Keith Gray

President

Before acquiring ILM, Keith co-founded an environmental testing service focusing on wastewater and surface water monitoring, treatment, and compliance, developing techniques that were ultimately patented.

At ILM, Keith has broadened the company focus from solely aquatics based management to a more holistic approach to watershed management including addressing erosion, establishment of native species to sequester carbon and nutrients, and establishing biological balance to systems to achieve improved water quality.

While at ILM, he helped developed specialized equipment to give low impact access to sensitive areas that also reduce overall project costs. New interests include chemical free aquatic plant control using suction harvesting, scaling biological media to improve water quality on stormwater and irrigation ponds, and repurposing lake and pond sediment to enhance the local ecosystem and reduce dredging costs.  

Gregg Zink

Vice President

Gregg joined ILM in 1997 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a Field Ecology major, and a Geography minor. After two years of performing ILM’s wide range of field services Gregg moved to a managerial position. Gregg specializes in the training and management of staff. Certifications include Illinois Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator (Aquatic, Right of Way, Turf, Ornamental), Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator, S-130 & S-190 Wildland Firefighter Training, OSHA 40 Hour Training, and Trainer for Illinois RiverWatch Program. Professional development includes Nature Conservancy Volunteer Small Mammal Survey Walworth Co. 1997, and Midwest Aquatic Plant Management Society Board of Directors. 

Jackie Weber

Director of HR and Finance

Debbie Budyak

Director of Client Relations

Lisa Woolford

Director of Business Development

Lisa has spent much of her career working in the non-profit sector. Most recently, she worked at the Barrington Area Conservation Trust for eight years, serving as Director of Land Preservation and then Executive Director. Prior to that, she worked for the Shedd Aquarium and Museum of Science and Industry developing environmental education programs and exhibits. Lisa began her career as a wetland scientist in Florida after receiving her B.S. degree in Marine Biology from Florida Institute of Technology. Her experience with non-profits will allow ILM to advance its involvement in conservation initiatives throughout the region. Lisa serves on the Board of Directors of the Lake County Friends of the Forest Preserves and the Illinois Lakes Management Association. Lisa joined the ILM team in January 2019. 

Jim Clancy

Manager of Field Operations

Jim graduated from South Dakota State University in 2014 with a B.S. In Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. Prior to his time at ILM, he spent 9 years in the tree care industry working as a Field Manager overseeing the pruning, removal and healthcare of the greater Chicago areas trees. His appreciation for nature has inspired him to prioritize environmental stewardship. In his leisure time he enjoys hiking, fishing and expanding his sustainable hobby farm which now includes goats, chickens, pigs and his beloved horses. 

John Paterson

Account Manager

John joined the ILM team in June of 2019 after serving as the Manager of the Wild Things 2019 Conference. Professionally, he has helped craft stories of nature and culture for museums and other educational organizations including Field Museum and the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago. He is the author of a children’s book on the water cycle entitled “I Am the Rain”, Dawn Publications, 2018. In his free time he enjoys making art, writing, paddling and serving as an ecological restoration volunteer.

Alissa Delgado

Account Manager

Alissa joined the ILM team in October of 2018. She graduated from Aurora University with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Psychology in May of 2018. Prior to joining ILM she spent 6 months restoring and maintaining the natural areas in Chicago with the Student Conservation Association. Before that, her jobs focused on customer service and providing positive experiences for clients. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and being outdoors. She has completed the Midwest Ecological Prescription Burn Crew Member Training.

Justin Rigler

Account Manager

Justin joined the ILM team in the spring of 2017. He graduated the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2015 with a B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Science and a concentration in Resource Conservation and Restoration Ecology. His interest in conservation started when he was very young by camping and doing conservation projects in the Boy Scout program. After obtaining the rank of Eagle, Justin wished to pursue a career in preserving the environment. In addition to 2 years of experience as a restoration technician, Justin has gained valuable experience from all over the world. From banding waterfowl through a program with the Illinois Natural History Survey, to being on a trail crew in Northern New Mexico for a few weeks in 2012, to even studying African Wildlife Management in Tanzania in the summer of 2014. He possesses his Illinois Pesticide Applicator License and the Chicago Wilderness Midwestern Ecological Prescription Burn training. Outside of work, his interests include plant identification, mushroom hunting, music, art, and learning new things whenever possible. 

Shelby Serritella

Account Manager

Beverly Railey

Account Support

Chris Ryan

Aquatics Ecologist, Department Manager

Bowen Pearson

Aquatics Ecologist / D.A.S.H. Captain

Bowen is the D.A.S.H. (Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting) Captain for ILM.  He has been scuba certified and a contact scuba diver since 2018 in addition to serving as a boat mechanic, providing boat towing, and boat charters. He loves being in nature and the water and doing whatever he can to make nature better.

Aidan Mear

Aquatics Ecologist 1

Aidan enjoys backpacking, gardening, and building computers. His goal is to someday own an significant amount of land where he can maintain native ecosystems and build a cabin. His favorite part of working at ILM is revisiting a site to see a new emergence of native plants.

Liam Mear

Aquatics Ecologist / D.A.S.H. Driver

Liam joined the ILM Team in June of 2023 as part of the Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (D.A.S.H.) team.  He considers himself a creek and river enthusiast who loves the outdoors. He loves hiking and bird watching with his favorite raptor being the red shouldered hawk. His favorite part of being an Aquatics Ecologist is improving his plant identification skills. He hopes to someday retire in the Upper Peninsula and run his own diner. 

Kyle Weinert

Aquatics Ecologist / D.A.S.H. Driver

Vince Tasso

Aquatics Ecologist

Ben Van Acker

Aquatics Ecologist

Amy Runkle

Aquatic Ecologist

Amy has always been obsessed with insects, with her favorite being cicadas but also finding aquatic insects to be amazing as well. She has kept honeybees for years, but is more interested native bees and their diversity. She has worked with animals, many different green houses and nurseries, built ponds, and worked for two tree companies. Being outside is her favorite place to be and also volunteer at Volo Bog as a tour guide on the weekends.

She enjoys music, art, camping, fishing and tree climbing, but mostly hanging out with her senior dog Buddy.

Matthew Boerst

Aquatics Ecologist

Tim Johnson

Aquatics Ecologist

Emily Zajecka

Ecological Consultant, Aquatics

Emily received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from DePaul University, later returning to complete her M.S. in Environmental Science. During that time, she worked with many species of ambassador animals and public interpretation. In school, she received both NWCG S-130 and S-190 certifications. Shortly after graduating she joined ILM in Feb 2022.

She believes that the physical and mental benefits of nature can be enhanced close to home. This fuels her prospects within the company of improving full habitat to stepping-stones for biodiversity amidst fragmentation, and enhancing the human connection to the ecosystems we’re a part of.

In her free time, Emily enjoys creating music, art, and a loving home for her various pets.

Eric Mollahan

Ecological Consultant, Natural Areas

Eric joined the ILM team in 2017. He received his B.S. from The University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, where he majored in Natural Resources Environmental Science, with a concentration in Human Dimensions. He worked with the Urbana Park District and Illinois Natural History Survey during school, and as an environmental scientist in northern Illinois following the completion of his degree. Eric has extensive experience managing natural areas and has performed wetland delineations, erosion control inspections, and monitoring reports, among other environmental consulting services. He is CWD, CWS and DECI certified. 

Geoff Zink

Senior Ecologist

Geoff joined ILM in 2007 in an effort to support ILMs’ growing emphasis of restoring and recreating indigenous terrestrial/aquatic plant communities. With nearly 10 years of experience in prairie restoration with Ray Schulenberg and Russel Kirt and improving the woodlands and wetlands at The Morton Arboretum, Geoff has a solid background on the plants and habitats found in the Chicago region. Geoff holds licenses as an IL Certified Pesticide Applicator, S130, S190 Firefighter’s certifications, and has significant MIPN identification background. He has 10+ years of prescribed burn experience.

Monica Komorowski

Natural Areas Ecologist, Department Manager

Monica joined the ILM team in February 2017. She graduated from the Ohio State University in May 2016 with a B.S. in Environment and Natural Resources. She has worked at a variety of environmental restoration companies which allowed her to gain experience with forest, wetland, and prairie ecosystems. Monica is a licensed pesticide applicator and burn boss. In her free time she enjoys hiking and taking pictures of the cool things she sees.

Mike Hansen

Lead Ecologist

Jason West

Natural Areas Ecologist

Wolfgang Burtner

Natural Areas Ecologist 1

Julia Kalinsky

Natural Areas Ecologist 1

Jake Volm

Natural Areas Ecologist

Jake is a graduate from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, with a B.A. in Environmental science with an emphasis in Ecology. He grew up in both Wisconsin and Illinois making him passionate about conservation and working to maintain our natural areas. Jake comes from a background in Agriculture and hopes to grow and spread his knowledge on more sustainable practices. He enjoys being outside mountain biking, bird watching, and hiking. Jake joined ILM in the spring of 2022.

Paige Lundborg

Natural Areas Ecologist

Paige recently graduated from Augustana College in May of 2023 with a B.A in Biology, Environmental Studies, and Sociology/Anthropology. During her undergrad, she completed ecological and GIS research for the city of Davenport as well as partnered with the USFWS to complete natural resource tasks and search for the endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee. In her free time she enjoys exploring nature, playing percussion, and hanging out with her cat.

Daniela Villagomez

Natural Areas Ecologist

Daniela was born and raised in Gurnee, Illinois but branched out to Appleton, Wisconsin for her undergraduate years where she graduated from Lawrence University and double majored in Environmental Studies, with a concentration in biology, and Spanish. During college she participated in a fellowship group that collected biodiversity data of ants and bees for the Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust. After college she began working with children in school and summer camp settings. In her free time, she likes to experiment with new cooking recipes, whether it’s a new protein dessert or a hearty salmon bowl in addition to spending as much time as possible with loved ones. 

Connor Wood

Natural Areas Ecologist

Jeff Cook

Maintenance Department Manager

Ignacio Lopez

Ecological Construction, Foreman

Rogalio Lopez

Eco Construction Technician

Rogelio joined the Eco Construction team after graduating from Morton East High School in 2024.  He loves to play basketball and soccer and is a great addition to our team!

Aaron Gomez

Ecological Construction Specialist

Seth Peterson

Ecological Construction Specialist

Dale Williams

Field Equipment Technician

Keith Williams

Field Equipment Technician

Danny Diaz

Junior Account Manager

Inspired by my son, my passion and desire to enjoy life while contributing to the betterment of humanity and the environment continues to strengthen. With over 15 years of customer service/sales experience combined with my life experience, I’ve developed a natural and genuine ability to earn the trust and respect needed to create strong bonds and relationships with people I meet. ILM Environments aims to leave each place we visit better than we found it and my goal is to help make this happen.