Leadership

Land Conservation Director
713-932-1639 ext. 115
pdeichmann@houstonaudubon.org

Pete earned a Biology degree from the University of Missouri, and after several years working in Wyoming and Massachusetts on research and conservation projects he joined the Houston Audubon team in 2013. His time on the Upper Texas Coast has been dedicated to managing Houston Audubon sanctuaries, including habitat restoration, research, land acquisition, and other conservation initiatives. In his spare time he enjoys birding, fishing, hunting, and family… not necessarily in that order.

Sanctuary Manager
713-932-1639 ext. 118
wegelhoff@houstonaudubon.org

Wyatt Egelhoff is a Sanctuary Manager at Houston Audubon. He works primarily in the High Island and Bolivar Peninsula Sanctuaries focusing on habitat restoration, species monitoring, and visitor services. This allows him to keep a close eye on the birdlife in one of the most species-rich areas of the United States, while also addressing the myriad day-to-day challenges the coastal sanctuaries provide. Wyatt grew up birding throughout the Desert Southwest and received his B.Sc. in Wildlife Ecology from New Mexico State University in 2019. Prior to Houston Audubon, Wyatt found work studying birds in the Southern Great Plains (NM, TX, & OK) and the Arctic (Alaska & Chukotka). He has also been known to twitch a bird or two.

Nature Programs Manager
713-932-1639 ext 102
aleung@houstonaudubon.org

Amber Leung built a deep appreciation for the natural world through camping and hiking around Central and West Texas with her family while growing up in Austin. A Coastal Ornithology course introduced her to the world of birding while she was earning a BS in Marine Sciences at A&M in Galveston. She later became a Texas Master Naturalist in 2015 and even served two terms as the president of the Coastal Prairie Chapter. She has spent time as an educator and naturalist at Kleb Woods Nature Preserve, and Texas Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition. Her passion lies in extolling the virtues of ALL parts of a healthy ecosystem, especially the underappreciated ones. In her own time, she has a penchant for rescuing wayward venomous snakes from neighbors’ homes and giving advice on wildlife and native plants.

Environmental Educator & Naturalist
713-932-1639 ext 105
vstittleburg@houstonaudubon.org

Vicki Stittleburg grew up in rural PA and has always had an affinity for nature and animals. After receiving her BS in Biology from Westminster College, she moved to Texas to be a zookeeper at the Houston Zoo where she worked with a variety of creatures including Meerkats, Asian small-clawed otters, and Pgymy Marmosets. Vicki loved interacting with zoo visitors and teaching about the animals in her care so she decided to shift her focus to education. She accepted a position at Houston Audubon where she worked full time in the Education Department for 9 years. Vicki developed a curriculum for early learners and discovered her passion for teaching preschool children about native wildlife. She left her job to be a stay at home mom when her son Barrett was born in 2016. She loved taking her son on outdoor adventures and now that he’s enrolled in Kindergarten, Vicki has returned to the Education Team and is excited to launch a preschool program called Fledgling Friends. She is honored to office in Edith Moore’s log home and is eager to start sharing her passion about native wildlife with children in her classes and visitors to the sanctuary.

Development Director
713-932-1639 ext. 103
molavere@houstonaudubon.org

Marie Olavere grew up in the Philippines and in Houston. She earned her BA in history from the University of Virginia (wahoowa!) and is pursuing an MBA from Rice University. Marie has worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA, development associate, sponsored programs associate, and director of development for organizations including the Montrose Center, Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, and Avenue CDC. Her career has focused on nurturing relationships with people and organizations in support of a good cause, especially to create greater accessibility to resources for all. After working as a historical researcher and guide for Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Virginia, she has dreamed of working for a similar organization that focuses on conservation, preservation, and education of historical and natural sites. (Houston Audubon fits the bill!)

Development Manager, Individual Giving
713-932-1639 ext. 116
jmalowitz@houstonaudubon.org

Jesi Malowitz, a Houston resident since 2004 with roots in Ohio, perfectly blends her passions for birds and giving back at Houston Audubon. Jesi wears many hats: managing memberships, planning fundraising events, nurturing donor connections, and keeping Houston Audubon supporters informed and involved. She ensures they get the most out of the organization's incredible programs. When away from work, her two daughters, Ellie and Benny, keep her on her toes!

Communications & Marketing Director
713-932-1639 ext. 106
zseth@houstonaudubon.org

Zineera Seth Chong is the Communications and Marketing Director at Houston Audubon, where she’s spent 7 years dedicated to the organization. Passionate about bird conservation and fostering inclusivity, Zineera oversees the organization's internal and external communications, including digital platforms, advertising, media, and strategic partnerships. She also co-chairs the Houston Audubon DEIB committee, working to ensure an equitable and inclusive environment for all. Zineera enjoys traveling to experience new cultures, cuisines and landscapes, and her favorite trips have been to South Africa and Costa Rica. She spends her free time with her husband, German Shepherd, and sassy senior tabby, adding to her plant collection, crafting, listening to music, and playing board games.

Coastal Community Liaison
kcsmith@houstonaudubon.org

Casey Smith is Houston Audubon’s Coastal Community Liaison, focusing on the Bolivar Peninsula Nature Trail and our Beach-nesting Birds campaign. Casey has spent the last several years living in Port Bolivar, but the Peninsula has held a special place in her heart for her entire life. She lived most of her life in Beaumont but has always been grateful to have the beach only an hour away. Casey is a certified floral designer, an avid gardener and loves all things nature! She loves working on the Bolivar Peninsula Nature Trail and helping residents and visitors improve their own experiences with nature. She feels like the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary is her shared backyard and walks the beaches often, looking for shells, shark teeth and treasures. Casey is a member of the Port Bolivar Volunteer Fire Department, the Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation and attends the Port Bolivar Methodist Church.

Controller
713-932-1639 ext. 110
bthompson@houstonaudubon.org

Barbara Thompson hails from western Pennsylvania but has lived in Houston her entire adult life. She holds a BBA degree in Accounting from the University of Houston and is a licensed Texas Certified Public Accountant. Barbara began her career with the “Big Eight” firm Arthur Young where she gained audit and tax experience, then worked as the administrator of a 70-person law firm. When her daughters were young she volunteered extensively in the local community where she had an introduction to non-profit accounting and administration. She also served as a Girl Scout leader and camp mom, where she discovered her love of the outdoors. All those interests came together when she joined Houston Audubon in 2007 as Controller, overseeing all accounting, financial and tax reporting, payroll and benefits administration for the organization.
A self-professed novice birder, Barbara fondly remembers her beginner birding class with Glenn Olsen where she was thrilled to see Cedar Waxwings and Eastern Bluebirds flocking in the trees at Bear Creek Park. She also enjoys reading (especially biographies), playing pickleball, travelling, and spending leisure time with her husband and two adult daughters.

Bolivar Peninsula Nature Trail Project Manager
csmith@houstonaudubon.org

Christine “Chris” Smith is originally from Napa in Northern California. She has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Wildlife from Humboldt State University. She is fortunate to have lived and worked in some of the most beautiful and diverse places in the US, most notably: northern Michigan, on the Big Island of Hawai’i, and the Ruby Mountains of Nevada. Chris came to south Texas in 2005 as a field tech to work with Mark Kramer and George Regmund, restoring wetlands and prairie at Armand Bayou Nature Center. She left when her oldest daughter was born in 2010, and came back as the biologist in 2017 when her youngest started kindergarten. She is proud to call herself a member of the Prairie Liberation Army: burning, mowing, and by chainsaw are how they rescue that habitat!

Office Manager
713-932-1639 ext. 100
mflores@houstonaudubon.org

Macheli Whitten comes from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where her family first instilled in her a love for the environment, especially animals and flowers. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, she worked in education and administrative positions in the Austin area before moving to Houston two years ago with her now-husband. She learned about the National Audubon Society growing up, reading their many books on birds, rocks, and flora and fauna. Upon researching nature and hiking trails in Harris County, she was excited to learn Houston Audubon’s headquarters was located near her, leading her to follow the organization online. Macheli is excited to be working with a close-knit community of avian and wildlife enthusiasts, aspiring to continue building further community within the organization.