STAFF

Executive Director

Mark is a native of Texas and joined the TLC staff in 2007. He previously worked at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, where he was a private lands wildlife biologist providing technical assistance to landowners in the Hill Country. Mark’s land management experience also stems from his academic career and working on his family’s farm in Washington County.

Mark earned his bachelor’s in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and master’s in Rangeland Ecology and Management, both from Texas A&M University. His master’s research focused on Texas landowners and their knowledge of conservation policy and land management techniques. Mark received his Ph.D. from the University of Montana in Missoula from the College of Forestry and Conservation. His dissertation and post-doctoral work focused on land fragmentation in the Rocky Mountain region.

Stewardship Director

Stephen is a graduate from Texas State University with a B.S. in Geographic Information Science. His work and volunteer experience includes the Save Our Springs Alliance, San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance, San Marcos River Foundation and Hays County Master Naturalists. He is currently serving as the board president of the San Marcos River Foundation.

Stephen carries a wide range of experience from cartography, field work, surveys, photography, guided hikes, and community outreach. His drive for conservation is rooted in his love for the San Marcos River and sharing the natural world with others. Stephen enjoys outdoor recreation such as swimming, bird watching, and mountain unicycling.

Stewardship Director

Ellen has enjoyed a variety of positions in conservation and education throughout her career. Her experience has focused on stewardship, land protection, outdoor education, volunteer management, and trail construction for groups such as the Lowcountry Land Trust, New Mexico Land Conservancy, Big Bend National Park, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and AmeriCorps. Ellen holds a master’s degree in Geography from Texas A&M University, where her research focused on fire history in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Ellen’s enthusiasm for protecting the unique landscapes of Texas stems from a deep appreciation and affection for the state. As Stewardship Director for TLC, Ellen works closely with landowners and various partners to ensure that the conservation values of TLC’s fee and easement properties are being upheld.

An enthusiastic and avid backpacker, Ellen recently pursued her life-long goal of thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail. Her other passions include long-distance running, playing with her niece and nephew, grilling for friends, watching college football, and cheering on the Astros.

Development Director

Amber Arseneaux is a native Texan and joined the TLC staff in May, 2016. Amber holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Leadership and Development and a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management, both from Texas A&M University.

Prior to beginning her conservation career at TLC, Amber spent several years with The Trinity Trust Foundation in Dallas, where she provided outreach, managed grants, and led membership development. Her passion for Texas’s open space, diverse culture, and agricultural heritage combined with her fundraising background and personal face-to-face connections provide a solid foundation for cultivating meaningful relationships and soliciting support from donors of all levels for the TLC.

Outside the office, your best bet is finding Amber outside and anywhere live music is playing. She enjoys hiking, volunteering as a Texas Master Naturalist, and exploring Texas’s natural wonders.

Director of Partnerships and Outreach

Maren Joined the TLC staff in May, 2017. Prior to TLC, Maren spent several years with Western Resource Advocates, a regional conservation non-profit based in Boulder, CO, where she managed the organizations digital communications and creative content. She also worked for Colorado Public Interest Research Group’s Energy Service Corps, City and County of Denver’s Department of Environmental Health, National Conference of State Legislatures, and Excel Energy where her primary focuses were environmental policy, communications, and community outreach.

Maren holds a B.A. in Political Science with a focus in Environmental Affairs from Colorado State University and an M.A. in Environmental Policy from the University of Denver.