President
Term: 2026 – 2028
Mark Paschke, Colorado State University
Mark W. Paschke is a Professor and Shell Endowed Chair of Restoration Ecology at Colorado State University’s Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship. Holding a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Illinois, Dr. Paschke’s research centers on the restoration and ecology of disturbed ecosystems, invasive species management, soil and rhizosphere biology, and plant-microbe interactions. His work has received substantial support, with grants and gifts from diverse sources, enabling studies in vegetation restoration, nitrogen cycling, and ecosystem management, and resulting in the publication of over 100 scholarly articles.
Contact Information: mark.paschke@colostate.edu
Vice President
Term: 2025 – 2027
Casey Cisneros, Keystone Ecology
Casey Cisneros recently founded Keystone Ecology after a long career as a Natural Resource Specialist with Larimer County. At Keystone he is using his expertise in revegetation, weed management, quality assurance, and project management to work with other land managers and practitioners in the Front Range. Outside of his practice, Casey enjoys writing, recording, and performing music, cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors with his family.
Treasurer
Term: 2025-2027
Garrett Stephens, Jefferson Conservation District
Garrett is the Director of the Jefferson Conservation District. He joined JCD staff in 2014 to support the forest conservation program. He’s had a variety of work experiences in the Midwest and Western states in back-country leadership and natural resource management. He earned a B.S. in Environmental Biology from Greenville College in 2008 and a M.S in Ecology from Colorado State University in 2014.
Secretary
Term: 2025 – 2027
Andrea Borkenhagen, SWCA
Andrea Borkenhagen is a Senior Wetland Scientist at SWCA Environmental Consultants based in Fort Collins, Colorado, with +17 years of experience working across wetland ecology, restoration, permitting, and regulatory compliance in the U.S. and Canada. Andrea holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from Colorado State University and is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS). She specialized in peatland reclamation in the oil sands in Alberta, and currently provides technical leadership on aquatic resource assessments, botanical inventories, and restoration projects. Andrea has taught university‑level courses and actively supports the professional development of early‑ and mid‑career scientists through mentoring and technical review. A long‑time member of the Society for Ecological Restoration, she has previously served in student and chapter leadership roles and is pleased to contribute again as Secretary for the Rocky Mountains Chapter.
Past President
Term: 2022 – 2027
Brock Bowles, Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety
Brock Bowles works for the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety as an Environmental Protection Specialist. His area of expertise is overseeing the permitting, monitoring and reclamation of mineral, hard rock and coal mines throughout Colorado. He received his M.S. in Rangeland Management with a specialty in Restoration Ecology from Colorado State University in 2011. Brock began his ecological restoration career in 2002 when he started leading volunteer crews on back-country projects restoring degraded public lands.
Outreach Committee Chair
Term: 2025 – 2027
Chris Taliga, FPAC-NRCS, CO
More to come
Communications Committee Chair
Term: 2023 – 2027
Sabrina Kleinman, Logan Simpson
Sabrina is a Senior Environmental Planner at Logan Simpson and has worked on restoration projects across the western United States. She has a B.S. in Biology from the University of Redlands and a M.F. in Forest Ecology from Northern Arizona University. Her specialties are in invasive species management, wetland, forest, and rangeland ecology, NEPA/environmental compliance, and riparian restoration. She’s worked for the U.S. Forest Service, the Arizona Cooperative Extension Forest Health program, and private consulting. Her biggest interest is in helping land managers and landowners develop sound and feasible management solutions that protect habitat.
Conference Chair
Term: 2025-2027
Randy Mandel, CTEH
Randy serves as the practice lead for CTEH where he finds nature-based solutions to restoring biodiversity and habitat. His team uses environmental economics, natural and nature-based solutions to address ecological restoration and remediation needs to support domestic and international business development. At Colorado State University, he completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in forest biology, genetics, and physiology. He has previously served as Vice President of Technical Services for SER’s International Board of Directors
Development, Awards, Elections (DAE) Committee Chair
Term: April 2025 – 2027
KristiLee Halpin, Mile High Flood District
KristiLee is a Restoration Ecologist at the Mile High Flood District, specializing in wetland and riparian ecosystems within the Denver Metropolitan area. She brings extensive experience in stream restoration, spanning ecological design, environmental permitting, and vegetation establishment, with a focus on achieving high-functioning, low-maintenance systems with long-term resilience. KristiLee combines technical expertise with applied problem-solving and collaboration to advance sustainable, adaptive approaches to watershed and stormwater management.
List of Past Presidents
- Greg Eckert, 2022-2025
- Jesse Dillon, 2020 – 2022
- Mark Paschke, 2018 – 2020
- Brett Wolk, 2016 – 2018
- Randy Mandel, 2014 – 2016
- Mark Paschke, 2012 – 2014