Leadership

Executive Director

Anne Brown

Ms. Brown joined Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation as Executive Director in June 2012. She possesses over 30 years of experience in leading change within both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, most recently serving as a Director at The Friedkin Group, where she contributed to conservation outcomes in the Serengeti ecosystem. Before her roles at TPWF and The Friedkin Group, Ms. Brown had a decade-long career with the National Audubon Society and led the Global BirdLife International partnership. Prior to her career in nonprofit leadership, she worked as a consultant, specializing in leading merger and acquisition strategies, and was a founding member of a successful internet technology start-up. Ms. Brown serves on multiple boards within the conservation sector, including The Horizon Foundation and The Peregrine Fund.

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Director of Operations

Heather Brooks

Ms. Brooks joined Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation as Operations Director in May 2024, bringing with her a wealth of experience in strategic project management and operational leadership. She began her career in financial services, which led to a career in litigation support and later, real estate. Her expertise is marked by her successful management of complex, high-stakes settlements, and negotiations. Her commitment to operational excellence supports the Foundation’s mission to ensure the future of Texas’ wild things and wild places.

Director of Investments and Special Projects

Merrill Chester Gregg

Ms. Gregg joined Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation in March 2016. Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Gregg was a Vice President of Marketing for Texas and the Southeast at Brigade Capital Management, a credit asset manager based in New York City. Ms. Gregg started her career at Goldman Sachs, where she worked in New York City and Hong Kong consulting hedge funds on capital raising.

Director of Outreach

Emily House

Ms. House assumed the role of Director of Outreach for Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation in July 2022, after serving as Marketing and Membership Director since June 2018. Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. House was Vice President of Olsen + Company where she helped nonprofit and political organizations build membership audiences, raising more than $25 million through online and direct gifts. She also served seven years as an appointee with the U.S. Department of State, the Office of Management and Budget in the White House, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C.

Director of Philanthropy & Board Engagement

Phil Lamb

Mr. Lamb joined Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation in June 2021 as Director of Philanthropy. Prior to joining the Foundation, he was Director of Development for the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation, where he led a rebranding of the organization’s communications assets, recruited new board members, and raised more than $8 million for research projects and capital improvements. Before entering the nonprofit space, Mr. Lamb was a litigator and general counsel in Dallas for 15 years. He is also a longtime volunteer for the Foundation’s Stewards of the Wild program and serves on Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s Upland Game Bird Advisory Committee.

Director of Communications

Lydia Saldaña

Ms. Saldaña joined Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation team as Communications Director in 2014 after more than 23 years of state service with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), where she was Communications Division Director responsible for agency communications, marketing, media relations, education, and outreach. Prior to her TPWD career, she was a broadcast journalist in Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin. A storyteller at heart, Ms. Saldaña delights in sharing the stories of conservation heroes from all walks of life.

Director of Development and Conservation Programs

Julie Shaddox

Ms. Shaddox rejoined the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation team in 2019 as the Director of Partner Programs and in June 2020, became Director of Stewardship and Support. Her prior roles at TPWF include serving as Development/Grant Writer from 2014-2015 and Philanthropy Relationship Manager from 2015-2018. Ms. Shaddox previously lived in Ankara, Turkey, where she taught English at the Bilkent University School of English Language.

Director of Strategic Initiatives

David Yeates

Mr. Yeates joined Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation in June 2025 as Director of Strategic Initiatives. Prior to joining the Foundation, Mr. Yeates was Policy Director for Texas Foundation for Conservation. His leadership pedigree combines community banking and several prominent conservation roles, including seven years leading Texas Wildlife Association as CEO, serving as a board member of Colorado River Alliance and Hill Country Alliance, and playing an active role on several Texas Parks and Wildlife Department advisory committees and task forces.

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Philanthropy and Stewardship Officer

Amy Allen

Office Manager

Curt Baker

Events Manager

Melina Bartolomei

Controller

Debra Brandon

Accounts Payable Coordinator

Cash Brooks

Director of Finance

Ann Willis Brown

Executive Assistant

Erin Daniel

Constituent Relationship Manager

Natalie Rosado Escalante

Program Associate

Emmy Francell

Foundation Relations Manager

Cristina Kenny

Finance Manager

Vanessa Kramer

Land Conservation Manager

Corky Kuhlmann

Outreach & Communications Writer

Joy Laukoter

Director of Conservation Engagement and Education

Katie Spurgin

Conservation Program Manager

Sam Stone

Program Director, Gear Up for Game Wardens

Austin Taylor