
Aldo Ruiz Parra
Operations Intern
Growing up in Austin, Aldo developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors. His connection to nature was shaped through programs like Explore Austin and Austin Youth River Watch, where he engaged in hiking, camping, and hands-on environmental service. A recent graduate of Pomona College with a degree in Computer Science and a Breakthrough Central Texas student since ninth grade, Aldo has developed strong problem-solving skills and a lasting commitment to impactful, community-centered work. He’s excited to bring his collaborative spirit, technical background, and deep love for Austin’s green spaces to meaningful environmental work.

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

Amy Corbett
Director of Finance
Amy moved to Austin in 2000. Over her career, she moved from public accounting into the non profit space through volunteering and serving on community nonprofit Boards. In her prior role, she served as Finance Director at a local workforce development nonprofit. She is thrilled to join the team at Pease Park Conservancy. She hopes to advance its mission and dedication to public green space conservation and community programming. She enjoys biking, hiking, pickle ball and being outside with her family and dogs.

Angelina Badiri
Communications Intern
Angelina is a first-generation born and raised in Austin by two South Sudanese immigrant parents. She currently studies marketing at the University of Texas San Antonio’s business school. She has always been passionate about conserving nature and is happy to be a part of that right here in her home city. She is excited to be working with the Conservancy this summer, where she can engage with the community and learn more skills while enjoying the beautiful sights surrounding her at the park.

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.

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 for Healthcare Providers and first aid through the American Heart Association. He is a Licensed Irrigation Technician and a Certified Pool and Spa Operator (CPO) through the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. He has completed the Landscape Water Budgeting course through the Texas A&M School of Irrigation and is currently working towards a certificate in Turfgrass Management through the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). 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 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.

George Rojano
Horticulture Coordinator
George was born and raised in Austin. Growing up in South Austin, he didn’t encounter Pease Park until early adulthood, but immediately fell in love. Before joining the Conservancy, George’s nonprofit experience came from his time as a student, intern, and volunteer for both Breakthrough Central Texas and Urban Roots. Growing up in such a green city, George quickly fell in love with nature, went on to study Earth Systems at Stanford, and returned home to be a full-time farmer with Urban Roots. He’s ecstatic to be a part of the Conservancy and takes great pride in putting love into the plants and landscape at the park. Outside of work, you’ll find George attending his brother’s soccer games, enjoying one of Austin’s many swim spots, or cuddling his cats at home.

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 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 season is spring. She finds hard work rewarding both personally and visually. Marrisa is CPR and First Aid certified. She holds a certificate from the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association as a certified Landscape Associate.

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.

Tristen Soria
Programs Intern
Tristen is a proud Native Texan born in the Austin area. She grew up in a small town east of Austin called Manor. During the school year, she is a full-time student and works as a full-time substitute teacher, which has given her valuable experience in education, adaptability, and communication with students of all ages. She is a senior at Texas State University, where she will be graduating with honors in December with a Bachelor of Arts in English. One of Tristen’s biggest dreams is to become a published author. Writing has always been a passion and she hopes to use storytelling to inspire and connect with others. Alongside her English degree, she pursued a minor in Sociology. One course that deeply impacted her was Sociology and the Environment, which explored the complex relationship between society and the natural world. This class sparked a genuine curiosity about environmental issues and how communities can both be impacted by and be a part of the solution for environmental challenges. That curiosity has led her to Pease Park Conservancy and she is thrilled to be spending the summer as the Programs Intern.
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.











