Our Team

Thomas Ries - President
tries@ecosphererestoration.org
813.376.9076
Tom Ries is President and Founder of Ecosphere Restoration Institute.
Tom is a nationally known Ecologist with more than 34 years of experience in restoring natural systems in Southwest Florida. His work has garnered numerous environmental awards, and resulted in the restoration of more than 2,400 acres of wetlands. In 2013, Tom received a prestigious National Wetlands Award in Conservation & Restoration from the Environmental Law Institute, in Washington DC.
Tom founded Ecosphere Restoration Institute in 2007 to advance restoration activities through innovative public-private partnerships.
He has been a partner at Scheda Ecological Associates since 1997, and currently serves as Southeast Biological Services and Restoration Director for Environmental Science Associates (ESA), an environmental science and planning firm with offices throughout the U.S.
Tom graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in Geology. In his early career, he mapped wetlands for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (National Wetland Inventory - NWI) and implemented dozens of coastal habitat restoration and stormwater retrofit projects in Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor while working for the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) program.
To learn more about Tom, visit his LinkedIn profile here.
tries@ecosphererestoration.org
813.376.9076
Tom Ries is President and Founder of Ecosphere Restoration Institute.
Tom is a nationally known Ecologist with more than 34 years of experience in restoring natural systems in Southwest Florida. His work has garnered numerous environmental awards, and resulted in the restoration of more than 2,400 acres of wetlands. In 2013, Tom received a prestigious National Wetlands Award in Conservation & Restoration from the Environmental Law Institute, in Washington DC.
Tom founded Ecosphere Restoration Institute in 2007 to advance restoration activities through innovative public-private partnerships.
He has been a partner at Scheda Ecological Associates since 1997, and currently serves as Southeast Biological Services and Restoration Director for Environmental Science Associates (ESA), an environmental science and planning firm with offices throughout the U.S.
Tom graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.A. in Biology and a minor in Geology. In his early career, he mapped wetlands for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (National Wetland Inventory - NWI) and implemented dozens of coastal habitat restoration and stormwater retrofit projects in Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor while working for the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) program.
To learn more about Tom, visit his LinkedIn profile here.

Holly Greening, Board Member
hgreening@coastwisepartners.org
Holly was both Executive Director and Senior Scientist of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program during a 27-year tenure with TBEP. Holly has served on the Estuarine Research Federation Governing Board, the National Academy of Sciences Ocean Studies Board, and four National Research Council committees. She was Co-Chair of the 2011 Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation Conference, Chair of the Association of National Estuary Programs, and Associate Editor for the scientific journal Estuaries and Coasts.
Holly has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications with a focus on estuarine ecology and collaborative watershed management, and is the recipient of regional and national awards for coastal stewardship. She retired from TBEP in 2018 and is providing volunteer consulting services to coastal management programs throughout the United States.
hgreening@coastwisepartners.org
Holly was both Executive Director and Senior Scientist of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program during a 27-year tenure with TBEP. Holly has served on the Estuarine Research Federation Governing Board, the National Academy of Sciences Ocean Studies Board, and four National Research Council committees. She was Co-Chair of the 2011 Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation Conference, Chair of the Association of National Estuary Programs, and Associate Editor for the scientific journal Estuaries and Coasts.
Holly has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications with a focus on estuarine ecology and collaborative watershed management, and is the recipient of regional and national awards for coastal stewardship. She retired from TBEP in 2018 and is providing volunteer consulting services to coastal management programs throughout the United States.

Sandra Klaus, Board Member
sandy@ecosphererestoration.org
813.376.3313
Sandra graduated in 1984 from the University of South Florida with a M.S. in Zoology and B.A. in Geology (as well as a B.A. in Biology in 1981). She worked as a biologist for the Florida Department of Environment Regulation before working as a consult for Parsons Brinckerhoff. Sandra started the environment consulting firm , Scheda Ecological Associates (SEA), in 1990 and in 2017 SEA merged with ESA and she continues to work in ecological permitting primarily for public sector clients.
To learn more about Sandra Klaus, visit her LinkedIn profile here.
sandy@ecosphererestoration.org
813.376.3313
Sandra graduated in 1984 from the University of South Florida with a M.S. in Zoology and B.A. in Geology (as well as a B.A. in Biology in 1981). She worked as a biologist for the Florida Department of Environment Regulation before working as a consult for Parsons Brinckerhoff. Sandra started the environment consulting firm , Scheda Ecological Associates (SEA), in 1990 and in 2017 SEA merged with ESA and she continues to work in ecological permitting primarily for public sector clients.
To learn more about Sandra Klaus, visit her LinkedIn profile here.
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Rand Baldwin, Board Member
863.661.3556
Rand graduated in 1971 from the University of Florida with a B.A. in Geography. He worked for a year with the Bureau of Geology/ Department of Natural Resources/ State of Florida before beginning his 35 year career with the Southwest Florida Water Management District where he held several positions including Hydrologist and Governmental Affairs Coordinator where he acted as Liaison with elected officials in three major counties coordinating water-related policy and issues.
863.661.3556
Rand graduated in 1971 from the University of Florida with a B.A. in Geography. He worked for a year with the Bureau of Geology/ Department of Natural Resources/ State of Florida before beginning his 35 year career with the Southwest Florida Water Management District where he held several positions including Hydrologist and Governmental Affairs Coordinator where he acted as Liaison with elected officials in three major counties coordinating water-related policy and issues.