11 largest U.S. cities without a theme park. Major theme parks are located on each coast but not the central U.S., 18 million people live within a four-hour drive of the site and Houston has a young population with one of the strongest economies.

    But with all the false starts, spurts and delays in the last six years, some area residents are skeptical about it ever being built.
    This is not the first time that liar McCrady has bragged of other developers chaffing at the bit to fund and build this project. Well, where in the Sam hell are they? Why hasn't he brought in a new developer???
    Anyone needing assistance please feel free to use this e-mail in addition to the PM system here to contact me: soapboxmom@hotmail.com

    Dallas College Richland Campus Music Advising Derrick Logozzo / Melissa Logan / Not NASM Accredited / Out of State Tuition Nightmare!

    Love some Bunny! I do!

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  14. #112
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    Re: EarthQuest Institute Fraud Continues / Don Allen Holbrook CEO

    The consultant with a hand in every pie (CEO of the Earthquest Institute) is melting after losing his case against numerous journalists, newspapers, taxpayers commenting and me. Now he is making very thinly veiled death threats:

    http://www.realscam.com/f11/dealing-...holbrook-4406/
    Anyone needing assistance please feel free to use this e-mail in addition to the PM system here to contact me: soapboxmom@hotmail.com

    Dallas College Richland Campus Music Advising Derrick Logozzo / Melissa Logan / Not NASM Accredited / Out of State Tuition Nightmare!

    Love some Bunny! I do!

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