Who We Are

Mr. Hjort is the principal owner and a Senior Biologist with over 22 years of experience in terrestrial and aquatic ecology, lake and stream studies, and management. He has prepared Environmental Assessments (EA) and Environmental Impact Reports (EIR) and conducted Endangered and Threatened Species Surveys for new facilities and expansions. Mr. Hjort consults to lake associations and the largest Lake District in the State of Wisconsin with projects ranging from water quality monitoring to petitions for modifying dam Operating Orders. His work includes the preparation of permit applications for wetland dredge/fill projects, as well as CWA 404 and state water quality certifications for a wide range of development projects. Mr. Hjort has delineated over 200 wetlands in Wisconsin and other states and provided litigation support for various waterway violations. His greatest passion is for wetland restoration projects, and he has conducted many of these gratifying projects in his career.

Mr. Frazer has over 20 years of experience in professional natural resource management, ecological restoration, and ecological consulting. He has worked as an ecologist for Federal and State agencies, non-profit conservation organizations, and private sector consulting firms. Mr. Frazer’s areas of specialization include prescribed fire ecology, wildlife management, invasive species management, native prairie restoration installation and maintenance, forestry and woodland management, and comprehensive land stewardship planning. Mr. Frazer has drafted specifications for hundreds of public, corporate, non-profit, municipal, and private land restoration/enhancement projects. These projects have occurred on a wide range of land and habitat types ranging from upland prairie and woodland sites to various wetland habitats. Mr. Frazer has also managed site prep, installation, and maintenance on numerous Federal Farm Bill program projects in Wisconsin. An avid hunter and conservationist, Mr. Frazer resides in Deerfield, Wisconsin, with his wife and two sons.

Dr. Nichols has 35 years of experience as a researcher and educator with the University of Wisconsin-Extension, with appointments in the Environmental Resources Center and the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. During that time, he worked on the Inland Lake Renewal and Development Project, the Lower Wisconsin River Wild and Scenic River Assessment, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission re-licensing projects, Outstanding Resource Waters Designation Projects, the International Biological Program - Lake Wingra Project. He also participated in a variety of research projects dealing with the management and control of aquatic plants and aquatic plant ecology. Dr. Nichols has published widely in the areas of aquatic plant management, lake protection and management, pond management, ecological sampling, and prairie ecology and management. Dr. Nichols retired from the University of Wisconsin-Extension in 2003 with the title of Professor Emeritus of Environmental Sciences and joined the ERC staff in 2005.

Mr. Fuhs has over 10 years of wildlife research and ecological restoration experience.  Prior to employment with ERC, Mr. Fuhs was employed as a Restoration Technician with Applied Ecological Services, a Field Technician with the USFWS, a Biological Science Technician with UW-Madison, and a Wildlife Technician with Texas Tech University.  Mr. Fuhs’ areas of expertise include prairie, wetland, woodland, and other natural community restoration and management.  Mr. Fuhs also conducts vegetation monitoring, environmental report drafting, wildlife habitat/land resource assessments, endangered resources reviews, vegetation monitoring, GPS data collection, and permit applications.  Mr. Fuhs is a fully licenses/insured drone pilot. Mr. Fuhs currently manages projects across the Midwest and coordinates with subcontractors, private landowners, municipalities, government agencies, and internal personnel.  

Ms. Weissgerber has a Master of Science in Restoration Ecology from UW-Madison with almost two years of practical experience post-grad. She was awarded the Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship at UW and studied the distribution and ecology of a state threatened orchid species for her thesis research. During her studies, she gained experience in technical writing, ecological research and design, adaptive management plan development, scientific communication, field methods, and prescribed fire ecology. After graduation, Ms. Weissgerber worked to develop monitoring protocols studying declining orchid populations. Most recently, she assisted in a multi-state Farm Bill Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project, networking with partners, developing the project proposal, and organizing project logistics. Currently, she helps advance the work of the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council (WPFC) as an administrative assistant. Ms. Weissgerber is passionate about ecology and is eager to help clients achieve their vision while bolstering stewardship and creating a sense of place. She loves wildflowers, spending time with her family, and being in nature.

 Mr. Duquaine has four years of experience in ecological restoration. Mr. Duquaine earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the UW-Milwaukee before making the decision to pursue ecological restoration. He then received an Ecological Restoration Certificate from the University of Minnesota. Kyle started out as a Restoration Technician at ERC and continues to gain experience and knowledge about the ecological field. In the four years at ERC, Kyle has gained experience in managing projects, conducted various vegetation surveys, and has begun training with GIS & Spatial Analysis Systems. Kyle is passionate about working to conserve the environment and looks forward to working on native restorations across the state. Mr. Duquaine enjoys coaching soccer and basketball, attending music shows, being outdoors, and traveling the world.

 Ms. Padrutt has 5 years of biology and restoration ecology. She earned an Environmental Biology  and Ecology degree from UW-Eau Claire.  After graduating, she worked for the Department of Natural Resources as a Wildlife Technician at Sandhill Wildlife Area.  There she gained experience in invasive species management and wildlife ecology.  Ms. Padrutt has experience in native prairie restoration, invasive species management, wildlife management and shoreline restoration.  Ms. Padrutt also serves as ERC Office Manager and oversees daily office management.  Ms. Padrutt enjoys playing volleyball, spending time with her family, and working on her own property. 

Mr. Luehring has 5 years of experience in restoration ecology, land management, and wildlife management; and had previously worked for the Department of Natural Resources as a Wildlife and Forestry Technician. He earned his B.S. Degree at UW-Oshkosh. Mr. Luehring has experience in forest and prairie restorations and maintenance involving native plantings, seedings, and prescribed fires. He specializes in terrestrial invasive species and has a passion for restoring woods and prairies back to what they once were. Mr. Luehring is an avid fisherman and spends most of his time on the water.

Mr. Belke has one year of restoration ecology experience. Mr. Belke earned his degree in Environmental Studies from Carroll University in 2018.  While a student, Mr. Belke was an intern at the Greenfield Station, a 60-acre outdoor laboratory for Carroll University. There he worked on projects to help manage the invasive species on the property and assisted in workshops for grade school and high school students. After college, Mr. Belke gained more experience in restoration ecology, working as an intern for the Cook County Forest Preserve in Cook County, Illinois. There, his tasks included the removal of invasive trees and shrubs, herbicide applications, and large scale buckthorn removal projects. 

Mr. Gall has two years of restoration ecology experience. Mr. Gall earned his degree in Wildlife Ecology and Habitat Management from UW-Stevens Point. While attending UWSP, Alex was an intern with the Madison Audubon Society, where he and four other interns managed natural areas around Dane County. After graduation, Alex began his professional career in ecological restoration. Mr. Gall joined the ERC team in the early spring of 2020. Alex has a passion for habitat management for game species and is an avid member of NWTF, PF, QDMA, and DU. 

Mr. Haberman has just begun his professional career in restoration ecology. Mr. Haberman earned his degree in Conservation and Environmental Science at UW-Milwaukee in 2019. Andrew has a passion for this work and has worked on restoring a native oak savanna and wet-mesic prairie on his parents' property since 2000. Andrew has experience conducting native plantings, seedings, and prescribed burns, as well as managing terrestrial invasive species. In his free time, Mr. Haberman enjoys hunting and fishing.