Staff

Elizabeth Hamburg – Executive Director

Elizabeth Hamburg is the Executive Director at JNF. Elizabeth is a graduate of Texas A&M University and has 7 years of non-profit leadership experience. Prior to that she was a Director of Sales and Marketing in the for-profit sector. She is a native Houstonian and her and her husband Brandon have three children ages 4, 6, and 8. Elizabeth is excited to join the Joe Niekro Foundation Team as we raise awareness, support patients and caregivers, and fund brain aneurysm, AVM and hemorrhagic stroke research.
ehamburg@joeniekrofoundation.org

Wendy Rico – Patient Advocacy and Community Events Coordinator

Wendy Rico is the Patient Advocacy and Community Events Coordinator at JNF. Wendy is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin has spent most of her career in Human Resources and Meeting / Event Planning. She was also heavily involved with facilitating numerous youth sports programs and served on the Auxiliary Board of West University Little League for many years. She first became aware of the Joe Niekro Foundation in 2019 after her son, Alex (pictured) suffered an AVM rupture when he was 17 years old, 2 weeks after starting his senior year in high school. After several weeks in the hospital, two brain surgeries, and a lot of hard work in therapy, Alex is thriving! He is now attending the University of Texas at Austin and pursuing a degree in Communications. Wendy is an advocate for AVM, aneurysm and stroke survivors and caregivers and is excited to join the Joe Niekro Foundation Team to help provide awareness and support to families affected by these conditions.
wrico@joeniekrofoundation.org