Armand Bayou Nature Center

Executive Director

Tom Kartrude
281-474-2551 ext. 11

Tom brings many talents and experiences to this position. He earned a BA degree in Earth Science from California State University and a MBA from Pepperdine University. For the past 10 years he has served as port manager in Lane County Oregon but earlier worked in Houston as a geologist.

Tom has varied experiences serving as a naturalist and geoscience instructor for coastal hiking, photography, whale watch and related natural history programs. He has been an active volunteer with the Seattle Aquarium the Perpetua Foundation and the Siuslaw National Forest.

Stewardship Coordinator

Mark Kramer
281-474-2551 ext. 15

Mark is a native of Pasadena Texas who serves as Stewardship Coordinator. His job includes managing the natural and cultural resources of the nature center.

Stewardship Biologist

George grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas spending much time on Padre Island and exploring the South Texas brush land. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches with concentrations on ornithology, herpetology and entomology.

George joined Armand Bayou Nature Center as Staff Naturalist in 1976 and has worked here as a naturalist, teacher and field trip leader, and currently as a members of the ABNC preserve resource management team. He was Director of Armand Bayou Nature Center from 1993 to 2000. He also co-owns Skimmer Nature Tours and serves as their primary naturalist guide for birding tours.

George has lead US and international birding and natural history field trips to Arizona, California, Maine, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Trinidad, Canada, Mexico and Brazil and to numerous areas of interest state wide. He specializes in the study of birds. His hobbies include playing guitar and bluegrass banjo, racquetball, plus wood and metal work

Wetland Restoration Ecologist

Chris Mattox
281-474-2551 ext. 20

Chris is our Restoration Ecologist. Chris has overseen Prairie Pandemonium and other projects. Chris states, "Through my work at ABNC I hope to learn the skills required to run a successful preserve. I am particularly interested in wetland restoration and I hope someday to work on an even larger scale, perhaps with the Nature Conservancy". Chris is a native of Napa Valley California, and a proud graduate of Humboldt State University's Wildlife Management program. Chris enjoys traveling and has visited Alaska, Costa Rica, and the Galapagos Islands. She loves birding and is excited at the prospect of exploring the Gulf coast. Shortly after graduation from HSU Chris worked as an arborist with Davey Tree for three years. Chris then took a job with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in northern Michigan. Chris assisted with the Kirtland warbler recovery project by trapping cowbirds for three months. She then volunteered with the U.S. Geological Survey on the island of Hawaii and banded forest birds for a post-graduate project investigating avian malaria and its effects on local populations. Chris has also helped with a doctorate project studying the nest success of long-billed curlews in Nevada's Great Basin Ruby Mountains Valley.

Education Director

Heather Millar
281-474-2551 ext. 14

Heather is responsible for growth and maintenance of educational programs, classes, workshops and camps at ABNC. She enjoys spending time outdoors, camping and discovering new areas to explore with her family.

Education and Outreach

Rebekah Gano
281-474-2551

Rebekah is one of our newest education staff members! She started hanging around ABNC in September 2007, teaching classes and volunteering. Now that she has become an official staff member, she will be very busy developing education programs and helping with administrative duties.

Education and Outreach

Kathy Gardner
281-474-2551

Biography in progress.

Curator of Animal Exhibits

Genifer Lara
281-474-2551 ext. 17

Genifer Lara loves an adventure, and has traveled to remote areas in Argentina, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Tanzania to study animals and aid in wildlife conservation efforts. She has a B.A. in Wildlife Biology from Prescott College with a minor in Natural History, and recently received a certificate as a veterinary assistant. Armand Bayou is her newest adventure, and she is extremely excited about working with the Center's snakes, hawks, alligators, and bison.

Program Manager

Shauna Trevino
281-474-2551 ext. 13

Shauna Allen is our Program Manager. Shauna is responsible for marketing and administrating our programs. Some of these programs include Scouts, School Outreach, School Field trips, Eco-Camp, and Winter Camp. She also helps in the Admissions office and the Education department. Shauna is excited to take on any challenges the ABNC has to offer!

Visitor Services Coordinator

Barbara Baxter
The Office
281-474-2551 ext. 10

Barbara is the first to greets our visitors. She helps visitors get start on their tour of ABNC by answering questions and pointing out our interesting sites. She also helps visitors with making reservations and scheduling their Nature Center visit.

Visitor Services

Dick Phelps
281-474-2551 ext. 10

Dick works admissions, Sunday and is on call during the week. Retired VP-Verizon Commutations, BA and MA in Industrial Relations

Facilities Volunteer

Lew Hornung
281-474-2551 ext. 16

Lew work at ABNC for years and after retiring he stuck around to help out. Lew now volunteers as our facilities coordinator and resident historian.