George Kenn S. – Oriental Republic of Uruguay – February 2019

REPORT FOR THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

UNITED STATES SENATE

 SUBJECT:           Ambassadorial Nomination:  Certificate of Demonstrated Competence — Foreign Service  Act, Section 304(a)(4)

POST:                 Oriental Republic of Uruguay

CANDIDATE:      Kenn S. George

Kenn S. George is a prominent business, civic and political leader.  He previously served as Assistant Secretary/Director General of the US & Foreign Commercial Service in the Department of Commerce (1981-1985).  In 1983, under Mr. George’s leadership, the US&FCS was asked to establish and run the Caribbean Basin Information Center and staff offices in all beneficiary countries.  After returning to Texas, he served as a State Representative in the Texas House of Representatives from District 108 in Dallas (1999-2003), on numerous city, state and professional boards and commissions, and as Chairman and CEO of several public and private corporations.  Since 2009, he has been the owner/manager of Blue Harbor Plantation (BHP) and Blue Harbor Tropical Arboretum (BHTA) in Roatan, Honduras.  BHP grows and sells hydroponically grown produce; BHTA is a tourist destination.  Mr. George also manages investments in oil and gas exploration, and real estate development.  He served in the Army Reserve/National Guard (1970-1976) receiving an Honorable Discharge as a 1st Lieutenant.  Known for his commitment to public service, leadership in business and civic affairs, knowledge and experience with the Foreign Service and international business in Latin America, Mr. George is an excellent candidate for U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay.

Mr. George was founder, Chairman and CEO of EPIC Healthcare Group (1988-1994), at the time the nation’s second largest ESOP with almost 15,000 employees serving in 36 hospitals and with ancillary healthcare operations in 30 states.  He also was Chairman and CEO of Ameristat, Inc. (1994-1995) a large regional ambulance company. From 1976-1981 Mr. George was Chairman and CEO of Olix Industries, a Midland, Texas based publicly traded conglomerate in oil and gas, furniture manufacturing, and real estate development.  His public service initiatives have included Commissioner of the Texas Youth Commission, Board Member of the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Authority and the Dallas County Hospital District Board of Directors of (Parkland Hospital).

Mr. George earned a B.A. from Washington and Lee University and a M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.  He and his wife, Tricia, have four married children with two of their sons having served in the military overseas.  Mr. George speaks basic Spanish.