Executive Director and Psychologist: Roger Friedman, Ph.D. Roger has maintained a clinical practice for 25 years, and is a consultant to child welfare and adolescent/child mental health programs across the country. He is a second generation owner of the camp, lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife Roz and spends his summers at Echo Hill. He and Roz have three children: Amanda, Michaela and David.

Executive Director and Clinical Social Worker: Roz Beroza, MSW. Roz is a clinical social worker with 25 years of experience as a family therapist. She lives with her husband Roger and their children in the Washington, D.C. area and spends her summers working with the staff and children at Echo Hill.

Administrative Coordinator: Deonna Heath designs the yearbook, manages database registration, and responds to prospective and current parent’s requests for information and help year round. She’s an alumnus of several summer camps and worked at the National Wildlife Federation before joining our staff three years ago. Deonna and her husband Jim are close friends of the Friedman family, and live with their son Riley and daughter Audrey in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

Family Ownership: Echo Hill Ranch is jointly owned by Marcie, Roger and Kinky Friedman, the children of Dr. and Mrs. S. Thomas who founded the camp in 1953.

Assistant Director: Steve Samet, MA, Echo Hill Alum, Full Professor, San Antonio College , past-President of Texas College Counseling Association, Licensed Practical Counselor.

Steve helps year round by recruiting new staff and facilitating our Winter Open Houses. In the summer he manages the daily flow of camp life, oversees all activity counselors and makes sure facility and equipment needs are fulfilled.  Steve has been on our staff for 30 years.

Assistant Director: Ann Drew, MA, Retired High School Teacher with 25 years of experience in the Spring Independent School District, Mother and Grandmother of Echo Hill campers and staff.

Ann helps with improving activity areas, special projects, Infirmary Supports and coordinating retreats at the ranch. She's been a part of Echo Hill’s staff for 20 years.

Director of Food Services & Head of Kitchen: Rosie De La Cruz, Senior Chef and Food Service Manager for over 25 years in the San Antonio Independent School System. Rosie plans all of our Menus, orders all kitchen supplies, prepares all our food and oversees the kitchen staff. She has been working at Echo Hill for 15 years.

Camp Wrangler: Charles B. “Chuck” Hart, Father and Grandfather of Echo Hill campers and staff, staff member in 1960 where he met his wife, Jan Siegel, Past President of Texas Jewish Historical Society, Board Member of Texas A & M Hillel Foundation. Chuck manages the corral and our string of 22 horses, teaches horseback riding and even oversees the camp vehicles. Chuck has been on our staff for almost 20 years.

Staff Coordinator : Zach Lefenfeld, former camper and counselor for many years, makes sure that staff and administration are communicating well with each other and that issues related to camp policy are being implemented. He helps resolve conflicts among staff and works closely with counselors as an ongoing resource in the cabins. He facilitates staff meetings, is a terrific drummer and soccer player, and graduated from Boston University in 2008.

Director of The Visual Arts Institute Summer Program: Amanda B. Friedman is a professional artist and has worked for many summers at Echo Hill as Head Women’s Counselor and Director of Fine Arts and is a 3rd generation camper, counselor and administrator. Amanda received a BA in Studio Art from the University of Vermont, and a Painting and Printmaking Certificate from the Glasgow University School of Art. In 2007 she was selected for a Fellowship at the Vermont Studio Center and has exhibited through out the US, most recently at A.I.R. Gallery in New York and during the Bushwick Open Studios in Brooklyn, New York. She’s worked in art education for the Harlem Day Charter School and the Pratt Institute of Art Graduate Library in New York. In addition to her artwork, Amanda is currently the Gallery Manager of the Dumbo Arts Center, an art non-profit gallery space in Brooklyn, NY. Visit her website amandafriedmanart.com

Director of The Horsemanship Summer Camp Program: Shelley O’Neal is a Certified Horse Instructor, works as wrangler for the horseback riding program at Echo Hill Ranch in the summer, and is a 3rd generation camper and counselor at Echo Hill. She has worked with horses all of her life, and is passionate about sharing her love of horses with others. Shelley is a 2005 graduate of Texas State University in Sports Medicine and is currently the Head Athletic Trainer for Luling Independent School District, Luling, Texas.

Director of the Hill Country Backpacking Adventure: Elliott Stixrud is a recent graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School in Wyoming and a Certified Wilderness First Responder. He’s been on the staff at Echo Hill as Coordinator of Backpacking and Ecology Programs for two summers and has developed a love for the rustic beauty of the Hill Country as well as a respect for its wilderness ecology. He enjoys working with teenagers in the outdoors because it’s where everyone can build their confidence, have fun, and learn backpacking and ecological skills all at the same time. Elliott graduated in 2007 from Denison University where he Coordinated Outdoor Backpacking and currently works as an environmental consultant in Washington, D.C.