Bryan McMath Executive Administrator
Bryan McMath was named Executive Administrator on September 4, 2024, after serving as Interim Executive Administrator for six months. He joined the TWDB in 2018 as Governmental Relations Liaison before being named Director of Governmental Relations in January 2021. In that role, he coordinated communications regarding legislative and policy matters affecting the agency, as well as provided leadership in developing and communicating the TWDB's legislative priorities. Previously, Bryan worked for nearly 15 years at the Texas State Capitol. While his focus during his final six years at the capitol was on natural resource and water issues, he has supported other public policy areas during his career, including the state budget, energy, ethics, financial institutions, government organization, regulated industries, and transportation. Bryan holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from Vanderbilt University and a bachelor of fine arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is currently pursuing a master of business administration at Texas State University.
Kathleen Ligon Assistant Executive Administrator
Kathleen Ligon joined the Texas Water Development Board in August 2006. She was named Assistant Executive Administrator in September 2024 after serving as Interim Assistant Executive Administrator since April 1, 2024. She joined the Executive office in 2019 to serve as the agency's lead on implementing flood mitigation planning and funding legislation from the 88th Texas Legislative Session; later she was named Associate Executive Administrator. Previously, Kathleen served as senior policy analyst in Government Relations for three legislative sessions and served as a planner and special assistant to the Deputy Executive Administrator of the agency's planning office. Kathleen has prior public service experience with the Lower Colorado River Authority and the Texas Department of Transportation. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.
Leadership Team
Ashley Harden General Counsel
Before being named General Counsel at the Texas Water Development Board, Harden worked as general counsel for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, where his responsibilities involved state and local tax administration, state fiscal matters, and state procurement. Prior to working for the Texas comptroller, he worked for the Office of the Attorney General of Texas and the Texas Department of Agriculture, where his practice included banking, public finance, and legal assistance to various federally funded programs. He is a graduate of SMU School of Law and the University of Texas at Austin.
John Dupnik Deputy Executive Administrator, Water Science and Conservation
John Dupnik joined the TWDB in February 2018 as the Deputy Executive Administrator of the Office of Water Science and Conservation. Dupnik previously served as the general manager of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, where he was employed since 2005. He also has eight years of experience in state government, including tenure with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Dupnik holds a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from Texas State University and a master's degree from the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin, where his research and thesis focused on Texas groundwater management. He is a Texas licensed professional geoscientist.
Edna Jackson Deputy Executive Administrator, Operations and Administration
Edna Jackson joined the TWDB in June 2014 and currently oversees the Support Services, Human Resources, Central Records, and Information Technology business areas. She previously served the Office of the Governor for over 12 years, with 10 years as director of Human Resources. She is a current member of the Society for Human Resource Management and formerly served on the State Agency Council and Data Center Services Business Executive Leadership Committee. She holds Senior Professional in Human Resources and SHRM Senior Certified Professional certifications. Jackson received her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and master of business administration from St. Edward's University.
Jonathan Mathers Director, Government Relations
Jonathan Mathers began his public service career two decades ago as an information and capitol tour guide for the State Preservation Board. Since then, he has held various staff roles in both the Texas Senate and House, including positions on legislative committees and chief of staff appointments in both chambers. Jonathan has been instrumental in shaping Texas water policy, modernizing civil contracting for state water projects, improving water safety and delivery in rural areas, and updating the Texas Water Code to enhance utility district operations. Most recently, he contributed to the Texas Water Development Board's Sunset Bill, underscoring his deep expertise in the agency's mission. In addition to his public service, Jonathan excelled in crisis management roles at Walt Disney, Citibank, and Time Warner Cable. As a former government professor who earned recognition for his contributions, he continues to deliver guest lectures to government classes statewide upon request.
Lauren Munguia Chief Communications Officer
Lauren Munguia joined the TWDB in 2016 and served as the agency's Strategic Communications Manager and Senior Writer and Editor before becoming the Chief Communications Officer in February 2021. In this role she oversees the development and execution of public relations and communications initiatives for the agency, including media relations; social media; video production; and editorial, creative, and publication services. Prior to joining the TWDB, she worked at a global public relations agency supporting clients in the areas of corporate partnerships, corporate responsibility, media relations, crisis communications, event management, social media, and internal communications and change management. She has bachelor's degrees in public relations and Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin.
Georgia Sanchez Interim Chief Financial Officer
Georgia Sanchez joined the TWDB in March 2017 to oversee the agency's Debt and Portfolio Management division and to serve as Development Fund Manager, Investment Officer, and post-issuance Compliance Officer. She was promoted to Deputy Chief Financial Officer in February of 2024 and, more recently, Interim Chief Financial Officer in January 2025. Before her tenure at the TWDB, Georgia dedicated more than 23 years to the City of Austin in roles including assistant treasurer and investment officer, where she managed cash, investments, and debt programs; and corporate budget manager overseeing the implementation of the City's capital improvements plan. Georgia's commitment to public finance extends beyond her professional duties. She is a past president of the Government Treasurer's Organization of Texas and the Texas Chapter of Women in Public Finance. Additionally, she is an active and longstanding member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Daughters of the American Revolution, and National Charity League. Georgia holds a bachelor of business administration in international business from the University of Texas at Austin and is a graduate of the Governor's Executive Development Program.
Richard Wade Deputy Executive Administrator, Texas Geographic Information Office (TxGIO)
Richard Wade provides direction and management for all TNRIS-related activities and programs and serves as the Geographic Information Officer for Texas. He has 30 years of experience in Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and computer mapping. Wade started his career as an intern with TNRIS in 1986 and helped establish one of the first statewide GIS programs at the TWDB. He later went into the private sector where he was director of telecommunications and managed and maintained several high profile data contracts for companies that included Qualcomm, Motorola, and Verizon. Wade went on to co-found the Windrose Data Corporation, which provided GIS data and services to environmental and energy firms across the country. He returned to the TWDB in 2005. Wade holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Texas State University.
Jessica Pena Deputy Executive Administrator, Water Supply and Infrastructure
Jessica Pena joined the Texas Water Development Board in July 2001. She was named the Deputy Executive Administrator of Water Supply and Infrastructure in May 2016. Prior to this role, she served as the Director of Regional Water Planning and Development, which entailed managing six multi-disciplined regional teams that implement water and wastewater projects across the state. Her past positions at the TWDB also include Team Manager for the northeast region of the state and Financial Analyst. Pena received a bachelor's degree in business administration with the distinction of magna cum laude from St. Edward's University.
Matt Nelson Deputy Executive Administrator, Planning
Matt Nelson has served in a variety of roles since he joined the TWDB in 1997. He has more than 30 years of private and public sector experience in geotechnical, environmental, and water resources engineering consulting; civil construction management; water supply planning; flood planning; and project and public finance. He has wide-ranging technical knowledge, extensive field experience, and broad experience supporting a variety of public stakeholder processes. He received a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of California - Berkeley and a master's degree in public affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.
Audit
Nicole Campbell Director, Internal Audit
Nicole Campbell is responsible for providing the overall strategic direction, leadership, and planning for the Internal Audit Division. The division provides the Board with high quality, value-driven assurance and consulting services as a means to support the organization and improve operations through the strengthening of risk management, control, and governance processes. Prior to joining the TWDB in April 2015, Campbell worked for the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of State Health Services and has 15 years of state government auditing experience. Her expertise includes conducting performance, financial, compliance, and information systems audits and investigations. Nicole is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in economics and has earned designations as a Certified Internal Auditor and Certified Information Systems Auditor.