OUR TEAM

Dr. Benjamin Burton

Founder
President Emeritus

Dr. Ben is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and rehabilitation, as well as the founder and owner of The New Jersey Centers of Physical Therapy…

James Preisendanz

Director of Restore Native Plants
President

James has worked for Restore Native Plants since its inception in 2013 and has been integral to its evolution as an…

Matt Simonelli

Co-Director of Restore Native Plants
Vice President

Matt’s dynamic leadership has been essential in restoring the Restore Native Plants’ restoration…

Dan Noonan

Co-Director of Restore Native Plants
Treasurer

Dan joined Restore Native Plants as a recurring volunteer and immediately fell in love with wildlife habitat…

Joe Kilday

Joe Kilday

Field Technician

Joe has been contributing to the mission of Restore Native Plants in various capacities since 2013….

Bradley Hildebrandt

Field Technician

Bradley’s interest in native plant and wildlife habitat restoration brought him to Restore Native Plants….

William Winkler

Property Maintenance Coordinator

Will has a unique blend of experience in both environmental work and property management. His exceptional…

Sarah Fishman

Community Outreach and Marketing Manager

Sarah joined the Restore Native Plants (RNP) team in the spring of 2024, driven by her lifelong passion…

Tyler Fishman

Nursery Operations Specialist

Tyler is a dedicated advocate for biodiversity and sustainability, committed to enhancing ecosystem stability and resilience…

Nancy Slowik

Master Native Plant Consultant

Nancy has been teaching natural history programs and leading guided walks in the metropolitan area for 35 years and…

Colin Milde Master Arborist

Colin Milde

Master Arborist

Colin became the first Board Certified Master Arborist with the International Society of…

INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS

OUR MASCOTS

Echo

Echo is always ready to scale any conifer of any size to look for insects, small mammals, and native bird species. He holds the record for the number of trees scaled without a helmet, harness, or any safety equipment.

Logan

Logan is our resident specialist in native bird identification. He has personally logged over 10,000 hours of native bird surveying and has identified 92 native species.

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

Please accept our thanks for your thoughtful gift. We are moved by your generosity.

Your gesture serves as a reminder of the kindness of the American people, and we are grateful for your support of our shared vision for our Nation’s future.

Thank you, again, for your gift. We wish you all the best.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama and Michelle Obama signature
Symbol from letter of Presidential acknowledgement from President Trump

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

August 30, 2017

Dr. Benjamin M. Burton

Oakland, New Jersey

Dear Dr. Burton,

Thank you for sharing your views on energy and environmental policy.

My Administration is strongly committed to environmental protection, including keeping our air and water clean and being good stewards of our environment. This requires all of us to do our part, and I want to thank you for your commitment to preserving our environment for future generations.

As we continue to protect our environment, we must also ensure that American workers have greater opportunities to provide for their families. That is why my Administration is also committed to protecting American workers and American companies from unnecessary regulatory burdens. Going forward, regulations must balance our stewardship of the environment with the needs of a growing economy.

Thank you again for sharing your views. As President, I am committed to unleashing America’s economic potential, while also protecting the environment. I am confident that together we can preserve America’s natural blessings for future generations.

Sincerely,

Former President Donald Trump's signature