KAB provides resources and education to inspire individuals &
the Austin community toward greater environmental stewardship

TEAM KAB - Staff Profiles

 

Rodney Ahart

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 12 years experience to KAB in the areas of environmental education, community outreach and service to diverse populations. For seven 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.

 

 

Alecia Hudson

Green Teens Instructor

GreenTeens@KeepAustinBeautiful.org

 

Alecia brings an enthusiasm and energy that is off the charts to the Green Teens Educator position. She is a resident expert in Texas ecology, water quality, renewable energy, and all things environmental! For three years she has worked with children at McKinney Roughs Nature Park. She is currently studying at St. Edwards University and looking forward to sharing her knowledge as she returns for a second year of Green Teens afterschool programming.

 

Emily Maher

Environmental Education Coordinator

Emily@KeepAustinBeautiful.org

512.501.3633

 

Emily 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 six years ago while working at a Bug House teaching students about the importance and diversity of insects. Emily has been an avid horseback rider since she was six and also loves hiking with her beagle, Sophie.

 

 

Community Programs

Adopt-a-Creek, Adopt-a-Street, Event Recycling, Clean Lady Bird Lake, Community Cleanups, Neighborhood Beautification Grants, Seed Savers, Tool Shack, Tree of the Year, UT Project, Clean Sweep, Lake Travis Underwater Cleanup, KAB Awards, KAB Annual Awards Luncheon

 

Ladye Anne Wofford

Community Programs Manager

ladye.anne@keepaustinbeautiful.org

512.391.0617 x905

 
Ladye Anne grew up in small town Northeast Texas and developed a love of nature during childhood when she spent ample time exploring the woods around her house. After studying geography at UT Austin, Ladye Anne traveled around the globe, volunteering with conservation, educational, and sustainable living projects in Africa, India and Asia. Her diverse background includes interning at the Solar Living Institute in Hopland, California, helping build a cob house in Lockhart, Texas, and most recently helping develop the new Cherry Creek Community Garden in her south Austin neighborhood. Prior to KAB, she served as the Volunteer and Outreach Manager for Austin-based non-profit, BookSpring. Ladye Anne also teaches yoga and enjoys spending time at Barton Springs with her husband and her wonder-dog, Luna.

 

 

Cora Lennert
Event and Outreach Coordinator
512-391-0622

 

Cora brings over 6 years of experience to KAB in the areas of environmental education, environmental law enforcement, volunteer coordination, leadership and community outreach. Cora joined the KAB team August of 2011 and serves as the Event and Outreach Coordinator for Keep Austin Beautiful where she has been working hard to plan and implement KAB’s large annual events, like the Annual Awards Luncheon, Clean Sweep, and the Lake Travis Underwater Cleanup.  Cora also works with local businesses on donations, events, outreach, business memberships, and ways that they can be involved with Keep Austin Beautiful.  A runner with a passion for the outdoors and waterways, Cora can be found on the trails of Lady Bird Lake, the Greenbelt, and or at any Austin waterway many days out of the year.

 

Ivey Kaiser

Community Programs Assistant

Ivey@KeepAustinBeautiful.org

512.391.0617 x906

 

Ivey was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina where she also studied Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of South Carolina.  Her love for the outdoors and conservation began in middle school at a very environmentally responsible camp in the Appalachian Mountains.  Ever since then she has been involved with many environmental groups, sustainablilty conferences and outdoor trips.  Before moving to Austin, Ivey worked at USC's Outdoor Recreation department where she developed and managed their Service and Sustainability Program.

 

CLICK HERE to view Team KAB Alumni (page started summer 2010)

 

 

INTERNS

 

Joseph Dowdy

Fall 2011

Joseph is a native Austinite and is thrilled to be interning at Keep Austin Beautiful!  His main responsibility thus far has been assisting with this year's Award Luncheon and he is very excited to attend the event later this October.  Previously, Joseph studied economics, with a focus on economic development, as well as Geology at Cornell College in Iowa where he was also an avid community volunteer.  As a cyclist and someone who has a passion for being outdoors, this has been a great way to get involved with and give back to the city he has enjoyed for most of his life!

 

Matthew Evans
Environmental Education Intern
 
Brianna Kindell
Graphic Design Intern
 
Michelle Putman
Graphic Design Intern


OFFICE LOCATION

Keep Austin Beautiful
55 North IH 35, Suite 215
Austin, TX 78702

Main Tel: (512) 391-0617
Fax: (512) 391-0624

Map & Directions:


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