Our Team
Thomas Ries - President
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813.376.9076
Tom Ries is President and Founder of Ecosphere Restoration Institute.
Tom is a nationally known Ecologist with more than 37 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 had been a partner at Scheda Ecological Associates since 1997, and served 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.
[email protected]
813.376.9076
Tom Ries is President and Founder of Ecosphere Restoration Institute.
Tom is a nationally known Ecologist with more than 37 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 had been a partner at Scheda Ecological Associates since 1997, and served 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.
Board of Directors
Kurt Allebach, Board Member
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Kurt comes to Ecosphere after a career where he's served in the US Army Medical Services Corps, worked as a hospital administrator, and a range of roles in information technology for companies like Microsoft and Raymond James. He has a B.S. in Biology from Christopher Newport University that he’s looking forward to finally taking advantage of and an M.S. in Administration with a concentration in Health Service Systems from Central Michigan University.
He also supports the Coral Restoration Foundation in Key Largo, Florida where he serves as a technology advisor for their Cerulean AITM Reef Health Monitoring solutions.
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Kurt comes to Ecosphere after a career where he's served in the US Army Medical Services Corps, worked as a hospital administrator, and a range of roles in information technology for companies like Microsoft and Raymond James. He has a B.S. in Biology from Christopher Newport University that he’s looking forward to finally taking advantage of and an M.S. in Administration with a concentration in Health Service Systems from Central Michigan University.
He also supports the Coral Restoration Foundation in Key Largo, Florida where he serves as a technology advisor for their Cerulean AITM Reef Health Monitoring solutions.
Allison Dhand, Board Member
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Allison is a passionate environmental lawyer who graduated from Stetson University School of Law with a Juris Doctor and Certification of Concentration in Environmental Law. Since 2016, Allison has been actively practicing in environmental law and advocacy, starting her career in non-profit work before moving to private practice at a boutique environmental law firm. Most recently Allison worked as a Senior Attorney with the Southwest Florida Water Management District where she focused on environmental permitting for water quality and quantity. Allison's areas of expertise include environmental restoration and protection, and she is deeply committed to preserving Florida's natural resources for future generations.
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Allison is a passionate environmental lawyer who graduated from Stetson University School of Law with a Juris Doctor and Certification of Concentration in Environmental Law. Since 2016, Allison has been actively practicing in environmental law and advocacy, starting her career in non-profit work before moving to private practice at a boutique environmental law firm. Most recently Allison worked as a Senior Attorney with the Southwest Florida Water Management District where she focused on environmental permitting for water quality and quantity. Allison's areas of expertise include environmental restoration and protection, and she is deeply committed to preserving Florida's natural resources for future generations.
BriAnna Harris, Board Member
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BriAnna Harris joins EcoSphere after serving over 20 years in the financial services industry in a variety of market-facing roles. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Policy Science and Policy from the University of South Florida and an M.S. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University. A life-long student of mindfulness in both personal and professional development, BriAnna is working on expanding our current thinking on behavior change associated with our planet's rapidly changing climate and energy needs.
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BriAnna Harris joins EcoSphere after serving over 20 years in the financial services industry in a variety of market-facing roles. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Policy Science and Policy from the University of South Florida and an M.S. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University. A life-long student of mindfulness in both personal and professional development, BriAnna is working on expanding our current thinking on behavior change associated with our planet's rapidly changing climate and energy needs.
Lauren Mouse, Board Member
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Lauren Mouse is currently Vice President of Finance for Ocean Reef Club in North Key Largo, FL. She is a member of the Leadership Team and oversees the Accounting, Payroll, Information Technology, Purchasing and Warehouse teams. Lauren joined Ocean Reef Club in January 2021 after 11 years with Marriott International, serving in various finance roles across a multitude of hotel and resort destinations. Lauren is adept at executing financial performance results with a balanced approach to profit generation, guest and member satisfaction, employee satisfaction and ownership/board relations.
Lauren graduated from Coastal Carolina University's Wall College of Business, has been a Certified Public Accountant since 2015, and will complete her Master of Business Administration from Auburn University in December 2023. Lauren resides in Key Largo and enjoys exploring the Florida Keys both onshore and off, as well as being dedicated to an active and healthy lifestyle.
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Lauren Mouse is currently Vice President of Finance for Ocean Reef Club in North Key Largo, FL. She is a member of the Leadership Team and oversees the Accounting, Payroll, Information Technology, Purchasing and Warehouse teams. Lauren joined Ocean Reef Club in January 2021 after 11 years with Marriott International, serving in various finance roles across a multitude of hotel and resort destinations. Lauren is adept at executing financial performance results with a balanced approach to profit generation, guest and member satisfaction, employee satisfaction and ownership/board relations.
Lauren graduated from Coastal Carolina University's Wall College of Business, has been a Certified Public Accountant since 2015, and will complete her Master of Business Administration from Auburn University in December 2023. Lauren resides in Key Largo and enjoys exploring the Florida Keys both onshore and off, as well as being dedicated to an active and healthy lifestyle.
Karla Price, Board Member
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As a Landscape Architect, Karla has spent the last 36 years with the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department designing and/or managing projects that improve parks, neighborhoods, trails and the environment. Her environmental projects are numerous, including the restoration of Ulele Spring.
Karla is a graduate of Purdue University and has served on the Hillsborough County Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Hillsborough Greenways Advisory Committee. She is joining ERI's board upon her retirement from the City of Tampa.
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As a Landscape Architect, Karla has spent the last 36 years with the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department designing and/or managing projects that improve parks, neighborhoods, trails and the environment. Her environmental projects are numerous, including the restoration of Ulele Spring.
Karla is a graduate of Purdue University and has served on the Hillsborough County Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Hillsborough Greenways Advisory Committee. She is joining ERI's board upon her retirement from the City of Tampa.
Scientific Advisory Board
Rene Wiesner Brown
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René is the Senior Director of Habitat Restoration for Ecosphere. René is an environmental biologist and conservation professional with more than 25 years of experience in land conservation, land management and habitat restoration. She earned a doctorate in integrative biology from the University of South Florida and a master’s in environmental management from Duke University. She is a founding board member of the Tampa Bay Conservancy, a board member and executive committee member of the Florida Wildlife Federation, and an appointee to the Expert Review Group of the UN Race to Resilience.
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René is the Senior Director of Habitat Restoration for Ecosphere. René is an environmental biologist and conservation professional with more than 25 years of experience in land conservation, land management and habitat restoration. She earned a doctorate in integrative biology from the University of South Florida and a master’s in environmental management from Duke University. She is a founding board member of the Tampa Bay Conservancy, a board member and executive committee member of the Florida Wildlife Federation, and an appointee to the Expert Review Group of the UN Race to Resilience.
Brandt Henningsen
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Brandt has degrees from Lamar University (BS), Texas A & M (MS), and USF (Ph.D.). Brandt retired in 2019 from the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s SWIM Program as their Chief Environmental Scientist. Brandt has been bestowed with the following awards: NOAA Restoration Center’s Excellence in Restoration; Tampa Bay Association of Environmental Professionals’ Environmental Excellence Award; Sierra Club Florida Chapter’s Osprey Award; Hillsborough County Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Award; and NOAA’s Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award).
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Brandt has degrees from Lamar University (BS), Texas A & M (MS), and USF (Ph.D.). Brandt retired in 2019 from the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s SWIM Program as their Chief Environmental Scientist. Brandt has been bestowed with the following awards: NOAA Restoration Center’s Excellence in Restoration; Tampa Bay Association of Environmental Professionals’ Environmental Excellence Award; Sierra Club Florida Chapter’s Osprey Award; Hillsborough County Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Award; and NOAA’s Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award).
