Staff & Stats
Jonathan Koepke
President / Owner

Years of Experience in the Industry: 20
Years of Experience in Management: 15
Areas of Expertise: Stream Restoration, Erosion and Sediment Control, Business Management
Education: B.S. in History and Environmental Science from Northern Illinois University, M.A. in History and Geography from Northern Illinois University, MBA from Northern Illinois University
Certifications: CPESC, Prescribed Burn Boss, Herbicide Applicator, LEED-AP, Lake County SMC-DECI
Operates: Drip Torch to Excavator and everything in between
Best Project to Ask Me About: Northerly Island
Also Passionate About: All Things Star Wars, Deer Season, Indie Rock, Travel, Family, and Beer League Hockey
Melissa Wheeler
Vice President / Chaos Coordinator

Years of Experience in the Industry: 14
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 5
Areas of Expertise: Plant Identification, Purchasing, Chaos Management
Education: B.S. in Landscape Architecture from the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign. MBA courses Gies College of Business, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
Certifications: Notary
Operates: Trucks, Trailers, Cell Phones
Best Project to Ask Me About: Northerly Island
Also Passionate About:
Traveling, Dogs & Diet Coke
Susan Rowley
Assistant Vice President / Ecological Consulting Director

Years of Experience in the Industry: 18
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 13
Areas of Expertise: Ecological Consulting
Education: B.S. in Environmental Studies with Honors from Illinois State University, Bloomington-Normal, IL.
Certifications: Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), LEED AP, ISA Certified Arborist, Lake County Certified Wetland Specialist (CWS), McHenry County CWS, Kane County Wetland Specialist, IL Pesticide Applicator, Certified Prescribed Burn Manager
Operates: Vehicles, Small Equipment, Computers (but not very well)
Best Project to Ask Me About: Sybaquay Wetland Mitigation Bank
Also Passionate About:
Camping & Hiking, & Eating Others’ Culinary Masterpieces
Ryan Alltop
Field Operations Director & Corporate Safety Officer

Years of Experience in the Industry: 14
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 14
Areas of Expertise: Native Landscape Construction, Soil Erosion Sediment Control, Safety
Education: B.S. in Biology from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI
Certifications: CPESC, IL Pesticide Applicator, Certified Prescribed Burn Manager
Operates: Anything with 4 or more wheels or tracks
Best Project to Ask Me About: Eugene Field, Nippersink Creek Ecosystem Restoration
Also Passionate About:
Hunting & Fishing & Family
Mark DeDina
Superintendent / Restoration Extraordinaire

Years of Experience in the Industry: 15
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 14
Areas of Expertise: Ecological Project Management, Prescribed Burning
Education: B.S. in Biology & Environmental Studies, Ripon College
Certifications: IL Pesticide Applicator, Certified Prescribed Burn Manager
Operates: All heavy equipment, but not indoor office equipment
Best Project to Ask Me About: Lower Bee Branch Floating Islands
Also Passionate About:
Fancy Pigs, Fancy Pigeons, #Kishishippiliving
Samantha (Sam) DeDina
Ecological Restoration Superintendent
Industry Experience: 10 years
Crew Management Experience: 8 years
Areas of Expertise: Native landscape management, arboriculture, wetland consulting
Education: B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies, Northern Illinois University
Certifications: IDNR Prescribed Burn Manager, ISA Certified Arborist, Wetland Specialist (Lake & McHenry Counties)
Operates: Tractors, drip torches, keyboards
Best Project to Ask Me About: Skare Park
Also Passionate About: Cut flowers, baked goods, and being a cool mom
Edward (Eddie) Clenney
Ecological Restoration Superintendent

Years of Experience in the Industry: 10
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 8
Areas of Expertise: Native landscape management, arboriculture, wetland consulting
Education: School of Hard Knocks
Certifications: IDNR Prescribed Burn Manager, IL Herbicide Applicator
Operates: Trucks, tractors, hand equipment, GPS units
Best Project to Ask Me About: Skare Park
Also Passionate About:
Hunting, Fishing & Great Food
Brett Suhayda
Senior Estimator

Years of Experience in the Industry: 10
Years of Experience in Estimating: 7
Areas of Expertise: All Estimating
Education: B.A. in Biology, Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, M.S. in Plant & Soil Sciences, University of Massachusetts
Certifications: IL Herbicide Applicator
Operates: Trucks, Kubota UTV, Hand Equipment
Best Project to Ask Me About: DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport
Also Passionate About:
Debating, Dogs & Target Shooting
Megan Haenitsch
Office Manager

Years of Experience in the Industry: 4
Years of Experience in Office Management: 8
Areas of Expertise: AP, AR, HR/Payroll, and Commercial & Employee Insurance
Education: First-hand Knowledge and Experience
Operates: Quickbooks like a boss
Also Passionate About: Family, Faith, Health & Fitness, and Outdoor Recreation
Robert (Robb) Van Herik
Ecological Consultant

Years of Experience in the Industry: 6
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 5
Areas of Expertise: Wetland Delineation, Vegetation Monitoring, Habitat Assessment, GIS
Education: B.S. in Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies, Northern Illinois University
Certificates: Certified Wetland Specialist- Lake and McHenry Co., Qualified Wetland Review Specialist- Kane Co., ISA Certified Arborist
Operates: Soil Auger, Quadrat, GPS
Best Project to Ask Me About: College of DuPage Natural Resources Consulting
Also Passionate About:
Fishing, Kayaking and Botanizing
Karissa (Kara) Smit
Junior Ecological Consultant

Years of Experience in the Industry: 5
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 4
Areas of Expertise: Plant Identification, Wetland Delineations, Ecosystem Ecology
Education: B.S. in Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies from Calvin University, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Certificates: Certified Wetland Specialist, ISA Certified Arborist, Wildland Firefighter, and Illinois Commercial Pesticide Applicator
Operates: GPS Units, Herbicide Backpack Sprayers, Brush Cutters
Best Project to Ask Me About: Little Calumet or LogistiCenter at Sauk Village
Also Passionate About:
National Parks, Sci-fi & Fantasy Books, Vegetarian Cooking
Jeff Hamilton
Junior Ecological Consultant

Years of Experience in the Industry: 9 years on and off
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 2
Area of Expertise: Plant Identification, Monitoring protocols, effective restoration practices
Education: A.S. University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point
Certifications: Herbicide operator, Class 2 firefighter, Chemical immobilization of animals.
Operates: The Pen, The Blade, The getaway vehicle
Best Project to Ask Me About: Woodstock Solar
Also Passionate About: Wild edibles, Sword fighting and Dungeons and Dragons
Emilie Giardini
Ecological Field Technician

Years of Experience in the Industry: 3
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 2
Area of Expertise: plant ID and restoration projects that utilize herbicide application
Education: Bachelor's in Agricultural Science from Ohio State University
Certifications: Herbicide applicators license, wetland delineation license
Operates: Brush saws, chain saws, tractors
Best Project to Ask Me About: Marmet Adaptive Management for Terrestrial MIT
Also Passionate About: fungi and bats
Jake Hynes
Ecological Restoration Foreman

Years of Experience in the Industry: 12
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 8
Areas of Expertise: Large Scale Restoration, Invasive Plant Management, Tree Felling
Education: B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign.
Certificates: Prescribed Burn Manager, Multiple Herbicide certifications, OSHA 30, USACE Quality Control Manager
Operates: Large Chainsaws, Small Chainsaws, and even Medium Chainsaws
Best Project to Ask Me About: Portage Park
Also Passionate About: Baseball, Hiking, Breakfast
Adam Sparks
Ecological Restoration Foreman

Years of Experience in the Industry: 10
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 8
Areas of Expertise: Invasive Plant Management
Education: ENCAP School of Hard Knocks
Certificates: IL Herbicide Applicator, First Aid & CPR
Operates: Trucks, Tractors & Hand Equipment
Best Project to Ask Me About: Sauk Village
Also Passionate About: Gaming & Music
Rafael (Rafa) Hernandez
Ecological Construction Foreman

Years of Experience in the Industry: 19
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 7
Areas of Expertise: Plant Installation
Education: Hands on Experience
Certificates: First Aid & CPR
Operates: All Machines under 14,000 lbs
Best Project to Ask Me About: Northerly Island
Also Passionate About: Fancy Things, The Finer Things
Abraham Harris
Ecological Restoration Foreman

Years of Experience in the Industry: 8
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 6
Areas of Expertise: Invasive Plant Management
Education: ENCAP School of Hard Knocks
Certificates: IL Herbicide Applicator, First Aid & CPR
Operates: Skidsteers, Kubotas & Tractors
Best Project to Ask Me About: Any Out of State Jobs
Also Passionate About: Black Friday Shopping, Family
Eric Boewe
Ecological Restoration Foreman

Years of Experience in the Industry: 5
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 3
Areas of Expertise: Ecological Management
Education: B.S. in Energy & Environmental Studies from Northern Illinois University
Certificates: Firefighter Type II First Aid & CPR
Operates: Kubotas & Tractors
Best Project to Ask Me About: Nippersink Creek
Also Passionate About: Kittens, Picnics and Sunsets
Tyler Walker
Ecological Restoration Foreman

Years of Experience in the Industry: 3
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 2
Areas of Expertise: Invasive Plant Management
Education: B.S. in Wildlife Conservations with a Minor in Criminal Justice, Southeast Missouri Stave University
Certificates: IL & KY Herbicide Applicator, First Aid & CPR
Operates: Trucks, Tractors & Hand Equipment
Also Passionate About: Conservation, Sports & Outdoor Recreation
Kyle Akins
Jr. Foreman

Years of Experience in the Industry: 3
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 2
Area of expertise: Invasive species management
Education: University at Buffalo-Environmental Studies
Certifications: CPR/First Aid
Operates: skid loader tractor and mini skid
Best Project to Ask Me About: clearing or herbicide work
Also Passionate About: fly fishing and hiking
Mayko Caudel
Jr. Project Manager

Years of Experience in the Industry: 6
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 1
Area of expertise: Seed & Blanket
Education: Business Administration from Centro Universitario de Monterrey
Certifications: CPR/First Aid
Operates: Trucks, Trailers, Tractors, Skidsteers, Dingo, Kubota
Best Project to Ask Me About: North Pond
Also Passionate About: Soccer, Dancing up a Storm
Steve LeMaire
Crew Leader

Years of Experience in the Industry: 10
Years of Experience in Crew Management: 35
Area of Expertise: trees and equipment operation
Education: AS - Business Management
Certifications: CDL, pesticide certs multiple states, CPR/First Aid
Operates: various tractors and Implements, excavator, track skid loaders, dump trucks, chainsaws
Best Project to Ask Me About: Northerly Island
Also Passionate About: Family, the outdoors, nature, wildlife, fishing and hiking
Jamie Arntzen
Crew Leader

Years of experience in the Industry: 3
Years of experience in crew management: 2
Area of expertise: Plant ID
Education: BS from NIU, major in Geography with an emphasis in biomes and topography, minor in Environmental Science
Certificates: CPR, Herbicide Applicator License, and Various Ecological Course Work Certificates
Operates: brush saws, chainsaws, pumps, atvs
Best projects to ask me about: Kankakee Sands Forest Preserve or Weldon Springs, Missouri
Also passionate about: Good Beer & Wine, Hiking, Singing, and Long Weekends