Jan 02 2025
Conference Sessions
Our conference sessions are meticulously curated, informed by invaluable feedback from previous attendees.Annually, we invite conference participants to share their perspectives on the sessions they missed and their preferences for future content. Additionally, we conduct an open call for speakers, thoroughly evaluating proposals to ensure alignment with the expressed needs and interests of our audience.
The 2024 KTB Conference will be hosted online June 24-26th
Keynote Speaker
Better Together
This Land Was Made for You and Me
As our society grows increasingly diverse in terms of ethnicity, gender, culture, language, and age, we face the imperative of fostering greater participation in outdoor activities among this evolving demographic.
Concurrently, it is vital for organizations dedicated to conservation and sustainability to adapt and remain pertinent to this expanding population, all while maintaining their current base of participants and supporters.
In this keynote address, Mr. Buggs will discuss strategies to promote broader population engagement and relevancy to your work and the importance of new user participation to the sustainability of natural resources, our people, and our economy.
Monday, June 24 | 8:30AM – 9:30AM
David Buggs
Mr. Buggs is the Director of Community Engagement for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, an agency of the state of Texas. He earned his MBA from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and a B.S. in Marketing from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
His role is developing and managing the execution of TPWD’s community engagement strategy. David is an accomplished cultural compliance and management professional with years of experience in the area of relationship building, leadership development, mentoring, training, and executive coaching. David also provides insight on behavior management, cultural understanding, multigenerational management, and ethical and government compliance.
Breakout Sessions
Young Texan Ambassador Showcase
Priya Patel, Jennifer Cox, Ishika Kothari, and Alisha Senghani
Join us as our ambassadors explain the ins and outs of the Young Texan Ambassador program and the impact it has made in their lives. You will hear from four current youth members about topics ranging from youth experience and interests, social media, and community involvement. Partipants are encouraged to ask questions to enrich your current programming. The ambassadors hope you leave with the inspiration to create your own program or include youth in your current programming and events.
Monday, June 24
9:35AM – 10:35AM
Recycling Showcase
Zoe Killian, Keep Texas Beautiful, Brocke Lively, Keep Plainview Beautiful, and Greg Harmison Keep Utopia Beautiful
Learn how KTB is partnering with private industry to expand recycling access to rural communities through the Keep Texas Recycling Program. Hear from current KTR partners and see examples of how recycling programs big and small are saving recyclable material from wasting in the Texas landscape.
Monday, June 24
9:35AM – 10:35AM
Cultivating Inclusive Education Spaces: A Call for Anti-Racist Environmental Education
Brittiny Moore, Keep San Marcos Beautiful
Environmental education has long been heralded as a powerful tool for fostering environmental stewardship, community ownership, and a more sustainable future. However, traditional approaches to environmental education often fail to address the historical and ongoing injustices that have excluded marginalized communities of color from their personal and communal relationships with the natural world. We cannot truly champion a thriving Earth without confronting the shadow of colonialism and environmental exploitation that still hangs over our relationship with the natural world. Recognizing and valuing knowledge systems and lived experiences of marginalized communities is crucial for cultivating inclusive natural spaces where every community thrives and our planet flourishes.
Monday, June 24
10:45AM – 11:45AM
Rebranding Your Organization
Kelly Shrout and Carole Ferguson
In this session, we'll explore the fundamental principles and innovative strategies behind the successful rebranding initiatives of two long standing Keep Texas Beautiful affiliates. From refining your brand identity to engaging stakeholders and navigating potential challenges, you'll gain invaluable insights and practical tips to elevate your organization's presence and drive meaningful impact. Join us to discover how rebranding can be a catalyst for growth, relevance, and lasting success.
Monday, June 24
10:45AM – 11:45AM
Unveiling the New Texas Litter Database
Kirsten Soresen, Keep Texas Beautiful
Did you know Texas has the first statewide litter database? At KTB's annual conference, we'll be unveiling the new Texas Litter Database. Come learn about how you can contribute to widespread research and policy change across the state of Texas
Monday, June 24
11:50AM – 12:30PM
The Recycling Partnership's Community Resources
Matt James and Lydia Keenan, Recycling Partnership
Join this session to learn about all the great educational and operational best management practices and resources from The Recycling Partnership as well as grant funds available to communities to support their efforts to grow single family, multifamily and rural recycling programs.
Tuesday, June 25
10:10AM – 11:10AM
More Than a Cleanup: Building Community and Igniting Neighborhoods
Christy Youker, Keep Victoria Beautiful
How do we activate volunteers to help keep our communities clean and beautiful? In this session, Christy Youker, Executive Director of Keep Victoria Beautiful, shares strategies for building comprehensive neighborhood events that engage local civic groups, government, social services, and more to holistically support neighborhoods while building community through connection. This session will provide strategies for communities of all sizes, resources, and budgets.
Tuesday, June 25
10:10AM – 11:10AM
Texas Runs on Water: Inspiring Action and Building Community Through Localized Campaigns
Brianna Fuller, Texas Water Foundation
How do you inspire Texans to take care of Texas? Texas Water Foundation’s statewide water campaign, Texas Runs on Water®, is working to answer that question with a combination of Texan pride, local partnerships, community-driven public art, innovative social media strategies, and a behavior change framework. Learn about our state's growing water challenges, and how you can apply our campaign learnings to your local education and outreach strategies.
Tuesday, June 25
11:20AM – 12:20PM
The Most Littered Item on the Planet: Cigarette Butts & How to Recycle Them
Eric Ascalon, TerraCycle
Cigarette butts are the most littered item on the planet. The majority of cigarette butts are not properly disposed of, but wind up on our streets, sidewalks, beaches and parks. From there, through storm drains, tidal cycles, and runoff, they often wind up in waterways, where they wreak real havoc. Cigarette butts are not inert, and they do not harmlessly decompose. The microplastics that compose their filters, and the toxins absorbed from the cigarette smoke have been shown to have a deleterious impact on the ability of aquatic species to reproduce and thrive.
In this program, you will learn about the problems of cigarette waste, meaningful solutions, and how to participate in TerraCycle's free cigarette waste recycling program, and even raise funds for your organization in the process.
Tuesday, June 25
11:20AM – 12:20PM
Grassland Restoration in Urban and Rural Landscapes
Schyler Rhea, Wildlife Habitat Foundation
Agricultural production and urbanization have been a leading cause of the loss and degradation of native grassland habitats. Texas is a diverse state with ten eco-regions, many of which historically encompassed prairie and savanna grasslands vital to the survival of many species of wildlife. Over time, these unique habitats have significantly been diminished.
Wildlife Habitat Federation (WHF) focuses on bringing Texas habitats under improved management by restoring, enhancing, and managing native grassland habitats throughout the state. Projects include pocket prairies and wildflower plantings in urban areas, and full prairie and savanna grassland restoration of large acreage ranches. By utilizing best practices to manage and restore grassland habitat, we can help save an ecosystem that is critical to humans and wildlife.
Wednesday, June 26
10:25AM – 11:25AM
How to Find Joy Outside of Consumerism: A Story of Creative Reuse & Community
Shelby Orme
In her talk, Shelby will detail how she leveraged her significant online presence, with over 500,000 followers, to amplify the incredible work of local nonprofits and groups in the Austin area, including Keep Austin Beautiful. She will share insights into how these collaborations not only enhanced environmental efforts but also created a platform for community bonding and shared experiences.
Attendees will learn about the innovative strategies employed by Shelby to engage diverse groups in environmental stewardship through creativity and reuse. She will discuss the organization of unique community events that bring people together, fostering a sense of belonging and collective responsibility towards the environment.
Wednesday, June 26
10:25AM – 11:25AM
Become a Conference Sponsor or Exhibitor!
Presenting Sponsor of the 2024 KTB Conference
The 2024 KTB Conference Sponsors
