The Team

Diane, President

Diane is the glue that holds Steward Green together, making sure schedules are kept, while overseeing payroll, procurement, contracts, and travel/events with a keen awareness for the details. Diane received her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Valley Forge; previously working as an educator and principal. Diane also assists with native meadow development, UAS applications, agroecology farm to table design and client needs. Her problem-solving capabilities are highly valued at Steward Green! Diane enjoys spending time with her family, biking/hiking and can put top chefs to shame:)

Thom, Vice President Research

Thom Almendinger is a seasoned conservation ecologist with an impressive track record in land stewardship, strategic planning, and project management. His expertise encompasses ecosystem/habitat restoration, native/invasive plant species management, wildlife management, scientific data analysis, and building partnerships with stakeholders.

At Duke Farms, where he spent over 20 years, Almendinger achieved significant conservation milestones. As the Director of Natural Resources & Agroecology for the last 12 years, he developed and implemented a comprehensive land stewardship plan, managed conservation initiatives across 2,750 acres, and collaborated with universities on research projects to define best practices. Highlights include spearheading the development of crucial habitat for endangered species by converting 750 acres of hayfields into rotationally grazed grasslands, initiating, strong public-private partnerships which led to the restoration of over 1,000 acres of floodplains, forests, and grasslands and fostering a 20-year deer management program which increased native plant cover from 23% to 72% through that reduced the deer population density.

Almendinger holds a Master of Science in Ecology & Evolution from Rutgers University, a Bachelor of Science in Ecology & Natural Resource Management from Rutgers University, and an Associate of Applied Science in Forestry from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He is a published author, contributing articles to esteemed publications like Ecological Restoration, and has received numerous awards for his environmental stewardship, including the Land Ethics Award and the Environmental Quality Award from the US EPA.

Danielle, Business Administrator

Danielle comes from a world of accounting business backgrounds, organizing workflow, invoicing, client business requirements, government compliance, insurance certificates, hiring protocol and more as well as ALL things behind the scenes in the office. Danielle enjoys spending time with her family and is quick to jump in a game of disc golf!

Shara, Vice President of Ecological Operations

Shara keeps the proverbial ducks in a row, ensuring projects are completed and keeping clients informed throughout the entire process. 

Shara holds a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife & Fisheries Biology from The Pennsylvania State University. She brings a wealth of experience, having worked in invasive species education and control with the National Park Service, conducted prescribed burns with The Nature Conservancy, and contributed to wildlife surveys at North Carolina State University. For the past three years, Shara has led crews all over New Jersey and Pennsylvania, focusing on wetland restoration.

Nathan, Field Technician

Nathan started as an intern and is now a field technician overseeing portering services, supporting bioswale restorations, meadow work, planting and seeding projects. Nathan is also currently studying to get his part 107 UAS drone license to further his value at Steward Green.

Colin, GIS and Innovation Specialist

Colin provides geo-spatial analysis for Steward Green’s varied UAS projects. He is working towards his UAS pilot certification and helps provide Steward Green clients with innovative solutions for all their UAS and GIS related needs.

Colin is a published scientific author and holds a master's degree in marine science from Stony Brook University. Prior to joining Steward Green, he conducted coastal restoration and harmful algal bloom remediation projects for Stony Brook University and founded a small-scale restorative aquaculture company on Long Island. Colin enjoys spending time with his girlfriend and family, outdoor adventures that include diving and spear fishing!

Amy, Native Plant Specialist

With 20+ years of horticultural consultation and landscape design experience, Amy works for Steward Green wherever help is needed from design, to implementation, to monitoring of projects and beyond. She acquired her AS and BS in Horticulture from Temple University School of Environmental Design (now part of TU Tyler School of Art and Architecture).

She is now working toward her Master of Environmental Science and GIS graduate certificate in an effort to shift career focus to environmental restoration and conservation. Previous research projects include agricultural intercropping, macroplastics in streams, riparian restoration, and land use conversion. She also holds Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist and Sustainable Landscape Certified certifications from Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association, and is currently preparing to test for her part 107 UAS drone license. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, outdoor/nature activities, gardening, golf, music, working on homesteading skills.

Matthew, GIS Director

Matthew provides geo-spatial analysis and map making expertise for Steward Green’s varied UAS projects. He is instrumental in the project planning and analysis phases and enjoys spending time in the field as well.

Matthew has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Economics from Denison University. He worked for two New Jersey land conservation nonprofits before joining Steward Green in 2019. He is delighted to share his passion for the outdoors, land conservation, and natural resource management with clients through his work at Steward Green. Matt enjoys adventuring outdoors, on land and in the water.

Ellie, Geospatial Analyst

Ellie tackles spatial awareness out in the field, as well as analysis within the office. She has assisted with many restoration and bioretention projects and specializes in providing support for Steward Green’s UAS projects. Ellie helps design our educational messaging, providing artwork and content.

Ellie started as an intern with Steward Green in 2018, growing her skills in field research, restoration implementation and ecological studies. Since then, she has discovered a love for the science of GIS. She graduated with a BS from Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, has a certificate in Geomatics, as well as awards for GIS mapping from New Jersey and Rutgers. Ellie enjoys teaching her family and others about the world of ecology, all things outdoors and skydiving

Gary, Agroecology Technician

Gary has skills and knowledge from his previous career in public service where he was the Farm Manager for a living history farm. Gary is the SG staff member you’ll see most often on our tractors, calibrating equipment or tackling invasive flora such as Autumn olive with a forestry mower. He has decades of experience operating and maintaining large farm equipment, whether it be horse or tractor drawn! His transition from ecologically friendly farming to installing ecological restoration practices was a logical next step in his career.

At home, Gary loves spending time with his family, tending an amazing vegetable garden and practices beekeeping; sometimes assisting clients with the removal (and rehoming) of honeybee swarms!

Cameron, Research Technician

Cameron, also a former Steward Green intern, performs data collection and analysis using UAS to support Steward Green’s land management and conservation projects; ensuring deer density monitoring and farmland preservation efforts are completed with excellence.

Prior to his time at Steward Green, Cameron worked as an Energy Consultant for the data analytics firm Power Advocate, as a Watershed Ambassador for AmeriCorps and the NJDEP, and as a Government Service Fellow for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He received his BSE in Chemical and Biological Engineering from Princeton University and Master of Forestry at Yale School of the Environment.

Gene, Ontological Coach

Gene hitches Steward Green’s “visionary horse” with the “operational cart” that provides solutions for our clients. He manages client relations, leads our UAS group and has always had a passion to connect others to the land.

Gene has an agricultural upbringing, is an ecological land planner with degrees from Penn State (BS LARCH) and Columbia Business School (Nonprofit Management). He is currently the New Jersey Environmental advisor for Rutgers Agricultural Experiment Station Board of Managers. Gene and his team have been honored with NJ Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence twice, as well as awards from EPA and others for his work in ecological project management. Gene had been the Director of Research & Natural Resources for Duke Farms Foundation for over a decade and now is lead consultant for Steward Green. He has taught and completed successful projects throughout the U.S. and abroad. Since 2001, Gene has been perfecting thermal methodologies that provide ecological uplift for clients and conservation professionals.

K.C., Wildlife Biologist

K.C. adds wildlife wisdom and support with Steward Green’s agricultural projects, pollinator meadows, and wildlife habitat regeneration.  He performs data collection during UAS missions, assists with restoration monitoring and reporting, and provides our crew with a calm energy, which is very much appreciated!

K.C. earned his master’s degree in Wildlife Biology from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania and has spent many years perfecting research techniques and application for wildlife, particularly large fauna species.