Meet the Staff
All together Now
Selah family and summer interns gathered together to celebrate J. David’s 79th birthday in early June 2007.
Front(L-R): Willow Grote, Kimberly Kennard, Grey Grote and Colleen Gardner
Standing: Melissa and Scott Grote, Amanda and Steven Fulton, J. David and Margaret Bamberger, Scott Gardner and Josh Ruder.
Shoulder ride: Aiden Fulton
Margaret Bamberger
Born and raised in New Orleans, Margaret Campbell Bamberger never really felt “at
home” until she came to Texas in 1976. It was then that she developed
a true love for the great outdoors – finding inspiration in the geology
of Texas and all aspects of its ecology. Truly a naturalist, Margaret’s
greatest gift is her ability to share her vast knowledge with all age groups,
and it was her experience with the Austin Nature Center and Travis County Parks
Department that fine-tuned the Bamberger Ranch’s educational programs,
tours and workshops. Margaret has previously served on the board of the Roger Tory
Peterson Institute, the Informal Science Educators Association of Texas and
she is currently working on pen and ink illustrations for the book that will be coming out about JDavid and his work with Selah. Her illustrations highlight and underscore the beautiful and meaningful images found all around Selah. The book, written by Jeffrey Greene, will be published by Texas A&M University Press and is due out in late April 2007. She is active with the Johnson City Women's Civic Club and with the local library. Margaret says that it was meeting other “fantastic naturalists” in her early years in Texas that inspired her to be one as well, and one can confidently say that she herself is now a great inspiration
to others.
Colleen Gardner, Executive Director
Colleen Gardner has been on staff since 1999. She has a Masters of Arts
in Geography with a focus in Resource and Environmental Studies from
Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, and a Bachelor of Arts Arts degree
in Business Administration from Austin College in Sherman, Texas. Prior to
employment at the ranch, she served over two years in the United States Peace
Corps in Niger, Africa as a nutritionist. Colleen's current responsibilities
with the preserve are designing and implementing educational programs, as well
as office managerial duties that include budgets, accounts payable/receivable
and all public communications. When she is not managing the office, she also
spends a lot of the time out on the ranch as the staff beekeeper! Colleen currently serves as Treasurer on the board of the HIll Country Alliance and is serving on the Leadership Advisory Board for Blanco County's Texas Cooperative Extension Agency. Additionally she is an active member of the Johnson City Woman's Civic Club. During visits to the ranch, you may also meet Scott Gardner, Colleen’s husband, who volunteers at the ranch in an educational capacity with the Stewardship workshops. J. David Bamberger named Colleen Executive Director in March of 2008.
Steven Fulton, Ranch Biologist
Steven is the second vital educational programming staff member of the ranch and his responsibilities are Land Stewardship and Education. Steven has a biology
degree from Mary Hardin Baylor University in Belton, Texas, and he has work
experience from the Nature Conservancy of Texas' endangered species programs.
He is responsible for tours, workshops and all educational programs. He is
also in charge of all the GIS/GPS mapping and research programs being implemented
on the ranch. 
Steven has the perfect balance of someone who can operate heavy
equipment and do physical ranching work as well as speak comfortably to the
public, regardless of their age. Steven, along with J. David Bamberger, head
up the ranch's recovery program of the federally listed endangered species,
the Texas Snowbell. He is currently pursuing a graduate degree in environmental science from the University of Texas in San Antonio. His research will focus heavily on Selah’s endangered species re-introduction program with the Texas Snowbell. The Bamberger Ranch Preserve was designated as the lead institution to de-list this tree in 2003, and Steven recently built a large-scale greenhouse to not only aide in the recovery program but to also bring this
issue into daily educational programs and tours.
July 2006, Steven and Amanda welcomed a new family unit, Aiden Blayne Fulton.
Scott Grote, Ranch Operations Manager
Scott Grote's responsibilities include all ranching operations on the 5,500
acre preserve. He manages the cattle and goat herds; oversight and management
of endangered species program with the Scimitar-horned oryx, an internationally
designated endangered antelope from West Africa; and facilitates all wildlife game management through hunting programs. Scott assists Steven and Colleen with educational programs when he
educates students, teachers and landowners about proper agricultural practices
- both from the standpoint of cultural importance and land management importance.
Scott Grote is a native Blanco County resident, and he graduated from San Angelo State
University in San Angelo, Texas, with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences. Scott also serves on the board of the Blanco County Burn Association.
Leroy Petri, Ranch Engineer
Born in Blanco and now living near Johnson City in the same house since he
was two years of age - the log cabin his grandparents lived in, Leroy Petri
has been with the Bamberger Ranch for 35 of the 36 years that J. David has
owned it. In 1965, he was drafted into the service and served two years in Vietnam as
a Teletype engineer; then returned to Blanco County.
If you have ever been on the roads of Bamberger Ranch, they are the work and artistry of Leroy Petri - King of the Road. Everything that you see today at BRP has experienced the direct touch of Leroy Petri, from roads, to dams and lakes, to water systems and spring capture, to gates, to equipment. Of the creation of Selah, J.David describes himself as the architect and Leroy, the engineer.
Justin Duke, Ranch Steward
Selah is excited to welcome new staff member, Justin Duke and his fiancé,
Stephanie Tidmore to the ranch family. Justin graduated from Texas State
University with a Bachelor of Science from the Geography Department and a
minor in Plant and Soil science and Agriculture. He is a native Texan,
having grown up in Italy, Texas. You will meet him on ranch tours, field
days and workshops. Stephanie is an LVN who works in New Braunfels and you
may meet her on one of her days off too, guiding school children along the
nature trails!