WEPG has an established and experienced staff of regulatory and natural resource specialist which makes our team unique and highly functional.

Len Rindner, Principal/Founder, has 38 years of experience in providing wetlands and natural resource consulting services for development projects. Mr. Rindner has a well-established relationship with local land planners, engineers, surveyors, and state/federal permitting agencies in the area. Mr. Rindner is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist, a member of the Society of Wetland Scientists, and holds a Bachelors in Environmental Studies and Bachelor in Landscape Architecture.

Jeff Levi, Biologist/Botanist, has been a crucial part of WEPG since 1997. He is an expert stream and wetland delineator in the Piedmont and Mountain regions of North and South Carolina for over the past 25 years. He also has over 25 years of experience in conducting rare, threatened, and endangered species surveys, section 401/404 regulatory permitting & planning, botanical/terrestrial community inventories, natural heritage inventories, forest health monitoring, water quality assessments, and stream restoration/enhancement projects. Mr. Levi holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Ecology & Conservation Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Ecology.

Patrick Kealy, Biologist, is a skilled biologist who has been on the WEPG team since 1998. He is an expert stream and wetland delineator. Mr. Kealy possesses knowledge of the State of North Carolina administrative rules for stream definitions and has demonstrated skills utilizing the NC Division of Water Quality field methods for identification of the origins of intermittent and perennial streams. He has also planned and supervised stream restoration/enhancement projects in the Charlotte area. Mr. Kealy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Education.

Lisa Gaffney, Botanist, has been providing environmental consultation services since 1997 and has recently joined the WEPG team. She has experience as a project manager, field botanist, natural communities evaluator, NOV crisis manager, certified site inspector, wetland delineator, and bioengineering supervisor. Ms. Gaffney has conducted numerous Environmental Assessments, Threatened and Endangered Species Surveys, Stream Assessments, Tree Surveys, and Site Inspections. She has also managed numerous remediation projects for compliance with the NC Sediment and Erosion Control Ordinance and other local ordinances. She has a Bachelors Degree in Biology.

Heath Caldwell, Environmental Scientist, has also recently joined the WEPG team and has over 15 years of environmental consulting experience throughout the Midwest and southeast. He has experience as a project manager and technical lead associated with multiple stream and wetland restoration projects and has provided stream assessment, wetland delineation, Section 404 and 401 permitting and habitat assessment services for multiple capital improvement and linear transportation/utility projects. Mr. Caldwell is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist, Erosion Prevention and Sediment Control Inspector, and is certified to identify wetlands according to the N.C. Wetlands Assessment Methodology (NCWAM). Mr. Caldwell holds a Master’s of Environmental Science, and a Bachelor of Science in Zoology.

Daniel Kuefler, Biologist, has a broad academic background in ecology with experience designing, implementing and reporting ecological research. Mr. Kuefler holds a PhD in Ecology and is certified in Surface Water Identification (SWITC) and the NC Stream Assessment Method (NCSAM). He has over 5 years’ consulting experience in North Carolina, including wetland and stream monitoring for NCDMS projects, stream assessments, endangered species surveys, Section 404 and 401 permitting, and development of full-delivery stream restoration and mitigation projects.

Brett Kasberger, Biologist, has 5 years of experience in erosion control management, storm water mitigation, and field reconnaissance. Mr. Kasberger provides several services for the firm including field identification of aquatic features and mapping, sensitive species surveying, and ornithology. He holds a Bachelors in Biology with a focus on avian habitat and benthic level community assessment.

Kelsey Strausbaugh, Environmental Scientist, has worked with Geographic Information Systems and LiDAR Data within the engineering field since 2017. She has experience in species and habitat assessments, plant identification, invasive species management, forestry, client/engineer coordination and regulatory coordination. Ms. Strausbaugh holds a Bachelor of Science in Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology and a GIS Certificate from Appalachian State University, as well as a Masters Certificate in Environmental Assessment from North Carolina State University.

Jessica Kershner, CPA, manages WEPG’s business and finance functions and has worked in banking and public accounting. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Accounting from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.