Board of Directors
Deborah Morin – President of the Board
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Deborah is the co-founder of The Great Springs Project and President of the Board of Directors. She was a past Board President of the Hill Country Foundation and has continued working to preserve local springs and creeks in the Texas Hill Country.
Deborah Morin – President of the Board
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Deborah is the co-founder of The Great Springs Project and President of the Board of Directors. She was a past Board President of the Hill Country Foundation and has continued working to preserve local springs and creeks in the Texas Hill Country. Her other charitable commitments involve the Hope Project in India, having co-founded their Kids to Nature Program, serving as Chairman of the Board of Tapovan Trust and is a supporter of the Organic Farming Land Program.
Additionally, she is a board member of the Feline Rescue Network and past Board member for the Nutritional Research Foundation, a group that carries out clinical research on diet and its disease-fighting properties of food. Deborah is a longtime teacher of yoga and meditation, and has been practicing for over 35 years. Deborah received her BBA in Statistics and Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin in 1983. Deborah lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, John Mackey, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Whole Foods Market. Together, Deborah and John maintain a ranch in the Texas Hill Country that models sustainable living through biodynamic agriculture and manages land for biodiversity and the health of the ecosystem and wildlife.
Dianne Wassenich – Secretary
The former Executive Director of the San Marcos River Foundation (SMRF), which she helped found 33 years ago, Dianne has dedicated her career to the protection of the San Marcos River by preserving recharge zone lands above the San Marcos Springs.
Dianne Wassenich – Secretary
The former Executive Director of the San Marcos River Foundation (SMRF), which she helped found 33 years ago, Dianne has dedicated her career to the protection of the San Marcos River by preserving recharge zone lands above the San Marcos Springs. Major progress includes a 210-acre ranch preserved with a conservation easement, a 250-acre ranch purchased and then sold to the city of San Marcos for water quality protection of major recharge features, and a 75-acre ranch purchased and now being surveyed for a conservation easement. Dianne’s legacy includes SMRF being accredited as a land trust in 2019. In addition to her work with SMRF, Dianne has served on many regional, statewide, and local stakeholder groups. Currently she represents the public in a seat on Region L Water Planning Group, is Vice-chair of the Bay Basin Stakeholder for the Guadalupe basin, and is also on the Steering Committees of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan, Upper San Marcos Watershed Initiative, and Plum Creek Watershed Program. Dianne served many years on the Texas Parks & Wildlife Rivers Advisory Board, and has participated in San Marcos’ master plan and numerous other river-related committees locally. Dianne is the 2019 Terry Hershey Award Recipient by Audubon Texas.
Kyndel Bennett – Treasurer
A 30-year veteran of the real estate industry who has worked in development, construction, and as a principal in a billion-dollar real estate investment fund, Kyndel is CEO of Cayetano Development, a developer of affordable residential communities throughout the State of Texas.
Kyndel Bennett – Treasurer
A 30-year veteran of the real estate industry who has worked in development, construction, and as a principal in a billion-dollar real estate investment fund, Kyndel is CEO of Cayetano Development, a developer of affordable residential communities throughout the State of Texas. He has extensive experience in structuring, syndicating, developing, and managing complex real estate projects. He received an MBA with a real estate concentration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina and a BA from the University of Texas at Austin. He is actively involved in the Austin Community having served on the Boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas (Past Chair), the Colorado River Alliance (Past Chair) and as a Trustee of Trinity Episcopal School (Past Chair). He is also a member of the Texas Business Leadership Council and an Executive Member of the University of Texas Real Estate Finance and Investment Center.Kyndel, recipient of the 2019 AFP-Austin Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year Award, is married to Laura and has two children, Barkley and Johnny.
Hope Andrade – Member
Hope Andrade has been a successful entrepreneur, business leader, and government official in the state of Texas for more than three decades. Hope has served as Texas’ 107th Secretary of State, Texas Workforce Commissioner, and Texas Department of Transportation Commissioner.
Hope Andrade – Member
Hope Andrade has been a successful entrepreneur, business leader, and government official in the state of Texas for more than three decades. Hope has served as Texas’ 107th Secretary of State, Texas Workforce Commissioner, and Texas Department of Transportation Commissioner. An entrepreneur who has created, grown, and sold three high growth companies, Hope brings a broad business perspective with particular expertise in healthcare, transportation, workforce, and economic development.
In addition to holding multiple leadership roles in civic and community organizations, Hope is the recipient of numerous personal, business, and community awards and recognitions, and is a sought-after public speaker. She is a determined and proactive ambassador for local and national economic development.
Most recently, Hope has played an integral role in the founding and operating success of GO RIO San Antonio River Cruises, and Andrade-Van de Putte & Associates.
April Ancira – Member
April Ancira is the VP of Ancira Auto Group and oversees the operations of 12 franchised auto stores. She has San Antonio roots, having attended high school at Saint Mary’s Hall, received her Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Finance from Trinity University, and her Masters in Business from UTSA.
April Ancira – Member
April Ancira is the VP of Ancira Auto Group and oversees the operations of 12 franchised auto stores. She has San Antonio roots, having attended high school at Saint Mary’s Hall, received her Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Finance from Trinity University, and her Masters in Business from UTSA. April has worked in the car business since 1997 in every facet of the sales side of the industry, from being an operator and cashier to selling cars and trucks on the front line. She brags about leaving Ancira one summer to work at Chili’s in the Quarry because it paid her more than her dad did.
April has been married to Jason Thompson for 13 years, whom she met at National Automotive Dealer Academy. April currently serves on 12 active charitable, civic & professional boards and has been inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame.
April and Jason have two children, Hope (9) and Gunnar (12), and two dogs, Gracie & Lucky. She has a pilot’s license, does standup comedy, loves to race 140.6-mile triathlons called Ironman, and failed miserably singing the National Anthem at a Missions game.
In 2021, she served as the youngest Chairman of the Texas Automobile Dealer Association (over 1,400 dealers) and has served twice as the Chairman of the San Antonio Auto Dealers Association.
Cindy M. Matula – Member
Cindy recently retired as Managing Director & Central Texas Region Manager for JPMorgan Chase concluding a thirty-three year career with the firm. She is a 1983 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science degree in Textile & Clothing-Fashion Design and in 1987 earned a Masters of Business Administration degree from UT-Austin.
Cindy M. Matula – Member
Cindy recently retired as Managing Director & Central Texas Region Manager for JPMorgan Chase concluding a thirty-three year career with the firm. She is a 1983 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science degree in Textile & Clothing-Fashion Design and in 1987 earned a Masters of Business Administration degree from UT-Austin. Throughout her career Cindy was active in various community and civic affairs, most recently serving as Treasurer for the Greater Austin Economic Development Corporation and is a current member of the Austin Area Research Organization. Awards include Austin Business Journal’s Profile in Power and Finance Power Couple and Distinguished Alumna of the year Texas Exes in Human Ecology.
Tom Bacon – Member
With over 30 years of real estate experience, Tom co-founded his current firm, Civicap Partners, in 2018. Civicap targets the workforce housing sector and brings private sector capital and creativity to the space.
Tom Bacon – Member
With over 30 years of real estate experience, Tom co-founded his current firm, Civicap Partners, in 2018. Civicap targets the workforce housing sector and brings private sector capital and creativity to the space. Before Civicap, Tom co-founded Lionstone Investments, a real estate investment firm specializing in conceptualizing, researching, and executing national investment strategies. Tom had two careers before Lionstone, first as an architect, and then spent 15 years with Hines, developing and investing in real estate throughout the US and Latin America.
Tom’s community activities include serving as the President / Chairman of the Houston Parks Board for 14 years. He led the formation of Bayou Greenways 2020, a public-private partnership creating access to 3,000 acres of linear parks and 150 miles of off-road trails within Houston. In addition to his service on the advisory board of Rice University’s Kinder Institute, Tom served on the board of Texas Children’s Hospital, is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), and is on the Advisory Board of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. In 2017, Tom was the inaugural recipient of the Kinder Institute’s Stephen L. Klineberg Award for distinguished service to Houston.
Tom earned his MBA from Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business and is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Architecture.
Andrew Sansom – Member
Advisory Board
Anne Ashmun
General Manager of Ashmun101 Ranch LP for ten years, Anne’s environmental volunteer work has been a lifelong passion. Anne has served on The Nature Conservancy (TNC) boards in Texas, North America and Patagonia …
Anne Ashmun
General Manager of Ashmun101 Ranch LP for ten years, Anne’s environmental volunteer work has been a lifelong passion. Anne has served on The Nature Conservancy (TNC) boards in Texas, North America and Patagonia and also works with the City of Austin on watershed protection in the Hill Country, and with the Nature Conservancy and Texas Parks and Wildlife on seagrass protection and habitat acquisitions. Anne enjoys most being outside and putting people together to further conservation. Anne’s family ranch is a model of public-private partnership with a conservation easement with The City of Austin and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Anne and her family helped establish the Davis Mountains Preserve in 1997 in partnership with The Nature Conservancy. Her family’s donation to buy the property and build the McIvor Conservation Center was the largest to TNC for land acquisition until that time.
Ray Brimble
Mike Burke
Mike Burke is the retired CEO of four multi-billion dollar energy corporations, including the Fortune 500 corporation Tesoro Petroleum. He is the Founder of the San Antonio pk-12 regional Education Forum and the San Antonio annual Water Forum.
Mike Burke
Mike Burke is the retired CEO of four multi-billion dollar energy corporations, including the Fortune 500 corporation Tesoro Petroleum. He is the Founder of the San Antonio pk-12 regional Education Forum and the San Antonio annual Water Forum. Mike currently serves on several education boards: Great Hearts national and Texas, IDEA Public Schools national and SA regional, Texas A&M University San Antonio, UT Austin College of Engineering, Early Matters San Antonio and Early Matters Austin.
Ted Flato
Since founding Lake Flato with David Lake in 1984, Ted Flato has received a reputation for his straight-forward regional designs that leverage each unique site and connect people to the natural environment.
Ted Flato
Since founding Lake|Flato with David Lake in 1984, Ted Flato has received a reputation for his straight-forward regional designs that leverage each unique site and connect people to the natural environment. By employing sustainable strategies in a wide variety of building types and scales, Ted seeks to conserve energy and natural resources while creating healthy built environments. His recent focus has been on residential, higher education and eco-conservation projects, including the AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten Award winning ASU Polytechnic Academic Campus in Mesa, AZ; the new Midtown Arts & Theater Center (MATCH) in Houston, TX; and the Naples Botanical Garden Visitor Center in Florida.
Phil Hardberger
During his tenure as mayor of San Antonio, Phil Hardberger championed parks as essential to the soul of any city and an important piece of San Antonio’s South Texas natural heritage. With unprecedented vision and leadership, he created a legacy with Phil Hardberger Park.
Phil Hardberger
During his tenure as mayor of San Antonio, Phil Hardberger championed parks as essential to the soul of any city and an important piece of San Antonio’s South Texas natural heritage. With unprecedented vision and leadership, he created a legacy with Phil Hardberger Park.
As mayor, Hardberger served a pair of two-year terms from 2005 to 2009 and is widely viewed as one of the city’s most successful mayors. He left the mayor’s office at the end of his second term with an approval rating of 86 percent. His successes include the extension of the River Walk beyond the tourist section downtown and securing more park space with a bond package that brought 69 park improvements, including the signature Voelcker dairy farm and homestead that the city purchased in 2007 and turned into a park. In recognition, the City Council in late 2009 named it Phil Hardberger Park.
Hardberger earned his undergraduate degree from Baylor University before joining the Air Force where he rose to captain and piloted the B-47 bomber. He attended Columbia University and earned his master’s degree in 1960 in journalism. Hardberger then moved to Washington to join the Peace Corps. While working as executive secretary in the Office of Economic Opportunity during the day, Hardberger attended Georgetown Law School at night, and graduated in 1965. He married his wife, Linda, in 1968. In 1970, Hardberger moved to San Antonio, establishing a private law practice that he kept for nearly 25 years. In 1994, then-Gov. Ann Richards appointed him to the 4th Court of Appeals. He served as associate justice for three years and then as chief justice for six before turning his attention to City Hall.
Hardberger is credited with moving the city forward and helped restore confidence. Among his many legacy projects, is the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy, which serves as a sustainable model of cultivated wild and urban ecology.
Bill Johnson
John Mackey
John Mackey is the co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market. He was named the 2003 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and one of the top 30 CEOs in 2007 by Barron’s magazine.
John Mackey
John Mackey is the co-founder and CEO of Whole Foods Market. He was named the 2003 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and one of the top 30 CEOs in 2007 by Barron’s magazine. He has authored several books, most recently Conscious Leadership: Elevating Humanity Through Business, which follows his bestselling book, Conscious Capitalism. He is one of the most influential advocates in the movement for organic food and the ethical treatment of farm animals. John sits on several non-profit and for-profit boards. He resides in Austin with his wife and GSP Board President, Deborah Morin.
Les Shephard
Les spent much of his career at Sandia National Laboratories developing technology solutions that address our 21st century energy, water and security challenges in regions of high strategic importance to the United States.
Les Shephard
Les spent much of his career at Sandia National Laboratories developing technology solutions that address our 21st century energy, water and security challenges in regions of high strategic importance to the United States. More recently, he founded NEXAS: Energy – Water SOULutions to pursue his passion for providing safe, resilient water and energy systems to communities of need in the U. S. and elsewhere while contributing to a technology innovation ecosystem invested in building a more sustainable world through partnerships.
Lee Walker
Raised in Three Rivers, Texas, Lee Walker graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Physics graduating Phi Kappa Phi. Lee received the NASA and National Science Foundation funding for his post graduate work in nuclear physics (theoretical cosmic ray research).
Lee Walker
Raised in Three Rivers, Texas, Lee Walker graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Physics graduating Phi Kappa Phi. Lee received the NASA and National Science Foundation funding for his post graduate work in nuclear physics (theoretical cosmic ray research). Lee received his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1967. He served as the first President of Dell Technologies through its formative years. After leaving Dell in 1990 for health reasons, Lee was asked to teach at the University of Texas at Austin. The success of his “Elements of Entrepreneurship” and “Not for Profit Excellence” courses in the Graduate School Business Management Department earned him the best teaching award three times. Lee teaches a Presidential Signature Course entitled “Pathways to Civic Engagement” and “Civic Viewpoints” in the Plan II Honors Program where he is an Adjunct Professor. The Austin Chamber of Commerce recognized Lee as their 1998 Austinite of the Year. In 2004, Lee received the Texas Nature Conservancy Lifetime Achievement award. Lee’s first book Imagination House: An Entrepreneurial Life was recently released in 2019 by Texas A&M Press. Lee lives in Hyde Park, Austin with his wife Jennifer and their two daughters, Gabriella and Giulia. In addition, Lee has two older daughters, Amanda and Suzanna Walker and grandchildren, Sam & Jasmine, who also reside in Austin.
Bill West
Bill has over 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur and marketing professional. He has led advertising and brand strategy teams for over 100 clients from small business/start-ups to large regional and national brands.
Bill West
Bill has over 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur and marketing professional. He has led advertising and brand strategy teams for over 100 clients from small business/start-ups to large regional and national brands. Bill’s clients have included Premier Wines, Angel Fire Vodka, Boot Ranch, Horseshoe Bay, Spanish Oaks, SAWS (San Antonio Water System), CPS Energy, IBC Bank, Valero Energy and Valencia Hotel Group. He has also served on the board of directors of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum.