Kari Spiegelhalter, president

Kari is the Co-Founder & Partner at Mend Collaborative Landscape Architecture & Planning. Kari works on a broad range of parks, ecology, and equity-related planning and design projects that enhance urban ecosystems, public health, and environmental justice. She is especially interested in how participatory design processes build ecological and social resilience in communities.

Drew CarmAn, Vice-President

Drew is the Director of Park Planning & Design at RVi Planning + Landscape Architecture. His career-long focus on park, trail, and open space planning comes from 15 years of experience working in both the private and public sectors. His expertise in developing major capital improvement projects for public parkland range from master planning to construction documentation, cost estimating, bid and construction phase services. Apart from his passion for creating compelling outdoor places for people, he spends his creative and artistic energy as an avid musician, painter, and occasional welder.

ted siff, Treasurer

Ted has been advocating for parks, open space, trails and environmental protection in Austin for decades. Professionally, he has been the Texas state director of the Trust for Public Land as well as the Executive Director of the Austin Parks Foundation. As a volunteer, he serves on the Conservation History Association of Texas (CHAT) board and co-founded the Shoal Creek Conservancy and the Texas Public Interest Research Group (TexPIRG). He has also co-led the effort to create the Austin Outside coalition.

Joanna Wolaver, past president

Joanna Wolaver is the executive director of Travis County Parks Foundation. With over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Joanna is dedicated to assisting mission-driven organizations in reaching their full potential. Joanna has held a variety of positions at nonprofit organizations, including serving as the founding executive director of Shoal Creek Conservancy. She has also managed three successful open space and transportation bond campaigns in Texas and New Jersey. Joanna received a Master’s degree in Geography and the Environment from the University of Texas and an undergraduate degree in Urban Planning and Environmental Sciences from Bryn Mawr College. She is an Austin (almost) native, arriving at the age of five. She enjoys traveling, hiking and adventuring with her husband and curious young son.

Charles Bergh

Charles Bergh is a dedicated conservationist and former Parks Director for Travis County, with over 45 years of experience in parks, land, and water conservation. During his career with Travis County,  Charles played a pivotal role in acquiring over 12,000 acres of parkland and spearheading the construction of recreational facilities worth over $230 million. His leadership in administering the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve system in its initial decade laid the groundwork for the county’s habitat conservation plan. Beyond this, Charles initiated transformative projects such as the Travis County Greenway Program, which proposes to construct trails along Onion Creek, Gilleland Creek, and Wilbarger Creek in eastern Travis County. His vision led to the acquisition of significant parklands like Reimers Ranch, RGK Ranch and the Castle-top property in southwest Travis County. Advocating for conservation, he established the county's conservation easement program to safeguard significant agricultural and conservation properties. Charles's efforts in facilitating voter-approved park bonds valued at over $530 million underscore his commitment to promoting countywide park and land conservation initiatives. Before starting his career at Travis County, Charles  gained valuable experience with the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and various environmental consulting firms in Utah, Wyoming and Alaska. Holding a Bachelor's Degree in Wildlife Ecology from Utah State University, Charles is also a devoted family man with a passion for hiking and skiing. As a retiree, he looks forward to broadening his horizons through extensive travels abroad with his wife, Christie.

AMALIA CAROMA, AIA

Amalia is the Director of Urban Design at the Downtown Austin Alliance, bringing her experience practicing as an architect and urban designer to downtown. In her role, Amalia leads downtown mobility and built environment transformations and has a deep understanding of the social, economic, and health benefits of green infrastructure in the urban core. She is a champion for downtown’s urban forest and outdoor amenities, leading efforts to enhance downtown tree care and advocating for policy and planning changes that will protect and expand downtown trees and outdoor spaces for years to come.

Lyda Creus Molanphy

Lyda brings over 30 years of strategic public affairs experience, environmental nonprofit operations expertise, and a deep network of contacts in the public, private and nonprofit sectors to Austin Outside.  Lyda operates an Austin-based consulting firm that has represented a number of clients including The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation, The Meadows Center for Water & The Environment and The Texas Water Foundation.  Previously, Lyda served as Chief Strategy and Operations Officer with Great Springs Project, Vice President of an international public affairs firm and as an executive at the Texas Dental Association (TDA).  Lyda is a licensed attorney and certified mediator. 

tom wald

Tom Wald is Executive Director of the Red Line Parkway Initiative, supporting the 36-mile trail and linear park along the CapMetro Rail Red Line from Downtown Austin to Leander. He is a longtime walking and bicycling advocate, also serving on the board of Safe Streets Austin, and previously with the Austin Bicycle Advisory Council, Pedestrian Advisory Council, and Orange Bike Project.

Griffin DAvis

After working for US Senator Alan Simpson, Griffin came to Austin and earned an MBA in Marketing at The University of Texas at Austin. He spent more than 20 years working with a range of startups, including Balcones Resources and CitySearch. Griffin is an angel investor focused on early stage software companies. He is a founding board member of The Trail Conservancy, and served as Board Chair and as Co-Chair of the Boardwalk campaign.

Bishr Tabbaa

Bishr Tabbaa is a Product Manager at Amazon where his work centers on the intersection of technology, sustainability and office design, championing green infrastructure and spaces in corporate office environments.  Bishr has served on the boards of Exhibit Power LLC, the Arab American Educational Foundation, and a Houston Rotary Club chapter he focused on fundraising and community outreach.  A Rice University alumnus and Texas resident for decades, Bishr is dedicated to ensuring Austin's parks, trails and outdoor spaces remain a vibrant, accessible resource for all.