Judy Walther, Co-founder and President 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, Cofounder/Principal Designer/Ecologist

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/Ecologist

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 and is a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner.

Chris Newton, Project Manager/Ecologist

Chris got his start in ecological restoration with the Texas Conservation Corps in 2013. He joined ESC in 2014 and quickly became a Project Manager and Certified Pesticide Applicator.  He currently specializes in managing riparian restoration and water quality projects all around Austin and is an invaluable education resource for our staff.  Chris is a member of the Texas Society for Ecological Restoration and a Certified Ecological Restoration Practioner In Training.

Kellan Fisher, Project Manager

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 a Certified Pesticide Applicator and has more than a decade of experience managing ESC’s wet ponds work, from choosing appropriate plants to guiding clients through the estimation process.

Molly Von Holten, Project Manager/Ecologist

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 working on city, state, and national parks and forests projects.  She joined ESC in 2015 as a green infrastructure crew member and currently specializes in ranch and preserve restoration, mapping, and small to medium-sized residential landscape design, installation, and maintenance. Molly is a Texas Society for Ecological Restoration member and a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner In Training.

Teo Rachael-Homann, Project Manager

Teo is passionate about creating visually appealing and ecologically beneficial landscapes. 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 works closely with clients to ensure their vision is brought to life, creating spaces that strengthen the connection between people and nature.  He currently specializes in residential landscape and hardscape design and installation.