Menu
Log in


Our Board of Directors


Diana Wilson, President

Diana Wilson has a degree in Landscape Architecture from Texas A&M University. She is also a Certified Planner with the American Planning Association, and a member of the Texas Native Plant Society of Texas. With over 35 years experience, she has executed all phases of development for projects ranging from local and regional park planning design and implementation, to large-scale international projects. Diana and her husband Sam are members of the La Grange Noon Lions Club. Diana is a sponsor of the La Grange Leo Club for which she was awarded a Melvin Jones fellowship for dedicated humanitarian services from the Lions Club International Foundation in 2018.

Diana is happy to call Fayette County home and can trace her family’s heritage to the Willrich family who built their home at Mt. Eliza in 1847.



ANDREA POLASEK, Vice President

Andrea, or Andie as many know her, was born and raised in La Grange, Texas. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University. After residing in the Houston area for a decade, Andrea sold her home and left her career as an operations manager in the legal industry to start a fresh chapter. Much to her surprise, she decided to call La Grange her home once again. 

Andrea is currently employed as an escrow officer at a local title company and as a weekend bartender. She is also a member of the Ellinger Chamber of Commerce and serves as a board member of Friends of Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill State Historic Sites. In addition to serving the community, Andrea is a doting pet parent, grateful girlfriend, proud aunt, houseplant hoarder, backyard gardener, yoga & meditation enthusiast, and nature explorer. 


Katy Beauford, Treasurer

Katy grew up in Houston, 1 of 7 children. She worked in the travel industry (Texas International Airlines- United Airlines) as a reservationist, then as agency management for large oil companies (Pennzoil, Shell, Transocean) for many years. Katy was smart enough to retire with her husband and move to La Grange. She loves volunteering to support historic sites and her community.


JT Koenig, Secretary

Jon Todd "JT" Koenig is a native Texan, having been born in Austin and having grown up in Houston and Fayette County, where his entire family comes from. He is a lawyer by education, and manages the Trust Department for Wells Fargo's Southwest and Southeast regions out of their Fiduciary Management Services office in Austin, where he currently resides. JT also owns a home in La Grange, where he spends his weekends, near his mother, Rebeca Todd Koenig and his grandmother, Mildred Todd. JT is an avid historian and genealogist, as well as a writer and author, having published a book on local history titled "Fayette County" in 2011.


Michael Ahart

Michael Ahart is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas.  He worked 25 years for Bechtel and 10 years for ConocoPhillips including remote projects on six continents.  Michael and his wife Sherri retired in Alaska three years ago and moved to La Grange.  Their daughter Lauren is a Nurse Practitioner in Houston.  Their son Eric is a Civil Engineer married to Jennifer and they have 3 young boys River, Remi, and Reese who enjoy hiking at the sites. 



Hannah Janda

Hannah Janda is a native of La Grange, Texas. She has grown up in the community and has served in many service activities that have helped mold her into the person she is today.  Hannah is an active member of the Rotary Club of La Grange and will hold the office of President-Elect in July 2023. She serves as a Board Member for the I-10 Community Alliance and Friends of Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill State Historic Sites. Participating in community service activities and organizations has enabled her to build a tremendous network—both personally and professionally.

Hannah holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Texas A&M University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Sam Houston State University. Her education has led her to employment with the City of La Grange where she currently serves as the Interim Director of Community Development and Tourism.


Julius Bartek

Julius Bartek has served in leadership roles all of his life. He was involved in City Government for 12 years, eventually serving as Mayor of Weimar. He has been a member of the American Legion for over 50 years, having served as Commander of the Legion for 9 years. He has been a member of the Lions Club for over 38 years, having served as president five times. Currently he is the Lions District Zone Chair. He was also a member of LCRA Advisory Committee for three years, plus he served as president for various other organizations in Weimar.


Tim Pylant

Tim has a BS degree in Electronic Engineering Technology from Texas A&M University and an MBA from the University of Houston. He has worked at Cadence for over 30 years in several roles. Tim has been married 41 years, enjoys working on and showing his 1970 Cutlass convertible and wood and metal-working, and is actively involved in several volunteer activities including his church's disaster relief unit, Lions Club, Kreische Brewery State Historic Site, and is president of Fayette Co. A&M Club.


Wendy Rohan

Wendy owns and operates Blissful Folly Farm, founded in 2009 and located just north of La Grange, with her husband, John. In addition to several farm animals & bees, Blissful Folly also hosts Rohan Meadery & La Grange Brewing Co., where the couple make mead, wine, cider & beer.

Prior to running the farm full-time, Wendy taught high school and middle school sciences for over a decade. A native Texan, Wendy is a graduate of Texas A&M University (’94 biology & chemistry), and a former Peace Corp Volunteer (Senegal ’95).

Wendy and John have three children, and as of this year, one grandbaby!


Tim Seubert

Tim has BS and MS degrees in geophysics and worked as geophysicist and exploration manager for major and independent oil companies in the US and Europe. He received a JD degree with honors in night school and became member of Texas State Bar. Retired in 2010. Tim has one granddaughter at UT Austin and 3 grandchildren living on Okinawa. He is President of Muldoon Volunteer Fire Dept. (although no longer active firefighter and emergency medical responder) and VP Fayette County Firefighters Assn. He met spouse Christine while spelunking in Missouri and Arkansas and married in 1968. Tim spent many years backpacking and hiking in mountains and canyons of western US. He is still activly hiking today and has traveled extensively in 65 countries around the world.


Greg Walker

Greg grew up west of Fort Worth, Texas, exploring the creeks and prairies even as the suburban subdivisions spread across them. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and a Master’s degree in Computer Science. His sense of adventure led him to cave exploring in Texas and Mexico, backpacking in Big Bend and Guadelupe Mountains, and canoeing the Rio Grande River. He also enjoyed scuba diving in various lakes, rivers, and oceans.

Greg built his first computer in 1976 and has been building them ever since. He worked as a software developer for 35 years, first at Motorola Microprocessor Design and then at Schlumberger Oil Services. As retirement approached, Greg and his wife Lisa discussed where they would like to make their last move. Lisa found her dream “This Old House” in La Grange and the decision was made.

Once he was in La Grange, Greg volunteered for several years with the Master Naturalists. He also trained as a docent at Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill. His interest in local history grew. He serves as a member of the Fayette County Historical Commission, on the Fayette Public Library Advisory Board, and as a member of the Faison House Preservation Society.

It turns out the computers and history do mix. Greg developed an interactive map display for “La Grange Square Through Time” at the Fayette Heritage Museum and Archives. He assembled three computers for interactive video kiosks at the historic Faison House. Most recently he develped the hardware and software for the Laser Shooting Gallery at the Bluff SchuetzenFest.

In his spare time Greg is practicing his skills in hand bookbinding at a secret studio.

Sites Liasions

Dr. Marsha Hendrix
Sites Manager
Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill State Historic Sites
Texas Historical Commission

 marsha.hendrix@thc.texas.gov

Gavin Miculka
Assistant Sites Manager
Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill State Historic Sites

Texas Historical Commission

gavin.miculka@thc.texas.gov


Call or Email Us
Office: 979-968-5658
Email: FriendsofKreischeBrewery@gmail.com

Address:
414 State Loop 92
La Grange, TX 78945

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software