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.

Ray Allen is a dedicated environmentalist with a deep understanding of the importance of freshwater to bays and estuaries. He has been instrumental in the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, where he has worked tirelessly to ensure that educational programs are tailored to meet the specific teaching requirements of students and teachers. Allen's work has not only been focused on the scientific aspects of the environment but also on the historical and artistic elements, providing a holistic learning experience for students.

Ed Bradley is a former marine biologist who worked with Texas Parks and Wildlife. Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Bradley's early life was marked by frequent moves due to his mother's work as a waitress. His interest in marine biology was sparked by a high school counselor in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he spent most of his childhood and attended college at the University of Corpus Christi. Bradley's career took a turn when he accepted a job as a newspaper distributor, a position he held for about nine years. During this time, he met his wife, Sue, through a mutual friend.

Cindy Loeffler is a seasoned hydrologist with a rich background in water resources and environmental conservation. Born in Colorado, she spent her early life moving around different states, including Virginia, Wyoming, Louisiana, and finally Texas, due to her father's work with the U.S. Geological Survey in water resources. Her interest in water and environmental conservation was sparked at a young age, with her family's connection to water resources and her personal experiences playing around water.

Chuck Naiser, a native of Mobile, Alabama, was born during World War II at Brookley Air Force Base. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Texas, where he was raised in a small town called East Bernard, a German-Bohemian Czech farming community outside of Houston. His father, who was the superintendent of the schools, was a significant influence in his life. Naiser grew up hunting, fishing, and being a diligent student, activities that were encouraged by his father. His early fishing experiences were primarily with farm ponds and creeks, where he fished for catfish and bass.

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.

Scott Murray was born on September 15, 1945, in Edinburg, Texas, just thirteen days after the signing of the peace treaty in World War II. His parents, Melba Murray and Louis Murray, both had rural agricultural backgrounds and a deep love for the outdoors, which they passed on to Scott at a very early age. Murray moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, when he was about three years old and attended Sam Houston Elementary, Baker Junior High, and W. B. Ray High School, graduating in 1963. He then attended Del Mar Junior College, where he met his wife, Paulette.

John Sutton is a lifelong resident of the Texas coast, having lived in various cities, including Brownsville, Corpus Christi, and Kingsville. He comes from a family of sports fishermen, which includes his grandfather and father. Sutton's early life was largely spent on the coast, with fishing being a significant part of his upbringing. His first memory of Baffin Bay dates back to 1957, when he caught an extra-large speckled trout at the age of thirteen, an experience that deepened his love for Baffin Bay. Sutton's fishing experience extends beyond his early life and into his adulthood.

Mike Blackwood is a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, with a deep-rooted passion for fishing and hunting. He attended Ray High School and later graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in microbiology, specializing in viral studies. Blackwood's love for the outdoors, particularly fishing and hunting, was nurtured from a young age. He spent a significant part of his life on the water, fishing, and hunting ducks. He also enjoyed bird hunting and bow hunting for elk in Colorado.