Staff - Discovery Green

Discovery Green Staff

Kathryn Lott

President & Park Director

Kathryn Lott brings to her role as Discovery Green Conservancy President two decades of unique experience in nonprofit administration and event production. Her experience makes her uniquely qualified to connect, nurture and cultivate communities through the arts, wellness and urban green space.

She has worked for prestigious organizations like Southern Smoke Foundation, Houston Grand Opera, Society for the Performing Arts (now known as Performing Arts Houston), and the Children’s Museum of Houston. In 2014 she co-created Lott Entertainment, where she managed and executed large-scale projects and events primarily for nonprofit organizations including Discovery Green, University of Houston Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, Baylor College of Medicine, Legacy Community Health, East End Chamber District and more.

Jose Leal

Chief Operating Officer

Leal has over 20 years’ experience in nonprofit management including roles at renowned Houston institutions such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Botanical Garden and the Memorial Park Conservancy. He holds degrees from Rice University and University of Houston-Downtown and certificates from Leadership Houston, Central Park Conservancy Institute for Urban Parks, the FMA institute and Rice’s Leadership Institute for Nonprofit Executives Program. Leal oversees the day-to-day operations of the park and works with Lott to maintain the fiscal health of the organization, implement new administrative strategies, and optimize the overall efficiency of the workplace.

Susanne Theis

Artistic Director

Susanne Theis is the Artistic Director for Discovery Green. From 1983 to 2007, she served as the first executive director of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art, where she helped to develop the Orange Show as an important place in Houston’s cultural landscape, create the Art Car Parade, acquire the Beer Can House and list The Orange Show on the National Register of Historic Places. Theis has curated several exhibits including <i>Wind in My Hair</i> at the American Museum of Visionary Art in Baltimore. In 2007, she became the first programming director for Discovery Green, a singular park formed by a public private partnership that opened in April 2008 in downtown Houston. At Discovery Green, she and her team have created a nationally recognized dynamic program of 600 art, entertainment, healthy living and family events.

Stephanie Carroll

Development Director

Stephanie joined the Conservancy staff in 2018. As Development Director she oversees the organization’s strategies for philanthropic giving, event sponsorships, and program grants. She stewards donor engagement and supports board relations as part of various advancement initiatives. With over 30 years in the nonprofit sector, Stephanie brings extensive experience in sponsorship, major and planned giving cultivation, grant writing, communication, and community outreach to the role. She has previously worked for various arts and cultural organizations in Houston and Dallas. A graduate of UHCL Studies of the Future program, she enjoys visioning potential long-term outcome and impacts with donors and her colleagues. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in theater from Texas Woman’s University.

Clark Curry

Operations Director

Clark came to Discovery Green in November 2007 with 13 years of experience in the landscape industry and 14 years of experience in municipal park development and management. He started just as construction of the park was finishing up. He is one of many staff members that has his own paver near the Interactive Fountain stating, “He Was Here In The Beginning”. He earned a BS in Landscape Architecture from Texas A&M University. Through the State of Texas he holds a license to practice Landscape Architecture. Over the years he has held certifications as a Certified Playground Safety Inspector, Certified Pool Operator, Licensed Landscape Irrigator and Certified Professional Turfgrass Manager. When not at work, Clark enjoys renovating homes and working in his yard.

Frankie Ortega

Marketing Director

Frankie Ortega moved to Houston the same year Discovery Green opened in 2008 and cannot imagine the city without it. Discovery Green is where she learned about the Houston’s live music, arts and culture. As director of marketing, she loves telling the story of Discovery Green and shining a light on the diversity of arts and traditions that exist in Houston. Her favorite thing to do is talk with artistic people about what drives them to create. Originally from New Mexico, she did her undergraduate work at the University of New Mexico and earned master’s degrees in journalism and Latin American studies from the University of California, Berkeley. She worked as a journalist before joining the Conservancy.

Louis Adame, Operations Crew Chief

Veronica Adame, Operations Crew Member

Carol Bolen, Finance Associate

Guadalupe Davila Jr., Site Supervisor

Elaine Dillard, Programming Manager

Ernesto Flores, Operations Crew Member

William Flowers, Park Manager & Facilities Maintenance

Ferdinand Garrett Jr., Operations Crew Member

Nathalie Hamaker, Internal Operations Manager & Executive Assistant

Courtney Hines, Production Coordinator

Adig Kasem, Security Liaison

Miguel Montes, Operations Crew Member

Paola Palacios, Donor Steward Coordinator

Jennifer Roberson, Data Administrator

Maria Roque, Operations Crew Member

Candace Sigust, Events Manager

Julien Trevino, Operations Crew Member

Floyd Willis III, Production Manager

Sheilla Wright, Marketing Manager

Weddings

Festivals

Corporate Events

Fundraisers

Small Gatherings

Product Launch

Discovery Green Staff

Kathryn Lott

President & Park Director

Jose Leal

Chief Operating Officer

Susanne Theis

Artistic Director

Stephanie Carroll

Development Director

Clark Curry

Operations Director

Frankie Ortega

Marketing Director

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