WLS and Palustrine Group join forces

Aaron Lesko

Senior CAD Designer

A graduate of Triangle Tech in Erie, PA, I have 26 years of experience in CAD design and plan production. I’ve spent the last three years focusing on stream restoration. My love for mountain biking and camping have made me all the more passionate about what WLS does for environmental preservation. I’m proud to be able to contribute to the preservation of the environment.

One of my favorite projects at WLS is the Scarborough Mitigation Bank. It has been such an exciting opportunity to help design the priority 2 single thread channel. I was able see my design go from the computer to real life!

In my free time I love spending time with my family and pets. I am also an avid music fan and love to go to as many concerts as possible. My current passion project is tending to my backyard pond with my daughter.

Reid Hotelling

Field Ecologist

“There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and music in its roar; I love not Man the less, but Nature more.” -Lord Byron

I grew up in Cary, NC getting lost in the woods and scouring for elusive animals. I have always had an innate passion for the natural world, which is why I graduated from USC with a degree in Environmental Science so that I can fulfill my purpose in life to conserve, restore, and explore our planet’s many diverse environments and creatures. I participated in two research projects while at USC focusing on ecological topics and studied abroad in Thailand, where I traveled around various countries in SE Asia learning about how the people manage environmental issues and regulation.

Outside of work, I produce music, go to events, read books, engage in outdoor activities, participate in various sports and volunteer work, as well as spend time with friends, family, and my pet beast, Zuko, a chow-lab.

Working at WLS, I am passionately driven to accomplish goals in building team relationships, business development, and environmental/ecological preservation and restoration.

Leah Farr

Field Ecologist

I joined the team in 2023 bringing a unique background with 11 years of state and local park and natural resource experience. As a NC native I understand and treasure the ecological communities that make the southeast unique and the people that endeavor to restore and preserve them. I value and understand the importance of collaboration efforts necessary to establish successful ecosystem restoration and mitigation banking projects. My role as a field ecologist gives me insight and opportunities to generate new relationships and establish new goals in mitigation banking.

In my personal time I enjoy traveling to new places that exemplify our worlds natural beauty and meeting new people. I can also be found camping, backpacking, hiking, kayaking, crafting, gardening, and spending time with my friends and family. I have a dual BS in Natural Resources and Sustainability from Oregon State University.

Ryan Owings, PE

General Manager – Texas

I joined Water & Land Solutions in 2022 as the General Manager of Texas.  I started in this industry as an environmental engineer working on a variety of soil and water remediation projects across the Gulf Coast and abroad. I developed a variety of stream and wetland restorations and land conservation projects in Texas as part of my passion for ecological restoration.

I graduated from North Carolina State University’s Biological and Agricultural Engineering department earning a B.S. in Biological Engineering. I am a registered professional engineer in Texas.

As a commercially minded environmental engineer, I particularly enjoy the process of developing new projects that create ecological value while enabling economic growth. I am excited to be a part of the continued growth of WLS, charged with building our footprint and growing our services in the region.

As a conservationist, outdoorsman, and family man, I enjoy all things that require healthy and functioning ecosystems. I like taking my wife, son, and dog on many adventures across the country. and at various times of the year we can be found in the woods, prairies, streams, and bays of this great state.

Kyle Obermiller

Senior Ecologist

I joined WLS in June of 2019 as a Project Ecologist with 5 years of experience in the environmental field. I have a passion for ecological restoration and was drawn to WLS to be able to make a difference in the environment. I genuinely enjoy seeing and being a part of the transformation streams and wetlands go through on our projects. During post-construction monitoring, I find great joy in finding salamanders, fish, birds, and all other little critters returning into a improved environment where they can thrive.

I am a NC native, born and raised in the mountains of western North Carolina. Growing up in the shadows of Dupont State Forest and the mighty French Broad River gave me a passion for conservation and restoration of the environment. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Ecosystems Assessment from North Carolina State University in 2014.

When work isn’t calling, I escape the city and can likely be found exploring and checking off visiting all of North Carolina’s state parks, from the mountains to the sea.

Joyce Marzano

Project Manager

I joined WLS as a Project Manager after working for nearly two decades in the environmental field. My passion is seeing the landscape transform through ecosystem restoration activities and knowing the end result is a healthier place for plants, animals, and people. I enjoy working through the regulatory process and forming relationships with stakeholders along the way.

I have been interested in the natural world from an early age. I graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Geography from Ohio University, and an M.S. in Natural Resources from The Ohio State University. I worked in Chicago for ten years, then made my way back to my hometown in Ohio to raise my twins. I loved my time in the windy city, but we are grateful to be near family and in a place with so many accessible parks and green spaces. I am a Professional Wetland Scientist, and have a diverse background which includes public involvement and construction observation.

In my free time I enjoy hiking with my dog, cooking with my kids, and hosting big family dinners with my husband.

Cara Conder

Senior Project Manager

I am a Senior Project Manager with WLS and have been active within the mitigation and ecological restoration industry for over 9 years. At WLS I am responsible for development and delivery of project tasks, regulatory coordination, and budget and schedule compliance for several mitigation banks and full delivery projects within North Carolina. In addition, I also provide management assistance to all project managers. Prior to working at WLS, I was a Project Manager at a large national mitigation firm where I developed and managed numerous mitigation banks and turn-key projects. Prior to working in the ecological restoration field, I was a science teacher for Wake County Public Schools.

My passion is working with the WLS team and seeing the group and projects really come together. I love to see younger co-workers grow and a really good team take formation.

I earned my Master of Science in Natural Resources from North Carolina State University and both a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and a Master of Arts in Teaching in Science Education from Coastal Carolina University. When I’m not busy with WLS, I love travelling, music, cats, and enjoying the outdoors.

Marla Denicola

Project Manager

I joined WLS in 2022 as a Project Manager with 9 years of experience within the ecosystem restoration community.  Previously, I managed the construction and post-restoration performance monitoring of stream and wetland restoration projects in West Virginia.  I am passionate about the restoration of areas that have been impacted by mining, timbering, energy infrastructure, and other anthropogenic activities in my home state of West Virginia and other areas of Appalachia.

I have always enjoyed the outdoors.  I spent much of my childhood hiking and enjoying nature with my dad.  I attended West Virginia University where I earned a BS in Psychology and immediately realized that I would never be happy working in a clinical setting.  I knew that I needed the opportunity to get back to my roots and work in proximity to nature and went on to earn a BS and MS in Geology, concentrating on geomorphology and remote sensing.  I became passionate about LiDAR processing and geomorphologic interpretation in the geology program, and have utilized that in my career for site analysis and project feasibility studies.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending my time with my husband and children.  I enjoy gardening, hiking with my family and dog, live music, and have a passion for cooking.  I also love to travel and take great pleasure in exploring new places.  I am a WVU Mountaineer at heart, and you can always find me cheering on my alma mater.

Kayne Van Stell, CERP

VP of Ecosystem Design Services

For the past twenty years, I have been involved in many aspects of ecosystem restoration and mitigation banking such as site development, stormwater management, regulatory policy and permitting, land acquisition, conservation planning and performance monitoring. Throughout my career, I have gained valuable project implementation experience and understand how to navigate the technical complexity and financial challenges for achieving long-term success.

As practitioners at WLS, we put emphasis on improving water quality and ecological functions through an innovative and collaborative design philosophy. I have been fortunate to work with multiple disciplines, stakeholders and environmental regulators across the country. Forging meaningful relationships with these people has helped develop technical guidelines for the ecosystem restoration industry and provide a standard of care in everything we do, especially when integrating principles of fluvial geomorphology and biological diversity.

I am originally from Chicago, Illinois and hold a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Northern Michigan University. Growing up in the Great Lakes region and surrounded by water and development, my passion for the outdoors and protecting our natural resources started at an early age. I currently serve as an active board member with the North Carolina Environmental Restoration Association (NCERA) and a member of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER). I live in Wake Forest, NC, with my wife and two daughters and enjoy spending time outdoors from the mountains to the coast.

Josh White, PG, PE, CFM, CPESC

VP of Mitigation Services – OH, KY

For nearly two decades I have immersed myself in all parts of ecosystem restoration and compensatory mitigation. As a fluvial geomorphologist, I provide expertise in all aspects of WLS projects, including site search, feasibility, survey, planning, design, permitting, land acquisition and construction management. I have been fortunate enough to manage numerous large-scale restoration projects for a variety of clients throughout the United States and able to protect, design and restore over 90 miles of streams and 600 acres of wetlands. I still remain active in post-restoration monitoring and applied research efforts in order to seek improvements and refinements that lead to better overall function and value in WLS projects.

I grew up on a farm in Kentucky. My family traveled with their horses throughout Kentucky and its surrounding states. This is where I first fell in love with streams, landscapes and geology. I pursued my geologic passion with a B.S. in Geology from Northern Kentucky University and an M.S. in Fluvial Geomorphology from West Virginia University. Outside the office, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my wife and kids, seeing live music, coaching soccer, riding horses, hiking/backpacking, running and finding new interesting rocks!

Nate Ober, PG

VP of Mitigation Services PA, WV, MD

I’ve managed and designed over 100 miles of stream and wetland restoration projects, drawing from more than 17 years of experience in fluvial geomorphology, ecosystem restoration design, construction management, and post-restoration monitoring.

Cost effective solutions for stream and wetland mitigation projects are a passion of mine. These have guided me towards the development of innovative technologies, and executing projects with higher quality and lower costs. I bring unique experience in three-dimensional design, machine control construction, LiDAR acquisition and aerial mapping, two-dimensional hydraulic modeling, and Clean Water Act permitting.

As a kayaker from Appalachia I followed my love of rivers by studying geology at West Virginia University. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in 2002, I quickly became an expert on the impacts of mining to surface and subsurface hydrology, and the restoration of active and abandoned mine lands. I moved to Tennessee in 2008 to practice ecosystem restoration with the Tennessee Stream Mitigation Program and the Department of Transportation. After five years I moved back to West Virginia as a Practice Lead of an ecosystem restoration team, implementing a 10,000-acre mitigation bank, a 17-mile large river restoration project, and many other restoration and mitigation projects.

I now reside in Colorado working nationwide to create mitigation projects for private and public development.

Daniel Ingram

General Manager – North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia

As General Manager of NC, TN, and VA, I utilize my 20+ years of mitigation experience to steer projects from inception to close-out while supporting and mentoring staff. I most enjoy working on the bookends of the typical project lifespan: site identification and formation, monitoring, and regulatory closeout.

After graduating from NCSU College of Natural Resources I fortuitously had the opportunity to work on large-scale wetland mitigation in coastal NC. A few years later I was introduced to stream restoration through NCDOT and NCWRP. Since that time, I have developed, designed, built, monitored, and closed out a variety of mitigation banks, full delivery sites, and permittee responsible mitigation across the southeast. I learned the practice of restoration from many early leaders in the industry and I endeavor to develop the next generation of mitigation professionals.

My three kids and wife tolerate my devotion to my old boat. When not working I enjoy spending time on the water, camping/backpacking, and puttering around the house.

Christopher Tomsic, PE, CFM

Senior Project Engineer

I’ve spent my entire life living and breathing the outdoors. I am happiest when I find myself in the woods or flipping rocks in a stream looking for life. I bring all this passion and love for the natural world to my work at WLS.

As an ecologically-minded engineer, I have over 14 years of experience focusing on environmental restoration and natural system processes. My areas of expertise include stream and wetland restoration, mitigation/nutrient banking, geomorphic/stream assessments, innovative best management practices (BMP), hydrologic/hydraulic modeling, business development, construction management, field surveying, Civil 3D, and ArcGIS. This experience has been instrumental in developing a multitude of projects at Water and Land Solutions including the Scarborough Wetland and Stream Mitigation Bank, Banner Branch Stream and Wetland Restoration Project, and the Horne Creek Stream Restoration Project. As part of my mission in life and at WLS, I try to share my experience and knowledge with other people to empower them so that they may help protect and transform our environment in the future.

I grew up in central Ohio but call the mountains of western North Carolina my home. I received my Bachelors and Masters of Science in Civil Engineering from Ohio State University.

In my spare time I helped co-found Connect Reems Creek, a Weaverville based non-profit organization committed to connecting the Reems Creek Valley to the French Broad river with a greenway. My wife and I have also started a certified organic farm (Wishstix Farm, LLC) on our 25 acres in Weaverville. I love spending time with my wife and two boys fishing, snowboarding, mountain biking, goofing off, and running around the woods.

Rosgen IV Trained
Registered Engineer in NC, TN, SC, VA, TX, WV, PA, and IN

Catherine Roland

Project Manager

I first started working at WLS in 2015 as a Project Scientist focusing on stream, wetland, and habitat restoration, conservation and stewardship. In 2020, I moved into my current role where I am involved in and manage all aspects of our mitigation banks as well as Full-Delivery projects with the NC Division of Mitigation Services. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science with a concentration in Hydrology, and a double minor in Geology and Geography from the University of Delaware. In 2019, I completed my Masters of Natural Resources, Assessment and Analysis at North Carolina State University.

While at WLS, I have been a part of the implementation of 5 key projects in the Neuse River watershed. These 5 mitigation sites have an extensive footprint which will provide maximum ecological uplift and water quality benefits to over 22,000 linear feet of stream and 18.69 acres of wetlands. It is exciting to be involved in these 5 projects that are protecting and improving water quality in a rapidly growing area just outside of downtown Raleigh.

My passion for the outdoors and protecting water quality began as a child from summers spent on the Cowpasture River with my family. I am a current board member of the Cowpasture River Preservation Association. I am dedicated to improving the health our watersheds as well as educating the public in the value of natural resources. I feel it is important that we leave the environment better than we found it for future generations to enjoy. When not at work I enjoy kayaking, hiking, exploring downtown Raleigh and being in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Matt Butler, PMP

Senior Project Manager

I am a Senior Project Manager with WLS with 15 years’ experience managing environmentally beneficial projects. I received my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2019 and have been working in the mitigation industry for the past 4 years developing and managing stream, wetland, buffer, and nutrient projects in North Carolina and South Carolina. I will be focusing on projects in South Carolina and Georgia at WLS.

I have specialized experience in stormwater, stream, and wetland restoration, riparian ecology, Clean Water Act Section 404/401 permitting, stream morphology assessment, and biological monitoring. I spent my early career as a fisheries biologist working on various projects spanning the East Coast.

I graduated with a Master of Science from East Carolina University and have a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and Chemistry from East Carolina, respectively.

I have dedicated my career to promoting resiliency in our environment. I believe that ecological restoration and conservation are a way for nature to heal past damage while also allowing for responsible future progress.

When I am not hard at work managing projects for WLS, I enjoy spending time with my wife, 3 kids, and rescue mut. Occasionally, I get to hunt and fish!

Matt Butler is joining the WLS team this month! We are excited to expand our talented team of project managers, helping with our growing portfolio of mitigation projects. Stay tuned for more of Matt’s story.

Jason Hightower

GIS Analyst

Maps are the name of my game. My previous GIS experience consisted of data management, field data collection, spatial analysis, floodplain mapping and map production. Here at WLS, I get to utilize those skills on projects that restore and enhance our environment. Each project we have is unique – from the client to the ecosystem. I appreciate how we get to collaborate and create the best approach for each opportunity.

My passion for the environment stretches back as far as I can remember. From camping, to spending time in parks, I’ve always enjoyed being out and about. I grew up here in Raleigh and studied Geography and Geology at Appalachian State University. In my free time, you might catch me mountain biking, running, playing soccer or enjoying music.

Robert Stewart, PHD, PE

Senior Project Manager

I am a water resources engineer with a diverse experience of research and application to restoration ecology. My expertise is in the fields of open channel hydraulics and sediment transport, and my skills include geomorphic assessments, 2D hydraulic modeling, 3D restoration design, sediment transport modeling, construction over site, and property assessment. I have managed and designed dozens of miles of stream restoration projects from the Piedmont of South Carolina to the Ridge and Valley province of Pennsylvania out to California. I design, model, and help WLS implement projects across the United States.

I grew up in East Tennessee fishing, hiking, riding horses, and enjoying the diverse outdoor activities that are available in this area. I completed my undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering at Tennessee Technological University where my passion for outdoors grew and my interest in ecosystem restoration began.

I graduated with a Masters and PHD in Civil Engineering from the University of Kentucky where my research focused on watershed sensor networks, turbulence in open channels, and sediment transport. My professional restoration career began with the Bureau of Reclamation working on gravel bedded salmonid streams in the mountainous region of Northern California. On the Trinity River Restoration Project, I designed and monitored gravel augmentations, mechanical restoration, and I helped develop restoration flow releases from Lewiston Dam.

I currently live on a sustainable homestead farm near Johnson City Tennessee and am a member of the Carter County Cattlemen’s Association. In my free time I enjoy gardening, walking the dogs, shed hunting, fishing, backpacking, and visiting friends and family. If my phone goes directly to voicemail I am likely working on a remote restoration project or out enjoying the wilderness away from cell phone service. In both my personal and professional live I am living the dream and trying to make the world a better place.

James Coffin

CAD Analyst

I joined WLS with 15 years of experience in drafting and design. As a CAD analyst with WLS, I help create and manage CAD templates, refine design drawings , process and manage field-collected data for topographic surveys and base mapping, and create and manage plan sets for complex projects.

I enjoy being a part of the WLS team and working to improve the environment for the future. My love for the outdoors started as a young kid when I was in the Scouts. I have a passion for being a good steward of the outdoors and I wish to teach my son the same. Out of the office I enjoy hiking, cycling, camping, and fishing with my wife and son.

Rocky Rockwell

Water Resource Specialist

I have the privilege of living along the banks of the mighty Tygart River in West Virginia. I enjoy being outdoors for work and play, and some of the best times have been whitewater rafting with friends and family. My love of rivers has been the guiding force of my life and career, and I joined WLS because of the trust and respect I have for the people here.

I’ve spent the last decade developing my expertise in ecosystem restoration by being out in the field – surveying, overseeing stream construction, and monitoring projects. When I’m not working outdoors, I’m working indoors – analyzing field data and compiling results, developing stream and wetland designs, and creating the drawings and reports that bring it all together.

I like puzzles and I like solving problems, and I get the most professional satisfaction from looking back at a job well done and planning ahead to do the next one better.

Amber Snavley

Senior Project Manager

I have worked in the environmental resources field for over 12 years with extensive experience in 401/404 water quality certification permitting, GIS, comprehensive environmental functional assessments, and surveying across the Northeast region. During the last eight years of my career, I have managed multiple small and large complex mitigation sites, managing the successful restoration of greater than 100 miles of stream and 50 acres of wetland in Pennsylvania alone.

I grew up in a small, rural town along the Allegheny River and surrounded by the Allegheny National Forest. If I wasn’t on  family’s farm playing in the stacked bales of hay or collecting eggs from the chicken coop, you could almost certainly find me somewhere in the creek below our home. It’s probably then that my love for the outdoors developed, but my appreciation for our natural environment grew with my first internship. It was then I learned how important it is to protect and restore our natural environment.

I earned my B.A. Degree in Environmental Geography and my M.S. Degree in Environmental Planning and GIS at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. When I’m not working, you’ll find me indulging in my passion for fitness and nutrition. I am a certified nutritional consultant and am studying to become a personal trainer. I most love spending time with my partner, Adam, and our miniature schnauzer, Perdy on the weekends.

Scott West

Land Manager

I bring a unique real estate background and personal experience to connect conservation-minded landowners with WLS in order to achieve their goals in protecting their land and ecologically vulnerable habitats. Growing up in the Low Country of South Carolina, I spent much of my time outdoors at the family farm where I was first introduced to conservation when my family placed a protective easement over our land. After graduating from Clemson University with a degree in Political Science and History, I spent several years working as a deckhand-engineer and educational programmer on historic sailing vessels and classic yachts until beginning a real estate career in 2015. As a licensed broker in multiple states, I have helped facilitate transactions between landowners and buyers for cattle farms, agriculture and timber tracts, recreational property, and solar energy leasing. Beginning in 2018, I started my own real estate company focusing directly on bridging landowners’ interests in conservation with stream and wetland mitigation clients.

In addition to being an avid guitar player in my spare time, I love mountain biking, hiking, foraging, fly fishing, and sailing. By way of my hobbies, personal and professional background I have gained a profound appreciation for the incredible benefits offered by protecting both water and land.

Ann Clark Coyle

Environmental Scientist

My love for the environment reaches back to my childhood, where I explored the creeks and rivers surrounding my home in Richmond, VA. My family was always spending time on the water; kayaking, camping, or hiking nature trails.

After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a B.S. in Marine Science, I decided to stay in the low country. I worked for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources as a seasonal field technician performing sea turtle nesting surveys and then, as a wildlife biologist managing the state and recreational oyster beds. I enjoy working in the natural environment and getting my hands dirty.

I enjoy being with my family in my free time and playing out on the water. Boating,  crabbing, or watching the South Carolina Gamecocks play football. My hobbies, upbringing, and professional background have given me a profound appreciation for the natural world. I am excited to bring my passion for restoration and conservation to WLS.