Houston Parks Board selects chief program officer as new president, CEO

Zooming in

After White announced her upcoming retirement, the Houston Parks Board began a nationwide search for her successor. On Oct. 14, Muse shared that the board chose HPB's current chief program officer, Justin Schultz.

According to the news release, Schultz joined the board in 2022, where he served as the chief planning and strategy officer, leading the strategic planning process approved by the board in 2023, a plan that included a five-year goal post to focus on enhancing the Bayou Greenways system, investing in neighborhood parks, creating regional destinations and finding public-private partnerships.

Schultz was later promoted to chief program officer in 2024, where he began to oversee the organization's research and development, planning, capital projects, land acquisition, maintenance and conservation work. He also holds a master's degree in urban planning from New York University and a bachelor's degree in government and history from The University of Texas at Austin.

“In my three years with HPB, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the breadth and depth of work we do across the region, and it is a true honor to take this next step with HPB,” he said. “As a native Houstonian, I feel a deep responsibility to help strengthen and expand our city’s parks and greenspaces—one that I am excited to embrace. I also want to express my appreciation for Beth White, whose invaluable leadership has evolved Houston Parks Board into a national parks and greenspace leader.”

White said she is confident in the direction that Schultz and the HPB board of directors leadership.