Dr. Don Blancher is a nationally recognized expert on estuarine ecology, habitat assessment, water quality, and biological impacts of discharges to ecosystems. He received his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering Sciences from the University of Florida and is a Board Certified Environmental Scientist with the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. He currently works for Moffatt & Nichol, a coastal engineering firm which also specializes in ecosystem restoration activities.

He previously worked with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and focused on both assessment and restoration issues associated with the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment. Dr. Blancher has authored over 50 technical reports and papers and numerous presentations at national and international meetings. He was formerly chairperson of Ecology and Aquatic Resources Committee of the Water Environment Federation, and was adjunct associate professor in the Environmental Toxicology Program at the University of South Alabama. He also serves on the Board of The Groundwork New Orleans Trust.

Before co-founding Restore the Earth Foundation with her husband, PJ spent more than 40 years as a top strategic marketing consultant for leading professional services firms such as Bechtel Corporation, Halliburton, and Fulbright & Jaworski LLP.

Her broad experience working with senior-level executives in major international corporations makes her particularly suited to developing and leading the cross-sector partnerships that are at the heart of the REF strategy and business model. PJ has also been responsible for major fundraising campaigns for organizations such as the Royal Ontario Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Houston Symphony, raising more than $50 million.

She co-founded Heart to Hand Toronto, a grassroots community organization that provides food to more than 200 disadvantaged families each year in the Toronto, Ontario region of Canada by connecting them directly and personally with volunteer and supporting families in the community. This initiative is still going strong after 20 years.

Marvin (Marv) co-founded Restore the Earth Foundation following a successful career as a real estate development executive in the United States and Canada. He served as President and CEO of Bramalea Limited, a North American real estate development and management firm with more than $6 billion in assets.

During his real estate career he raised funds for and successfully executed more than $1 billion in land development projects. Previously he served as President and CEO of Cullen Center, Inc. in Houston, Texas, and as a senior executive at Crown Center Redevelopment Corporation, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards. He has been chair of the board of Ainsworth Corporation, Remington Capital Investments, International Comfort Products Corporation, and Thompson Pipe & Steel Company. Prior to co-founding Restore the Earth Foundation, he launched Ecosystems Partners, LLC, an environmental conservation firm sourcing the best resources, contractors and practices for restoration projects.

Amy Wing has educated thousands of national and international volunteers on the issues and urgency of wetland loss and restoration in Southeast Louisiana. She began her work in conservation at the world famous San Diego Zoo while earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at San Diego State University. As acting director and education curator at the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, she began ecosystem restoration in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and worked to restore and rebuild the Nature Center and its surrounding ecosystem. She mentored teachers on the importance of water quality through the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium and facilitated Whooping Crane Reintroduction program teacher workshops through the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Ms. Wing is a certified Project WILD instructor and facilitator, a Certified Leave No Trace instructor, and a fellow of Loyola University New Orleans’ Institute for Environmental Education. She is a founding member of the board of the Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater New Orleans. Ms. Wing currently works as a Subject Matter Expert in Federal Disaster Recovery grants management and closeout.

Mr. Piñero is President of The Piñero Group LLC, providing consulting services to clients in areas of sustainability such as best practices, strategy, metrics, reporting, awareness building, collaborative efforts, and policy. The group also provides insight on policy and business strategic planning in sustainability, natural resources, energy, and environment. Prior to starting The Pinero Group, he was Senior Vice President for Sustainability for Veolia North America (VNA), and liaison to Veolia’s worldwide Corporate Social Responsibility and Public Affairs departments. In his role at Veolia, Mr. Pinero oversaw all efforts related to sustainability, in regard to outreach, client issues, and internal practices, including the water, energy, and waste business lines. VNA provides leading edge water, energy and environmental service and technology activities, and has approximately 10,000 employees and generates approximately $2 billion in annual revenue.

Over his 36-year career, Mr. Piñero has worked in the private and public sectors as a consultant to many clients on sustainability, environment, and energy. He has also served in the public sector at both the Federal and state levels addressing sustainability issues. During his service as the White House Federal Environmental Executive, he focused on developing and implementing sustainability policy and practices within the US Federal government. Mr. Piñero served in the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as both the Director of the Bureau of Environmental Sustainability as well as holding the office of Pennsylvania State Energy Director.

Mr. Piñero has been an Adjunct Professor at Duquesne University and the University of Arizona, and is currently a Visiting Scholar with George Washington University’s Environment and Energy Management Institute. He has Bachelors of Science degree in Geology from the State University of New York and Masters of Science degree in Geology from Texas A&M University.