Chief Executive Officer

Kimberly McNeeley

Joining The Trail Conservancy team in June 2024, Kimberly brings over three decades of experience in recreational management and community engagement to her role as CEO. Prior to joining TTC, Kimberly served 14 years with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, appointed as Director in 2019. Throughout her career, Kimberly has been a passionate champion for initiatives that connect communities and children to nature and explore environmentally responsible maintenance practices that increase sustainable and biodiverse ecosystems.

Under Kimberly’s leadership, TTC will continue to implement responsible environmental stewardship while fostering community connections through innovative programs and inclusive activities. Her vision for the Ann and Roy Butler Trail is to offer sanctuaries of respite and beauty within Austin’s urban landscape. She will further strengthen the Conservancy’s collaboration with all its stakeholders, advancing conservation and community goals.

In her off-time, Kimberly enjoys spending quality time with her father, husband, and two dogs.

Chief Operating Officer

Hanna Cofer

Hanna brings 20 years of experience in nonprofits ranging from local conservation to international social enterprises, giving her a strong history of driving program expansion and sustainable growth. She has a strong passion for the Austin community and believes that nothing embodies Austin like the Butler Trail which she grew up alongside. When not on the Trail or working with TTC, she volunteers with various animal welfare and musician support organizations and can be found in the Hill Country with her dogs or at a local concert.

Executive Projects Director

Charlotte Tonsor

Charlotte is a native Texan with over 19 years of experience in landscape architecture and project management in Austin and across Texas. She has led and designed projects ranging from parks to corporate campuses and sports venues to children’s gardens. A country girl at heart, she is passionate about outdoor spaces in the city for everyone to use and enjoy. She believes that The Trail and Lady Bird Lake are the crown jewels of our city and that experiencing nature can change people’s lives, as it did hers when she started walking The Trail in 2000. She spends her free time pretending to be a Food Network Star, singing in her car, searching for perfect plant combinations, and road-tripping with her husband and two kids across the country (lots of times in a travel trailer).

Chief Marketing Officer

Mandi Thomas

Mandi brings over 25 years of marketing and event experience to The Trail Conservancy, having worked in both corporate and non-profit sectors. She has extensive experience in building and promoting brands and curating experiences through creative placemaking, programming, and events. Mandi is passionate about bringing the community together and believes that the Trail is one of Austin’s most important (and loved) public spaces – a place everyone uses for either emotional reprieve, to recharge through activity, or as a shortcut for getting from one place to the next. When she isn’t enjoying the Trail with her dogs, Mandi is most likely on the lake paddle boarding with her husband, singing and dancing with friends at a concert, or cheering on her teenage daughter.

Park Operations Director

Grady Reed

Capital Projects Director

Nick Blok

Nick joined The Trail Conservancy with four years of experience in both public and private development in Central Texas. His greatest passion lies in creating public spaces where people can have experiences that help them to write their own stories and create memories. With a background as a landscape architect, Nick has a strong understanding and appreciation for the urban and natural environments along the Trail and the value that each brings. In his spare time, Nick is an avid birdwatcher and photographer.

Development Director

Lila Weatherly Rivera

Lila has spent her entire professional career championing meaningful causes. She’s worn many hats in the development space, working closely with community members and stakeholders to host events, run campaigns, and build partnerships to fundraise for critical missions. Coming from a family of poets and artists, Lila likes to infuse creativity into everything she does, from marketing and design to ethical client storytelling. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Communications from George Washington University.

In her free time, Lila enjoys listening to and playing music, watching movies with her husband, and spending time with her dogs, Barbara and Birdie. She’s passionate about protecting and enhancing Austin’s green spaces and making the city more walkable for all!

Controller

Andrew P. Cortez

Andrew comes to The Trail Conservancy with over 30 years of experience in the government, private, and nonprofit sectors. His extensive experience as a CPA includes roles such as Director of Accounting, Internal Audit Manager, Chief Financial Officer, Business Manager, and Controller. Andrew has contributed to his community by volunteering and serving on various Boards of Trustees. Andrew is an avid runner, cyclist, boxer, and qigong practitioner and has been enjoying the Butler Trail since the late 1970s. He considers the Trail his favorite outdoor spot to ‘recharge’.

Conservation Ecologist

Collin McMichael

Collin holds a Master’s degree from Wesleyan University in Biology and an arborist certification through ISA.  He comes to the Trail Conservancy with 5 years of Central Texas tree-care experience and 13 years of experience working in the field of ecology.  Collin is a major enthusiast of the healing aspects of nature and positive outdoor experiences and aims to make these more accessible to all Austinites.  Outside of conservation and land stewardship, he can usually be found gardening, painting, or reading sci-fi.

Development Manager

Kayla Brown

Kayla joins The Trail Conservancy with a background in events, membership management, and donor relations. She is passionate about preserving Austin’s outdoor havens and leverages her experience to support conservation efforts and community engagement. Kayla holds a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas and a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Management from the College of Charleston in South Carolina. When she’s not working, you might find her cooking a Bon Appétit recipe, singing car karaoke, or road-tripping with her husband and pup.

Restoration Manager

Justin Hayes

Justin has been in the landscaping industry for 28 years. He got his start running his own lawn care company in Lubbock, Texas, and then, in 2008, moved to the Austin area where he worked as a gardener, crew leader, and eventually Supervisor for Landscape Services at U.T. Austin. For 7 years, he helped build and manage the Dell Seton Health District Landscape, a SITES Gold status landscape which also achieved Re:wild Platinum status. He has worked and specializes in native meadows, rooftop gardens, riparian restoration, pervious pavement systems, bioswales, electric equipment, compost and compost tea, non-chemical invasive management, and organic soil and care practices. He is also an Accredited Landcare Professional through NOFA and is certified as Level 4 with the Native Plant Society of Texas. He achieved Best Turf in Texas with the Texas Turf Association in 2012 for his work on the entrance to the University of Texas. He has a passion for caring for soil and plants and enjoys microscopy to see all the living critters in the soil.

Operations Manager

Miriam Castro-Gutierrez

Miriam earned her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Texas. She has worked for various non-profits in Austin that focus on helping families access affordable childcare and housing. She enjoys work that creates safe spaces for families to grow and build community. For this reason, she is excited to further the mission of The Trail Conservancy. When not working, she enjoys reading, spending time outdoors at Austin’s various trails and parks, and spending time with her family.

Park Grounds Manager

Nicholas “Teddy” Tedder

Teddy earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation and Parks Management from East Carolina University and brings over 15 years of experience in both landscaping and construction to The Trail Conservancy. Teddy’s experience includes maintaining collegiate-level ballfields and building custom outdoor living spaces. Before moving to Texas from North Carolina in the spring of 2023, he managed nature preserves, where he planned, designed, and implemented new trail systems. Working on the trail has always brought him the most joy because it creates a space for all to enjoy the outdoors. While it is nice to enjoy the Trail, Teddy enjoys time with his family, woodworking, boardgames, and playing billiards.

Seaholm Intake Campaign Manager

Sarah Story

Volunteer Program Supervisor

Jonatan Salinas

Jonatan comes to The Trail Conservancy with experience in ecology, restoration, and community engagement. He is passionate about creating inclusive green spaces for everyone to enjoy the outdoors. As a fellow Austinite, he enjoys walking the Greenbelt, exploring neighborhood parks, and eating breakfast tacos. 

Programming & Marketing Coordinator

Maddy Kelly

Maddy earned a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration from Texas State University. While at Texas State, she helped orchestrate the school’s annual Bobcat Build event each year – the largest service project on campus where students volunteer through projects such as landscaping, planting, or clean-ups at local schools, parks, and neighborhoods.  Maddy is passionate about the mission of The Trail Conservancy, and actively builds community along the Trail through programming.

Park Grounds Coordinator

John Scott

John graduated from St. Edward’s University in 2023 with a degree in Environmental Science and Policy. He comes to The Trail Conservancy with a background in grassland ecology and skills in park maintenance. Together he aims to improve humans’ connection to the environment and the state of the environment. When not working, he’s often watching bad tv, exploring or listening to music.

Communication Coordinator

Bailey Armosky

Bailey earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from St. Edward’s University in 2024. She brings experience in social media management and graphic design to the team. Her passion for serving communities started while working for a Texas public education policy and advocacy non-profit. Now, she hopes to continue positively impacting lives at The Trail Conservancy. Outside work, Bailey loves trying new coffee spots in town, going antiquing, and exploring museums and aquariums.

Grants Associate

Traci Stone

Traci joined TTC in 2023, bringing her experience in grant administration from her previous work in human services. She has been a resident of Austin since 1996 and loves the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail. Traci has been using the Trail for years, starting with walking her children in strollers and now enjoying family walks, bike rides, and runs. She considers it an honor to be able to contribute to the Trail and Austin through her role as a Grants Associate for The Trail Conservancy.

Stewardship Associate

Holly Thoden

Holly has spent her career in the relationship business, and putting a smile on people’s faces is something she takes quite seriously! As TTC’s Stewardship Associate, she is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with donors and supporters, ensuring proper acknowledgment and recognition, providing project updates, and helping with events. The Trail is a place that Holly and her family have loved since they moved to Austin 20 years ago.

Marketing & Events Intern

Natalie Santander

Natalie is a Senior at Texas State University earning her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing with a Concentration in Professional Sales from the McCoy College of Business. This semester, she is joining the Trail Conservancy to assist with Programming and Events. Natalie has educational experience in audience behavior and is a proud Breakthrough Central Texas student. She is an Austin native who has many memories of enjoying the Trail growing up in East Austin alongside her family. She enjoys fostering fun, enriching experiences for others and is excited to contribute to the mission of the Trail Conservancy. Outside of work and school, Natalie enjoys reading at local coffee shops, going to concerts, or cooking up new recipes!

Eco Intern

Alexa Hernandez-Lopez

Hi, I’m Alexa Hernandez-Lopez, a junior at Texas State University majoring in Biology with a minor in Psychology. I’m passionate about staying active, so I enjoy going on runs, and I’m always up for discovering new music.

Marketing & Events Intern

Jaiden Suda

Jaiden is a junior at Texas State University, majoring in Marketing. With a deep passion for environmental advocacy and public outreach, he joined The Trail Conservancy to help foster stronger connections between people and nature while working to preserve natural spaces. In his free time, Jaiden enjoys exploring the outdoors and playing chess.

Development Intern

Haneen Abdalla

Haneen is a junior at the University of Texas, double majoring in Sustainability Studies and International Relations. She comes to The Trail Conservancy with a background in data management, conference services, and a passion for sustainable development. Her goal is to work in the public sector with a focus on environmental equity, and ensuring that all people have access to green spaces. When not at the trail, Haneen can be found listening to live music or in the coffee shop at Bookpeople, eating a lemon bar.