Mike is an ecologist with Resource Environmental Solutions (RES), specializing in plant ecology, ecological restoration, soil carbon, and plant-soil nutrient dynamics. Based out of the Chicago region, tallgrass prairie restoration is his passion. His recent work has focused on the connections between soil carbon, vegetation, and climate in tall- and shortgrass prairies, and the effects of grazing practices on bird habitat in southeastern US ranches. 

Contact Information
mszuter@res.us 

Download Soil Carbon Measurement and Monitoring as a Tool of Restoration Progress- 64.8MB

Larry received his undergraduate degree in Horticulture at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL) in 1975. He worked as a plant propagator and grower before opening his own nursery and landscaping company in Jeanerette, La. in 1980. In 1992 he returned to USL (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) to get his Master’s degree in biology. From 1995 to retirement, he worked as a botanist at the USGS National Wetlands Research Center in Lafayette, La. His research interests include ecology of grasslands, fire, and insect pollination as well as prairie restoration, and invasive species. He has authored several papers and digital products including Coastal Prairie Restoration Information System (software), USFWS brochure “Paradise Lost, the Coastal Prairie of Texas and Louisiana”, and the USGS web page: “Guide to the Plants of Louisiana”. Today he owns and operates a small farm and studies Agroecology, sustainable farming, and restoration of native grasslands. 

Contact Information
larryallain@gmail.com 

Download The Strengths and Shortcomings of Floral Quality in Prairie Ecology- 20.8MB

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Schyler’s work with Wildlife Habitat Federation focuses on the Greater Houston area of the Upper Texas Gulf Coast. She plans, inventories, implements, monitors, and accelerates conservation planning efforts. Previously, she assisted with habitat management at Coastal Prairie Conservancy, was a conservation intern with Houston Parks and Recreation Department, and interned with the City of San Marcos working on riparian corridor habitat conservation. Schyler holds a Professional Science Master’s degree in Environmental Sustainability and Natural Resource Management from Texas Tech University and a B.G.S. in Nature and Heritage Tourism, Animal Science, and Criminal Justice from Texas State University. 

Contact Information
sky.rhea@whf-texas.org 

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Philip grew up mostly in Port Arthur, TX, spending much of his free time hunting and fishing in the marshes of the Salt Bayou system. He received a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Management with an emphasis in Wildlife Management from Texas &M University in 2010 while gaining experience with both TPWD and USFWS as an intern. Subsequently, Philip worked as a seasonal with USFWS at Anahuac NWR before becoming a Fish and Wildlife Technician at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area. He worked in that capacity for 10 years before becoming a Wildlife Biologist at J.D. Murphree WMA. 

Contact Information
Philip.Pauling@tpwd.texas.gov 
409-736-2551, ext. 34 (Office)

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Andrew has been employed by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department beginning in 1990 when he conducted environmental assessments on development and navigation projects as well as implementing habitat restoration works. Since 2005, he has managed and restored native landscapes at southeast Texas state parks. Andrew earned B.S. in Forestry and Wildlife Management at Purdue University and a M.S. studying wetland ecology from Texas A&M University. 

Contact Information
andrew.sipocz@tpwd.texas.gov 
281-456-8266, ext. 229 (Office)

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Trey Barron began his career with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 2011 as a wildlife biologist in the Texas panhandle. In May of 2014, he moved to the coast to serve as wildlife biologist for Victoria, Refugio, and Calhoun counties. Trey is now the Wildlife Diversity (non-game) Biologist for Regions IV and V and is focused on species of greatest conservation need. He received his Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology and Master of Science in Biology from West Texas A&M University. He enjoys helping landowners manage habitat for a variety of species, but is especially interested in birds and herps. 

Contact Information
Trey.Barron@tpwd.texas.gov 
361-576-0022 (Office)

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Ricci is the Conservation Stewardship Manager at the Galveston Bay Foundation (GBF) where she is responsible for promoting high species diversity, improving hydrologic function, and increasing wildlife habitat through vegetation management on protected lands that are sensitive to the health of Galveston Bay. She oversees monitoring of GBF’s properties and manages upland native plant and emergent freshwater wetland nurseries. Her interests are botany and vegetation inventory and monitoring, and her goal is to become an expert in Gulf Coast prairie restoration. Ricci has a B.S. in Wildlife Fisheries Sciences and Rangeland Ecology Management from Texas A&M University and an M.S. in Hydrology from Boise State University. 

Contact Information
rsimmons@galvbay.org 
832-536-2276 (Direct), 281-332-3381, ext. 224 (Main)

Download Consequences of Changing the Grazing Protocols at Chocolate Bayou Coastal Prairie in Brazoria County- 79.1MB

Humberto Perotto joined Texas A&M University’s Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management in 2023. His research focuses on the effect of rangeland cover spatial configuration in ecological processes at multiple scales and includes analysis of spatial and temporal dynamics of invasive plant species in rangelands. He seeks to improve the understanding of how processes (for example:. human activities, grazing behavior) interact with spatial patterns (for example:. vegetation, soils, land use) with consequences for wildlife habitat and ecosystem function. He uses drones to assess vegetation cover, spatial structure, forage mass estimation and wildlife aerial surveys. 

In 2004, he created the Bolivian Natural Resources Digital Center. He collaborated with Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado (Santa Cruz, Bolivia) to launch the Geospatial Center for Biodiversity 2013. Humberto has been part of research teams in the United States., United Kingdom., Bolivia, and Puerto Rico in the fields of rangeland ecology, wildlife ecology, livestock-wildlife interactions and their integration at different scales. He received his B.S. in Agronomy from Universidad Mayor de San Simon, Cochabamba, Bolivia. His M.S. in Forestry and Ph.D. in Rangeland Ecology and Management were both earned at Texas A&M University.

Contact Information
Humberto.perotto@ag.tamu.edu 
979-314-8466

Download information on Using Drone Technology to Assist Coastal Prairie Restoration- 48MB

Kristin Fritz-Grammond, currently serves in dual roles at the Texas Chenier Plain National Wildlife Refuge Complex (TCP) – both as Refuge Manager for Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and as Deputy Project Leader for TCP. Her M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science is from South Dakota State University and her B.S.in Natural Resources Management and Water Resource Management is from the University of Minnesota. Kristin’s career began in wildlife management with the Forest Service, then moved to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and now has served 15+ years with United States. Fish and Wildlife Service. Kristin’s last duty station before moving to Texas 9 years ago, was Big Stone NWR which fell within the prairie pothole and northern tallgrass region. 

Contact Information
Kristin_Fritz@fws.gov 
409-267-3337, ext. 123 (Office)

Download Road to Restoration at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge- 16.9MB

Hunter is a wetland ecologist, employed by Resource Environmental Solution in Bellaire, TX. He is primarily responsible for planning, managing, monitoring, and maintaining wetland restoration sites for the purpose of mitigation. Projects include bottomland hardwood reforestation, emergent wetland prairie and depression design, and beneficial use placement of dredged material to reverse salt marsh subsidence. Growing up in the Katy Prairie when he didn’t know what the Katy Prairie was, and being raised in the outdoors fostered a desire to conserve and restore the environment around him. Hunter received dual B.S. degrees in Wildlife and Fisheries Science and Rangeland Ecology from Texas A&M University. Throughout college, he interned at SWCA Environmental Consulting, an experience which taught him as much or more about restoration work as his degrees. 

Contact Information
hthompson@res.us  

Jason has served as a botanist/plant ecologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for 29 years. He has a research affiliation with the Baylor and University of Texas Herbarium and Botanical Research Institute of Texas. He maps, surveys, and documents rare habitats on conservation-friendly private lands state-wide. This data is used to preserve many rare and declining plant and animal species as important conservation values of intact private landowner landscapes. When appropriate, he encourages private landowners to permanently conserve their lands. He oversees state/federally funded university research of the 226 rare plant communities tracked in the Texas Conservation Action Plan. 

Jason is an authority of tallgrass prairie flora and ecology regions of Texas (95 counties) driven from his youth where he explored the prairies of the southern Flint Hills of Kansas. He has described six discovered plant species that are endemic to Texas. His scientific publications on the flora and plant ecology of Texas number over 130. He is a co-author of Rare Plants of Texas (Texas A&M Press-2008). He contributed a chapter on “Eastern Texas Prairie Landscapes” to Southeastern Grasslands (University Alabama Press-2018). He and three other co-authors with Texas A&M Press will produce a book on Rare Plant Communities of Texas to be published in 2026. His B.S. and M.S. in Agricultural Science are from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Contact Information
jason.singhurst@tpwd.texas.gov 
512-389-8726 (Office)

Since 2010, Dr. Megan Clayton has been an Extension Rangeland Specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management at Texas A&M University in College Station. Her responsibilities as a Rangeland Specialist have her based at the Corpus Christi Research and Extension Center and include providing support for Extension agents, specialists, clientele, and organizations through teaching, training, and providing technical expertise on management of rangeland resources. Megan’s current interests include blending wildlife habitat and livestock range management, small acreage management, UAV (drone) research, brush management, and youth natural resources education. Her main area of responsibility includes counties in the Coastal Bend and South Texas.

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Trey Barron began his career with TPWD in 2011 as a wildlife biologist in the Texas Panhandle. In May of 2014, he moved to the coast to serve as wildlife biologist for Victoria, Refugio, and Calhoun Counties. Trey is now the Wildlife Diversity (non-game) Biologist for Region 4 and is focused on species of greatest conservation need. He received his Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology and Master of Science in Biology from West Texas A&M University. He enjoys helping landowners manage habitat for a variety of species, but is especially interested in birds and herps.

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Tim Siegmund was born and raised in Giddings, TX. A bachelor’s degree and graduate research at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX was followed by employment with TPWD in 2009. In College Station, Tim was responsible for 7 counties performing wildlife surveys, public outreach, technical guidance, prescribed fire assistance, public hunting opportunity, wildlife tax valuation planning and dealing with other wildlife issues. Starting Nov 1st, 2017 Tim began his role as the Private Lands Program Leader for TPWD dealing with private lands issues in a statewide capacity. Tim resides in College Station with his wife and three children.

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Andy Newman has worked across a wide portion of the continental United States (Southeastern Coastal Plain, Midwest, Appalachians, Great Plains, Rocky Mountains, and Baja California) with an emphasis on vegetation community assemblage analysis, rare plant surveys, graminoid identification, seed collection, and detection of invasive species. During his experience, Mr. Newman has worked closely with clients to develop appropriate research questions and approaches to document project specific data required for permit clearances, predictive management, and restoration trajectories. 

As a restoration ecologist, Mr. Newman has utilized his extensive botanical knowledge to conduct baseline habitat assessments proposed restoration sites within numerous ecoregions to document existing conditions. Once wetland, stream, and upland restoration plans were designed, Mr. Newman utilized relevant literature and reference sites to generate planting plans, worked with operations managers to secure necessary vegetative materials and quantities, and authored anticipated plant succession results. Attention was paid during this process to how various species within the proposed restoration communities interacted with site geologies, hydrology, and climatic conditions.

He has also worked with state and federal agencies on species conservation plans, rare species mitigation and monitoring, and identification and collection of seeds for future commercial seed production and propagation. Much of this experience has been focused on tallgrass prairie and savanna habitats within coastal and east Texas.

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Derek Wiley was raised in North Central Texas. He grew up in agriculture and his interest in land and wildlife management began at a young age. He attended Texas Tech University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management with a wildlife biology emphasis. He also attended Texas Tech for his Master’s degree where he focused on northern bobwhite reproduction in the Rolling Plains. He worked for the Oklahoma Department of Conservation as the Upland Game Biologist before returning to Texas as a Coordinating Wildlife Biologist for Quail Forever and the Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture. Derek is currently the Conservation Delivery Specialist for TPWD and OPJV working with the GRIP Program and native grassland restoration.

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As the Farm Bill Coordinator, Will Newman is the liaison for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to the USDA. He facilitates conservation partnerships, provides training to agency staff, and delivers technical and policy guidance to inform the implementation of Farm Bill programs for wildlife management. He represents TPWD on state-wide and interstate policy advisory committees. Prior to his current role, Will was the Quail Forever Coordinating Wildlife Biologist for South Texas, a Farm Bill Biologist in Ohio, and conducted grassland ecology and Quail research. Will earned Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Wildlife Management from Tarleton State University, and his Master’s degree in Ecology from The University of North Texas. He has co-authored research and technical publications on grassland bird behavior and habitat requirements, and habitat management through planned grazing. Will has provided wildlife habitat management and restoration technical guidance to hundreds of landowners through conservation planning and financial assistance programs. He brings this comprehensive experience and ground-level perspective to his current responsibilities.

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Example Proposal

Jason Hohlt currently serves as the Zone Rangeland Management Specialist for the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service in Bryan, Texas. He provides leadership and technical training on livestock grazing and other land management issues throughout a 50 county area in eastern Texas Jason began his career with NRCS in 2003 and previously worked on the coastal prairie and the Rio Grande plains before moving to his current position in 2014. Jason is a certified Professional in Range Management and holds a Master’s degree in Animal Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Rangeland Ecology and Management.

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Anna Matthews is the Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture Science Coordinator and is an employee of American Bird Conservancy. Anna is originally from Dallas, Texas. She received a BS in Wildlife from the University of Minnesota and an MS in Wildlife Ecology from Texas State University. Anna is currently stationed in San Marcos, Texas where she works with joint venture partners in Texas, Oklahoma, and beyond to develop research and monitoring projects that contribute to grassland conservation across the Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture geography.

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Dr. Steven I. Apfelbaum is Director and research scientist of Applied Ecological Institute, focused on bringing ecological solutions to our most challenging problems. Apfelbaum retired as science advisor for RES December 2021, and after a 43 year career as senior ecologist and chairman of Applied Ecological Services, Inc. where he contributed to research, land management, and design and construction of ecosystem restoration projects including many projects across the prairies or North America. His books, “Nature’s Second Chance”, and the series, “Restoring Ecological Health to Your Land” have received national awards as the personal story of restoring his farm in Wisconsin, and as the first “how-to- do” restoration books, respectively. In addition, he has authored over a hundred technical papers and contributed to such books as “Laughing in the Wilderness”, “S is for Soils”, “Prairie Restoration Handbook”, and “Soil Carbon—environmental, economic and cultural benefits”. Apfelbaum has degrees from University of Illinois in the ecological sciences, including plant and animal ecology and broad experience in aquatic, terrestrial and wetland systems on earth. Apfelbaum co-teaches a class on the future of coastal ecosystems on earth at Harvard and has held research and teaching appointments at various universities in United States., France, and in South and Central America.

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Jaime González works with communities in Greater Houston to co-create a healthier, more equitable, climate-ready, better-connected, and more biologically diverse region using nature-based solutions. Jaime is one of more than 20 Nature Conservancy city leads using nature-based solutions to build healthier cities throughout North America and the world. He also serves on the board of directors for the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). Mr. González earned a M.Ed. in Curriculum & Instruction-Science Education and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Houston. He has also earned certificates in civic ecology, environmental education, environmental communications, and climate change and health from Duke, Yale, and Cornell Universities.

Evelyn L. Merz has been the Program Director of the University of Houston Coastal Center in La Marque, TX since October 2019. Evelyn initiated the concept of designating the University of Houston Coastal Center as the Texas Institute for Coastal Prairie Research and Education (TICPRE) and was an active participant in the successful effort for the Texas Legislature to do so in 2017. At University of Houston Coastal Center , she is responsible for planning and coordinating restoration activities, community outreach, and assisting with development activities that will further the mission of University of Houston Coastal Center and TICPRE. Previously, Evelyn worked in the Oil & Gas industry and has been active as a volunteer in conservation issues including flood control planning, public lands, and non-game wildlife. She received a B.S. in Biological Sciences at the University of New Orleans and a M.B.A. from the University of Houston.

Aaron Tjelmeland is the Restorations Project Director for The Nature Conservancy. Aaron grew up in eastern Iowa, where he studied Ecology and Botany at Iowa State University. He came to Texas in 2004 for graduate work where he studied grassland restoration and wildlife management at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. He later worked for the university in avian ecology research and invasive plant research programs. He came to the Conservancy in 2011 and currently oversees a variety of regional projects which include preserves of coastal tallgrass prairie, bottomland forest, and estuarine marshes, as well as a regional prairie restoration program.