About the Texas Surf Conservancy
The mission of the Texas Surf Conservancy is to work collaboratively across disciplines and industries to preserve the health of marine habitats and promote oyster mariculture along the Gulf Coast of Texas.
We are currently focused on the following areas of growth:
- Building the infrastructure for an environmental organization that preserves and protects marine habitats with a dedicated focus on oyster mariculture
- Providing educational programs and outreach activities that promote healthy marine habitats and sustainable aquaculture practices to students and families in our coastal communities
- Cooperating and collaborating to promote the new farmed oyster industry across the State of Texas
We envision a united Texas where marine ecosystems and oyster mariculture thrive together in coastal communities, supported by science, industry, and innovators working together.
Environmental Stewardship
Sustainability
Collaboration
Community
Innovation
- Community events that promote oyster mariculture in Texas
- Promotion of Texas farmed oysters at events, trade shows, conferences, and symposia
- Educational programs on oysters, oyster habitats, and marine environments
- Promotion and support of Texas oyster farms
- Support of marine habitat restoration projects on the Gulf Coast of Texas
- “Science of Oysters” environmental outreach initiative
Chair, Governor's Committee on Texas Commercial Oyster Mariculture
Brad Lomax
President & Chair
Founder, WaterStreet Restaurants<br/><br/>Chair, Governor's Committee on Texas Commercial Oyster Mariculture
Brad Lomax didn’t start out to be a visionary, it just happened through his hard work, dedication and passion for doing the right thing.
Beginning in 1983, with the opening of WaterStreet Restaurants, Brad kickstarted downtown revitalization in Corpus Christi when few would take the risk. What started as one seafood restaurant has grown to include an entire block in downtown Corpus Christi with great food, wonderful entertainment, and a true authentic vibe that has greatly contributed to the tourism industry while enhancing the locals’ quality of life.
In 2009, Brad co-founded the "Sink Your Shucks" program in conjunction with Texas A&M Corpus Christi’s Harte Research Institute. “Sink Your Shucks” started as the solution to a serious business problem--what to do with all the oyster shells being discarded from his restaurant. He worked to create an oyster shell recycling program that continues today. The program was the first in Texas that reclaims oyster shells from local restaurants and returns them to our local waters, providing both substrate to form new reefs and habitat for fish, crabs, and other organisms. Since its inception, over 3 million pounds of shell have been collected and over 45 acres of oyster reef habitat has been restored throughout the Mission-Aransas Estuary in Aransas, Copano, and St. Charles Bays.
In 2018, Brad and Dr. Joe Fox, formerly with The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, were named as co-chairs of the Coastal Bend Oyster Task Force by Texas Representative Todd Hunter. At that time, Texas was the only state in the U.S. that did not permit oyster aquaculture in its coastal waters. Together, the motivated task force successfully navigated HB 1300 through the 2019 session of The Texas Legislature. On May 27, 2019, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed HB 1300 into law creating a first-of-its-kind, truly sustainable, environmentally beneficial and delicious new industry in Texas.
Since stepping away from day-to-day management of WaterStreet Restaurants and winding down his work operating the Texas Oyster Ranch, the first permitted oyster farm in Texas, Brad has focused his efforts on building a nonprofit organization called the Texas Surf Conservancy, which works to preserve oyster habitats and promote oyster mariculture along the Gulf Coast of Texas.
Throughout his life’s work, Brad Lomax has expressed his deep commitment and dedication to ensuring thriving coastal ecosystems in Texas. He and his teams have created partnerships between nonprofit, business, government, and educational institutions to further the cause for farmed oysters in Texas. His dedication to recycling oyster shells, restoring habitats, engaging in responsible agricultural and maricultural practices, and promoting the farmed oyster industry will ensure that future generations will enjoy the long-term health of Texas' Gulf Coast waters—a truly impactful legacy.
Brad Lomax is a champion of our coastal community--a legendary surfer, local seafood restaurateur, cofounder of the "Sink Your Shucks" oyster shell recycling program, founder of the Texas Surf Conservancy, and a trailblazer in the Texas oyster farming industry.
Mr. Lomax was recently appointed and named Chair of the Texas Commercial Oyster Mariculture Advisory Board by Governor Greg Abbott.
Erin Fulton
Vice President & Secretary
GreaterWave Partners
Erin Fulton is an inspirational Co-founder/COO with several years managing operations in high-growth healthcare innovation organizations. A seasoned executive with proven track record of driving operational excellence, she leads with a collaborative, solution-focused and innovative leadership style. Adept at navigating the ambiguity and complexities of high growth environments with precision and foresight, Erin’s focus is creating and executing operational strategies that brings a company’s vision to life!
Through fractional, interim, and project-based operational leadership services, Erin
provides cost-effective strategic guidance and tactical expertise to organizations seeking to optimize people, technology, and product initiatives to drive growth, scalability, and stability. Through a blend of industry insight, managerial acumen, and a results-focused approach, Erin is poised to elevate an organization’s performance and propel it towards success in the ever-evolving landscape of technology and services businesses.
Erin is widely regarded as a preeminent culture-builder. In addition to her strong project and operational leadership skills, her gift for building strong relationships, connecting with and mentoring and strengthening team performance/ engagement through talent and culture development, has proved to be a highly fruitful strategy at any firm where she has served.
She intuitively sees how people, process, and technology challenges can be opportunities when woven together into a cohesive system that drives results. She loves exploring new ways to create and deploy services and strategic projects while encouraging a heightened level of enthusiasm, energy, and passion for improving performance and outcomes.
As Co-founder/COO of Caravan Health, Erin’s expertise and leadership grew the
organization from inception to a high-performing company with a $250M exit in 2022. Prior to that, Erin served in several senior executive roles steering performance and delivery of products, technology and services solutions while managing several business lines. For Erin, building and leading a business is about much more than improving margins. She is passionate about creating a community that is meaningful and beneficial to everyone it reaches.
Erin holds a B.S. from Texas A&M University System and has several advanced
certifications in the areas of management, strategy, leadership development and coaching, change management, project management, and process improvement.
Brett Pancamo
Board Member
American Bank
In 2016, I relocated to the Coastal Bend from my hometown of Houston, Texas. While growing up in Houston, I often traveled to the Coastal Bend and greater South Texas region primarily in pursuit of my passion for the outdoors. I’ve always had a deep love for the region, so when the opportunity arose to join American Bank, a long-standing local financial institution, and relocate here full-time, I gladly seized upon it.
At American Bank, I enjoy serving a broad and diverse client base, bringing financial expertise and service to clients ranging from commercial and industrial and healthcare, to family offices and high net worth individuals. Prior to joining American Bank, I developed a career in banking and finance, which now spans over 25 years and includes investment and corporate banking, where my responsibilities were focused on capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance in the energy sector, as well as public accounting, where I began my career after graduating college. During this time, I served primarily middle-to-large market clients, both public and private.
Outside of my professional and volunteer duties, I enjoy spending time with family and friends and pursuing various outdoor activities, my favorite being saltwater fly fishing.
Bill Strieber
Board Member
ClearWater Oyster Gardens of Texas
William C. (Bill) Strieber is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience spanning business management, technology commercialization, operations, and environmental stewardship. He is currently Co-Principal of Texas Clear Water Oyster Gardens, a leading mariculture enterprise based in Port Aransas, Texas, where he combines his scientific background with his passion for sustainable mariculture.
Bill’s career includes leadership roles across diverse industries, from biotechnology and medical device commercialization to logistics and family-owned business transformation. As Vice President of New Business Development at Emergent Technologies, Inc., he guided innovative technologies from academic laboratories into commercial markets, securing FDA approvals, forging international licensing agreements, and launching breakthrough products.
He later modernized operations and marketing systems at Matera Paper Company, positioning the 58-year-old business for acquisition, and served as CEO of Maestro Logistics, where he helped develop medical devices as well as quality assurance and logistics systems.
Today, through Texas Clear Water Oyster Gardens, Bill is helping pioneer the growth of sustainable oyster farming in Texas. His work not only supports coastal restoration and water quality improvements, but also contributes to the future of Texas’ seafood industry.
Beyond his professional achievements, Bill has served in leadership and advisory roles with organizations including the Coastal Conservation Association, the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, and The Port Boatsmen. A committed advocate for conservation and community, he has also captained MS-150 cycling teams and completed endurance events such as the Marine Corps Marathon and the Longhorn Half-Ironman.
Bill holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He lives in Port Aransas, Texas, where he continues to merge science, business, and conservation in pursuit of innovation and sustainability.
Marcus Veasey
Board Member
Redfish, LLC
Marcus Veazey was born in Huntsville, Alabama, and raised in Augusta, Georgia. After graduating high school, he attended Wofford College, a liberal arts institution in South Carolina, where he earned a degree in History. Following college, Marcus spent some time in Wyoming before moving to Washington, D.C., where he worked on Capitol Hill for Georgia’s U.S. Senator, Paul Coverdell.
After his time on the Hill, Marcus transitioned into multi-state Government Affairs, focusing primarily on education policy at both the K-12 and higher education levels. Marcus left DC and spent 7 years in Atlanta where he opened and ran an office for DC based Dutko Worldwide before starting his own firm Redfish, LLC. He has represented a range of clients, including innovative companies in the ed-tech sector, working on issues related to distance learning, curriculum development, early childhood education and Economic Development and Workforce.
In 2014, Marcus relocated to Corpus Christi to raise his three daughters in the Coastal Bend, where he could instill in them a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of South Texas. An avid fly fisherman, Marcus enjoys spending time outdoors, whether fishing or pursuing game such as doves, deer, quail, and turkeys across the South Texas prairies. He is also passionate about the Texas coast, savoring local oysters, live music, and family time with his wife, Emily, and their daughters.
Marcus is actively involved in his community, serving on the Board of the Texas Surf Conservancy since 2024. He is also a current board member of Foster Angels of South Texas and has previously served on the boards of Flatsworthy, the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation, the Corpus Christi Marina Advisory Board, the Corpus Christi Yacht Club, and St. James Episcopal School.
Liz Lomax
Jeff Smith
