CELESTE SILLING

Gulf Coast Bird Observatory

Kelly joined American Bird Conservancy in 2020 to lead SPLASh as the Texas Coastal Outreach Coordinator, and oversees all aspects of the program. She has a background in environmental policy, citizen science program management, and environmental education, with a master's degree in Marine Affairs from the University of Washington. 

Contact: kmartin@abcbirds.org

Celeste is the Education and Outreach Manager at Gulf Coast Bird Observatory and facilitates the educational aspects of the SPLASh program. Previously a bird monitor and an environmental educator, Celeste loves teaching others about wildlife and the problem of trash pollution.

Contact: csilling@gcbo.org

AMANDA HACKNEY

Black Cat GIS

Black Cat GIS was founded in 2016 by Amanda Hackney to provide solutions to the geospatial demands of the conservation and business communities. Ms. Hackney has over 10 years of experience in the natural resources and GIS fields. A native of Nacogdoches Texas, her research specialties include:  monitoring of endangered species, GPS field work, colonial waterbirds, coastal restoration projects, conservation based education programs, GIS analyses of coastal bird habitats/ estuarine erosion, and marine debris movement and accumulation in waterways.

Contact: a.hackney@blackcatgis.org

KRISTEN VALE

American Bird Conservancy

Kristen has a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University, and an M.S. in Environmental Science with a focus on shorebird ecology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Her thesis work focused on the distribution of Piping Plovers on the upper Texas coast. Kristen has worked as a seasonal conservation technician for ABC and Houston Audubon, a research associate for the Environmental Institute of Houston, and an intern with Student Conservation Association (SCA) at Everglades National Park and Canyonlands National Park.

Contact: kvale@abcbirds.org

KACY RAY

American Bird Conservancy

CINDY MENJIVAR

Kardia Design Studio

Kacy Ray is the Gulf Conservation Program Manager at American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and has a B.S. in Natural Resources from The Ohio State University, and a M.S. in Wildlife Sciences with a focus in shorebird ecology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University. Since 2011, Kacy has led the Gulf Coastal Bird Program for ABC, working with collaborators and partners Gulf-wide to protect habitats for shorebirds and seabirds.

Contact: kray@abcbirds.org

Cindy Menjivar is a Senior Graphic & Web Designer and Creative Director at Kardia Design Studio. Cindy began working with the American Bird Conservancy in 2020 to lead creative design direction for the SPLASh program. A native of Houston, Texas, nature lover, and a longtime visitor of the Gulf Coast and Galveston area, Cindy is passionate about advocating for ocean and nature conservancy. 

Contact: 

FOUNDING PARTNERS

SPLASh was launched in 2020 through a partnership between American Bird Conservancy, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, and Black Cat GIS. Click on the logos below to visit each partner's website.