President
Meet the TLC Board of Directors


Joined the board: 2015
“TLC does good, effective, meaningful work, critical to maintaining our Texas landscapes, preserving open space, mitigating land fragmentation, protecting water and air quality. I’m a Texan, I want to live here forever, and I want to contribute to work that helps leave it better than I found it—TLC does that.”
Mr. Moorhead is the Director of Policy for Audubon Texas, one of the oldest conservation organizations in the world. He is the founder and principal of Woods Prairie, an Austin-based business consulting firm. Previously, he served as the COO of the Ben Barnes Group. A native of Houston and an honors graduate from the University of Texas at Austin’s Plan II Program, he is passionate about energy and water-resource issues, infrastructure, and land-use planning, and also holds a Master’s in Energy and Earth Resources from the Jackson School of Geosciences at UT-Austin. He enjoys kayaking, working outdoors, Texas waterways, and being with his family.

Location: Dallas, Texas
Joined the board: 2010
“Clean air, clean water, clean food–all of these come from natural lands. And all of those provide a foundation for healthy communities. The Texas Land Conservancy preserves vital resources in a landscape where little other means of permanent protection exist.”
Adam Jochelson, P. E., brings both depth and breath of knowledge to the Board, informed by his professional, educational, and extracurricular experiences. A licensed Environmental Engineer in the State of Texas, he is a recognized expert in the field of waste management and the ways to manage disposal facilities in environmentally friendly ways. Currently, Adam fills his weeks with a variety of business endeavors including: Publisher of the Dallas franchise of the Coffee News; private tutoring in math and science, including serving as Executive Director fo the Free Tutoring Foundation; contract civil engineering for small and medium sized projects at DHR Engineering; and assisting as business manager for Dallas PAWS (Personal Animal Wellness Services), a mobile veterinary clinic making house calls for pet health needs. He spent a decade as the senior environmental engineer for the City of Dallas Sanitation Services Department. Having to think daily about the planning, development, operations and design of a landfill means that Adam is keenly aware of land use issues and pressures affecting the environmental landscape of an urban area. Adam received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Duke University in 1995 and became a licensed professional environmental engineer in Texas 10 years later after working in the education field teaching math and science.
Vice President

Location: Austin, Texas
Joined the board: 2017
“Ecosystems are being compromised by development and land fragmentation. I support TLC because it is mitigating these impacts by protecting and managing lands for the benefit and health of all living things.”
Dr. Murden is the Director of Land Stewardship for the Shield Ranches where he oversees the conservation management of the Ayres-Bowen family lands in Travis, Real, and Jeff Davis counties. A native Texan, Blake has more than twenty-five years of experience in wildlife science and natural resource management. He is respected among conservation and corporate professionals for his skills as an effective leader, his common-sense approach to the stewardship of working lands, and for brokering solutions to complex environmental issues among diverse stakeholders. Blake has conducted research, endangered species mitigation, and natural resource management in Texas, the Pacific Northwest, and New Zealand. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in biology from Tarleton State University and his Master’s and Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University.
Secretary

Location: Austin, Texas
Joined the board: 2017
“I’m proud to call Texas home and support TLC in its mission to conserve natural beauty and preserve Texas land for future generations.”
Michelle spent her teenage years in San Antonio and then moved closer to the heart of Texas to attend the University of Texas at Austin where she obtained her Masters in Professional Accounting. She began her public accounting career with Deloitte & Touche LLP in Austin, TX, last serving in the audit practice as a senior manager. Michelle continued her public accounting career with Maxwell Locke and Ritter LLP where she currently serves a variety of clients and industries within the firm’s audit practice. She is a Certified Public Accountant, a member of the AICPA and TSCPA Austin Chapter and is raising two young Texans with her husband.
Treasurer

Location: Dallas, Texas
Joined the board: 1984
“I want everyone to be able to slow down their busy life and absorb the peace provided by a natural environment. TLC protects lands into perpetuity enabling our beautiful forests, fields and ecosystems to continue for future generations.”
Janell grew up in the Texas panhandle and moved to Dallas in 1973. She attended the University of North Texas and passed the Certified Public Accountants exam in 1984; at which time she became a partner in the Richardson Accounting firm of Sheriff, Sheriff & McNally. In 1986 that partnership was downsized to the present firm of Sheriff & Morgan, P.C. Janell is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has served on various accounting committees at the state and local level. In her lifetime she was blessed with a long-term marriage and one son. In addition to her profession, she enjoys many activities with friends such as, traveling, cards, nature walks, reading and acquiring a deeper knowledge of my spiritual faith.
Assistant Treasurer

Location: Austin, Texas
Joined the board: 2010
“TLC protects habitats and ecosystems from development and degradation. Because of this work, my children and grandchildren will get to see and experience the natural and cultural heritage of Texas.”
A University of Texas at Austin graduate, Travis went on to earn a Masters of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs before earning a J.D. from the UT School of Law. He is a partner in the Austin law firm of Graves Dougherty Hearon Moody with a primary focus in commercial real estate. He also has legislative experience, having interned for the chair of the Texas House Natural Resources Committee. Travis currently serves on the board of Texas Land Trust Council which is the statewide trade association for land trusts as well as the TLC board.
Past-president


Joined the board: 2016
“Land links our past and future. With 95% of Texas privately-owned, the TLC performs a vital role in preventing habitat fragmentation, preserving watersheds, and helping Texans preserve their natural heritage.”
After a career in consulting and financial services at Accenture and American Express, Neel received a Ph.D. in environmental history. He teaches in the Department of History at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and his research focuses on public and private conservation efforts, including the state and national parks of Texas. Neel is finishing his first manuscript for publication that explores the creation of international parks along our nation’s shared borders with Canada and Mexico. He contributed to “The National Parks of Texas: In Contact With Beauty,” a Texas Public Broadcasting Association documentary highlighting the 16 national parks in Texas for the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.


Joined the board: 2020
“With the recent deterioration and elimination of several environmental regulations, I’m extremely concerned about the future of our land and water supply, and what we leave (or don’t leave) behind for future generations. I support TLC in an effort to foster awareness, increase volunteerism and/or funding. This is something that I must do for my children’s future, and the future of our state.”
Ray Castillo is a native Texan born in Houston, raised in Corpus, and after bouncing around the rest of Texas, he and his family ended up in Austin in 2015. Ray serves as Business Development Lead for AECOM’s Program and Project Management business line in Texas. AECOM provides comprehensive program, project and construction management as well as architectural, engineering, environmental, construction, and technical services to both public and private sector clients. Over the last 20 years, Ray has focused on K12 and Higher Education construction, helping districts plan and execute over $1 billion for their capital renewal/improvement programs.
In addition to serving on the TLC board, Ray also serves on the board of TreeFolks, and is currently President of the St. John Neighborhood Association. He also volunteers for both the Austin Parks Foundation, City of Austin Parks and Recreation, and Save MUNY.
Ray is a graduate of Rice University, where he met his wife, Anissa. Anissa and Ray have three spirited kids (boys, 11 and 9; and a girl, 5, going on 15).

Location: Dallas, Texas
Joined the board: 2004
“I grew up with TLC (then NAPA) being organized in my family living room, and we always took family trips to natural wilderness areas where I felt connected to nature. These experiences have led me to engage in activities to protect and preserve the earth.”
The daughter of Ned and Genie Fritz, Ms. McKee continues her family’s efforts to preserve natural areas by serving on the board of Texas Land Conservancy, which her parents started. Ms. McKee has a degree in communications and public relations from Southern Methodist University and worked for over twenty years as a fundraising and development manager for arts and education organizations in Dallas. As a teenager, Eileen received a prestigious Ford Foundation Scholarship to the School of American Ballet and she has performed with numerous national and regional dance companies. She currently teaches at Contemporary Ballet Dallas and serves on the Board of the Contemporary Ballet Dallas professional company.


Joined the board: 2020
“The work of the Texas Land Conservancy and its supporters ensure that irreplaceable natural spaces are protected – not just for my lifetime – but for generations to come. It helps Texans develop a shared commitment and appreciation for the land, water and natural resources we all enjoy.”
Gena McKinley is the Strategic Initiatives Division Manager for Austin Resource Recovery, the City department charged with the implementation of the City of Austin’s Zero Waste Master Plan. The Division’s work focuses on recycling economic development, zero waste policy and program development, business outreach and public education and marketing. By fostering innovative community-wide partnerships to advance zero waste, this work supports the necessary infrastructure for a resilient circular economy in Central Texas.
Her leadership, commitment and advocacy for zero waste earned national recognition as she was chosen to be included in Waste360’s 40 Under 40 list of rising stars in the industry. Gena has earned a Masters of Public Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health and Bachelor of Arts in biology and sociology from Southwestern University.
Gena McKinley brings a passion for public service and community betterment to both her work at the City of Austin and her volunteerism in Austin and Central Texas. She is a member of the School Health Advisory Council for the Austin Independent School District, serves as a Guardian ad litem for children in the foster care system through CASA of Travis County, helps Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) raise money to fund its efforts to provide healthcare for Austin musicians and volunteers for Keep Austin Fed. Gena lives in Austin with her son and they can often be found on a hiking trail or listening to live music.


Joined the board: 2000
“Protecting land – not just advocacy, not just increasing public awareness, but actually protecting land in the real world – has been a passion for me since I was a child. I am deeply proud to have been a part of what TLC has accomplished, and look forward to what it will accomplish in the decades to come.”
Michael obtained math and earth science degrees from MIT and worked for a year on the Space Shuttle project, before changing course and attending Harvard Law School. He is a partner in Clark Hill Strasburger in Dallas, specializing in civil appellate litigation and governmental law. Michael currently serves on TLC’s board as its Immediate Past President, as District 9 representative on the Dallas City Plan & Zoning Commission, on the Executive Board of Texas Destination Imagination, and as member and past chairman of the White Rock Lake Task Force.


Joined the board: 2018
“Retaining and maintaining the lands of Texas in a smart and naturalistic manner is important for all. Doing this with the pressures and desire to develop is increasingly important to balance. We have all seen first hand the massive growth around the cities in Texas; it should not always be at the expense of the landscapes that ensure natural diversity and beauty. ”
A native Texan, José is currently in collaboration technology deployment for TTEC which is a leading global customer experience technology and services provider focused on the design, implementation and delivery of transformative solutions for many of the world’s most iconic and disruptive brands, and is focused on using technology to deliver outstanding experiences to his customers. He has over 20 years of experience managing customer care operations and leading best of breed technology implementations.
He is Vice President of the Highland Park Neighborhood Association in San Antonio and leads the Zoning and Planning Committee. He is a member of the Mission Concepcion (designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2015) Parish Council and is focused on serving the local community. Josè is an avid runner and biker and is often found along the trails and waterways of Texas.


Joined the board: 1987
“With few large tracts of public lands in Texas, we must preserve what is valuable in our heritage one piece at a time, thus the value of land trusts and conservation advocacy.”
Dr. Matthew grew up on his family’s ranch in Yoakum, Texas, and received his bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from University of Texas-Austin, then attended Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He began his internal medicine residency at the University of Florida, followed by a two-year infectious disease fellowship at NIH (Bethesda, Md.); he finished his residency at San Antonio Health Science Center and joined the faculty. Dr. Matthew then worked for 22 years at Austin’s Brackenridge Hospital, as Director of Medical Services and Education. He moved to Rockport, Texas in 1997 and is an infectious disease physician with the Christus Spohn Health System in the Corpus Christi region.
Dr. Matthew became involved with Texas Land Conservancy in 1987 as executor of the estate of Ms. Ivy Payne, who donated a 480-acre refuge near Palestine to Texas Land Conservancy; he has since overseen the management of the property and its endowment to support TLC. Pursuing his broad interest in wildlife conservation, Dr. Matthew was elected to the board of directors of the National Wildlife Federation, representing the south-central U.S.1999-2008, as well as the federation’s state affiliate, Texas Conservation Alliance, of which he is still a board member. He is president of Aransas First, a local land trust, which was instrumental in developing the County of Aransas Pathways program on the Texas Gulf coast.


Joined the board: 2019
“Texas is one of the fastest growing states in the nation, and the conservation efforts of TLC help ensure that—as development in our state continues—all Texans are able to enjoy open spaces and the ecosystem services that native habitat provides.”
Michaela is a native Texan whose passion for wildlife and conservation stemmed from her experiences growing up on a ranch outside of Dripping Springs. Michaela earned her B.S. in Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences as well as Plant & Environmental Soil Science at Texas A&M University. She continued on at Texas A&M to earn her M.S. in Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences while researching endangered avian species and the human dimensions of wildlife management. After working with surface water rights at TCEQ, Michaela felt called to pursue a career in education. For the last several years, Michaela has been teaching biology and environmental science at a private high school in Waco, TX and has also been teaching at McLennan Community College as an adjunct faculty member. In addition to teaching, Michaela serves on the Sustainability Board for McLennan Community College and is actively engaged in improving conservation and sustainability efforts within her community. In her spare time, Michaela enjoys spending time with her husband and dog while they explore Texas by foot, bike, and kayak.


Joined the board: 2018
“I joined Texas Land Conservancy to help preserve the beautiful lands of Texas for my children, their children, and all the future generations of our great state.”
Caleb is an Austin native who grew up exploring Barton Creek and the outdoors of Texas. He is a Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor with the Gerrie Stafford Group at Merrill Lynch in Austin, TX. Focusing on wealth planning and investments he guides affluent families and individuals through generational life stages. Caleb holds a marketing degree from Texas State University. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, being outdoors, and cooking.
Throwback to some of our founding members at Catahoula Forest Preserve – our first protected property – in 1982.