Administration

Starla Paulsen - Owner, President

Starla is one of three principal owners of Conservation Seeding & Restoration, Inc. She presently works as a research scientist when she is not attending to the financial and administrative needs of CSR, Inc. Starla holds a Master of Science degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition with a Food Microbiology emphasis. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Sciences with a minor in Human Nutrition.

 

Steven Paulsen - CEO, Restoration Ecologist

Steven is one of three principal owners of CSR, Inc. He oversees all aspects of Conservation Seeding & Restoration, Inc. operations. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management. Steven has worked in restoration, conservation, and land stewardship since acquiring his degree. Before starting CSR, Inc. he worked for Conservation Land Stewardship and Applied Ecological Services, Inc., two restoration companies that were instrumental in forming a passion for the work he does today with CSR, Inc.

 

Kevin Osborne - Logistics and Operations Manager

Kevin is one of three principal owners of CSR, Inc. He is our man on the ground and is responsible for the supervision of all work crews and their crew foremen. Kevin has worked for over fifteen years in the landscape and restoration field and has been involved in nursery management, landscaping, equipment operation, and tree field management. He has taken horticulture training at the College of Southern Idaho and is licensed and certified in the operation of hydro-seeding equipment.

 

Liza Luttmer - Accountant/Controller

With over twenty years' worth of experience in bookkeeping & accounting, Liza brings to CSR a wealth of knowledge. She graduated from Burley High School and attended both ISU and CSI. Liza is married with four children and a cocker spaniel. An Air-Force "brat", Liza has lived in Italy and Japan and loves to travel. She also loves to go boating, golfing, bike riding, and camping.

 

Linda Harrison - Clerk

Linda joins the CSR team with over twenty years of clerical experience. Linda is an Idaho native and long time Magic Valley resident. She enjoys spending her off time in the mountains camping and trail riding, or in the garden with her husband. During the winter months she enjoys reading good books.

 

 

Gary Henning - IT Department Manager

From Northern California, Gary is married with two children. His family moved to Twin Falls in 2003. Gary has just completed his AA from the College of Southern Idaho, and holds Microsoft and Citrit certifications. He has attended Santa Rosa JC, Cal Poly Pomona, and Sonoma State University.

 

 

Shane Bybee - HR / Safety Manager

Shane grew up in the East Idaho town of Rigby. An avid runner since high school, he has recently completed his first half-marathon. Having previously acheived the rank of Eagle Scout, Shane now volunteers as an assistant scout master for the Boy Scouts of America. Shane and his wife Ivonne have five boys, and love to take them camping, fishing, or scouting.

 

Sebrina Messner - Office Administrator, Idaho Region

Sebrina's Bio Information Goes Here

 

 

Colorado Regional Office

Shawn Wissel - Colorado Regional Manager

Shawn brings over 14 years of professional land stewardship to our team. His past roles as State Park Manager in Oregon and Eastern Colorado Regional Manager of a large restoration company in Sedalia, Colorado, Park Ranger, Open Space Technician as well as farming and ranching on the western slope lend a broad base of knowledge and construction skills. He has a passion for preservation and creating strong alliances with like minded and mission oriented individuals. Shawn, his wife Gabrielle and their two kids currently live in Glenwood Springs and enjoy hunting, hiking, biking, competitive sports and fishing. Shawn holds a Bachelors Degree in Biology with a minor in forensic sciences from Metropolitan State College in Denver and loves to spend time working with native plants and conservation efforts.

 

Molly Holder - Colorado Office Administrator

Originally from Yuba City California, Molly has lived in Colorado for 23 years. Molly has three children, her oldest is 23 and she is married, living in Texas with twin boys that are almost 2. Her daughter Lexy is 14 and her son Emjai is 9. Molly has over 15 years of administrative background. When she's not busy shuttling her children to and from afterschool activities, Molly enjoys playing sports such as softball and volleyball.

 

Morganna Patrick - Nursery Assistant

From Rifle, Colorado, Morgana attended Fort Lewis College. Morgan grew up exploring the outdoors of Colorado. She enjoys time well spent outside, running, hiking, camping, and exploring new places. Morgan has a strong desire to be outside and appreciates the simplicity, and therapeutic qualities of mother nature. Free time activities include good books, good food and good laughs with friends and family.

 

 

Utah Regional Office

Kelly Bentley - Utah Regional Manager

A native of Vernal Utah, Kelly and her husband have three amazing daughters, two dogs and two cats. She has worked in an office setting for 20 years with on-site training. Kelly spends most of her spare time shuttling her girls to and from sporting events, but also like to race cars, play softball, soccer, and dance. On occasion, she enjoys a good barbeque.

 

 

Wyoming Regional Office

Barbara Murcray - Wyoming Regional Manager

A Colorado native and long time Wyoming resident, Barbara and her husband have raised three sons in Rock Springs. Prior to joining CSR, Inc. she was a field secretary for Questar Corp. She has also worked for Trona Valley CFCU as a bank teller and City Market/Jubilee Foods as a cashier and Customer Relations Manager.

 

 

John Lancaster - Wyoming Regional Field Supervisor

For the last 15 years, John worked at Gem Equipment Inc. In his spare time, he enjoys tournament bass fishing, camping, and spending time with his wife Cindy and their eight grandchildren.

 

 

 

Fleet & Equipment Maintenance

Aaron Harrington - Fleet Mechanic

Aaron is our shop/maintenance manager and is charged with keeping our ever growing fleet of vehicles and equipment running trouble free. Other duties include the fabrication of job specific vehicles and equipment, and researching new technologies to be implemented into CSR, Inc. to aid in the overall efficiency of the company. Aaron has 6 years experience in the field of vegetation management and currently holds Ag Herbicide licenses in 5 states. He also has 12 years experience in the field of general shop labor and equipment maintenance.

 

 

Natural Resources

Leslie Meyer - Natural Resources Department Manager

Originally from outside Chicago, Leslie attended the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Soil and Land Management. Prior to moving to Idaho, she worked for the USDA - Natural Resource Conservation Service as a soil scientist in Wyoming where she worked on an initial soil survey. While working for CSR, Leslie is also attending school to obtain a degree in Water Resource Management. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, and boating.

 

Michael Callen - Natural Resource Specialist

Originally from Southern Idaho, Michael returned to Idaho from the military in 2004 to attain his Associates in Environmental Science from CSI. He then achieved his Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science with focus on Wildlife Ecology, Hydrology and research from the University of Idaho. Jointly funded by the University of Idaho and Colorado Division of Wildlife, he conducted research on Sage-grouse, testing if sex allocation was occurring. In his free time he enjoys the outdoors, hiking, camping, backpacking, hunting and motorcycle riding.

 

Tailor Sponcey - Biologist

Tailor Sponcey grew up in Fallon Nevada and graduated high school in 2006. He then moved to Reno Nevada and attended University of Nevada Reno majoring in wildlife ecology. He has experience working with the Nevada Waterfowl Association as well as U.S Fishing Wildlife Service aiding in plant and animal studies. Tailor has a strong passion for wildlife and the outdoors as well as the techniques that are used to conserve both.

 

 

 

Construction & Stewardship

Lance Bennett - Idaho Regional Manager

Lance is responsible for the oversight and management of all stewardship and construction activities within the state of Idaho including data collection, noxious weed control, wildlife habitat restoration, installation, and general maintenance. He is licensed as a Professional Applicator in the Agricultural Herbicide and Lawn Safety categories. Lance attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst studying Human Impact on the Environment. He also has eight years experience in the landscaping field and has worked within the Bureau of Land Management as a rangeland aide.

 

Butch Nolan - Idaho Field Supervisor

Butch grew up in Billings Montana. He went to the College of Southern Idaho and University of Utah, where he played baseball. Butch enjoys the outdoors - fishing and hunting - and watching his three children playing sports. He comes to CSR from 21 years in the construction and stucco business.

 

 

 

Design, Marketing, & Sales (DMS)

Cheryl Howard - Corporate Business Development/Northeast Wyoming Regional Manager

Cheryl enjoys spending time with her husband Jared and their young children.

 

 

 

Michelle Bennett - Internet Marketing Coordinator

After years of personal blogging success, Michelle has joined the CSR, Inc. team to head the social media aspect of the business. This includes, but is not limited to, the CSR Blog, Twitter and Facebook. Michelle is passionate about "Saving the Planet" and enjoys the opportunity to spread the word about native plants. When she is not busy caring for her growing family, you will find her sitting at her sewing machine, busy with a paintbrush, or out and about with her camera.

 

Blaine Krumpe - Sales Consultant

Blaine went to the University of Idaho where he graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Science and also completed a GIS Certificate program. He has worked for the University of Idaho’s Entomology department, the National Park Service, TerraGraphics Engineering, and the Government of Thailand. In his free time he mountain bikes, hunts, and plays rugby.

 

 

Seed & Plant Production

Tom Glass - CSR Production Manager, Colorado

Tom brings nearly 25 years of experience in nursery and greenhouse production to CSR. He aims to bring the same production standards and reliability common to ornamental nursery production to native plant and seed production. Tom loves all manner of outdoor pursuit and, if you want to recommend a good book, he'd appreciate it! Tom completes all of CSR's production activities and operates the Rifle Colorado nursery.

 

Allison Dubenezic - CSR Assistant Production Manager, Colorado

Allison fell in love with the expansive and dynamic spaces of the west after growing up in Virginia. She received a Biology-botany degree from Sweet Briar College. She has been a field tech and volunteer throughout 10 western states, most recently with the U.S. Geological Survey, Glen Canyon NRA, and the Institute for Applied Ecology. When she's not at CSR, you'll find her on the trails running, mountain biking, and botanizing, knitting, and hunting for huckleberries.

 

 

Rich Drick - Seed Department Manager

Rich provides support and implementation for all of the stewardship, monitoring and habitat restoration projects in Idaho, as well as operates the Idaho Farm. He is licensed as a Professional Applicator in the Agricultural Herbicide and Lawn Safety categories. Rich graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Recreation Outdoor Leadership. After working for Outward Bound as mountaineering, rock climbing and kayak guide he became lead facilitator for the College of Southern Idaho’s ropes course. While working for the Idaho DEQ he wrote his masters thesis on motivations for participation in the federal 319 program.

 

Russell "Charlie" Park - Production Assistant

Charlie has been with the Nursery since the summer of 2009. He is quick to jump into to new projects and his work speed sets much of the pace at the nursery. A Filer Idaho native, Charlie will not divulge the true reason behind his nickname and we try not to pry; perhaps someday he will tell us.