Our Staff

Having spent her childhood at her family’s garden center in central Massachusetts, Kate is well versed in the plants and ecological systems of the Northeast. A registered Landscape Architect with degrees from Cornell University and Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, she founded Kennen Landscape Architecture in 2004 and Offshoots, Inc in 2012 to create practices focused on productive planting and ecological planning.  Kate’s current research and teaching concentrates on planting design and applied phytotechnologies that utilize plants to clean up contaminated sites. Her recent book, PHYTO:  Principles and Resources for Site Remediation and Landscape Design (co-authored with Niall Kirkwood) received a national ASLA honor award and was named one of the top 10 new landscape books by The Dirt in 2015. Kate has been honored with numerous awards for her recent and ongoing projects including Cape Cod’s Downtown Hyannis Revitalization Project, Plantworks at 725 Main Street, a phytoremediation installation on a former gas station site, and Bouyed Coasts, an environmental art installation project in Barnstable.

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Joe graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture. He is a Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional [MCLP #1626], an Accredited Organic Land Care Professional [AOLCP] with the New England Organic Farming Association [NOFA], earned a Permaculture Design Certificate [PDC] through the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and has worked in the nursery business and landscape design and construction fields for over a decade. Having been involved with all sides of the industry, Joe has extensive knowledge of plants, design and installation, thereby ensuring successful collaborations with clients, designers and trade professionals.  He strives to create symbiotic relationships between clients, landscape and natural ecologies.  As the Director of Operations with Offshoots, Joe is responsible for managing all aspects of the installation division.

Shelby received a Bachelor of Environmental Science with a concentration in Ecological Design from the University of Vermont and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Oregon. Her graduate thesis, which investigated the impacts of conventional parking lot design on urban sustainability (economic, ecological, and social implications) and explored site scale solutions to reduce potential disturbance in new parking lot design, was presented at CELA in 2014. Prior to joining the team at Offshoots Shelby worked in high-end residential design, taught planting design at UO, taught native plant identification at UVM, worked at a nursery in Vermont, and earned a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) through the University of Oregon.

Colin received a Master in Landscape Architecture from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. Passionate about the confluence of ecology, technology, and society, his graduate thesis investigated the potential of sensors to innovate the practice and discipline of landscape architecture, and explored their use in monitoring, intervening in, and communicating peatland restoration. Prior to joining Offshoots, Colin worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers, on the Hillside Sustainable Living community in Newburyport, and at an aquaponics farm.

Mark brings his love of plants and horticulture to the Offshoots team in 2017. He is currently accredited as a Massachusetts Certified Arborist and MA Certified Horticulturist. Having studied Horticulture and Forest Management at North Shore Community College and the University of Maine, he has formal education in soils, plant biology, and arboriculture. In 2009 he was an intern at the Arnold Arboretum where he studied modern horticultural practices. His background consists of working at traditional landscape and tree care companies and has managed his own small business. Mark stays connected to nature and industry standards through extension lectures and workshops as well as working with his hands. In the winter season, Mark enjoys nature outings and visiting foreign landscapes.

Kit grew up on Cape Cod working with her father in his landscape business. At Rutgers University she earned a degree in natural resource management and applied ecology. In the summers she helped maintain vegetable and cutting gardens, annual, perennial and shrub borders on an estate in Oyster Harbors, MA. After graduating, Kit joined the staff of the Somerset County Park Commission’s Leonard J. Buck Garden in Far Hills, NJ, maintaining 33 acres of woodland gardens at one of the premiere rock gardens in the northeast. Next she became a horticulturist at the Arnold Arboretum; amongst other work, she was responsible for the care of the Bradley Rosaceous Collection. In her spare time, she volunteers her expertise to the Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s Rose Garden Committee as well as Roslindale Green and Clean. Kit is a Mass Certified Horticulturist, ISA Certified Arborist and holds a Umass Extension certificate in Invasive Plant Management. She is delighted to bring her love of plants and knowledge and enthusiasm for plant health care to the Offshoots team.  

Born in Vermont and raised in Massachusetts, Sam spent his youth exploring the woods, streams and ponds of New England. Having napped on a wide range of groundcovers, lawns and lounge chairs, he brings broad experience to his role as materials librarian for Offshoots. When not sleeping on the job, he enjoys swimming, playing fetch and woofing at Merlin.

Merlin joined Offshoots in 2011 from a shelter in Malden, MA to pursue a career managing day-to-day activities including watching the door, amusing office visitors, and chasing balls. He is a gifted listener, avid hole-digger, and has recently earned a certificate in frisbee catching. He holds a B.S. in Herding, and is pursuing a master’s degree in eating grass.