WRA Staff Spotlight: Celebrating 1 Year at WRA!
We have a great group of WRA teammates who will celebrate their one-year anniversary at WRA in 2025! We’re spotlighting a few of them to share their experiences and highlights from their first year with us.
We’re so grateful for everything you bring to the team and can’t wait to see what’s next for you at WRA. Here’s to many more milestones ahead!
Darcy Hardwick, Conservation Project Manager
Why did you decide to join the WRA team?
Darcy: WRA works within a particular line of consulting that focuses on restoration and emphasizes a desire to continue growing the company in that direction.
What do you enjoy about working at WRA (so far)?
Darcy: EVERYTHING! The projects that we have are dynamic and impactful. We are able to openly talk about how we can effectively merge our passions and values with the consulting world. Most importantly, I love being a part of a company with great people that supports its employees and offers so much flexibility.
What do you do for fun outside of work?
Darcy: In my free time I enjoy anything that gets me outdoors! Hiking, biking, swimming, snowboarding, etc. My husband and I have also recently gotten into pickleball which has become our new favorite Saturday morning activity.
Kurt Hildebrandt, Plant Biologist
Tell us about why you joined WRA.
Kurt: WRA seemed like it would provide a great opportunity for career growth. In addition, people who work here are experts in their respective fields, and the Company Vision is something that resonates with me on a personal level.
What’s been the most rewarding or exciting part of your experience working at WRA so far?
Kurt: I enjoy the wide breadth of work that WRA has to offer, from wetland delineations to habitat assessments for invertebrates and even fish salvages. It has been a place where I can continue learning and develop as a professional. I have also enjoyed the community that it provides. Every coworker I have interacted with has been kind, patient, and well-intentioned. It is truly a privilege to work alongside people who are just as passionate about nature and science as I am.
Tell us about a project that has particular meaning during your first year.
Kurt: The Tuolumne County Botanical Surveys project would have to be my favorite. Growing up, I lived in Fresno, California and would often spend my weekends in the Sierra National Forest. I always found it tragic when extreme wildfires such as the Creek Fire (2020) swept through and burned everything in its path. It is through WRA’s work with the County that I got to be a part of the solution to wildfires. The project involved a fuel reduction effort within the Stanislaus Nation Forest in direct response to the Rim Fire (2013). I aided in this effort by mapping and flagging rare and invasive plant species to help protect rare plant species from the heavy machinery used to clear debris from the forest floor and help prevent the spread of invasives.
Darwin Mayhew, Wildlife Biologist
Do you have a mentor who has made a significant impact in your career at WRA so far?
Darwin: Marisa Ishimatsu has been incredibly supportive and a wonderful mentor. She sets a new bar for how supervisors should act.
Who inspires you and how does that connect to your work at WRA?
Darwin: Line Klausen, a Danish-American scientist I knew in Norway, is the best botanist/entomologist I have ever known and her drive for adventure and discovery has encouraged me to do the same by taking on any and every opportunity WRA has to offer even if it might be outside of my comfort zone.
What do you do for fun outside of work?
Darwin: In my free time, I enjoy trail running and nature photography. I also volunteer for The Wildlife Society (TWS) as Co-chair of the Early Career and Professional Working Group which I take great satisfaction in.
Rachel Miller, Plant Biologist / Wetland Ecologist
What does making a positive lasting impression mean to you in your work at WRA?
Rachel: I appreciate the work that we do here at WRA. I get to work on everything from restoration projects and habitat creation to long-term biological monitoring for special-status species, to helping developers design their projects to avoid impacts.
What is meaningful to you about WRA’s company culture?
Rachel: WRA’s focus on safety means a lot to me. I feel like the focus on safety reflects the underlying culture of looking out for our coworkers, which I really appreciate!
Do you have a mentor or team member that has made a significant impact in your career at WRA so far?
Rachel: My supervisor, Hope Kingma, has been a great mentor for me during my first year. She puts me on projects that are challenging but achievable, and where there is always something new to learn. With her supportive and flexible management style, she’s fantastic to work for during my first year at WRA!
To learn more about WRA, how we Make a Positive Lasting Impression™, and opportunities to join our team, visit our Culture and Careers page.