Meet the Staff
Texas Land Conservancy is staffed by eight full-time employees. Our small but mighty team is committed to protecting land, restoring habitat, connecting people to nature, and raising support for TLC’s mission.
PRESIDENT
Location: Austin, TX
Joined the board: 2015
Scott Moorhead
Mr. Moorhead is the chief strategy officer for Texas Water Trade, an Austin-based NGO focused on innovative solutions to provide clean and sufficient water for people and nature. He is the former Policy Director for Audubon Texas, where he focused on strategic initiatives to protect Texas's air, water, and natural systems. From 2008-2016, he served as a client lead and COO of the Ben Barnes Group, a national consultancy. 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.
VICE PRESIDENT
Location: Austin, TX
Joined the board: 2017
Blake Murden
Dr. Murden is the CEO of the Shield Land Stewardship Group where he is responsible for the administration and conservation management of the three Shield-Ayres family ranches comprising 37,000 acres in Central and West Texas. Blake also supports the mission of the Shield Ranch Foundation through land stewardship, coordination and oversight of capital projects and the operation and management of land and facilities. Blake has more than 30 years of experience managing, researching, and monitoring land, water, and wildlife resources on private lands in Texas, the Pacific Northwest, and New Zealand. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Tarleton State University, and his Master of Science and Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University.
TREASURER
Location: Austin, TX
Joined the board: 2017
Michelle Kopplow
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.
SECRETARY
Location: Austin, TX
Joined the board: 2018
Caleb Stafford
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.
Board of Directors
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Neel Baumgardner
Location: Austin, TX
Joined the board: 2016 -
Ryan Hunter
Location: Austin, TX
Joined the board: 2023 -
Jeff Jezierski
Location: Round Rock, TX
Joined the board: 2022 -
Michael Jung
Location: Dallas, TX
Joined the board: 2000 -
José Martínez
Location: San Antonio, TX
Joined the board: 2018 -
Earl Matthew
Location: Rockport, TX
Joined the board: 1987 -
Michaela McCown
Location: Waco, TX
Joined the board: 2019 -
Eileen Fritz McKee
Location: Dallas, TX
Joined the board: 2004 -
Tiffany Osburn
Location: Austin, TX
Joined the board: 2023 -
Travis Phillips
Location: Austin, TX
Joined the board: 2010 -
Tim Riley
Location: Austin, TX
Joined the board: 2023