cassi saari is an ecologist and field botanist with ecology + vision, llc, an ecological consulting and sustainable landscape architecture firm in the Chicago region. At e+v, cassi leads natural areas assessments, conducts floristic inventories and tree surveys, and monitors habitat restoration projects. She is an ISA Certified Arborist and SER Certified Ecological Practitioner with ten years of experience in the regional conservation community. cassi co-directs Habitat 2030 and is involved in a multitude of community science efforts, including serving as a curator on iNaturalist.org and organizing the Illinois Botanists Big Year competition.
Evan W. Barker graduated from DePaul University with a B.S. in Environmental Science, and is now Quality Control Manager and Prescribed Fire Coordinator for Pizzo & Associates Ltd. In this capacity, he manages plant ID training and testing, as well as planning, compliance and execution of dozens of prescribed burns each year. He was the winner of the 2016 Illinois Native Plant Society’s Illinois