Society for Ecological Restoration (SER)

CERP Program Overview and Goals

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Types of Certification

SER's ecological restoration practitioner certification program encourages a high professional standard for those who are designing, implementing, overseeing, and monitoring restoration projects throughout the world. Two levels of certification are offered:

Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioners (CERPs) are senior level practitioners who have achieved the knowledge requirements and have greater than 5 years of full time experience with restoration.

Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioners-in-Training (CERPITs) are recent graduates and those practitioners who do not yet have more than 5 years of full time experience with restoration – OR- those practitioners with sufficient experience who are still working on the educational criteria.

Both certification types are valid for 5 years after approval. In order to be recertified, CERPs and CERPITs must earn a minimum of 50 continuing education credits within the five-year period since they were last certified. Appropriate continuing education opportunities are those that keep practitioners abreast of rapidly evolving knowledge, approaches, strategies, techniques and requirements in the field of ecological restoration. Credits may be provided for approved short courses, webinars, symposia, workshops, technical publications, and other events that contribute to the field of ecological restoration.

Program Goals

The SER certification program goals include:

Goal 1: Establish and validate the credentials for ecological restoration practitioners
Goal 2: Encourage practitioners to practice ecological restoration according to consistent, comprehensive “standards of practice”
Goal 3: Increase public, client, employer, and peer confidence in ecological restoration practice and practitioners
Goal 4: Fill an increasing demand for a skilled workforce to design, implement and monitor effective
Goal 5: Improve the quality of ecological restoration projects on the ground
Goal 6: Facilitate the exchange of information and promote the advancement of proven techniques used in ecological restoration
Goal 7: Define a clear pathway into, and provide a supportive environment within the restoration community

Benefits of Certification

By promoting practitioner standards, we hope to improve ecological restoration and the associated benefits on the ground.

Individuals can improve their professional status through formal recognition of their training and experience.
Academic institutions with ecological restoration degree programs can use the knowledge requirements to evaluate curricula so that graduates will have the core competencies specific to the field.
Employers, agencies, organizations, and the general public will benefit by easily being able to identify those practitioners who meet the high standard set by SER.

Administration and Committees

The certification program operates under SER's 501c3 designation as a non-profit organization. Program governance is based upon the certification charter document.

The certification program is overseen by the Certification Program Coordinator and administered by the volunteer members of the five standing committees:

Information about the committees and committee members are described in more detail below.

Certification Committee

The Certification Committee is comprised of 18 CERPs/CERPITs. These committee members review all incoming applications and determine whether or not a candidate meets the program requirements.

Chris Polatin, CERP, Chair (Term expires 2024)

Ecological Restoration Practitioner at Land Stewardship, Inc.

Massachusetts, USA

Chris has been involved with environmental work since 1999 in various contexts. He worked for several environmental consultancies in California as an environmental scientist and biologist involved in conducting biological assessments, special status species surveys, wetland delineations, preparing mitigation plans and permit applications. He has served as a restoration project manager involved with managing the installation, maintenance, and monitoring of a diverse portfolio of restoration sites throughout northern and central California. These sites included several large scale riparian revegetation and streambank bioengineering projects overseen by the US Army Corps of Engineers. As a reserve steward for the University of California, Chris developed and implemented management plans for special status species and invasive plant control, supervised crew and staff, and helped build budgets and funding priorities. Upon moving to New England in 2002, Chris attended graduate school and for his master’s thesis conducted research to determine the best control techniques for managing three woody invasive plants within the Elizabeth Islands of Massachusetts. Chris manages Polatin Ecological Services, LLC (2005) and Land Stewardship, Inc. (2016) which specialize in ecological restoration and invasive species management.

Andy Owens, CERP (Term expires 2024)

Florida, USA

Andy Owens has worked as Restoration Ecologist for Brinkman Restoration for the past 11 years, managing the design and implementation of terrestrial and aquatic restoration projects throughout Western Canada. His focus includes riparian and upland restoration, habitat enhancement in novel ecosystems, and restoration of soil health through microbial inoculations. Andy has a BA in Environmental Studies, Certificate in Restoration of Natural Systems and Professional Specialization Ecological Restoration. A Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP), Andy currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Society of Ecological Restoration for Western Canada and the CERP program certification committee for SER International.

Dr. Jagruti Rathod, CERP (Term expires 2024)

Centre For Nature & Ecosystem Wellbeing

Gujarat, India

Dr. Rathod works as an ecologist, wildlife biologist, and restoration practitioner. Dr. Rathod also provides education/guidance to university & college students, and has published more than 20 papers in different national and international Journals.

Donna Shumpert, CERPIT (Term expires 2024)

ForeSite Associates, Inc.

Pennsylvania, USA

Donna is a CERPIT and a registered landscape architect. She is also an adjunct professor at Temple University in their Master of Landscape Architecture program which has a specialization in ecological restoration. Donna volunteers for the CERP program to support the mission of SER and sees the CERP/CERPIT program is a wonderful way to encourage people to be a part of the SER community.

Phanor H Montoya Maya, CERP (Term expires 2024)

Corales de Paz

Colombia

Phanor is a Marine Biologist (Ph.D) specializing in coral reef monitoring and restoration. Since 2014 Phanor has been working on large-scale coral reef restoration in the Seychelles, Colombia and the Maldives. He is part of the Restoration Network of the Eastern Tropical Pacific (RedPTO), the Coral Reef Latin American Network and the Coral Restoration Consortium, and also developed the first professional training program on large-scale coral reef restoration.

Michelle Hill, CERPIT (Term expires 2024)

Toadally Restored

Ontario, Canada

Michelle currently works for the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) in their ecosystem management department and has her own company, Toadally Restored, part time. After she gains more knowledge and contracts she hopes to make it her full time career. She has a background in implementing aquatic and terrestrial restoration projects, and recently worked with Credit Valley Conservation on the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area (which is looking amazing!).

Drew Rayburn, CERP (Term expires 2025)

Natural Resources Supervisor, Jefferson County Open Space

Colorado, USA

Drew is an applied ecologist whose work encompasses aspects of community, landscape, and restoration ecology. Since his first experience working on a tallgrass prairie restoration project in Northern Texas in the late 1990s, he has enjoyed developing, implementing, and evaluating collaborative, multi-benefit habitat restoration projects. He obtained his B.A. in Biology from Austin College, his M.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Iowa State University, and his Ph.D. in Ecology from Utah State University. After a postdoc in Restoration Ecology at the University of California Davis, he worked on large-scale riparian, grassland, and rangeland restoration projects in California and Nevada that often sought to create habitat for special-status species of wildlife, fish, plants, and insects. He now resides in Colorado, where he is the Natural Resources Supervisor for Jefferson County Open Space, a public agency that owns and manages approximately 55,000 ac. of diverse habitat along Colorado's Front Range. Current projects on which he and his staff are working include large-scale forest restoration, invasive species prioritization and treatment, wildlife conservation, and prairie enhancement and restoration. Drew is also a Certified Ecologist (ESA), and serves as an Associate Editor for the journal Ecological Restoration.

Paul G. Davis, PhD, PWS, CPSS, CERP (Term expires 2025)

Consulting Ecologist, Restoration & Permitting Specialist

Massachusetts, USA

Dr. Davis is an Ecologist and Ecological Restoration Specialist with a forty-year career in professional consulting. He obtained his PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Rhode Island with a research emphasis in marine ecosystems, also receiving Masters Degrees in Zoology and Environmental Policy. He maintains professional certifications as a Professional Wetland Scientist, Certified Professional Soil Scientist and Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner which are central to his practice and experience with wetland and aquatic resources, ecological restoration, soil science, water quality, mitigation design and permitting. At GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc., based in Massachusetts, Dr. Davis was Principal of Ecological Services 2009-2019 and Technical Practice Lead for natural resource and ecological services, networking and helping to develop the skills of over 60 professional scientists. Over the course of his career, he managed and implemented numerous large-scale interdisciplinary projects encompassing a wide diversity of wetland and aquatic resource affected projects, and their permitting processes at the local, state and federal levels; including highway, rail, airport, utility, retail development, facility construction, recreation, natural resource management, and site remediation projects. He has served as an expert witness in numerous judicial, arbitration, and regulatory enforcement cases. He is active with the Society of Ecological Restoration (SER) since 2017 and has served on the board of certification, reviewing new applicants for certification. He helped develop several teaching modules for the 2020 SER Principles and Standards for Ecological Restoration. He has authored >60 professional publications and presentations over the course of his career.

Jiang Zhu CERP (Term expires 2025)

Senior Engineer of Urban Planning, China Academy of Urban Planning and Design

Beijing, China

Jiang Zhu, Senior Engineer of Urban Planning at the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design in Beijing, China has a BS in Landscape Architecture from the Beijing Forestry University and an MS in Urban Planning and Design from the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design. He has more than nine years of experience, and is mainly engaged in national park planning, post-disaster reconstruction planning, and ecological restoration.

Jen Lyndall (CERP) (Term expires 2026)

Senior Consultant Integral Consulting Inc.

Ohio, USA

Jen Lyndall is an ecologist and toxicologist with more than 22 years of experience in natural resource damage assessment, ecological risk assessment, and ecological restoration. Her work for the U.S. government (NOAA), consulting firms, and non-profits allows her to view projects from various perspectives to find solutions that may be beneficial to all stakeholders. Jen's restoration projects typically focus on river and riparian restoration in contaminated and/or urban settings - although she likes to have fun with marsh and arid restoration projects too. Jen was a co-founder of the Midwest-Great Lakes chapter of SER. She also helped to launch the SER certification program and served as the first SER Certification Program Manager.

Andrew Esterson, CERP (Term expires 2026)

Institute for Applied Ecology
Oregon, USA

Andrew Esterson is a Restoration Ecologist at the Institute for Applied Ecology (IAE), located in Corvallis, Oregon. He has over ten years of experience working in plant conservation and ecology, seven years of experience specifically working with threatened and endangered plants and pollinators in the Willamette Valley, a strong understanding of habitat restoration techniques and is well versed in GIS. His field work experience includes monitoring threatened and endangered plant and pollinator populations throughout Oregon, protocol level surveys for endangered wildlife in California’s Central Valley, implementation of habitat restoration actions including herbicide application, tree felling, mowing and seeding/planting. Andrew manages numerous projects at IAE, develops budgets, writes proposals and works directly with contractors and volunteers. He received his B.S. in environmental biology with an emphasis in ecology from California Polytechnic University, Pomona and a M.S. in Botany and Plant Pathology from Oregon State University.

Lynde Dodd, CERP (Term expires 2026)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,Engineer Research and Development Center

Texas, USA

Lynde Dodd is Research Biologist with the U.S Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) stationed at the Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility, Lewisville, TX. As a member of ERDC’s Aquatic Ecology and Invasive Species Branch, her research includes invasive species management and aquatic ecosystem restoration with emphasis in native aquatic and riparian species suitability and restoration implementation techniques. For the past 15 years she has enjoyed working with local, state, and federal partners to create functional, diverse, and sustainable aquatic ecosystems that provide valuable habitat. Some of the more recent projects that she has worked on include the Dallas Floodway Extension in south Dallas, where created wetlands adjacent to the Trinity River provide much needed refuge for migratory waterfowl using the Central Flyway and working with the City of Austin and the University of North Texas to restore aquatic vegetation to Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin. Her current USACE Civil Works Aquatic Plant Control Research Program work unit is focused on investigating the genetics and ecology of an invasive float-leaved species – water chestnut (Trapa spp). She, along with other researchers and colleagues, received the Environmental Excellence Award from Texas Commission of Environmental Quality in 2013 for recognition of their restoration work for the Lake Conroe Habitat Improvement Project Coalition, a collaborative effort to restore aquatic plants and improve fish habitat in Lake Conroe, TX.

Christine Taliga, CERP (Term expires 2026)

Colorado, USA

Christine has worked for the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Conservation Districts since the early 1990's and currently serves as the National Ecologist within the Ecological Sciences Division of NRCS headquarters. In this capacity she has the responsibilities to provide national direction for NRCS's ecological activities including invasive species and pollinators in support of nationwide comprehensive soil, water, air, plant, and animal resources conservation, management, and agricultural programs. Christine, her husband John, and daughter Anna, own and operate a small certified organic farm in Iowa where they have been actively restoring tallgrass prairie and exploring perennial crop production alternatives over the past twenty years.

Jay Fain, CERP (Term expires 2026)

Connecticut, USA

Jay Fain, Principal and Wetland Scientist for Jay Fain & Associates, has a BS in Wildlife Ecology and MS in Forest Ecology, both from Cornell University. Mr. Fain is a Certified Soil Scientist, Arborist, Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control and Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (#87). Mr. Fain has 37 year experience as a wetland ecologist in private and government practice.

Linnea Spears-Lebrun, CERP (Term expires 2026)

Colorado, USA

Linnea Spears-Lebrun is a restoration ecologist and project manager with 18 years of professional experience. Her restoration experience includes the full life-cycle of a restoration project: design, implementation, monitoring, data analysis (including statistical analyses), oversight of maintenance, and yearly reporting. She has experience with multiple mechanisms for restoration including mitigation banking, permittee responsible mitigation, and grant-funded. She also has extensive experience in rapid assessment methods for aquatic resource ecological condition. She is a state trainer for the California Rapid Assessment Method (CRAM) and is part of the Technical Advisory Committee for the New Mexico Rapid Assessment Method (NMRAM).

Christian Mata Bonilla, CERP (Term expires 2026)

CEO & Founder of the Costa Rican Foundation for Ecological Restoration

Costa Rica

A native of the Caribbean area of Costa Rica, in 1996 he obtained a degree in Tropical Forestry Sciences at the National University of Costa Rica. He has also specialized in Ecotourism activities both in his country and in others in Latin America and the United States, leading nature expeditions. He also specializes in Ecosystem Restoration Engineering at the University Center for Superior Studies and Natural Resources Management at the Sustainable Development Research Center, both in Mexico. In the latter he serves as director of the natural heritage management area and as a professor in the Protected Area Management and Ecosystem Restoration programs. In 2020 he was responsible for the creation of the Costa Rican Foundation for Ecological Restoration, an organization that has led research, development and implementation programs for ecosystems throughout the country. Christian's experience spans nearly 20 years in ecological restoration in protected areas, mangroves, mountain areas, urban restoration, dry forests and marine-coastal regions of Costa Rica. He is currently part of the coordinating board for the creation of the Costa Rican Network for Ecological Restoration and actively participates in international forums in Latin America.

Edwin A. Hernandez-Delgado, CERP (Term expires 2026)

Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Environmental Science, University of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

Edwin is a marine ecologist with experience in coral reef ecological restoration, and in community ecology of coral reef, seagrass, and fish assemblages. He is a professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Environmental Science at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, and Senior Scientist at NGO Sociedad Ambiente Marino. Edwin has led numerous projects on coral reef restoration in Puerto Rico for over 30 years, and has conducted extensive research on applied ecology addressing human-driven and climate change-related impacts on coastal ecosystems. Edwin hopes to promote opportunities for ecological restoration practitioners from underrepresented countries.

Brent Shaver, CERP (Term expires 2026)

Entitlement Manager for Westervelt Ecological Services’ Southeast Region

Alabama, USA

Brent is the Entitlement Manager for Westervelt Ecological Services’ Southeast Region where he oversees development of mitigation banking projects: including identifying sites, planning restoration activities, coordinating agency approvals, and managing construction. Prior to joining Westervelt Brent was Director of Forest Management for The Nature Conservancy in Alabama where he directed all aspects of forest management across Alabama and into northwest Florida. Brent has extensive knowledge of aquatic system restoration, ecological forest management, longleaf pine ecosystem restoration, prescribed fire management, and multi-use restoration techniques on private and public lands. Brent earned Bachelor’s and Master’s in Forestry from Auburn University where his graduate work focused on assisting non-industrial private forest landowners in understanding the functions and values of forested wetlands, and the ecological and legal ramifications of silvicultural operations in those areas. Brent is a CERP, PWS, and Registered Forester in Alabama and Georgia.

Chris May, CERP (Term expires 2026)

Senior Restoration Ecologist, Consulting

Michigan, USA

Chris May has over 30 years’ experience in wildlife and natural resource management, working for universities, state and federal agencies, an international non-profit organization, and private consulting. He earned a BS in ecology from Baylor University, Texas, and a MS in natural resource management from Humboldt State University, California. He has led the design and implementation of habitat restoration and natural resource management projects in a variety of natural communities (e.g., coastal and inland wetlands, forests, prairies and grasslands, seagrass beds, oyster reefs) across the U.S. He has led or participated in multi-partner, collaborative planning efforts for ecological and human wellbeing outcomes, including projects in Canada and China. Outside work, Chris enjoys international travel, kayaking, winter activities, and spending time with his wife and dogs.

Appeals and Disciplinary Committee

The Appeals and Disciplinary Committee is comprised of 6 CERPs/CERPITs. These committee members review all appeals for certification applications and continuing education approvals. The Appeals and Disciplinary Committee members also review any reports of ethics violations (in accordance with the program disciplinary policy).

Seth Wilkinson, CERP (Term expires 2024)

Massachusetts, USA

Seth Wilkinson is a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner and President of Wilkinson Ecological Design. Considered an expert and frequent instructor in the field of bioengineering and ecological restoration, Seth has been a leader in hundreds of ecological restoration projects for private individuals, land trusts and municipalities in the last two decades. As a pioneer in the integration of bioengineering systems with native plants, Seth and his team at Wilkinson Ecological Design constantly innovate and improve the practice and integrity of ecological restoration.

Joshua Tallis, CERP (Term expires 2024)

Restoration Ecologist, Arcadis

California, USA

Joshua Tallis lives in Santa Cruz, California and works as a profession ecological restoration practitioner and botanist for a Dutch engineering company called Arcadis. His restoration work is largely done in the Western U.S. and is generally associated with environmental remediation. He received a M.S. in Environmental Horticulture from University of Washington in 2005. Joshua is a Certified Arborist and a Professional Wetland Scientist. Currently, he works predominantly in coastal wetland, riparian, chaparral, and oak woodland ecosystems.

Jennifer Franklin, CERP (Term expires 2025)

Associate Professor, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

Tennessee, USA

Jennifer Franklin studies forest restoration, mine reforestation and the effects of the environmental stresses on tree growth and function, at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries teaches courses in ecosystem restoration, tree physiology, and prescribed fire management. Her research program is focused on the restoration of hardwood forests of the eastern U.S., and identifying factors important in the successful establishment of native plant communities. Originally from Canada, Jennifer came to UT in 2003 after completing a PhD in tree physiology and land reclamation at the University of Alberta. She lives in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains with her husband and son.

Mickey Marcus, CERP (Term expires 2025)

Principal/Senior Scientist, SWCA Environmental Consultants

Massachusetts, USA

Mickey received his B.S. from Marlboro College, and M.S degree from the University of Maine at Orono. He has been working in the field of wetland science since 1981 where he got his feet wet conducting biological inventories of Maine peat bogs. His present areas of interest are in the fields of soil bioengineering, river morphology and restoration, watershed management, wetland restoration and innovative sediment and erosion control techniques and stormwater compliance and management. Mickey served for many years on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC); he is currently an at-large member of the SER New England Chapter Board of Directors; and a Board member of the Northeast Chapter of the International Erosion Control Association. Mickey is a past president of the Association of Massachusetts Wetland Scientists, and a past Chairman of the New England Chapter of the Society of Wetland Scientists. Mickey is a member of the executive Board of the Envirocert International Storm Water Council. Mickey is currently a Senior Wetland Scientist and Principal with New England Environmental, Inc. in Amherst, MA. He is a Professional Wetland Scientist, a Certified Professional in Storm Water Quality, and a Certified Profession in Sediment & Erosion Control.

Joe Berg, CERP, (Term expires 2026)

Biohabitats Inc.

Maryland, USA

Joe is a systems ecologist at Biohabitats, Inc., where he is the Practice Lead for Ecological Restoration. He is the chair of the mid-Atlantic Chapter of the SER and is an At-Large Representative on the Board. Joe has been working in environmental consulting in the mid-Atlantic for more than 30 years. Prior to consulting, he was a research assistant at the University of Maryland where he earned an M.S. (1984). Joe is focused on improving restoration through anthropogenically-contextual ecological solutions that lead engineering practices to restore ecosystem process and services rather than continuing a singular emphasis on stability.

Lindsay Taylor, CERPIT (Term expires 2026)

Director of SustainabilityDirector of Sustainability, St. Catharines Downtown Association

Ontario, Canada

Lindsay Taylor, B.A. & CERPIT holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brock University in Labour Studies with a minor in Psychology along with two diplomas from Niagara College in Business General and Environmental Technician studies and a Graduate Certificate in Ecosystem Restoration. Taylor has been recognized with two major awards including the Niagara College President’s Award for Innovation in Student Learning and Success and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority with an Award of Merit. She is currently a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner in Training through the Society for Ecological Restoration and an Associate Member of the Ontario Association of Engineering Technicians and Technologists. Lindsay's restoration work is focused on urban ecosystems with a primary focus on integrating green infrastructure with biophilic design principles.

Standards Committee

The Standards Committee is comprised of 9 members including a chairperson who is a certified practitioner. The Standards Committee members review and, if needed, revise the program requirements to ensure that the program standards are meeting the program goals.

Mike Toohill, CERP, Chair (Term expires 2024)

Senior Ecologist and Principal; Coneco Engineers & Scientists

Massachusetts, USA

Mike is a co-founder and board member of the New England Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration, a member of the Executive Committee of the SER Ad Hoc Committee on Certification, current co-chair of the SER North American Coordinating Committee, and the current Chair of the SER Certification Standards Committee. Mike is an environmental scientist with over thirty-five years of experience in environmental impact evaluation, mitigation, and ecological restoration. He assumes primary responsibility as the leader of interdisciplinary teams on complicated infrastructure and land development projects for both public and private sector clients. Mike has a broad background in many facets of environmental impact assessment including terrestrial and aquatic ecology, ecological restoration, impact assessment, wetland delineation and mitigation design, and habitat evaluation. He routinely works on large, linear infrastructure projects such as gas pipelines, electrical transmission lines, and highways. He has presented at SER International conferences, local conservation conferences, and at national conferences for allied organizations.

Rebecca Swab, CERP (Term expires 2024)

Ohio, USA

My career goal is to serve as a bridge between conservation managers and researchers. I have worked for non-profits since 2015. I couple restoration projects with research to determine which restoration methods work best. Information about which methods and projects are the most successful at reaching goals such as increasing native species diversity and ecosystem function are then shared with the larger conservation community to improve the field of restoration ecology. I would like to help review standards to improve education for restoration ecologists and ensure up to date information is included as the field progresses.

Ryan Fikes, CERP (Term expires 2024)

Freese and Nichols, Inc.

Texas, USA

I have been fortunate to work in varying capacities tied to the ecological restoration community, including the government, non-profit, and private sectors. As a result of my varied work in coastal restoration I believe I have a unique skillset; one that blends science and policy in a very meaningful way. This dynamic serves as a mainstay for successfully restoring ecosystems, whereby sound policy drives science-based restoration decision-making. I think that bringing this viewpoint to the conversation for future standards planning could help broaden and strengthen the CERP Program.

Chris Lenhart, CERP (Term expires 2024)

Research Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota: Twin Cities

Chris Lenhart is a research professor with the ecological engineering group of the Bioproducts & Biosystems Engineering Department at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul. His research involves stream and wetland restoration as well as watershed management particularly in agricultural settings. He teaches classes involving ecological restoration / ecological engineering, global water issues and erosion control. He is currently vice president of the SER Midwest-Great Lakes (MWGL) chapter and is co-author of a book written by many members of the MWGL chapter called, “Ecological Restoration in the Midwest: Past, Present and Future”. Chris also has over ten years’ experience in government and environmental consulting experience, including a fellowship with the NOAA Restoration Center. Dr. Lenhart has degrees from the University of Notre Dame, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Minnesota. Originally from Defiance, Ohio, he has also been involved in an ecological restoration project on the family farm in the Black Swamp region over the past 15 years.

Terry Doss, CERP (Term expires 2024)

New Jersey, USA

Terry Doss is an ecologist with over thirty years’ experience in many aspects of ecological analysis and environmental science, with extensive experience in the field of wetland and coastal sciences. Ms Doss' experience includes developing ecological habitat restoration designs, as well as identifying, delineating, assessing and evaluating plant and wildlife habitats and determining ecological functions and values. Ms. Doss is also experienced in bringing this information to the public through her writing and public speaking skills. Ms. Doss has successfully managed restoration projects from the beginning stages of planning and permit application, to the oversight of construction and planting, through to the development and oversight of monitoring and maintenance plans. Ms. Doss also has extensive experience in assessing urban habitats and performing baseline ecological evaluations in areas with potential contamination issues. Ms. Doss has also been responsible for preparing environmental assessments and impact statements and obtaining permits for projects in accordance with NEPA, as well as federal laws, state and local laws.

Cara Nelson (Term expires 2025)

Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana Missoula, Montana, USA

Cara Nelson is an Associate Professor of Restoration Ecology in University of Montana’s Ecosystem Sciences and Conservation Department and the founding Director of the University’s Ecological Restoration Program. She received Masters degrees in Forestry and in Conservation Biology from University of Wisconsin and a PhD in Forest Ecosystem Analysis from University of Washington. Cara and her students study the effects of large-scale disturbance on vegetation, the efficacy and ecological impacts of ecological restoration, and the conceptual basis for ecological restoration. Cara is a past Chair of SER and the current Chair of SER’s Science and Policy Committee.

Meghan Fellows, CERP (Term expires 2025)

Project Manager, Fairfax County (Virginia) Department of Public Works and Environmental Services

Virginia, USA

Meghan Fellows is a Project Manager with the Fairfax County (Virginia) Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. She received a Masters degree in Restoration Ecology from San Diego State University. Meghan designs and implements stream restoration and riparian forest restoration with a focus on functional lift of the riparian corridor, ecosystem restoration, and functional floodplain communities.

Michael Demchik, CERP (Term expires 2025)

Professor of Silviculture and Forestry Discipline Coordinator, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Wisconsin, USA

Michael Demchik grew up in southern West Virginia in unincorporated Pond Fork. With freedom to explore the outdoors, a mountain on one side and a stream on the other, a future career in natural resources just made sense. Demchik is currently a Professor of Silviculture and the Forestry Discipline Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. His previous positions included an Extension Forester specializing in farm forestry in Minnesota, a state Maple Syrup and Non-Timber Forest Products Specialist in Pennsylvania, and a number of other jobs ranging across federal, state, and private industries in West Virginia, Maryland, and Wisconsin. He holds a BSF in Forest Resources Management and an MS in Biology from West Virginia University, and a PhD in Forest Resources from Pennsylvania State University.

Ryan Pierce, CERPIT (Term expires 2026)

Environmental Planning Technician
Ontario, Canada

Ryan Pierce has been studying, working, and volunteering in the environmental sector for the past 3 years. With an educational background in Ecosystem Restoration, Ryan has gained valuable experience as a Watershed Scientist, Geomorphology Technician, and now as an Environmental Planning Technician. This diverse background has equipped him with the skills for environmental field data collection and analysis, as well as reviewing and applying environmental legislation and policies to development applications. Ryan is eager to apply this knowledge to a role with the Standards Committee by contributing to the improvement of best practices and CERP program standards.

Adrian Juncosa, CERP (Term expires 2026)

President, EcoSynthesis Scientific & Regulatory Services
California, USA

Adrian Juncosa has been involved in habitat restoration for 34 years, working in nearly every biome in the western US and in all three of the major tropical regions, including dry, moist, and pluvial forests, as well as mangroves. While initially focusing primarily on vegetation, he has gained extensive project experience and collaborated with exceptional soil scientists and hydrologists, leading him to emphasize the physical ecosystem more. He believes it's crucial for CERP standards to encompass a wide range of interrelated scientific disciplines essential to ecological restoration. Adrian Juncosa emphasizes the importance of meaningful certification and a foundation for identifying appropriate continuing education standards.

Alex Seasholtz, CERPIT (Term expires 2026)

Ecological Restoration Practitioner, The Institute for Regional Conservation
Florida, USA

Alex joined the Institute for Regional Conservation (IRC) in 2019 as the crew leader for the Pine Rockland Initiative program. As a South Florida native he grew up with a deep appreciation for Pine Rocklands and all natural South Florida environments and hopes to expand the footprint and increase the quality of our remaining imperiled habitats. Alex attended Florida State University and received his B.S. in Interdisciplinary Social Science with concentrations in Anthropology and Geography and later achieved a degree in Aquaculture from Hillsborough Community College. Alex is currently a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner in Training (CERPIT) and anticipates elevating to a CERP in the near future.

Continuing Education Committee

The Continuing Education Committee is comprised of 5-7 members, including a chairperson who is a certified practitioner. These committee members review all requests for continuing education credit approval. Committee members will also work with academic institutions and training organizations to develop curricula for ongoing courses and degree programs.

John Wigginton, CERP (Term expires 2024)

Southeast Region Manager at Westervelt Ecological Services

John Wigginton is the Southeast Region Manager for Westervelt Ecological Services, a nationwide habitat mitigation company. His duties include site feasibility analysis and selection, Interagency Review Team interaction, landowner negotiations, budgeting, long-range planning, process management, and team management. John is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist and received his PhD in Forest Ecology from the Auburn University School of Forestry, where he studied the effects of floodplain forest succession and restoration on soil organic matter formation and sequestration. He has a MS in Wetland Studies from the University of Florida’s Center for Wetlands.

Rob Hobbs, CERP (Term expires 2024)

RECON Environmental, Inc.

California, USA

I have been a restoration ecologist for 20 years, primarily within the southwestern U.S., focusing on the development of a variety of habitat types from coastal wetlands to desert scrub. I am currently the President of RECON Environmental, a habitat restoration consulting firm in San Diego, California. With my team of project managers and 40+ field crew members we focus on the design-build of habitat for public and private entities. I would like to volunteer for the CERP committee because I want to assist in the development of the next generation of restoration ecologists.

Shannon Mawhinney, CERPIT (Term expires 2024)

Severn Sound Environmental Association

Ontario, Canada

My educational journey landed me with a Bachelor of Science with a major in Biology and Post Graduate Certificate in Ecosystem Restoration. Since graduation I have worked in the restoration or conservation fields, working on active restoration sites in the Toronto Region or assisting municipalities in the Severn Sound area improve their pollinator policies. Education is a love and passion of mine and I never want to stop learning. Continuing to learn new practices or the changes that come with advancing science is a huge part of this practice and should be a priority.

Tamara Mayer, CERP (Term expires 2025)

Florida, USA

Tamara Mayer’s +30 years as an environmental consultant has provided a broad range of experiences with environmental compliance, regulatory interpretation, permitting preparation, protected species studies, wetlands mitigation projects, and performing NEPA support studies throughout the southeastern United States. She graduated from the Florida Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Aquaculture Technology and A.S. in Oceanographic Technology. Throughout Tamara’s consulting career, her passion for environmental conservation and sustainability has helped focus on volunteering for several non-profit and professional organizations with an environmental conscience. This included participation as a board or committee member for the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals, the Northeast Florida Green Chamber, The Green Team, and the North Florida Land Trust. She has also been involved as part of an advisory committee for the Environmental Science degree at Florida State College at Jacksonville. With “real world” experience, Tamara’s input offered expertise in development of two specialty tracks – Hazardous Materials Technology and Environmental Assessment Technology. In addition, Tamara completed the Climate Reality Leadership Training presented by Former Vice President Al Gore in 2015. Currently, Tamara is working as a Senior Scientist for Handex Consulting & Remediation, LLC as a contractor supporting the work of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 4 Contamination, Assessment, and Remediation (CAR) Team by performing as the Environmental and Contamination Liaison within the FDOT Planning and Environment Management Office (PLEMO).

Juli Crane, CERP (Term expires 2025)

Principal Wetland Specialist at Lake County Stormwater Management Commission

With a B.S. in Wildlife and Range Resources and an M.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife (wetland focus), Juli has nearly 30 years of experience playing with plants, water, and dirt (soil, for you purists)… and making paper trails. Currently, she is a Principal Wetland Specialist with the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC), where she reviews permit applications for wetland impacts; manages wetland restoration projects; and provides staff support for the County’s Wetland Restoration Fund, various SMC grants, and development of a county-wide wetland restoration and preservation plan. During her 25+ years as an environmental consultant, Juli worked on projects throughout the Intermountain West and Midwest as well as in parts of the Pacific Northwest. Her passion for learning has produced an alphabet soup of professional credentials that she trots out as needed.

Jessica Schuler, CERP (Term expires 2025)

Program Coordinator, Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation

New York, USA

Jessica is a horticulturist turned restoration practitioner who currently works as the Program Coordinator for the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation. She is an advocate for native plant conservation and gardening with native plants, and aims to engage gardeners to utilize ecological restoration in their gardening practices. Previously, she spent 14 years at the New York Botanical Garden as a curator of woody plants and the Director of the Thain Family Forest. Jessica holds a BS in Plant Sciences from Cornell University and a Graduate Certificate in Conservation Biology from Fordham University.

Michael Spina, CERP (Term expires 2026)

Senior Landscape Architect at HDR

Michael Spina is a professional landscape architect with over a decade of experience in ecological design. He collaborates with project teams to develop and implement design and planning strategies that enhance ecosystem structure and function. His primary focus is on coastal climate resilience adaptation, ecological restoration, and green infrastructure projects, with a particular interest in finding opportunities for waterfront access, conservation of biodiversity, and wildlife connectivity.

Patrick Shea, CERPIT (Term expires 2026)
Virgina, USA

After a US Federal service career in Information Systems, Patrick Shear decided to use his retirement time to help solve the pressing environmental problems of our day. He has started a project at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg majoring in Ecological Restoration, and completed a Bachelor’s degree in December of 2024. Patrick has completed a suite of restoration classes at VT and have participated in restoration projects sponsored by the university.

Katherine Zaiger, CERP (Term expires 2026)

Indiana, USA

Katherine Zaiger is the Assistant Director of Environmental Programs for the City of Bloomington Utilities. She holds a Master's in Natural Resource Ecology and Management from Oklahoma State University and is a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) as well as a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC). With 8 years of experience in Ecological Restoration, her expertise spans prairie restoration, forest management, wetland, and streambank restoration. In her current role, Katherine focuses on Urban Greenspaces and Green Stormwater Infrastructure.

Marketing and Outreach Committee

The Marketing and Outreach Committee is comprised of 6 members, including a chairperson who is a certified practitioner. These committee members work to inform ecological restoration practitioners about the certification program (and its benefits), promote training opportunities, and identify and facilitate opportunities for teaming with other organizations.

Maha Guliani, CERPIT (Term expires 2024)

Oregon, USA

Maha Guliani is an ecologist who has over six years of experience working in the academic, non-profit, and private environmental industries in Miami, Florida. She started her career in 2013 at Florida International University's Plant-Animal Interactions laboratory, studying the habitat fragmentation of various plants in the Apocynaceae family within South Florida' s imperiled pine rockland ecosystems. In 2016, Maha moved on to work as the Pine Rockland Initiative (PRI) program Coordinator at The Institute for Regional Conservation. During her tenure, she worked on restoring public and private pine rockland and natural forests communities by eradicating and monitoring invasive vegetation species. As the PRI Coordinator, Maha also teamed up with local environmental organizations, such as the Tropical Audubon Society, Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens, and the Dade Chapter of the Native Plant Society, to hold restoration and environmental workdays for local volunteers to learn how to maintain and restore south Florida's rich ecosystems. Maha is currently at Johnson Engineering, Inc. working on listed species surveys, ecological assessments, mitigation planning, wetland permitting and habitat conservation management plans. Maha continues to use her passion for education and community outreach to team up with local organizations to protect South Florida's threatened and imperiled flora and fauna.

Betsy Yankowiak, CERP (Term expires 2024)

Little River Wetlands Project

Indiana, USA

I am the Director of Preserves and Programs at the Little River Wetlands Project located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I have worked for the non-profit organization for over 14 years overseeing the wetland restoration and management of the 1300+ acres of protected areas, along with managing the wetland education, volunteer, and land conservation programs. I have been a member of SER since 2015 and have been working towards acceptance into the CERP program since the program’s inception. This includes completion of a graduate degree in August in Integrated Natural Resources from the University of Idaho. I strongly believe in building opportunities to further the profession of ecological restoration and am willing to volunteer my time to help sustain, promote, and grow the CERP program.

Daniel Lawrence, CERPIT (Term expires 2024)

Nigeria

I am excited about the prospect of contributing to SER's history of broadening participation and to discussions about traditional and non-traditional career opportunities for practitioners and environmentalists. Africa remains the least when compared to other continents vis-à-vis ecological restoration knowledge and information. My focus would be to learn new practices, share knowledge and ideas about SER mission and technical resources in Africa as my primary constituency especially now in its budding stage in the Continent and this will be better achieved through the Marketing and Outreach committee if I am given a chance.

Alex Darr, CERPIT (Term expires 2024)

Pond & Company

Georgia, USA

My name is Alex Darr and I am a young professional, recently accepted into the organization as a CERPIT. My background is in environmental management and have been working as an environmental scientist for an engineering consulting firm for about 4 years. I work primarily on stream restoration, environmental survey, permitting, and erosion control design. I would like to become more involved in the SER organization, network with new folks, and help contribute to the organization through service. I specifically would like to serve on the Marketing and Outreach committee as I am passionate for ecological restoration and am well connected with young professionals just starting out who would benefit from the resources that come with SER membership.

Paul Morris, CERP (Term expires 2024)

Earth Connection Centre Biological Reserve, Acorus Restoration Native Plant Nursery

Ontario, Canada

As Co-director of Earth Connection Center for Eco-education and Leadership and Planet Healers, Paul lived remotely for four years in Yucatan, Mexico restoring the tropical forest, creating a biological reserve, and worked with the local Mayan people. Over those years, he hosted over 40 international volunteers and mentored 2 indigenous Mexican women for 4 months doing their environmental engineering practicum for their thesis. This time showed him that his biological conservation, propagation, and ecological restoration skills apply to any ecosystem. As the owner-operator of Acorus Restoration, a native plant nursery and ecological consulting firm that he has run for 27 years, he is a leader at the forefront of ecology and ecological restoration in Canada has done all types of biological and restoration work and has worked with all levels of government, businesses, volunteers and homeowners. He has also done all aspects of business management and commercially propagated over 350 species of wetland, woodland, and prairie species.

Charles Smith, CERP (Term expires 2024)

Fairfax County

Virginia, USA

I am a restoration ecologist with 30 years of experience managing natural resources, providing outreach and education, and working on policy and program development. I have worked in the public sector but also volunteer for several non-profits. I feel that it is critical to share information about SER, its mission and technical resources to promote ecological restoration to improve the environmental conditions on Earth and the lives of all humans and other organisms.

Ramesh Venkataraman, CERP (Term expires 2025)

India

After a career of over 24 years as a Finance, Risk Management and Internal Audit professional, Ramesh started Junglescapes, a non-profit engaged in ecological conservation, in 2007. As Managing Trustee of Junglescapes, Ramesh is actively involved in various ecological restoration activities in the forest landscapes of the Western Ghats in South India (a global biodiversity hotspot). Junglescapes works closely with forest dwelling communities towards creating capabilities amongst them for ecological conservation. Creating alternate livelihoods for these communities through ecological restoration forms an integral part of Junglescapes' work. His corporate background helps Ramesh work effectively with corporate CSR bodies that support Junglescapes' initiatives.

Blaine Rothauser, CERP (Term expires 2026)

Technical Specialist at GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

Mr. Rothauser has worked extensively throughout New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic for more than 30 years on conservation management planning, ecological restoration design and oversight, threatened and endangered (T&E) species surveys, regulatory and land use permitting, biologic/environmental inventories, and environmental impact studies. Recent projects have included biodiversity assessments at 20 manufacturing and administrative sites in the U.S. and Canada for a Fortune 500 company as part of its global sustainability initiative and the design and implementation of the ecological restoration of an industrial property on Newark Bay to integrate it with its natural surroundings and support the client’s ESG goals. Mr. Rothauser is a Senior Ecologist with GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. and a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner. He is also a professional wildlife photographer. His passion for and knowledge of the natural world creates a powerful synergy between his environmental consulting and photography careers, resulting in dynamic presentations for varied audiences, including TEDx. He delivers programs that are not only technically on-point, but visually exciting.

Robert J. Mayer, CERP (Term expires 2026)

Puerto Rico

Robert J. Mayer is the director of Vida Marina: Center for Conservation and Ecological Restoration of the University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla. He is also a full professor of biology and teaches an undergraduate research course in ecological restoration. His work focuses on the ecological restoration of coastal dunes and mangroves on the north coast of Puerto Rico. He enjoys bringing people back to nature while increasing the resilience of coastal communities and habitats to the effects of climate change. He is also very committed with creating a future generation of ecological restoration practitioners that will contribute to the restoration of coastal ecosystems and educating the general public on the importance of protecting them.

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