John E. Rosenberg, managing member and CEO of Ecological Investments, LLC, is committed to promoting science and education. His passion for science education and keen interest in young people has prompted him to donate his time and expertise to improve learning and recreational opportunities for youth.

"I feel strongly that a community which is blessed with our superb natural and human resources should have a science museum and hands-on learning center which is accessible to the public, and to children in particular," said Rosenberg, explaining why he is pursuing the butterfly conservatory project.

"Watching this project take form is the dream of a lifetime, and offering a fantastic educational opportunity for students is most important to me. The genesis of this project is the desire to create a place where real-life learning can take place, using microscopes, demonstrations, interactive computer displays, and true scientific exploration."

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and raised in Bryn Mawr, Pa., Rosenberg, 46, graduated from Brown University in 1975 and the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1978. In 1983, he founded Echo Data Services, Inc., which became a highly successful computer software company. Eight years later, Rosenberg sold the company and retired to Hilton Head Island where he has owned a home since 1989.

Rosenberg has been listed in Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in Emerging Leaders, Who's Who in Computer Science, Who's Who in American Business, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. Inc. magazine chose his company, Echo Data Services, for the "Inc. 500 Award" as one of America's fastest growing companies, and he was nominated by the accounting firm Ernst & Whinney as National Entrepreneur of the Year.

Since moving to Hilton Head Island, he has contributed thousands of hours to children - coaching 12 softball and soccer teams, teaching computer classes in the schools for teachers and for students, acting as Assistant Cubmaster for the local Cub Scout Pack, and participating in and chairing numerous education-related committees and task forces.

Rosenberg has been a technology consultant and member of the Beaufort County Educational Technology Task Force and chairman of the Beaufort County School District Facilities Task Force.
At Hilton Head Middle School, Rosenberg has served as vice chairman of the School Improvement Council and conducted computer and software classes for teachers and students, training them on classroom, network and application software.

Rosenberg, an accomplished judge for the International Science and Engineering Fair, was also chosen to help train the judges for the 1999 ISEF fair in Philadelphia. Since 1992, he has recruited and trained 170 local scientists and engineers as the coordinator of judges for the Hilton Head Schools Cluster, and has actively participated in 49 school fairs to date. Butterfly Kingdom expects to become the primary sponsor for the Sea Island Regional Science Fair.