Waterloo Greenway has appointed Colette Pierce Burnette as its new chief executive officer, effective April 1. Burnette, a former board member and longtime Austin community leader, returns to the city after serving as president and CEO of Newfields, a cultural institution in Indianapolis. The Waterloo Greenway Board of Directors selected Burnette following a nationwide search. Burnette previously served as president of Huston-Tillotson University, where she oversaw major growth in the university’s endowment and enrollment. Her tenure at Waterloo Greenway comes during work on phase two of the 35-acre park system, which is focused on Palm Park and slated to open in 2026. Burnette will lead fundraising, operations and community partnerships to ensure the project’s continued success. The public is invited to welcome Burnette at Waterloo Greenway’s Pop-Up Picnic on April 5 at Moody Amphitheater. Find more information at waterloogreenway.org/picnic.
Chad Swiatecki is a 20-year journalist who relocated to Austin from his home state of Michigan in 2008. He most enjoys covering the intersection of arts, business and local/state politics. He has written... More by Chad Swiatecki