CEO

Heidi Anderson

Heidi brings 30 years of experience in non-profits to TTC – ranging from education, arts and for the past 8 years protecting green space and building additional trails for Central Texans. She and her family regularly enjoy the Trail for its urban access to nature and connectivity to the community. Heidi’s commitment to the Trail lies in the belief that this treasured asset, within Austin’s core, is at the heart of what makes our city great and our people healthy.

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.

Chief Development Officer

Cassie Bernhardt

Cassie brings more than 15 years of fundraising experience to The Trail Conservancy, with nonprofit experience in the arts and higher education. Originally from rural Indiana, Cassie has a deep appreciation for the outdoors. She first discovered her love of the Butler Trail during visits to Austin while attending college as an athlete in south Louisiana. She and her husband have four children, ranging from middle school to graduate school.

Park Operations Director

Grady Reed

Communications and Engagement Director

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.

Capital 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).

Controller

Barbara Bowman

Barbara is a certified public accountant and comes to The Trail Conservancy with over 30 years of experience as a CFO/Controller in companies ranging from start-ups to $80 million in revenues, spanning a variety of industries, including background screening, home and community services to persons with disabilities, and educational programming.  She is an avid hiker, bicyclist, and kayaker and believes access to public lands and green space is essential nourishment for the human spirit.

Capital Projects Manager

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.

Office Operations Coordinator

Miriam Castro-Gutierrez

Miriam earned her Bachelor of Social Work at UT Austin in 2016. She has since worked in various non-profits in Austin that focused 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.

Annual Fund Manager

Courtney Donilon

Courtney comes to The Trail Conservancy with over 15 years of business development, marketing, and event experience and a passion for creating meaningful experiences and relationships.

Courtney’s favorite place in Austin is the Trail, where she can immerse herself in nature and still feel connected with vibrant city activities nearby. She spends as much time as possible outdoors – hiking, relaxing in swimming holes, or chasing her 4-year-old son in various parks and playgrounds. Courtney loves to try new restaurants, read, travel, and watch live music when she’s not outside.

Conservation Manager

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.

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.

Ecological Restoration Coordinator

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. 

Development Coordinator

Stephanie Vargas

Stephanie brings her experience in donor communication to The Trail Conservancy. She has experience working with various nonprofit organizations in Austin that focus on helping women. Stephanie enjoys volunteering around Austin in marathons and around The University of Texas. Stephanie’s love for community building, volunteering, and event planning led her to The Trail Conservancy, where she hopes to make an impact and expand her nonprofit experience. When not working, she enjoys working on cross-stitch and watching true crime series.

Culture & Engagement Coordinator

Caitlin Young

Caitlin Young comes to The Trail Conservancy with a background in the arts and higher education. Caitlin is passionate about creating and supporting spaces that serve our community, whether that looks like increasing access to outdoor space or helping with arts and culture events. When not working, you can find her listening to live music or in her art studio weaving.