Alicia Rusthoven Native Horticulture Coordinator Alicia is a native Austinite, a recent graduate from The University of Texas with a degree in Environmental Science, and a Master Naturalist. While at UT, she worked with the Campus Environmental C

Alicia Rusthoven
Native Horticulture Coordinator

Alicia is a native Austinite, a recent graduate from The University of Texas with a degree in Environmental Science, and a Master Naturalist. While at UT, she worked with the Campus Environmental Center and led a student-run farm. It was there that she found her passion for connecting people to the outdoors and to their food systems, something she wishes to carry out at Pease. In her free time, she enjoys biking, reading, camping, and making collages.

Allison Johnson Director of Community Engagement Allison Johnson fell for Austin when she arrived here to obtain her MBA from the University of Texas and became committed to the nonprofit community over the next 10 years while working in marketin

Allison Johnson
Director of Community Engagement

Allison Johnson fell for Austin when she arrived here to obtain her MBA from the University of Texas and became committed to the nonprofit community over the next 10 years while working in marketing and communications at Generation SERVE. Allison is thrilled to help our community members connect with nature, right here in the middle of the city, in all of the ways that keep us healthy and connected - through play, reflection, volunteerism, and learning.

Email: allison@peasepark.org

Bret Kiester Director of Park Operations Bret comes to Pease Park Conservancy with 20 years of operations experience in the nonprofit sector. Before joining the conservancy Bret spent the past 12 years serving as a Center Executive for the YMCA

Bret Kiester
Director of Park Operations

Bret comes to Pease Park Conservancy with 20 years of operations experience in the nonprofit sector. Before joining the conservancy Bret spent the past 12 years serving as a Center Executive for the YMCA of Austin in Hays County. In addition, Bret has served his community as the Board Chair of the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce, member of Hays CISD Student Health Advisory Council, and has served on several city of Buda commissions. Bret volunteers as a Project WILD educator for Texas Parks and Wildlife and loves our state parks. Bret is a graduate of the University of North Texas with a degree in Public Administration, married, and has two boys.

Chuck Smith Chief Operating Officer Chuck Smith is a fifth generation Austinite, who understands the importance of Austin's park system as a vital component of what makes Austin special. He has been an integral part of the Conservancy si

Chuck Smith
Chief Operating Officer

Chuck Smith is a fifth generation Austinite, who understands the importance of Austin's park system as a vital component of what makes Austin special. He has been an integral part of the Conservancy since 2019, serving as Chief Operating Officer during which he has overseen the successful implementation of the award-winning Kingsbury Commons project, guided programming efforts, and stewarded the organization’s partnership with the City of Austin. With his extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, including a notable tenure as CEO of Equality Texas, Chuck brings a wealth of expertise and a deep commitment to the Conservancy’s mission. He enjoys the hike & bike trails and shares his home with his Great Dane, Cleo.

Email: chuck@peasepark.org

Dalton Smith Park Operations Coordinator Born in Round Rock and raised in what was a small town of Liberty Hill, Dalton, with his family, volunteered in Pease Park and throughout Austin which gave him a greater appreciation for the outdoors as we

Dalton Smith
Park Operations Coordinator

Born in Round Rock and raised in what was a small town of Liberty Hill, Dalton, with his family, volunteered in Pease Park and throughout Austin which gave him a greater appreciation for the outdoors as well as his community. Dalton prefers the physical aspects of the work to that of a typical desk job, and takes immense pride and joy in his ability to maintain, facilitate and regulate aspects of Pease Park. Dalton is certified in basic life support and first aid through the American Heart Association and is a certified Landscape Irrigation Technician. He is also certified in Pool & Spa operations through the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. He has completed the Landscape Water Budgeting course through the Texas A&M School of Irrigation. On his off days you will find him hiking the trails in Austin or soaking up the sun in one of the many local swimming holes.

Della Orr-Harter Development Coordinator Della, an eighth-generation Texan, is returning to Austin after completing a service year with AmeriCorps in southern California. Her love for the outdoors began at a young age, and she cherished the oppor

Della Orr-Harter
Development Coordinator

Della, an eighth-generation Texan, is returning to Austin after completing a service year with AmeriCorps in southern California. Her love for the outdoors began at a young age, and she cherished the opportunity to live just a block away from the ocean. During her time there, she engaged in various outdoor activities, from snorkeling with sharks to whale watching, car camping, beach cleanups, surfing, and innumerable beach walks. Eager to be closer to her family and pursue a career centered around conservation, Della is thrilled to return to her home state of Texas. Raised in a family deeply committed to nonprofit work, she feels a natural calling to dedicate her career to meaningful causes. Recognizing the urgency of addressing climate change, Della is determined to make a positive impact on our planet. With her return to Austin, Della is excited to re-engage with the vibrant rhythm of the city and contribute to the ongoing efforts in conservation and environmental stewardship.

Jordan Fuhrer Chief Revenue Officer Jordan is a Virginian turned Texan. Somewhere in between, she graduated from the University of New Hampshire and moved to Austin sight unseen, the city captured her heart instantly. She has dedicated her car

Jordan Fuhrer
Chief Revenue Officer

Jordan is a Virginian turned Texan. Somewhere in between, she graduated from the University of New Hampshire and moved to Austin sight unseen, the city captured her heart instantly. She has dedicated her career to making a difference for the lives of community members and is eager to bring a decade of nonprofit development experience to Pease Park Conservancy. Jordan has a natural passion for fundraising and for fostering meaningful relationships in support of an organization's mission. No matter where she has lived, she has always found her way to the nearest park. She believes parks play a crucial role in bringing people together and in shaping communities for the better. In her free time, Jordan enjoys exploring Austin (bonus points for dog-friendly spaces), finding new running routes, and paddle-boarding with her husband and their dog, Charlie Jo.

Luis Ortiz-Colon Park Programming Coordinator Luis was born in Puerto Rico but has been in Austin most of his life. He has been visiting Pease Park for years, and is a recent graduate of UT Austin with degrees in Sustainability Studies and Geogra

Luis Ortiz-Colon
Park Programming Coordinator

Luis was born in Puerto Rico but has been in Austin most of his life. He has been visiting Pease Park for years, and is a recent graduate of UT Austin with degrees in Sustainability Studies and Geography. Having interned with the Conservancy previously, he is excited to be working for the organization full time toward its mission to promote inclusivity, community, and sustainability. He enjoys observing nature, learning about human-environmental dynamics, hiking, swimming at Barton Springs Pool, and visiting the beach as often as possible.

Marrisa Bandera Park Operations Tech Marrisa Bandera grew up in Austin, Texas. She is excited to be part of the Conservancy, where she can spend time working outdoors and learning about plants, trees, animals, and other wildlife. Her favorite sea

Marrisa Bandera
Park Operations Tech

Marrisa Bandera grew up in Austin, Texas. She is excited to be part of the Conservancy, where she can spend time working outdoors and learning about plants, trees, animals, and other wildlife. Her favorite season is spring. She finds hard work rewarding both personally and visually. Marrisa is CPR and First Aid certified.

Merly Gomez Park Operations Tech A native Latina Texan, Merly was mostly raised right here in Austin. In the summer of 2021 Merly completed a 6 month certification in the rigorous Texas Conservation Corps program. This public service work involve

Merly Gomez
Park Operations Tech

A native Latina Texan, Merly was mostly raised right here in Austin. In the summer of 2021 Merly completed a 6 month certification in the rigorous Texas Conservation Corps program. This public service work involved heavy duty trail repair and camping out in nature, her favorite part. The experience led Merly to an even greater appreciation of nature and parks. Merly studied for a Geographic Information Systems Level 1 Certificate so that she can dedicate her growing career to parkland geography. When not at work, Merly loves outdoor activities such as hiking, paddle boarding, and camping.

Mike Harris Director of Finance Mike obtained a B.S. in engineering and an MBA and applied those degrees to his initial career in marketing and operations for the semiconductor manufacturing and defense industries. Longing for more purpose, Mike

Mike Harris
Director of Finance

Mike obtained a B.S. in engineering and an MBA and applied those degrees to his initial career in marketing and operations for the semiconductor manufacturing and defense industries. Longing for more purpose, Mike recently pivoted and obtained a Technical Accounting Certificate from ACC with the goal of utilizing these skills for a community-minded organization. Mike is excited to bring his analytical and data driven skillset to the team at Pease Park Conservancy. The ability to assist in creating outdoor recreation opportunities in an urban park through the work of finance and accounting makes for a seriously interesting experience. Mike grew up in Virginia, moved to Austin 25 years ago, and enjoys running, backpacking, and science fiction.

Email: mike@peasepark.org

Nicole Netherton Chief Executive Officer Nicole is a Houstonian who found her spiritual home in Austin during her time at The University of Texas at Austin, but she also lived in (and loved) New York City in the early 2000s. Nicole entered the

Nicole Netherton
Chief Executive Officer

Nicole is a Houstonian who found her spiritual home in Austin during her time at The University of Texas at Austin, but she also lived in (and loved) New York City in the early 2000s. Nicole entered the nonprofit world in 2016 after being inspired by a life-changing trip to Antarctica: seeing the fragile ecosystem 7,000 miles from home sparked a shift toward environmental work. Before that, she had a 15 year career in marketing for a book publisher, and her professional background is in development, marketing, and management. Her professional passions include protecting wildlife and native ecosystems in Central Texas, increasing equitable access to nature, and mentoring women toward conservation careers. She excited to be a steward of a place that is so important to Austin’s past, present, and future, both for people and for nature.

PAX Pease Park Conservancy Mascot PAX is our friendly neighborhood squirrel and a resident of Pease Park. Pax values sustainability, environmental stewardship, and is an ambassador for accessibility to the outdoors. As an eastern grey squirrel, P

PAX
Pease Park Conservancy Mascot

PAX is our friendly neighborhood squirrel and a resident of Pease Park. Pax values sustainability, environmental stewardship, and is an ambassador for accessibility to the outdoors. As an eastern grey squirrel, PAX enjoys the dense canopy at Pease Park and can even be seen making an appearance at some of our community events.

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Alicia Rusthoven Native Horticulture Coordinator Alicia is a native Austinite, a recent graduate from The University of Texas with a degree in Environmental Science, and a Master Naturalist. While at UT, she worked with the Campus Environmental C
Allison Johnson Director of Community Engagement Allison Johnson fell for Austin when she arrived here to obtain her MBA from the University of Texas and became committed to the nonprofit community over the next 10 years while working in marketin
Bret Kiester Director of Park Operations Bret comes to Pease Park Conservancy with 20 years of operations experience in the nonprofit sector. Before joining the conservancy Bret spent the past 12 years serving as a Center Executive for the YMCA
Chuck Smith Chief Operating Officer Chuck Smith is a fifth generation Austinite, who understands the importance of Austin's park system as a vital component of what makes Austin special. He has been an integral part of the Conservancy si
Dalton Smith Park Operations Coordinator Born in Round Rock and raised in what was a small town of Liberty Hill, Dalton, with his family, volunteered in Pease Park and throughout Austin which gave him a greater appreciation for the outdoors as we
Della Orr-Harter Development Coordinator Della, an eighth-generation Texan, is returning to Austin after completing a service year with AmeriCorps in southern California. Her love for the outdoors began at a young age, and she cherished the oppor
Jordan Fuhrer Chief Revenue Officer Jordan is a Virginian turned Texan. Somewhere in between, she graduated from the University of New Hampshire and moved to Austin sight unseen, the city captured her heart instantly. She has dedicated her car
Luis Ortiz-Colon Park Programming Coordinator Luis was born in Puerto Rico but has been in Austin most of his life. He has been visiting Pease Park for years, and is a recent graduate of UT Austin with degrees in Sustainability Studies and Geogra
Marrisa Bandera Park Operations Tech Marrisa Bandera grew up in Austin, Texas. She is excited to be part of the Conservancy, where she can spend time working outdoors and learning about plants, trees, animals, and other wildlife. Her favorite sea
Merly Gomez Park Operations Tech A native Latina Texan, Merly was mostly raised right here in Austin. In the summer of 2021 Merly completed a 6 month certification in the rigorous Texas Conservation Corps program. This public service work involve
Mike Harris Director of Finance Mike obtained a B.S. in engineering and an MBA and applied those degrees to his initial career in marketing and operations for the semiconductor manufacturing and defense industries. Longing for more purpose, Mike
Nicole Netherton Chief Executive Officer Nicole is a Houstonian who found her spiritual home in Austin during her time at The University of Texas at Austin, but she also lived in (and loved) New York City in the early 2000s. Nicole entered the
PAX Pease Park Conservancy Mascot PAX is our friendly neighborhood squirrel and a resident of Pease Park. Pax values sustainability, environmental stewardship, and is an ambassador for accessibility to the outdoors. As an eastern grey squirrel, P