Our Staff
Kate Kennen RLA
Owner
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.
Joe Shafner
Director of Landscape Operations
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 Chapman-Hale
Project Manager, Landscape Architectural Designer
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.
Emily Humphrey
Landscape Architectural Designer
Emily is inspired by connecting with nature, exploring new places, and engaging in various forms of creative expression. Previously, Emily spent time working in landscape installation and maintenance, where she gained an understanding of what makes a landscape lasting and successful. Emily has worked on numerous research initiatives at the University of Rhode Island studying the impacts of sea level rise. Emily holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from the University of Rhode Island, where she was awarded the Rhode Island ASLA Student Honor Award for Design Excellence and the KFA Scholarship for Academic Excellence. She is an active member of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Rebecca Nolan
Landscape Architect
Rebecca Nolan holds a BS in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University and is currently a Masters in Design studies candidate at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. She is a registered Landscape Architect who has worked in New York state for the past several years with municipal clients on downtown revitalization projects, specifically streetscape design and construction. Her research and professional interests are focused in policy, distribution, and ecologically sensitive tactics for upgrading and enhancing public waste-water and storm-water infrastructure. Rebecca is a LEED AP Building Design & Construction.
Julie Salvatoriello
Administration, Marketing, Billing
Julie’s dedication to resilience brought her to the Offshoots team. Julie received her Masters in Sustainable Design from the Boston Architectural College. Her Masters’ thesis centered on community equity and entrepreneurial opportunities of regenerative design using bioremediation. Prior to joining the Offshoots team, Julie was an editor and administrator at Mikyoung Kim Design. Before that Julie had volunteered with Americorps NCCC, FEMA, 350MA and WWOOF. She has a Bachelors in English from Mount Holyoke College.
Mark Delaney
Horticultural Supervisor
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.
Adham Kinawy
Field Associate
Adham is the big man on campus (literally the biggest) and brings construction experience to the Offshoots team. Coming from a family of laborers he is not one to back down from hard work and enjoys seeing projects come to fruition (and the occasional candlelit dinner). Adham is training with Offshoots to become a future landscape crew leader.
Josh Brown
Field Associate
Josh is currently pursuing a Master of Landscape Architecture degree at the Boston Architectural College. Growing up in upstate New York, Josh spent years camping, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors in the Finger Lakes region. He worked previously as a mason laborer for several years, and is OSHA certified in Construction Safety and Health. Josh is excited to learn and grow with the Offshoots team.
Sam
Materials Librarian
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
Receptionist
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.