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Terry Conrad, President
Terry has worked as an artist for over forty years and has taught at numerous levels of education, ranging from mid-school to university post-graduate. He has also worked in construction and development, and has traveled the world. Terry has participated in several non-profit organizations and believes “none have had the potential of Artist Boat.” He currently trains brains using an advanced form of neuro-feedback and works as a volunteer chaplain in the Texas prison system. Terry considers it an honor and privilege to be a part of the “phenomenal growth of Artist Boat.”
terry@conradnet.net
Artist
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Kristopher Benson, Treasurer
Kristopher Benson works as a habitat restoration specialist in the NOAA Restoration Center, engaging local communities throughout the Gulf of Mexico region in on-the-ground restoration of fishery habitats. Prior to joining NOAA in 2003, Kris worked as a research assistant in a molecular biology lab and as a teaching assistant for several undergraduate marine biology courses. Kris holds a Masters degree in Marine Resource Management (2003) and a B.S. in Marine Biology (2002) from Texas A&M University at Galveston. His recreational activities and his preferred volunteer activities all involve getting wet and/or muddy.
kristopher.benson@noaa.gov
NOAA – Habitat Restoration
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Mary Lou Klay, Secretary
Mary Lou is employed at Colonial Oaks at First Colony in Sugar Land as Resident Services Coordinator. She was the co-owner and manager of Shark-Quarium and Grassy Key Marine Study Center in the Florida Keys, along with her husband Gerrit Klay, shark researcher and marine biologist. Artist Boat Executive Director and Mary Lou's daughter, Karla Klay, grew up in that environment and continues the legacy.
mary@colonialoaks.org
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Dr. Brenda Weiser, Environmental Institute of Houston
Brenda holds an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction/Science Education, University of Houston; Master's of Agriculture in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Sciences/Conservation Education, Texas A&M University; and a B.S. degree in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Sciences/Secondary Education from Texas A&M University. In addition, she is the Director of Environmental Education for the Environmental Institute of Houston/UHCL. Brenda also serves on numerous local, state, and national committees and boards including the EPA’s National Environmental Education Advisory Council, American Forest Foundation’s Center for Environmental Learning Education and Operating Committee, Board of Directors for the Texas Association of EE and the Artist Boat, and the Houston Zoo’s Education Advisory Board. She works with the Galveston Bay Foundation on their education committee and is a facilitator for Project WILD, Project WET, and Project LearningTree. Brenda has been active in environmental education over the last 20 years, and has conducted a wide variety of workshops for educators, coordinated conservation and environmental education programs; assisted with the development of outdoor classrooms, and taught water quality programs to teachers and students. Brenda is a native Houstonian (third generation), has two dogs, and enjoys gardening, kayaking, and traveling. She has even been to the Amazon with both students and teachers!
weiser@uhcl.edu
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Charlie Rogers, City of LaMarque
Charlie WAS retired from 27 years of Law Enforcement in the Harris and Galveston County areas, but has since been coerced into returning to work as a Criminal Investigator in the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for the Office of the Attorney General of the State of Texas. He and his wife Joan have been married for 36 years and have two adult children who are married and "out of the nest." In their free time they enjoy kayaking, riding their Harley Davidson Road King motorcycle and traveling in their RV.
kayakman15@yahoo.com
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John Frannea
John is retired from ExxonMobil after traveling the world with Exploration and Production, Marketing, Human Resources and several other functions. Although John was born in Tucson and is a graduate of the University of Arizona, he has spent 23 years in various regions of Texas such as Midland, Dallas, Austin, El Paso and Galveston. However, he has also spent 11 years in other exciting places such as Norway and Indonesia. John has been active with non-profit organizations in every capacity since he was 16 years old! He began kayaking with his wife, Beverly, in Florida 5 years ago and now considers it his number one hobby. He and Beverly have 4 children and 10 grandchildren.
johnfrannea@aol.com
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Cheryl Sanders Henry
Cheryl retired in 2005 after thirty years’ experience in Human Resources, which included employee relations, training and development, and organizational development. She and her husband Red moved to Galveston in 2007 where Cheryl happily spends her time in volunteer positions. She is a member of the Advisory Board to the Galveston Historical Foundation and serves on the Board of Directors of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Cheryl enjoys oil painting, nature photography, birdwatching, and most recently, restoring the historic home she shares with her husband and their two sweet dogs. A new member on the Board, Cheryl is looking forward to furthering the mission of Artist Boat.
csandershenry@yahoo.com
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Susan Laura Persons
Susan retired after thirty-five years in healthcare. She moved to Galveston Island drawn by its history and the beauty of the natural resources. She writes partime and is a water color and oil painting student inspired by the Texas Gulf coast. She lives with her 84-year-old mother in a 125-year-old-home on Winnie in the historic East End of Galveston Island near a family home on Church that also survived the 1900 storm. In the Church house, the horses were saved by bringing them in the front parlor. Now Susan wants a plaque noting her Winnie home survived the 2008 Storm although it did take on 2 ½ feet of water. It is nearly re-built so Susan can begin enjoying the coastal life again.
slpersons@comcast.net
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