Judy Walther, Co-founder Emeritus

Judy enjoys designing gardens and creating interpretive materials that enhance public projects. She has conducted many workshops, seminars and speeches on butterfly and pollinator gardens, native plants and invasive species, as well as written articles on a variety of restoration topics. Judy has a Masters in Science Education with a focus on botany and is a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner.  She has experience in wetland delineation.  Judy was a charter member of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) and is a current member in both SER and Texas SER.

David Mahler, Designer/Ecologist & Co-founder

In addition to designing native plant gardens, David Mahler is a master at creating artistic, naturalistic water features. His background in biology enables him to understand the nuances of replicating complex, bio-diverse habitats. Over the years, David has given many speeches and has written articles and papers on habitat restoration and native plant issues.  David was a charter member of the Society for Ecological Restoration and served on the first Board of Directors.  He is a current member of both SER and Texas SER and is a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner.

Stan Wilson, General Manager

Stan has been working with ESC since 2001. He is passionate about water quality issues and the intersection of nature with the urban environment. Stan specializes in complex wetland restoration projects, urban landscape design/install projects, and trail systems. Although an informal student of urban planning, landscape architecture, and ecology, his education in Marketing and Business Administration allows him to address projects in a practical manner beneficial to all stakeholders. Stan is an active member of Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) and Texas SER. He has given presentations on wetland and other restoration topics.

Chris Newton, Project Manager

GSI & Riaprian Restoration Team

Chris got his start in the field of ecological restoration with the Texas Conservation Corps in 2013. He joined ESC in 2014 and, with his wide-ranging skills, quickly became a Project Manager and Certified Pesticide Applicator.  Chris manages riparian restoration projects at multiple sites around Austin and trains new crew and foremen.  While juggling field work, he oversees all submittals and paperwork required for various clients.  Chris is a member of the Texas Society for Ecological Restoration and is always eager to further his knowledge of effective restoration techniques, central Texas botany, and healthy watershed function.

Kellan Fisher, Project Manager

GSI & Riaprian Restoration Team

Kellan began his career in ecological restoration as a crew leader with the Texas Conservation Corps in 2014 where he worked with the United States Forest Service, National Parks System, FEMA, and more. Kellan joined  ESC in 2016 and focuses on wet pond and raingarden installations and maintenance.  Kellan is involved at every step of the process of  ESC’s wet ponds work, from choosing appropriate plants to guiding clients through the estimation process.

Riley Wade, Project Manager

GSI & Riaprian Restoration Team

Riley started his ecological journey as a kid going on walks in the Texas Hill Country, originally an Austin native himself. He worked with El Ranchito and Shield Ranch for 11 years teaching kids ecology principles. He primarily works in ESC wetpond’s work and has managed a variety of public and private contracts in the 7 years since. He spends his free time as a painter/illustrator and gardening experiments

Molly Von Holten

Project Manager/Maintenance and Restoration

Molly’s career in ecological restoration began with crew leadership roles at the Montana Conservation Corps in 2013 and the Texas Conservation Corps in 2014. During this period, she worked on projects within city, state, and national parks, and national forests. Joining ESC in 2015, she first served as a green infrastructure crew member before advancing to residential maintenance crew leader several years later. Currently, she focuses on small to medium-sized residential designs and installations, while her true passion lies in ranch and preserve restoration. Molly is a Texas Society for Ecological Restoration member and actively pursues knowledge in native landscape design, Central Texas botany, and land restoration techniques.

Teo Rachael-Homann

Project Manager/Landscape Installation

Teo grew up in Austin with deep appreciation for native plants and wildlife. He is passionate about creating landscapes that are visually appealing as well as beneficial to local ecosystems. Experienced in both landscape installation and project management, Teo manages projects from inception to completion. He completed a Bachelor of Business Administration from UTSA, and prioritizes sustainability and efficiency. Teo enjoys working closely with clients to ensure their vision is brought to life, creating spaces that strengthen the connection between people and nature.

Owen Moorhead

Project Manager/Ecologist / Landscape Installation

Bio to come.