Texas Water
Development Board

Bryan McMath Interim Executive Administrator

Bryan McMath was named Interim Executive Administrator effective March 6, 2024. He joined the TWDB in 2018 and served 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 the TWDB's legislative priorities and ensuring they are communicated effectively to the state's elected officials. Previously, Bryan worked for nearly 15 years at the Texas State Capitol for two state senators, three state representatives, a House committee office, and a former speaker of the house. While his focus during his final six years at the Capitol was on natural resource and water issues, he has handled various other public policy areas during his career including budget, business and commerce, energy, ethics, financial institutions, government organization, 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 Interim Assistant Executive Administrator

Kathleen Ligon joined the Texas Water Development Board in August 2006. She was named Interim Assistant Executive Administrator effective 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.

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.

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.

Rebecca Trevino Chief Financial Officer

Rebecca Trevino joined the TWDB as its Chief Financial Officer in August 2016. She previously served as the deputy chief financial officer for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Trevino has held various financial leadership roles during her career, including that of chief financial officer to the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services and the TWDB. She holds a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from the University of Texas and is a Certified Public Accountant.

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.

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.