Presenter: Scott Boruff
John Montford

Commission Agenda Item No. 2
Briefing
State Parks
State Parks Advisory Committee Report
August 2006

I. Executive Summary: The State Parks Advisory Committee (SPAC) was established by Commission rule in late 2005. In early 2006, Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman Joseph Fitzsimons appointed members to the SPAC and charged the committee with exploring funding options for the state parks system among other things. The SPAC's recommendations will be presented to the Commission.

II. Discussion The State Parks Advisory Committee is composed of a diverse group of individuals with interests and background in state finance, tourism, recreation and local parks. The SPAC is chaired by former Texas State Senator John T. Montford who will formally present the committee's recommendations to the Commission. The members of the SPAC are as follows:

• John Montford. Former State Senator serving, among other things, as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and Chairman of the Senate State Affairs. Former Texas Tech Chancellor. Currently Senior Vice President for Western Region Legislative and Regional Affairs with AT&T.
• Al Henry. Human services consultant and owner of the East Fork Ranch in Tyler. An advisory director at Comerica Bank Texas. Member of the State Bar of Texas, the American Quarter Horse Association and the Smith County Farm Bureau. Past Vice-Chairman of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.
• George Bristol. President, Texas Coalition for Conservation, an umbrella coalition of diverse groups formed to support funding for Texas parks; former member, National Parks Foundation; steering committee, Texas Farms & Ranch Lands Conservation Program.
• Ann Lents. President, Center for Houston's Future. President, Park People (Houston); President and CEO, Center for Houston's Future, and serves on the Boards of Scenic America and Houston Wilderness. Earlier in her career, Lents was a partner with Vinson & Elkins and practices law in the areas of antitrust, securities, and commercial trial law.
• Sandy McNab. San Antonio businessman, interested in historic resources. Past service to the Rock Art Foundation and Witte Museum in San Antonio.
• Carter Smith. Director, Nature Conservancy of Texas. Former TPWD staff member.
• Andrew Sansom. Executive Director, River Systems Institute at Texas State University in San Marcos. Former Executive Director of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; former Executive Director of Nature Conservancy of Texas.
• Clyde Alexander. Former State Representative from Athens, served on the Recreational Resources Committee.
• Dianne Dies Schoch. Extensive fundraising experience with the University of Texas and Austin area nonprofits. Long involvement in East Texas conservation efforts.
• Brad Locker. Sporting goods manufacturer representative. Chair, Brown County Republican Party.
• Jeff Rogers. Partner in Hampton/Rogers, a media relations and production company.
• Hector Gutierrez. Managing Director of HILLCO PARTNERS, former senior marketing and sales executive for SBC Corporation. Former Senior Advisor for Legislative Affairs for then-Lieutenant Governor Rick Perry.
• Paul Serff. President, Texas Travel Association, as well as President of the Texas Festivals and Events Association and Texas Nature Tourism Council. Board member of the Texas Industry Association of America (TIA) and serves on its Legislative Affairs Committee and as vice-chairman of the Tourism Works for America Committee.
• Beth McDonald. President, Texans for State Parks, a coalition of individuals and groups working to enhance the state park system.
• David Woodcock. Texas A&M University architecture professor.
• Ann Hamilton. Houston Endowment representative.
• Michael Massey. City of Richardson Parks and Recreation Director.