About Us
Meet the Staff
Bob Stokes - President
Bob Stokes is a 1990 graduate of Yale University and a 1994 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law. After practicing law for ten years, Bob joined the Galveston Bay Foundation as President in June, 2004. Bob had served on the board of the Foundation for five years prior to taking over as President and had served as the board's chair for the previous two years. Bob has also served on the Houston Wilderness Board of Directors since 2004 and on the Governing Board of Earth Share of Texas beginning in 2007.
Contact info:
(281) 332-3381 x211
bstokes@galvbay.org
Courtney Smith - Vice President of Operations
Courtney Smith has been with the Galveston Bay Foundation since March 2002. She has served in a number of roles with the Foundation, including Environmental Specialist, Habitat Restoration Coordinator, Grants Administrator, and currently, Vice President of Operations. While with the Foundation, Courtney has overseen projects such as the Omega Bay Marsh Restoration, Dickinson Bay Island Restoration, Galveston Bay Marine Debris Removal, and Community-based Habitat Monitoring projects. She currently writes proposals for grants used to fund some of GBF’s restoration work, outreach events, and operating expenses; oversees the management of these grants; and handles some of the administrative tasks associated with non-profit management. Courtney was born and raised in rural Texas, and always knew she was to work in the natural sciences. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, where she researched issues related to the state of Galveston Bay, analyzed the effects of multiple metal exposure and exposure time on metallothionein induction in grass shrimp, and participated in a low water expedition on the Amazon River. Courtney is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center in Baytown.
Contact info:
(281) 332-3381 x214
csmith@galvbay.org
Matthew Abernathy - Conservation Programs Outreach Specialist
Matthew Abernathy joined GBF in March 2012. He earned his B.S. in Ocean & Coastal Resources from Texas A&M University – Galveston in 2003, and is working on his M.S. in Marine Resource Management at the same institution. Prior to joining GBF, Matt’s worked for the Harris County Precinct 4 Parks Department developing and implementing outdoor education programs. He is glad to be back working near the coast, and is excited to share his passion for the outdoors and conserving the Galveston Bay ecosystem with others!
Contact info:
(281) 332-3381 x203
mabernathy@galvbay.org
Charlene Bohanon - Water Quality Outreach Specialist
Charlene Bohanon joined the Galveston Bay Foundation team in August 2011. As Water Quality Outreach Specialist, she serves as the project manager for the Boater Waste Education Campaign and the Upper Gulf Coast TMDL Implementation Plan. Charlene graduated with a B.S. in Ecology from the University of Georgia and a M.S. in Water Resource Management from Ben Gurion University in Israel. Her professional background includes education and outreach positions held at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium and the UGA Marine Education Center and Aquarium. She also currently works on sustainability projects as an Associate with Conservation Enterprises Unlimited. Charlene is excited to combine her knowledge and skills in an effort to continue and expand GBF’s water quality and conservation work.
Contact info:
(281) 332-3381 x215
cbohanon@galvbay.org
Emily Demmeck - Marketing and Membership Director
Emily Demmeck was born on Galveston Island and grew up in Nassau Bay. She received her B.S. degree from the University of Texas in 2003. After working in legal marketing and professional development for four years she joined the GBF staff in June of 2009. Emily is in charge of managing and recruiting members for the Galveston Bay Foundation and GBF's overall marketing efforts. She hopes that her love for Galveston and the Bay Area, and her marketing experience, will help to raise awareness for the Foundation.
Contact info:
(281) 332-3381 x213
edemmeck@galvbay.org
Rani Henderson - Manager of Education Programs
Rani Henderson graduated from Texas A&M University at Galveston with a Marine Biology Degree. She has had the opportunity to present at state and national conferences pertaining to the environmental programs that she has designed and/or managed. She has 10 years of outdoor/environmental education experience focused on the Galveston Bay system. Rani is also an American Canoe Association certified Level 3: Kayak Instructor and will soon have her ACA Kayak Instructor Trainer certification. She enjoys interpreting the marine environment to students, teachers, life-long learners, and families. It is her goal to instill a passion for the marine ecosystems that will inspire others to become ambassadors or obtain a career in the field.
Contact info:
(281) 332-3381 x212
rhenderson@galvbay.org
Scott Jones - Director of Advocacy
Scott has been with GBF since September 2008. Previously, Scott worked for eight years at the Galveston Bay Estuary Program and on water quality issues for four years at TCEQ-Austin and the Galveston County Health District. As Environmental Policy and Outreach Specialist, Scott provides education and outreach on the importance of freshwater inflows to Galveston Bay, ensuring that diverse stakeholder groups and citizens at large have a voice in State water planning. Scott also facilitates GBF's Wetland Permit Review Committee, a group of volunteers that examine Corps of Engineers permit applications to ensure that impacts to our wetlands are avoided, minimized and/or mitigated. Scott received a B.S. in Aquatic Biology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993.
Contact info:
(281) 332-3381 x209
sjones@galvbay.org
Julie Mintzer - Director of Community Programs
As Director of Community Programs, Julie's main focus is volunteer coordination and volunteer event management. Julie is project manager for GBF's Bay Day, Marsh Mania, Trash Bash and recruits volunteers for Bike Around the Bay and TPWD’s Abandoned Crab Trap Removal (site specific). In addition to GBF’s volunteers and events, she is involved in planning for volunteer support for future oil spill incidence response and serves as supervisor for GBF interns. Prior to GBF, Julie worked in the City of O'Fallon, Illinois, and as a seventh grade math teacher in a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Julie earned her bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies from Washington University in St. Louis and her Masters of Public Administration and Policy Analysis with an environmental focus, from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Contact info:
(281) 332-3381 x207
jmintzer@galvbay.org
Sharon Roark - Director of Development
Sharon Roark joined the Galveston Bay Foundation in July, 2011 as Director of Development. Sharon has worked most recently in the Houston philanthropy office of The Nature Conservancy of Texas and previously for Jones & Granger, Attorneys at Law. Sharon graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Psychology from Duke University and will receive a Master of Science in Environmental Management in December, 2011 from the University of Houston - Clear Lake. Sharon hopes to combine her knowledge of philanthropy and environmental issues along with her passion for conservation to inspire people to support the Galveston Bay Foundation’s important mission.
Contact info:
(281) 332-3381 x204
sroark@galvbay.org
Matt Singer - Conservation Lands Manager
Matt Singer signed on with Galveston Bay Foundation in March 2010. Prior to joining GBF, Matt earned his B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University in 2005 and spent 4 1/2 years as a wildlife biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Matt is serving as the land manager for the Foundation’s conservation properties. He is working to restore, enhance, and maintain natural habitats around Galveston Bay.
Contact info:
(281) 332-3381 x206
msinger@galvbay.org
Philip Smith - Director of Conservation
Philip Smith joined GBF in May 2006. Prior to joining GBF, Philip worked as a contract employee to NOAA Fisheries (Galveston, TX and Panama City, FL) for 6 years focusing on commercial fishing data collection, data management, quality control, and at-sea safety. Philip is a 1997 graduate of the University of Alabama and received a B.S. in biology and marine science.
Contact info:
(281) 332-3381 x210
psmith@galvbay.org
Justine Townsend - Accounting Manager
Justine Townsend joined GBF in June 2011. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration – Accountancy from the University of Houston’s Bauer College of Business. Prior to joining GBF she led the Non-Profit and Small Government audit team for a regional public accounting firm in Houston and the bay area.
Contact info:
(281) 332-3381 x202
jtownsend@galvbay.org
Erika Watson - Education Coordinator
Erika Watson joined GBF as the Education Coordinator in October. Erika received a B.S. in Education from the University of South Florida. She has been an educator for the past 22 years and has spent much of her recent time fostering an integrated approach between indoor and outdoor education. She works with Rani Henderson on GBF's education programs: "Get Hip to Habitat" and the "Bay Ambassador Program". Her goal is to create educational experiences that encourage and enable students to participate constructively in local and community activities related to the environment. She believes that "no child should be left inside".
Contact info:
(281) 332-3381 x212
ewatson@galvbay.org
Lee Anne Wilde - Special Projects Coordinator
Lee Anne holds an M.S. in Marine Resource Management from Texas A&M, Galveston. She joined the Foundation in 2005 as a Marsh Mania intern while pursuing that degree and joined the staff on a part-time basis in 2006. Her current focus is on assisting private landowners with habitat creation and restoration as well as erosion control through the Living Shorelines program. She also still helps with Marsh Mania each spring.
Contact info:
(281) 332-3381 x205
lwilde@galvbay.org
