STAFF
Mary Anne Piacentini, Executive Director, is responsible for coordinating land protection programs, conservation assistance to private landowners, fundraising, and facilitating community partnerships with diverse stakeholders.
Ms. Piacentini received a Master of City and Regional Planning from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (1974) and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of New Hampshire (1972). Ms. Piacentini is the past chair of the Board of Directors of the Texas Land Trust Council and is currently a member of the Advisory Board of Directors of American Festival for the Arts. She received the Army and Sarah Emmott Conservation Award from the Citizens' Environmental Coalition for her prairie conservation efforts.
Areas of focus: urban and regional planning, conservation strategies, master planning, financing instruments for conservation related efforts, and conservation easement and acquisiton strategies.
Wesley Newman, Conservation Director, is responsible for management and operations of protected lands including overseeing wildlife management and agricultural activities on KPC’s holdings, coordinating wetlands mitigation projects, and preparing biological assessments on prospective properties.
Mr. Newman received a Master of Science in Rangeland Ecology and Management (1998) and a Bachelor of Science in Range Science (1990), both from Texas A & M University. He is a member of Society of Range Management and Society of Wetland Scientists.
Areas of focus: prairie and wetland ecology, hunting and its relationship to stewardship, range management, wetlands creation and management, conservation strategies.
Jaime González, Conservation Education Director/Volunteer Manager, is responsible for developing and implementing an annual schedule of activities and outreach programs to augment public access and awareness of the prairie. Mr. González's work also involves expanding collaborative efforts with other organizations and agencies, including local universities. He is also responsible for coordination and training of volunteers and for managing KPC's online presence (website, social media, etc.)
He earned a Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction - Science Education (2007) and a B.S. in Biology (1996) both from the University of Houston-Main Campus. Jaime serves as President of the Coastal Prairie Partnership and as a member of the Texas Children in Nature Coalition Steering Committee. Mr. Gonzalez has been awarded the Alban-Heiser Award from the Houston Zoo (2011) in recognition of preserving Texas' hertiage of living creatures and their environment, the Elizabeth Hull Abernathy Award (2011) from the Garden Club of America for outstanding contribution to environmental education of youth and the Army & Sarah Emmott Conservation Award (2009) from the Citizens' Environmental Coalition for his prairie conservation efforts.
Areas of focus: environmental education,children in nature intiatives, prairie restoration, urban ecology ,amphibian biodiversity,new media and its relationship to conservation.
Christine Mansfield, Conservation Educator, is responsible for working with the conservation and education departments of KPC to increase general awareness of prairies and encourage public involvement.
Sam Reese, Warren Ranch Manager
PROJECT/PART-TIME STAFF
Linda Langlitz, Conservation Specialist, is responsible for managing the Native Seed Nursery, conducting land monitoring, and undertaking additional restoration initiatives.
Thu Huynh, New Media Specialist, is responsible for creating and maintaining KPC web presence including KPC's website and social networking infrastructure.
Rebecca Halaska, CPA Accountant
Cynthia Cedeno, Accounting
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mary Van Kerrebrook, President. Attorney and Partner, Van Kerrebrook and Associates L.L.P. serves as chairman of KPC's Land Acquisition Committee and provides pro bono real estate expertise as well as introduces members of the development and real estate community to KPC’s goals.
William T. Snypes, Vice President. Attorney and Owner, Estate and Probate Law Firm, provides pro bono expertise in estate and probate law who assists KPC with developing case statements to demonstrate the tax and estate benefits of bargain sales and donated conservation easements. He is also chairman of KPC's Governance Committee.
Foster Carter, Treasurer. CPA, Margolis Phipps & Wright. Serves as chairman of KPC'S Finance Committee and provides oversight for all KPC financial matters.
Robert A. Honig, Secretary. Environmental Consultant, AMEC Oil & Gas, naturalist and ecologist, assists KPC with land acquisition and stewardship activities.
Kevin Bartol, VIce President Strategic Planning, The Rowan Companies. Brings business expertise and experience to KPC’s land acquisition, marketing, and fundraising committees.
Stephen E. Gast, retired Peru Country Manager, ConocoPhillips Corporation. Brings biological and business resources to KPC’s land acquisition, outreach, and marketing activities.
J. Tynan Kelly, Attorney, James Tynan Kelly, P.C. and former President of Bayou Preservation Association. Brings knowledge of bayou issues and systems in the region.
Mark Klein, Account Supervisor, Fogarty, Klein & Monroe. Serves as the chairman of the Marketing Committee and brings designers, printing resources, and media expertise to KPC.
J. Stephen Martin, retired Vice-President and General Counsel, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, serves as chairman of the Warren Ranch oversight Committee and also assists with conservation and fundraising efforts.
David Poteet, Vice President, Westlake Municipal Utility District #1 water board. Avid birdwatcher. Provides valuable technical expertise regarding water law and water use and also helps with the Warren Ranch and land stewardship issues.
2012 BOARD OF ADVISORY DIRECTORS
William J. Anderson, Jr., Anderson Architects
Fred Collins, manager, Kleb Woods Farm, Precinct 3, Harris County
Kay Crooker, civic volunteer
Jim Gregory, Biologist
Terry Hershey, civic volunteer
John Jacob, Ph.D., professor, Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Texas A & M University
Thomas R. Kelsey, Attorney, Berie, Lamberth & McInnis, L.L.P, serves as KPC's Legal Counsel.
Lynn Paulsen, educator, Katy Independent School District
Adolph (Bubba) A. Pfeffer, Jr., rice farmer and landowner on the Katy Prairie
Kathy Reiser, civic volunteer and naturalist
Kathie Shultz, civic volunteer and naturalist, co. chairman KPC's Stewarship Committee
Fred Smeins, professor, Plant and Range Ecology, Texas A & M University
Carter Smith, executive director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Roger Soape, president, Roger A. Soape, Inc.
Wallace T. Ward, attorney, Co-Chairman KPC's Stewardship Science and Education Committee
Maryann Young, director of elections, State of Pennsylvania
