Oranit (Orie) Gilad, PhD. Founder and President. Orie is a Conservation Ecologist who has spent over 15 years working on wildlife related projects around the world. Orie was born and raised in an agricultural community in Israel. She served in the Israeli Army as an Artillery Training Officer and at the age of 21 came to the United States. Orie graduated from Texas A&M University in 2006 with a doctorate in Zoology and founded Balanced Ecology Inc. a year later. Some of the projects she has led include Giant Panda research in China, Arabian Oryx study in Israel, the establishment of a wildlife reserve in Costa Rica, and research involving Desert Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Lions in Guadalupe Mountains National Park in western Texas. Orie is a Captain in the US Army and resides in the Texas Hill Country.

Michelle Cunningham, MD. Vice-President. Michelle is a physician who graduated from Baylor College of Medicine in 2001. She is an Internist with a focus in Geriatrics and Wound Care. Michelle has a strong commitment to a healthy life and a healthy, sustainlable living environment. She and her husband and three children have great love for open spaces and wildlife and Michelle is dedicated to promote cooperative conservation and education. Michelle practices medicine and resides in Houston, Texas.

Todd Swannack, PhD. Board member. Todd is a Conservation Biologist with over 10 years of experience working with endangered or rare species. He graduated from Texas A & M University in 2007 with a doctorate in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, with a specific emphasis on modeling the dynamics of rare and threatened species. Some of the species he has worked on are the Whooping Crane, Dusky Dolphins and the Houston Toad. He currently resided in College Station, Texas and enjoys photography and good jazz.

Monica Morrison. Monica is a professional project manager with 15+ years of experience in a variety of top industries. She is also a dedicated, active participant in wildlife projects and has over 10 years of volunteer experience in a variety of wildlife organizations, including the Dallas Zoo, two big feline sanctuaries, and US and Brazilian jaguar conservation organizations. Her background encompasses fundraising, education and training, volunteer coordination, construction, animal care, and newsletter editing. Monica is the Project Director of BEI's Texas Mountain Lion Conservation Project. Monica resides in Dallas, Texas.


Cynthia (Cyndy) Nemcik. Master Naturalist. Raised by a father who mixed his love for Chemistry and the Physical Science with the natural world, Cyndy grew up at the edge of Suburbia Succasunna. She spent her childhood in the open wilderness of NJ and Florida where her deep love and appreciation of the outdoors solidified. In the past seven years Cyndy has become a trained Leave No Trace Master Educator, a Texas Master Naturalist and has been giving interpretive guiding for the City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department. She also conducts Trail Patrol for Government Canyon State Natural Area and is certified in Wilderness First Aid. Cyndy spends her free time traveling the country on her Harley Davidson and exploring nature without leaving her trace behind. Cyndy is the Project Director of BEI's Conserving Nature's Footprints. Cyndy resides in Boerne, Texas.

Jeff Parker. Contributor Photographer. A native Texan, Jeff has always been mesmerized by the natural world and has used his lens to “capture the diversity and intricacy of it all.” An award-winning photographer, Jeff credits nature photography with bringing a deeper awareness to issues of conservation and insists that “it’s especially important here in Texas where 97% of the state is privately owned.” He sees his and others’ photographs as ways to provide an intimacy with nature that most wouldn’t have otherwise. In addition to competing in the photographic arena, Jeff enjoys racing cars and was SCCA’s 2007 National Rally Cross Champion in the SF Class. Jeff lives in the small town of Smithville, Texas.