Meet the Staff
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’s Program Director of a local outreach organization in Blanco, Texas,
called Walk In The Park. 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, Assistant 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! 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.
Steven Fulton, Land Stewardship and Education
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. 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.
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.
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.