Meet the Directors
2025 Leadership Team
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Leadership in our Master Naturalist program comes from within the Chapter and is inspired by the heart of the membership. The experiences and talents of the membership of HCMN are reflected in the work of the Board because the Board and the membership are One.
It’s hard to get to know everyone in an organization the size of HCMN, so take this opportunity to find out more about these folks and their roles, reach out if you are interested, make an inquiry and hopefully identify a role that might fit your own skills and ambitions.
As you read through the bios of these volunteer leaders, keep the following in mind:
Board meetings are open to all. Anyone can attend a Board meeting, just check the Chapter calendar for dates/times/location.
Our Chapter operates under a set of formal bylaws and protocols. We are not an independent, stand-alone organization. Rather, we are a branch of a statewide organization. The state organization is “driving the bus,” and as such, we operate under the bylaws and protocols mandated by the State. It is the Board’s role to ensure our compliance and keep us in good standing to continue our important work.
We can educate, but we cannot advocate. We must remain faithful to the mission of TMN, channeling our knowledge and enthusiasm to “…provide education, outreach, and service….” If you have any doubt that an activity or approach is in conflict with TMN’s Standards of Conduct or Code of Ethics, contact a Board member and raise the question for clarification.
Become a Board member—we need more people to be interested in the administrative functions of the Chapter. If you, or someone you know, would be a good fit for one of the Board positions, reach out to a Board member to learn more about it. Make a referral or express your interest. Board activities qualify as volunteer hours. And when any one individual has a challenge fulfilling their role, there are 20 people willing to pitch in and help!
2026 Hays County Master Naturalist Board of Directors
Katie Peltier, President
Background: A finance executive with Brunswick, I retired from Corporate America in 2014 in search of a more meaningful and purposeful life. I was introduced to the TMN program in 2015 while visiting family, who were active in the Lost Pines Chapter. The people and mission of TMN seemed a perfect match. However, at the time I was living in Chicago, so the TMN program wasn’t an option. Instead, I became an Illinois-based Master Gardener and found deeply rewarding ways to stay connected to nature and community. I served as a docent and tour guide at the Garfield Park Conservatory and helped a first-grade class plan and build a neighborhood pollinator garden — experiences that affirmed how powerful environmental education can be at any age. I finally made my way to Texas in 2020 and joined the TMN program in 2023.
Graduating Class: Proud member of the 2023 HCMN Training Class -- the River Cooters!!
Favorite Volunteer Activity: Collaborating with staff at Hays County Parks and working alongside fellow volunteers at Jacob’s Well and Sentinel Peak Preserve has been especially meaningful. The shared commitment to educating the community and preserving our natural resources continues to inspire me.
Chapter Role: I am currently serving the great members of the Hays County Master Naturalist Chapter as President. I was the Membership Director the prior two years.
The person who has inspired me most during my Master Naturalist experience, and what about them made an impact on me: I was introduced to Aldo Leopold during training, and reading A Sand County Almanac for HCMN Book Club really stayed with me. His writing is poetic yet grounded, painting vivid pictures of the natural world while quietly challenging us to rethink our relationship with it. What makes the greatest impact on me is his reminder that good stewardship isn’t about grand gestures, but about everyday awareness, humility, and consistent care for the land around us.
Kelly Pierce, Vice President
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Tracy Mock, Secretary
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Beth Ramey, Treasurer
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Bob Adkins, Past President
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Art Arizpe, Advanced Training
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Carolyn Langlinais, Communications
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Clover Clamons, Membership
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Mary O’Hara, Spring Training Class
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Jill Zipperer, Fall Training Class
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Dixie Camp, Volunteer Services
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