Leadership

Staff Leadership

Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation staff carry out the day-to-day business of the foundation. Led by Executive Director Anne Brown, TPWF team members are passionate about the work they do and the mission they support.

Anne Brown, Executive Director

Anne Brown joined Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation as Executive Director in June 2012. Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Brown was the Texas State Director and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for National Audubon Society. She has over 15 years’ experience in national nonprofit management across a wide range of disciplines. Her expertise includes being a member of the founding team for an internet technology start-up and managing various consulting projects with clients like the Kennedy School of Government and American Diabetes Association.

Merrill Chester Gregg, Conservation Finance Director

Merrill Chester Gregg joined Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation in March 2016 as Conservation Finance Director. Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Gregg was a Vice President of Marketing for Texas and the Southeast at Brigade Capital Management, a $16 billion dollar 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.

Emily House, Marketing and Membership Director

Emily House joined Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation in June 2018 as Marketing and Membership Director. Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. House was Vice President of Olsen + Company where she helped non-profit and political organizations build membership audiences, raising more than $25 million through online and direct gifts. Ms. House 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.

Susan Houston, Philanthropy Director

Susan Houston joined Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation in September 2012 as Major Gifts Officer in Austin, Texas. Prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Houston was the Corporate Relations Director for the National Audubon Society. During her 10 years with Audubon, she assumed various development roles including Director of Development for the Texas state program. Before entering the nonprofit sector, she was an account manager for the largest Steelcase distributor in central Texas.

Jay Kleberg, Associate Director

Jay Kleberg joined Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation as Associate Director in September 2013. Prior to joining the Foundation, Mr. Kleberg provided strategy consulting services to Grand Canyon National Park on behalf of the Business Management Group and Comptroller of the National Park Service. Mr. Kleberg also spent seven years in the commercial real estate industry. Previously, he helped start and manage a nonprofit organization to promote and establish sustainable land use practices in Brazil.

Cynthia K. Olson, Stewardship and Support Director

Cynthia Olson joined Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation in January 2019 as Stewardship and Support Director. Ms. Olson has spent more than 12 years in non-profit leadership including fundraising, corporate engagement, and marketing and communications for Austin Street Center, Best Buddies, Intl., and The Salvation Army. Prior to entering non-profit, Ms. Olson was responsible for marketing, concept development and operations for McDonald’s Corporation.

Lydia Saldaña, Communications Director

Lydia Saldaña joined the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation team as Communications Director in September 2014 after more than 23 years of state service with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. For 17 of those years, she served as Communications Division Director and was responsible for agency communications, marketing, media relations, education and outreach. As TPWF communications director, Ms. Saldaña provides strategic input and guidance to the leadership team and implements annual integrated communication and marketing plans that support TPWF’s mission.