Emilie Payne is a dedicated birder, conservationist, and former Audubon warden based in Texas. She moved from San Antonio to Corpus Christi in 1960, bringing with her a copy of the Roger Tory Peterson Field Guide to Birds. Her passion for birding was ignited in 1961 when she and her daughter attended a bird walk in Blucher Park, where they experienced a fallout, a day when the park was filled with a variety of birds. Payne's interest in birding quickly grew into a lifelong commitment. She and her daughter joined the Audubon Outdoor Club and participated in the Christmas bird count].

Dr. Jennifer Beseres Pollack is a marine biologist and the Chair for Coastal Conservation and Restoration at the Harte Research Institute. She was born in Minnesota and grew up surrounded by lakes, which sparked her interest in nature and ecology. She pursued her undergraduate degree in environmental science at Northwestern University, where she carved out a niche for herself within ecology. Dr. Pollack gained a variety of experiences through internships, including one in marine science that solidified her love for the field.

Jim Blackburn is an environmental lawyer with a rich background in environmental law and advocacy. Raised in South Texas in the Rio Grande Valley, Blackburn developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors from a young age, learning to hunt and fish in both South Texas and Central Louisiana. He attended the University of Texas for his undergraduate and law school education, during which he discovered his passion for environmental law.

Joe Trungale is an environmental engineer with a focus on water issues. Born in Chicago, Trungale moved around the Midwest and East Coast before settling in Dallas for high school. After high school, he attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he earned an English degree. Following his undergraduate studies, Trungale spent time traveling and volunteering in Latin America, specifically in Nicaragua, where he worked on water issues.

Dr. John W. ("Wes") Tunnell, Jr. is a third-generation Texan, born in Biloxi, Mississippi, where his father was stationed during World War II. His parents, both physicians, practiced in Texas from the mid-forties to the mid-eighties. Dr. Tunnell credits his father for encouraging him to pursue a career that he would enjoy and excel in. Dr. Tunnell began his higher education at Adams State College in Colorado, initially pursuing pre-dentistry with the aim of earning a high income that would allow him to enjoy his hobbies of hunting and fishing.

Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon is a renowned climatologist who has dedicated his career to the study of weather and climate, particularly in relation to Texas. Born and raised in Northern California, he developed an interest in weather at a young age, conducting his own weather observations and experiments from the age of ten or eleven. He pursued his passion for weather and climate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he studied for ten years before completing a postdoc in Albany, New York.

Dr. Ken Kramer is a native Texan, born in Brenham, a small city about seventy miles from Houston. He grew up in Houston, but his parents were from Austin and Washington Counties in Central East Texas, and they both grew up on farms. This gave him the unique experience of both urban and rural environments from an early age. Dr. Kramer's interest in environmental issues began to take shape during his time in the Army and later in graduate school at Rice University.

Dr. Larry McKinney is a seasoned scientist and environmentalist with a rich background in resource protection and environmental management. Born and raised in West Texas, McKinney comes from a family of original settlers who were primarily ranchers and farmers. His early life was spent in the small town of Coahoma, near Midland, Odessa, where his family had been on their home place for over one hundred and twenty-five years. McKinney's upbringing on a farm, where his family primarily grew cotton, instilled in him a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for the outdoors.

Myron Hess is a native Texan, born in 1955, who grew up in the small town of Muenster, North Texas, near the Red River. His early life was spent on a farm, where he developed a deep appreciation for the natural world and the importance of water for both agriculture and the environment. This early interest in water and ecology influenced his later career in environmental law, with a particular focus on water and freshwater inflow issues in Texas.

Dr. Pamela T. Plotkin is a renowned wildlife biologist and conservationist with a focus on marine life, particularly sea turtles. Born and raised in New York City, Dr. Plotkin's early fascination with wildlife was nurtured through television shows like Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and Tarzan, which offered her a glimpse into the natural world she yearned to explore. In her teenage years, her family moved to New Jersey, providing her with closer access to natural environments. This exposure further fueled her interest in wildlife and conservation.