Anne LaForti

Based in California | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2022

JOB SCOPE As a project manager, Anne leads and executes a variety of biomimicry innovation projects.

HISTORY Prior to joining B3.8, Anne worked in a wide variety of fields, including real estate development, office and project management, IT delivery and support, event production, and operations.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “Beneficial Fungi: I love the way mycelial hyphae (tiny root-like hairs of underground mushrooms) can reach out in all directions to provide protection, communication channels, and resource reciprocity between nodes in its network.”

FANTASY TRAVEL DESTINATION “I would love to someday go mushroom hunting in old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest with Paul Stamets.”

FAVORITE QUOTE “True Agility: Find out where you are. Take a step toward your goal. Adjust your map based on what you learned. Repeat. When faced with 2+ options of roughly the same value, pick the one that makes future change easier.” – Dave Thomas ‘Agile is Dead’

Austin Watling

Based in Montana | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2015

JOB SCOPE Austin administers computer systems, software, and hardware. He responds to technical support inquiries from both internal and external sources and assists in updates and changes to website content.

HISTORY Before joining B3.8, Austin worked as an Apple Certified Support Professional in Missoula, where he also attended the University of Montana, majoring in physics and mathematics. He brings a deep understanding of most computer systems and processes, as well as an ability to identify and solve almost any problem.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “Kingfisher. Kingfishers are a perfect example of beauty and precision.”

HIDDEN TALENT Rock climbing

FAVORITE QUOTE “Natural science does not simply describe and explain nature; it is part of the interplay between nature and ourselves.” – Werner Karl Heisenberg

Brittany Jerlinga

Based in Colorado | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2020

JOB SCOPE Brittany is a writer, researcher, and “biologist at the design table” specializing in making biological insights relevant. She also coordinates, creates, and executes engaging professional training programs.

HISTORY In conjunction with her work at B3.8, Brittany teaches “How Nature Works” at Arizona State University (ASU), bringing nature’s genius to light and inspiring new generations of biomimics.

She earned her first master’s degree from the University of Southern California where she focused on the power of storytelling to teach tricky biological concepts. Brittany received her Master of Science in biomimicry from ASU and joined the fifth Biomimicry Professional (BPro) cohort.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “I have a thing for all organisms who makes copious amounts of mucus. It’s so multifunctional and misunderstood. White’s Tree Frogs, for example, protect from desiccation using dead skin and slime.”

HIDDEN TALENT “Illustration! Digital, pen and ink, colored pencil, marker, you name it.”

FAVORITE BOOK “Ishmael, House of Leaves, The Disappearing Spoon … I love a mix of history, horror, and science.”

Carrie Richer

Based in Montana | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2024

JOB SCOPE Carrie manages B3.8’s professional training programs. In this role, she oversees day-to-day operations and contributes to broader development efforts and marketing strategy.

HISTORY Carrie is an interdisciplinary artist, a dance filmmaker, and a life-long learner. Before joining B3.8, she was the director of the Roxy Theater’s many film festivals—including the International Wildlife Film Festival—from 2018-2023. She was integral in creating the Center for the Arts Creative Initiatives program in Jackson Hole and was the Creative Initiatives Coordinator at the Center for the Arts and the Director of JH Wild while in Wyoming.

Carrie graduated from Bates College with a BA in Dance and Anthropology and completed an MFA in Cinema from San Francisco State University. She co-founded Hole Dance Films, a dance film production company in 2005 that has screened films internationally for the past twenty years. Most recently, the film LONG LOOKING won Best Short film at Denali Film Festival (2022). Carrie was a performing member of Contemporary Dance Wyoming under the direction of Babs Case from 2008 through 2015. Currently, she is mom to a scrappy, imaginative preteen and loves wild places, makers of all sorts, and a horizon line.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “Sagebrush because of its incredible healing power, expansiveness, resourceful nature, and strength but also because its aromatics calm me, and I love playing wherever it grows.”

COMFORT FOOD “Tacos—everyday.”

RIVER, LAKE, OR OCEAN? “Since moving to Missoula, I have found rivers to be my anchor, though I will always really be grounded by mountains.”

Casey Rowland

Based in New York | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2023

JOB SCOPE Casey manages B3.8’s Project Positive program. In this role, she oversees day-to-day operations and contributes to broader development efforts and strategic planning.

HISTORY Prior to joining B3.8, Casey worked at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in support of development efforts and relationship management in North America. She is passionate about leveraging her commercial background in consulting and market research to help businesses translate circular economy principles into regenerative strategies.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “Mycorrhizal fungi – I love the idea of a connective network transferring nutritional benefits right under our feet!”

RIVER, LAKE, OR OCEAN? “Oceans – I was raised on the beaches of New England and feel so at home when I can hear the waves crashing nearby.”

FAVORITE BOOK “Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts

Cheyenne Lewis

Based in North Carolina | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2020

JOB SCOPE Cheyenne supports B3.8’s visual storytelling through the creation of graphics and illustrations.

HISTORY Before joining the B3.8 team, Cheyenne worked as a graphic designer for the University of Montana’s marketing department. She earned her BFA in graphic design at Montana State University and spent a semester abroad in Italy. Cheyenne is interested in helping to further develop the intersection of visual communication and sustainability.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “Spider monkeys! I saw them in the wild and was amazed by how graceful, agile, and clever they are.”

FAVORITE BOOK Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner

Chris Montero

Based in Montana | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2022

JOB SCOPE Chris is a biologist, illustrator, educator, and writer. He teaches in professional trainings, creates illustrations, and collaborates on scientific and biological literature research.

HISTORY Born and raised in the tropics, Chris has a dual career in natural sciences and art, which has allowed him to work as an educator, international trip leader, and illustrator. Chris studied biological sciences at the Universidad de Costa Rica, Universidad Estatal a Distancia (in Costa Rica), and the Evergreen State College. He has worked for organizations such as Mass Audubon, National Geographic Student Expeditions, Wolf Haven International, and the Organization for Tropical Studies.

Chris’ symbiosis with B3.8 began in 2005, when he started consulting as a local naturalist for our professional trainings in Costa Rica.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “I have a fascination with snakes, wolves, octopuses, beetles, whale sharks, warblers, horseshoe crabs… and a few dozen more. But if I must choose one, jaguars are my reliable pick.”

FAVORITE QUOTE “Before you embark on any path, ask the question: Does this path have a heart? If the answer is no, you will know it, and then you must choose another path.” -Carlos Castaneda

FANTASY TRAVEL DESTINATION “Time travel back 12,000 years, joining the first scientific expedition to study the Ice Age ecosystems in the Americas.”

Dr. Dayna Baumeister

Based in the North Cascades and the Northern Rockies | Co-founded Biomimicry 3.8 in 1997

JOB SCOPE As partner and co-founder, Dayna does anything and everything at B3.8, including covering the broad niches of ideation, strategy, and education. She inspires clients as a biologist at the design table and leads the professional training programs.

HISTORY “Before Biomimicry 3.8, well…it’s hard to remember a time before Biomimicry 3.8. Janine and I had our first conversation in January 1998, just two months after her book was published. It’s been a wild ride ever since.”

FAVORITE ORGANISM “You can never ask a biologist their favorite organism—what would all the ones I didn’t mention think of me?”

FAVORITE BOOK “Currently reading (multiple times—it’s so rich): Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.”

RIVER, LAKE, OR OCEAN? “Ocean, hands down. Floating over a vibrant, thriving coral reef.”

FAVORITE QUOTE “I put Einstein’s quote about same thinking = same results, different thinking = change the world, on my email signature years ago and have never changed it for a reason.”

Read more in Dayna’s bio

Emily Fricke

Based in Montana | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2021

JOB SCOPE Emily Fricke provides operational support to our B3.8 ecosystem and business infrastructure through a lens of professional empathy and integrated collaboration.

HISTORY Before joining B3.8, Emily worked for a national healthcare company, managing complex operations and supporting clinical teams providing quality patient care. With an Interdisciplinary background in Gender and Multicultural Studies, she has spent her professional career supporting people from early stages in life, to young adults and families navigating society with limited resources, to currently working with business operations teams striving to achieve impactful strategic initiatives. Through a trauma-informed care model, Emily has adapted her background in service-oriented social work towards people operations, team development and strategic growth for mission-driven companies.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “Redwoods – the mother tree of the forest and the tallest trees on Earth. Living in groves, redwoods intertwine their roots to create a family-like support system, developing strength and resiliency through their unity.”

RIVER, LAKE, OR OCEAN? “Ocean – I absolutely love the sensation of being completely submerged underwater in another living reality.”

FAVORITE BOOK The Signature of all Things by Elizabeth Gilbert

Eric Evans

Based in Alaska | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2023

JOB SCOPE Eric assists with IT administration, needs assessments, and support activities, and he provides multi-disciplinary project management when needed.

HISTORY Understanding the importance of quality information management, Eric began his career in the energy sector as a software developer. For twenty years he has worked from Arizona to the Arctic Slope of Alaska as a developer, consultant, and project manager, primarily for the energy sector’s various industries. He further developed his skills within the trades in construction, along with managing projects in the built environment.

As a lifelong learner, Eric obtained degrees in business, construction management, and technology, and is currently pursuing his master’s of biomimicry.

FAVORITE ORGANISMS “Terrestrial: bears (Ursidae) – deep connection spiritually. Aerial: ravens (Corvus corax) – amazingly persistent problem solvers. Water: hammerhead shark (Sphyrnidae) – looks so different and intriguing”

FANTASY TRAVEL DESTINATION “Deep ocean or participate in the ecosystem of a coral reef; Deep space or planetary objects / Einstein Rosen Bridge.”

FAVORITE QUOTE “Success is not final; failure is not fatal—it is the courage to continue that counts.”; “I never ‘worry’ about action, but only about inaction.” – Churchill

Farid Mohamed

Based in Texas | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2021

JOB SCOPE Farid performs the role of project manager, leading and executing a variety of biomimicry innovation projects.

HISTORY Farid has over 15 years of technical consulting experience where he led the execution and deployment of geo-technical consulting services, focusing on the integration of multiple technical domains enabling transition technologies in subsurface developments of oil and gas, geothermal and carbon storage assets.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “Fungi – imagine where would we and our planet be without fungi? They are responsible for almost all our food production and most of our processed materials. They are also to be thanked for many of the important medical breakthroughs in human history that treat both physical and mental ailments, for naturally sequestering and slowly releasing carbon, for optimizing industrial processes, and so much more!”

FAVORITE QUOTE “Sometimes you have to create what you want to be part of.” – Geri Weitzman

Janine Benyus

Based in Montana | Co-founded Biomimicry 3.8 in 1997

JOB SCOPE As co-founder of B3.8, Janine guides the vision of the organization, as well as works to lead research and ideation.

HISTORY Janine is a natural history writer who has published five books, including “Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature,” which popularized the term biomimicry and set the stage for the practice to become an innovation tool used worldwide.

Read more in Janine’s bio

Katie Stabnau

Based in Montana | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2023

JOB SCOPE Katie partners with B3.8’s Managing Director, supporting all staff and providing comprehensive administrative, communication flow, and project management assistance for successful strategic planning and execution.

HISTORY Leveraging six years of program administration experience complemented by a background in customer service spanning over two decades, Katie brings a strong foundation in both operational management and customer-centricity. Her degree in psychology from the University of Montana fueled her passion for teaching and early childhood education, providing her with a deep understanding of human development and behavior and a life-long love for learning. Katie’s time as a military spouse has honed her abilities in resilience, adaptability, resourcefulness, and multi-cultural competency, enabling her to thrive in ever-changing and diverse environments.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “The majestic water bear: Tardigrades are adorable and nearly indestructible.”

FAVORITE QUOTE “The Invitation”, a poem by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

COMFORT FOOD “Tortilla with cheese, meat or vegetables.”

Maria O'Farrell

Based in North Carolina | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2020

JOB SCOPE Maria collaborates with B3.8’s project partners and clients in the dual role of project manager and researcher on a multitude of different biomimicry innovation projects. She utilizes her biological knowledge and research abilities to offer large organizations insights to solve a variety of design challenges, from the way we make truly innovative products to how we embed resilience into our organizations. Using the biomimicry design methodology, Maria helps develop products and processes which are sustainable, innovative, effective, energy efficient, and life-friendly. Additionally, she developed and manages a system for research hygiene at B3.8

HISTORY Maria holds degrees in zoology and botany and is one of only eight biologists to be recognized as a Certified Biomimicry Professional. She was also one of the first students to complete the Master of Science in biomimicry program at Arizona State University.

Maria has diplomas in green building and renewable energy technologies. She served as both program and project manager for the nationally awarded Renewable Energy Technologies Diploma Series for over five years in the College of Engineering at NCSU. She has also worked on two multimillion-dollar solar programs for the US Department of Energy.

As a former contractor for B3.8 (at the time, Biomimicry Guild, LLC), she worked on projects with Herman Miller, Kimberly Clark, Burts Bees, and SERA architecture, as well as contributed to the “AskNature” database, researching biological concepts and design principles. Maria continues to play a unique role as a biologist who takes complex biological data and translates it into language digestible by any department, from marketing to R&D.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “Mimic octopus because of their intelligence and their astounding ability to adapt so seamlessly to almost any environment.”

HIDDEN TALENT Landscape and Wildlife Photography https://maria.smugmug.com/

FAVORITE QUOTE “I can’t understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I’m frightened of the old ones.” – John Cage

Mark Dorfman

Based in New York | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2007

JOB SCOPE Mark manages, designs, and conducts research, primarily for projects with a chemistry-related challenge.

HISTORY Mark spent the past several decades as a research scientist for public-interest, not-for-profit environmental organizations (primarily INFORM, Inc. and the Natural Resources Defense Council) with a focus on green chemistry and clean water issues.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “Cyanobacteria. They were the first creatures—some 3+ billion years ago—to develop photosynthetic technology. We still haven’t figured out how to completely reproduce it.”

FAVORITE BOOK Freedom at Midnight by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins

HIDDEN TALENT Swing dancing

Read more in Mark’s bio

Nicole Bellisle

Based in North Carolina | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2024

JOB SCOPE As COO, the core function of Nicole’s role is to align operational systems and team rhythms with the organization’s strategic vision and objectives. Through nurturing a culture of care alongside operational excellence, Nicole seeks to build cohesive, high-functioning teams and ensure clarity in executing company initiatives. Her focus is on developing seamless systems that support sustainability, team well-being, and long-term success, while integrating biomimicry principles into our core operations. She also plays a critical role in ensuring the financial health of the organization, keeping an eye on compliance, policy, and governance.

HISTORY Nicole has worked with thousands of executives and founders from around the world in her roles at Harvard University, Techstars, Impact Hub, and Leaders on Purpose (a global organization serving Fortune 500 CEOs). She has helped grow 8 companies in the last 10 years, including a startup that was funded on Shark Tank. She is the founder and president of Living Leaders, an educational institute that supports conscious leaders to build regenerative companies that are not just sustainable for our planet, but also sustainable for people. Much of her work is focused on healing work trauma and toxic work culture, through more conscious leadership practices and self-healing work. She is the host of the Living Leaders Podcast, about conscious, regenerative leadership.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “Dragonflies because they start their life as aquatic creatures that have only known water as the medium they exist in. When it’s time to go through metamorphosis, they instinctually know to climb a reed towards sunlight, where they undergo alchemy and learn to fly through the air, existing in new form with new capabilities and beauty.”

FAVORITE BOOK? Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

COMFORT FOOD Thai Red Curry

Nicole Miller

Based in Montana | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2012

JOB SCOPE Nicole is responsible for the strategic direction of the company. She also works closely with clients and partners to identify the best opportunities to effectively integrate and apply biomimicry.

HISTORY Prior to joining B3.8, Nicole served as the Managing Director for the Montana World Trade Center and as the Director of Sourcing for Overstock.com. Her professional experience in sustainability reporting, environmental and social compliance, global supply chains, private label development, social entrepreneurship, and economic development supports her efforts to introduce biomimicry as a platform to mitigate risk, build resilience, and advance innovation.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “Mycelium—it continues to blow my mind that there is an entire network of communication below the forest floor working to maintain the health of the ecosystem.”

COMFORT FOOD “Pizza—I make it at least once a week. In the summer, I harvest fresh basil, arugula, and veggies from my garden. Delicioso!”

RIVER, LAKE, OR OCEAN? Ocean

Read more in Nicole’s bio

Peggy Chu

Based in California | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2022

JOB SCOPE Peggy works on the design and research of projects that impact the built environment.

HISTORY Peggy is a licensed architect and certified Biomimicry Professional. She brings over twenty years of experience in the building industry. Prior to B3.8, Peggy’s work focused on sustainability in corporate and government projects, the design and construction of schools, historical restoration/reuse, and academic research on construction life-cycle carbon impacts. Peggy has worked internationally in the US, Italy, and China. Her goal: to help bring biomimicry and interdisciplinary design into mainstream architectural design education.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “Lions. They are extremely social—living in units called prides where they hunt, defend, and raise their cubs together. They rub heads, nuzzle, and lick to strengthen their bonds and they roar together! Witnessing that is deeply visceral and unforgettable.”

FAVORITE BOOK Cry of the Kalahari, by Mark and Delia Owens

RIVER, LAKE, OR OCEAN? “The ocean. It is immediately vast and powerful—a place that compels a shift in perspective.”

Rachel Hahs

Based in Illinois | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2021

JOB SCOPE Rachel uses her wide diversity of skills to provide high quality research and content development support for B3.8 projects.

HISTORY Prior to B3.8, Rachel was a sustainability professional and environmental scientist at URS/AECOM for 13 years. She managed multi-disciplinary project teams and provided technical support to deliver sustainability and environmental program evaluation, development, implementation, and reporting services for both private and public sector clients. As a systems thinker, Rachel’s professional experience led her to look for a more impactful place to intervene in the system. In 2013, Rachel was introduced to biomimicry and was immediately hooked. Rachel is a Certified Biomimicry Professional and holds a Master of Science in biomimicry degree from Arizona State University. Rachel is also a co-leader of the Biomimicry Chicago network.

HIDDEN TALENT Furniture making

FAVORITE QUOTE “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” – Albert Einstein

Zeynep Arhon

Based in California | Joined Biomimicry 3.8 in 2022

JOB SCOPE Zeynep takes on project management tasks and supports B3.8’s marketing/communication efforts.

HISTORY In conjunction with her work at B3.8, Zeynep teaches biomimicry and business courses in the Master of Science in biomimicry program at Arizona State University.

Her corporate background includes strategic leadership and brand management positions at leading multinationals such as The Coca-Cola Company and Georgia Pacific.

As an entrepreneur and consultant, Zeynep introduced cutting-edge marketing and innovation tools (i.e., experiential marketing and future trends) in Turkey, her home country. A strong calling to align her work with her love for the planet led her to biomimicry. After graduating from the Biomimicry Professional Program in 2010, she integrated biomimicry into her consulting practice and worked towards spreading sustainability thinking among business leaders in a challenging, developing global economy. Her efforts included writing in business publications as a columnist and contributor, creating and hosting the first biomimicry radio show in Turkey, and creating a biomimicry-based online course for young entrepreneurs in Europe.

Zeynep has been living in San Francisco since 2012. She has a Master of Science in biomimicry degree, along with an MBA and a BA in Political Science & International Relations.

FAVORITE ORGANISM “California coastal Redwoods. They drink water from the fog, grow tall and live long, create ecosystems… So much inspiration for redesigning business processes and models with nature’s strategies!”

HIDDEN TALENTS “Graphite drawing and cooking some of the lost recipes from the Ottoman cuisine.”

FAVORITE QUOTE “What you seek, is seeking you.” – Rumi

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