Drew Goetting, President and CEO

Drew Goetting founded the Restoration Design Group in 2003 after establishing a career in public lands management. As a noted expert in the field of stream restoration, he has been in the vanguard of California restoration efforts. He brings his background in plant ecology, natural resource management, and community development to bear on each project. Drew oversees all RDG work, leads RDG’s public process facilitation, directs RDG’s grant writing efforts for local, state, and federal clients, and has been successful in acquiring over $10 million in grant awards for RDG’s clients.  He is a regular lecturer on restoration and has conducted numerous workshops and community-based planning processes.

Erik Stromberg, ASLA, Principal Landscape Architect / Restoration Director

Erik Stromberg, a seasoned expert in the seamless integration of science and design, excels in crafting extraordinary environments that harmonize ecological and social dynamics. As the Principal Landscape Architect at RDG, Erik has steered numerous multi-million dollar ventures for diverse clientele.

 In his role as Restoration Director, Erik spearheads RDG's ecological design and stream restoration initiatives, collaborating closely with consulting scientists to achieve state-of-the-art outcomes. Erik's portfolio reflects his ingenuity in navigating project constraints, delivering refined design solutions that stand the test of time. Unrivaled in his creative utilization of natural processes, Erik mentors junior staff, contributing to the continuous refinement and elevation of RDG's work.

 Beyond his impactful contributions at RDG, Erik's influence extends to academia, where he imparts knowledge through teaching graduate-level courses in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Landscape Architecture. Alongside this, he continues to provide lectures and talks covering a diverse array of subjects, including fluvial geomorphology, process-based restoration, fire ecology, and open space planning and design. This multifaceted expertise underscores Erik's commitment to advancing the field and sharing his knowledge with a broader audience.

Matt Thomas, PE, Principal Civil & Hydraulic Engineer

Matt Thomas is a licensed civil engineer committed to creek and river restoration. He holds an MS in civil engineering with an emphasis in water resource management from Colorado State University and a genuine passion for rivers. He brings nearly a decade of civil engineering consulting experience to RDG. He also has nearly thirty years of on-the-river experience as a whitewater river guide and professional whitewater kayaker. Through determination and hard work he is returning to the civil engineering profession following a spinal cord injury. Matt leads RDG’s hydraulic modeling and civil engineering projects.

Anneke Swinehart, RLA, ASLA,  Associate Principal Landscape Architect / Design Director

Anneke Swinehart is a licensed landscape architect who has been working with design-driven firms since 2007, and joined the RDG team in 2017. She works closely with our technical team to provide coordinated design from thalweg to property line, planning healthy, beautiful spaces for all our clients, no matter how small. Prior to pursuing a landscape architecture career, Anneke earned a BS in Agricultural and Biological Engineering from Cornell University.  Her early work for the Soil and Water Lab at Cornell, the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, and the Jepson Herbarium reflects her abiding interest in plants and the ecosystems they create and support. She is keenly interested in art and design that embraces the interplay of science and aesthetics to create beautiful environments and experiences. She currently serves as a trustee for the Oakland Awesome Foundation and rows with the Iron Oars Whaleboat team. 

Rich Walkling, MLA, Managing Principal/CFO

Rich Walkling has been directing resource management and restoration projects for over twenty years. He has managed watershed and estuarine projects in California, the Great Lakes basin, and southern Africa. His planning work, particularly in environmental justice settings, has been studied by PhD students, featured in documentaries, and the subject of an exhibit at the Oakland Museum of California. Rich has served as an appointed member of the East Bay Regional Park District Park Advisory Committee, vice-president of Golden Gate Audubon Society, and board chair of Urban Tilth in Richmond. Rich leads RDG’s business management and environmental planning

Hannah Chapin, Landscape Designer

Hannah Chapin is a landscape designer who joined the RDG team in 2024. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Physiology and Chemistry from the University of Wyoming and a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon. Her design approach is grounded in a blend of listening, questioning, experimentation, and collaboration. She enjoys graphics and data visualizations, along with creating planting plans and 3D modeling. Outside of work, Hannah can be found engaging in various creative activities, including woodworking, drawing, ceramics, crafting, and baking.

Hannah Hansen, Engineering Specialist/Landscape Designer

Hannah Hansen joined RDG following her graduate studies at UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design in 2023. Hannah earned her Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering from Arizona State University and moved to the Bay Area in 2017 to assist in managing large-scale site development projects as a general contractor. She received her EIT certificate in 2019 and her Masters degree in Landscape Architecture + Environmental Planning in 2023. Hannah is trained in GIS, surveying, and geomorphic and ecological monitoring. She has enjoyed getting to work at the intersection of engineering, earth sciences, and art, and loves being part of an interdisciplinary team at RDG.

Jessi Howe, Junior Restoration Engineer

Jessi Howe grew up in western Washington exploring the mountains and learning about native plants and ecosystems. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering Washington State University while simultaneously competing as a member of the WSU Varsity Women’s Rowing team. She loves wandering in new areas and aspires to make natural spaces more accessible for urban communities. Jessi began her engineering career in residential land development and is excited to shift her focus to restoration and environmental work. She assists RDG with hydraulic modeling and civil engineering projects.