STAFF - Meet the Plateau team.
Wildlife Management Plans
Land & Wildlife
Management Services
Wildlife Biologist Consultation
Property Tax Consultation
Plan Implementation
Wildlife Surveys
Habitat Assessment
Brush Management
Wildlife Water Features
Plateau PLUS
"I am certain the completion of the process without any problems is a direct result of the careful monitoring by Plateau. I am pleased to recommend their services to any landowner."
Plateau Client
Land & Wildlife
Management Services
Wildlife Biologist Consultation
Property Tax Consultation
Plan Implementation
Wildlife Surveys
Habitat Assessment
Brush Management
Wildlife Water Features
Plateau PLUS
"I am certain the completion of the process without any problems is a direct result of the careful monitoring by Plateau. I am pleased to recommend their services to any landowner."
Plateau Client
DAVID BRAUN, CEO, CO-FOUNDER
As a well-known and well-respected conservation advocate, David Braun continues to raise the bar for all aspects of land and wildlife management. In addition to co-founding Plateau, he is the principal and founder of Braun & Associates, Attorneys at Law, where attorneys provide legal counsel, practical advice, and innovative solutions to owners of rural land, including buying and selling land, conservation easements, condemnation defense, property taxes, mitigation banking, and conservation development. In both his law practice and with Plateau, David sets high standards for client satisfaction and always works in a "can-do" style. Before founding Plateau and Braun & Associates, David served as the Texas State Director and International Vice President of The Nature Conservancy, one of the world's premier land conservation organizations. Interested in natural sciences and conservation since his youth, David's first steps down his wildlife and conservation-minded career path included work as a field biologist for several universities and museums, and as a nature tour guide for two of the premier nature tour companies in the U.S. for whom he led groups in the region between Texas and Venezuela.
BEYRL ARMSTRONG, CO-FOUNDER
Few in the land and wildlife management field have more hands-on experience than Beyrl Armstrong. Prior to co-founding Plateau, he managed all on-site activities of a premier 10,000 acre ranch on the Frio River. Planning, budgeting, personnel, a leased livestock operation, land restoration, new construction, development of hunting and nature tourism operations, and guest services all fell under his direction. Some of Beyrl's other supervisory experience includes subdivision development where he had oversight of building roads, storm drains, and sanitation sewers, as well as landscape scale conservation and restoration projects in the Texas Hill Country. For the Nature Conservancy of Texas, Beyrl has been involved in the design, management and protection of 24,000 acres of diverse conservation lands, including development of guest and research facilities on Dolan Falls Preserve and management of the Wynne Lodge on Matagorda Island. As a trained property tax consultant, he has worked with several Central Texas appraisal districts on wildlife valuation issues. Thanks to his breadth and depth of knowledge and experience, as well as his undeniable charisma, Beyrl is a sought-after speaker on a variety of wildlife and environmental issues. The son of missionaries, Beyrl was raised in Hawaii and Indonesia and in previous incarnations has worked as shrimper, a sailboat captain, restaurant manager, and hatter's helper. Beyrl has traveled around the world and sailed across the Gulf of Mexico seven times.
SHANE KIEFER, SENIOR WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST
Shane Kiefer is a fourth-generation Texan from Central Texas who has lived and worked across the state. Over the last 5+ years with Plateau, he has worked with hundreds of private landowners creating wildlife management plans and providing land management consulting across 8 of the 10 Texas Ecoregions. Shane's specialties include managing game species, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and habitat assessment and management. He is a registered property tax consultant who has provided continuing education in wildlife management valuation to real estate professionals. Shane holds a Bachelor of Science in Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management from Texas Tech University and a Master of Science in Wildlife Ecology from Texas State University - San Marcos. He has hunted the same 1,400 acre hunting lease in Coleman County for over 20 years. Slightly farther afield, and more under water, Shane is a certified scuba diver who has dived the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
MARK GRAY, SENIOR WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST
From Hawaii, where he was born, to England, where his family was stationed overseas, Mark Gray grew up fascinated by local wildlife and developed a liking for both bugs and birds. His childhood passion led to a Bachelor of Science in Evolution, Ecology and Conservation from the University of Texas, a Master of Science in Wildlife Ecology from Texas State University and, ultimately, a career with Plateau where he celebrates his 9th year in 2010. Mark began as a contractor for Plateau in 2001 and joined the team permanently in 2005. In his years with the company, Mark has established a reputation as a skilled wildlife biologist, valued registered property tax consultant, and expert birder. Mark's passion for birds has led him to see over 580 species in the United States, well on his way to seeing his current goal of 700 species.
ROMEY SWANSON,
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FIELD BIOLOGIST
Romey Swanson received his Master of Science in Wildlife Ecology from Texas State University. He is particularly interested in the natural history of Texas flora and fauna with a focus on mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds. Romey is an active member of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society and is currently pending certification as an Associate Wildlife Biologist from The Wildlife Society Certification Board.
JANINE GWALTNEY,
DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
With an unabashed love of life, wildlife, and the great outdoors, Janine Gwaltney breaks every number-cruncher stereotype (except the timely accounting data management and budget-loving ones). Before joining Plateau, where she has worked for the past 4 years, Janine served as General Manager for famed Texas French Bread. Janine's love of nature and wildlife is reflected in her gorgeous, outdoor-inspired watercolors that adorn the Plateau offices and her keen ability to identify native plants. Janine graduated Summa Cum Laude in accounting from St. Edwards University.
STEVE PARKER,
PRODUCT AND SERVICES DIVISION MANAGER
A proven self-starter, Steve Parker owned and operated his own home improvements business before joining Plateau in 2005 where he has worked his way up the ranks over the years from Wildlife Services Field Technician to Product and Services Division Manager. Although born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, summers were spent working on a family-owned dairy farm in Tennessee. He attributes his grandfather's hard work ethic while working six and a half days a week on the farm with instilling in him his own work ethic. Steve has always been passionate about providing needed services for people, and Plateau has afforded him an opportunity to do that on a much larger scale. Steve's kindness, common-sense, and uncanny organizational skills are much valued by coworkers and clients alike.
KEN THIGPEN,
DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING
Since Ken Thigpen's addition to the Plateau team, the company has grown exponentially in size and services while also increasing personal client attention. Like many college graduates, Ken, who has a degree in Range & Wildlife Management from Texas Tech University, found his career path take an unexpected turn. In his case, it guided him into a successful tenure in the high-tech industry, and as an investment broker in the personal financial service industries, prior to joining Plateau. Today, he can now combine his business acumen and experience with his life's passion, land and wildlife management. Ken is an active outdoorsman who enjoys mountain climbing, canoe racing, bird and bat watching, fishing and hunting. He has climbed Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain peak in the lower 48, and competed in numerous canoe races including the "world's toughest canoe race", the Texas Water Safari. These activities have made Ken even more committed to saving our land, water, and wildlife for future generations. As a past or current member of the San Marcos Citizens Advisory Board, Industry Advisory Board to Texas State University, School of Business MIS Department, Texas State University Computer Science Department, and as a Board Member for the New Braunfels Christian Academy, Ken is also committed to quality education as a way to make a difference.
TIM MILLIGAN,
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Born in Lubbock and raised in Austin. Tim Milligan grew up in the city, but was reared on a working family farm in Garfield, Texas. There, his lifelong appreciation for the land and his love of all things wild was planted and has continued to grow. He has been married for 17 years to Melissa and they have two kids, Aidan 11 and Abby 9. Tim spent 14 years working in the automobile industry, most of that time spent as a Finance Director for some of the largest auto dealers in Texas. Tim points to this experience as the foundation for his ability to adapt and find unique solutions for the opportunities he encounters in our business. For the past 8 years, Tim has also owned and operated a popular quail hunting business, where he guides hunts on the historic LBJ Ranch in Stonewall, Texas, along with other exclusive ranches all over the state. Through this opportunity Tim has gained invaluable hands-on experience in the restoration of quail habitat and the re-establishment of quail populations. Tim is active in Texas Wildlife Association, Quail Forever, Quail Unlimited, and the Dripping Springs United Methodist Men. In his personal time, if it has to do with working dogs, working the land, hunting, fishing, or his kids' sports, hes there.
CRAIG BOWEN,
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Craig Bowen has pursued a career in the field of ranch and wildlife since age 15. Born and raised immersed in the culture of land, Craig graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor in Wildlife Ecology, and continued his formal education by earning a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics. He started his career as a business development contractor and ranch real estate agent, also acting as a private consultant for numerous Texas landowners. Craig has worked nearly a decade in the commercial hunting industry, guiding hunts from the Trans-Pecos Region to the Rio Grande Valley. Craig is a musician and avid outdoorsman, spending most of his open-air time fishing, riding horses, or contending in one of the several competitive shooting sports he pursues.
KASEY MOCK,
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Kasey Mock, who joins the Plateau team from Texas Agrilife Extension Service, further expands the company's roster of seasoned land and wildlife management professionals. Kasey's tenure as an Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, as well as his personal involvement in local organizations including the Independent Cattleman's Association, Hays County Livestock Show Association, Cypress Creek Watershed Project, and Hill Country Alliance, brings a depth and diversity of knowledge to Plateau. His work and personal history exemplify an exemplary balance between wildlife and agriculture. Kasey is a native of Hays County and serves on the Hays County Texas Farm Bureau Board. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Service & Development- Extension and Industry Option from Tarleton State University.
KAMERON BAIN, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Kameron Bain grew up in Conway, New Hampshire nestled in the heart of the Mount Washington Valley. She graduated from Quinnipiac University in Hamdon, Connecticut in 2002 with a BA in Mass Communications. Tired of the cold, six years ago she decided to move to the warmth and Texas. She joined the team at Plateau Land & Wildlife Management three years ago as the receptionist. Today, she works on the Business Development team focusing on what she loves best, helping clients.
JOHN MELNAR,
GENERAL MANAGER, PLATEAU PLUS
John Melnar celebrates 5 years with Plateau in 2010. With his innate skill for understanding client needs, gift for devising practical solutions, and Bachelor of Science in Wildlife and Fisheries from Texas A&M, John is consulted for his sage advice and depth of knowledge by both clients and coworkers. Prior to joining Plateau, John worked in the heavy equipment industry, giving him first hand knowledge of what it takes for the best performance in pond building, brush clearing, road building, and more. As president of the San Gabriel chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association, his passion for the land and conservation extends to his personal time as well. John is an avid fisherman and elk hunter who has been known to share his bounty at the Plateau offices by cooking up truly special wildlife lunches.
Learn more about Plateau PLUS here.
ERIC WALLGREN,
PLATEAU PLUS PROJECT MANAGER
Currently completing his Master of Agriculture in Ecosystem Science & Management from Texas A&M while holding a full-time job at Plateau without missing a beat, Eric Wallgren is admired for his boundless energy and calm determination. He is known by coworkers and clients alike as a practical problem solver who is committed to getting the job done. Having joined Plateau in 2008, he has already worked his way up from Consulting Biologist to Project Manager for Plateau's sister company, Plateau PLUS, where he works with large landowners to bring their land goals and visions to fruition. Eric also holds a Bachelor of Science in Rangeland Ecology and Management with a minor in Agronomy from Texas A&M. Prior to joining Plateau, he worked as an ecologist conducting environmental mitigation. Eric is an avid hunter and fisherman who is also appreciated for his patience and excellent teaching skills when it comes to wildlife novices.Learn more about Plateau PLUS here.
Plateau Land & Wildlife Management Services Hill Country Central Texas Wildlife Ag Valuation Property Tax Conservation Brush Cedar Deer Turkey