Our Team

Kate Butler Accounts view more

Kate joined LWLA in 2010. She graduated from Harvard University in 1982 with an A.B. in Fine Arts. She also holds a Certificate in Cinematography from the American Film Institute, and has spent 25 years working on feature films. In addition to handling LWLA’s accounts, she films LWLA projects as well as events organized by LWLA’s affiliate, New Directions in the American Landscape.

Abeni Crooms Project Assistant view more

Abeni joined LWLA in 2018. She graduated from the New School for Social Research with an B.A. in Liberal Arts, and earned an M.A. in City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University. Over the years, she has held a wide variety of positions where she honed her project support and office administration skills.  When she’s not working, she likes to make things.

Ani Knauff Landscape Designer view more

Ani Knauff joined LWLA in 2017.  She received a BS in Landscape Architecture from Temple University in 2017.  She previously interned with a local design/build landscape company.  While at Temple University, she received an ASLA Merit Award in Communications (Analysis/Planning Category – group work) and an ASLA Merit Award for her individual work.

Marli Milano Project Coordinator view more

Marli Milano joined LWLA in 2019 as a field technician to follow up and maintain our completed northern projects in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and parts of Pennsylvania. She holds a BS in Conservation Biology with a focus in invasive plant management, as well as a MF in Forest and Natural Resources Management, both from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF).  Prior to joining LWLA, she was a horticulture intern at Wave Hill Public Garden in New York City, and a seasonal biological technician for the US Forest Service working on invasive plant management on the Ottawa National Forest in Michigan.

John Cassels Project Coordinator view more

John joined LWLA in 2021 as a field operations coordinator.  He focuses on the oversight, implementation and long-term maintenance of LWLA designed projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region.  John graduated from West Chester University of Pennsylvania with a BS in Ecology and Conservation Biology.  Before joining our team, he was a horticultural fellow at Jenkins Arboretum and Gardens studying horticulture and native plants.  John also worked for LandStudies Inc. as a Sustainable Landscape Maintenance foreman where he installed and maintained ecologically functional landscapes.  John hopes to use his knowledge of ecology and conservation to help people and plants together all while encouraging biodiversity throughout the Mid-Atlantic! 

Ethan Dropkin Associate view more

Ethan joined LWLA in 2016.  He received a BA in Secondary Education from the University of Vermont in 2006.  In 2013 he was awarded a Masters in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University followed by a Masters of Professional Studies in Horticulture in 2014, also from Cornell.  Prior to joining LWLA, Ethan worked as a designer at Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, as a horticultural designer and technician for Cornell University, and as a horticulturist for the New York City Parks Department.  Since joining LWLA he has been involved in a variety of private, public, institutional and commercial design projects in 9 states and 2 countries. Notable projects include: masterplan and design of an entry landscape at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve; plant selection and layout for Kingsland Wildflower a green roof meadow in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, on-going master plan and design work at Avalon Nature Preserve, and the design of the American Prairie Garden at RBG Kew -Wakehurst in the UK.

Andrew Korzon, PLA Senior Associate view more

Andrew joined LWLA in 2017 and serves as an installation project manager, overseeing implementation of LWLA designs and managing long-term maintenance for residential, commercial, and institutional clients.  As a designer, he has been involved in master plans for private residences and conservation lands.  Prior to joining LWLA, he served as a project manager for the design/build firm LandStudies, Inc. in Lititz, Pennsylvania.  There he developed master plans for sites ranging in size from residential properties to watershed scale, designed and implemented native meadows and stream and wetland restoration projects, and developed construction drawings and specifications for private, institutional, and government projects (state and local) throughout Pennsylvania.  In 2010 he completed a BS in Landscape Architecture from Temple University.  Andy is a licensed landscape architect in Pennsylvania and New York.

Jenna Webster Senior Associate view more

Jenna Webster joined LWLA in 2009.  She holds a master’s degree from the Conway School, a graduate program in sustainable landscape planning and design as well as a B.A. and M.Ed. from Harvard University.  She previously worked for Natural Landscapes Nursery and land preservation agencies in southeast Pennsylvania.  Since joining LWLA, she has been involved with master plans for residential projects small and large as well as meadow and habitat plans for public sites.  She also co-curates the annual conference series through LWLA’s affiliate New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL) and is an instructor in the Mt. Cuba Center Certificate Program.  She serves on the board of the Crow’s Nest Research Center and the Conway School.

Ian Caton Landscape Designer view more

Ian Caton worked for LWLA from 2001 to 2013 and now serves as a project consultant for our office. A graduate of Delaware Valley College with a BS in Ornamental Horticulture and Environmental Design, Ian brings in-depth knowledge of native plants, natural communities, and their incorporation into the human environment to the design and installation of native landscapes for private residences and public spaces. He has spoken at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Irvine Native Plant Seminar, and New Directions in the American Landscape conferences, among other events. He is now owner of Wood Thrush Native Nursery in Floyd, Virginia.

Rebecca Kagle Managing Principal view more

Rebecca Kagle, associate ASLA, has been at LWLA since 2008. She received a BA from Haverford College and Masters in Restoration Ecology from the University of Wisconsin. In 2010 she completed a BA in landscape architecture at Temple University and received both the PA/DE ASLA Travel Award and an ASLA Merit award for her design work. Prior to joining LWLA, Rebecca worked for Wave Hill and Prospect Park in New York City and the Lakeshore Nature Preserve at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, designing and implementing woodland and shoreline restoration projects. At LWLA she has been involved with master plans for residential and public projects. She has also written plant and seed specifications for trail projects in Philadelphia’s Wissahickon Valley Park.

Robyn Matz Landscape Designer view more

Robyn Matz joined LWLA in 2018.  She holds a BS in Ecology from West Chester University as well as Masters of Landscape Architecture from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF).  She graduated from SUNY ESF Magna Cum Laude and served as President of the local chapter of Sigma Lambda Alpha.  Before joining LWLA, she worked as a wholesale grower at North Creek Nurseries and as an intern at a green roof design/build company in Brooklyn, NY, focusing on bringing native plant communities into the urban environment.  She brings her passion for native plants and design to the creation of dynamic landscapes.