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KAB provides resources and education to inspire individuals &
the Austin community toward greater environmental stewardship
the Austin community toward greater environmental stewardship
KAB Celebrates 25 Years! |
KAB StaffTEAM KAB - Staff Profiles
Executive Director Rodney@KeepAustinBeautiful.org 512.391.0621
Rodney Ahart is a third generation native Austinite with deep ties in the city. He comes to KAB with over 12 years of professional experience. Rodney served as Chief of Staff in the Texas House of Representatives for over six years. While working at the Capitol, Rodney gained valuable experience on diverse issues such as education, health, business & industry, appropriations and the environment. Most recently serving as the Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society, Rodney spearheaded the volunteer-driven ballot initiative making all public places in Austin smoke-free. He was appointed as the Vice-Chair of the City of Austin Environmental Board. In this role, Rodney led the charge to protect the critical environmental features in Eastern Travis County. His other volunteer work includes the A.I.S.D. Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Austin, Literacy Austin, Waller Creek Citizen Advisory Committee, Windsor Park Neighborhood Association President and ZACH Scott Theater. Ahart, a graduate of Texas A&M University, has been bestowed several honors including an Austin Under 40 Award in the medical/healthcare category and Austin Toastmaster of the Year. Rodney loves spending time with family, remodeling his 1950's East Austin home and traveling to Europe.
Education Programs Clean Creek Campus, School Recycling, Green Teens, Patch Pals, Green Stewards Camp, Clean Creek Camp, Longhorn Recycle Roundup, Groundwater to the Gulf, Clean Sweep, KAB Awards, & KAB Awards Luncheon Monica Lopez Magee Education Program Manager Monica@KeepAustinBeautiful.org 512.391.0619 Monica brings over 11 years experience to KAB in the areas of environmental education, community outreach and service to diverse populations. For five years Monica has served as Education Programs Manager for Keep Austin Beautiful where she has been instrumental in developing and implementing a comprehensive youth environmental education program to serve schools, and after-school and informal youth groups. An avid gardener and a passion for the outdoors Monica has helped to build rooftop gardens in New York City, rain gardens in Houston Texas, and native and vegetable gardens that can be spotted at schools around Austin.
Emily Fitzgerald Green Teens Instructor GreenTeens@KeepAustinBeautiful.org Emily brings a diverse background to the Green Teens Educator position. She has worked with children in rural Bali to install organic gardens; and over the past few years she has worked in the Bay Area teaching ecology and gardening to youth and working as an art group facilitator for low income children. Emily is also a photographer and active gardener. She recently completed an extensive course on permaculture and is looking forward to testing her gardening know how this spring along with building and racing solar cars with students. Emily Maher Environmental Educator Education@KeepAustinBeautiful.org Emily is KABs Environmental Educator. She leads Clean Creek Campus presentations and service projects, and Green Teens after school activities to promote environmental stewardship. Prior to KAB, she interned as an educator for a local nonprofit focusing on Texas’ limited water resources and conservation. Emily has been in Austin for less than a year after moving from Michigan where she earned her degree in Secondary Education majoring in Biology. Her love of environmental education began five years ago while working at the Bug House teaching students about the importance and diversity of insects. Emily has been an avid horseback rider since she was six years old and also loves hiking with her beagle, Sophie. Community Programs Adopt-a-Street, Adopt-a-Creek, Clean Lady Bird Lake, Clean Sweep, Community Cleanups, Lake Travis Underwater Cleanup, Neighborhood Beautification Grants, Seed Savers, Tool Shack, & UT Project Jessica Wilson Community Programs Manager Jessica@KeepAustinBeautiful.org 512.391.0622 Jessica has worked with a variety of non-profits with a wide range of issues ranging from animal welfare to affordable student housing to environmental conservation. Since 2005 Jessica has worked with Keep Austin Beautiful to develop and grow ongoing programs and signature events to enhance Austin’s natural beauty. Jessica received her BA in Humanities with Special Honors and a focus on Conservation Biology, Geography, and Science Education from the University of Texas. She loves volunteering as much as she loves working with volunteers and can regularly be spotted at various committee or board meetings, and getting her hands dirty at community improvement projects. She enjoys long distance running, water sports, organic gardening, exploring nature trails with her dog Kona, and working towards her next big challenge. 2010’s challenge = summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro
Ixchel Granada de Rayo Volunteer Coordinator Ixchel@KeepAustinBeautiful.org 512.391.0617 x 905 Ixchel works with Community Programs supporting community cleanups in creeks, schools, public spaces and a neighborhood near you! She has eight years experience working in environmental regulation and conservation. She has worked with diverse hands-on conservation groups including Honduras Conservation Corps, Earth Conservation Corps of the Pacific Northwest, and now Keep Austin Beautiful. Previous to KAB, Ixchel worked with the Lower Colorado River Authority as an Environmental Coordinator working closely with community partners to protect endangered species habitat. She earned her bachelor's in Plant Biology from North Carolina State University. She currently enjoys keeping chickens and watching chicken television. Cait May Community Programs Assistant 512.391.0617 x 901 Cait May loves community gardens, leading conservation projects and meeting new people. She is thrilled to be taking on the role of Community Programs Assistant for KAB. Most recently, she worked as a teacher and volunteer coordinator at an academic program at Kealing Middle School in East Austin. At Kealing, Cait managed volunteer teachers and experiential learning projects for students in grades 6-8. In 2009, she earned a MA in Education with a focus on leadership in afterschool and summer learning programs. Cait is proud to be a part of the KAB team because she has worked with many Austin-area groups who benefit from KAB's fabulous programs and events. In her free time, Cait likes to cook delicious food with friends, play soccer and explore the outdoors around Austin.
INTERNS Matthew Evans Community Programs Intern Paula Portie Special Events Intern Olga Maystruk Graphic Design Intern OFFICE LOCATIONKeep Austin Beautiful Main Tel: (512) 391-0617 Map & Directions:
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Rodney Ahart
