Meet the team

A  St. Louis native, Lisa G. Ross, attended the University of Tulsa before  beginning her career in banking, specializing in merchant bankcard  sales. After nearly a decade in Charlotte, NC, she returned to her STL  roots while dedicating 25 years to raising her four children—Gigi,  Frankie, Vincent, and Ellie. Now, as her children step into their  futures, Lisa is launching into hers with Missouri Native Stewardship Services, combining her lifelong passion for nature with a deep commitment to land stewardship.

Lisa’s connection to the land runs deep—rooted in childhood visits to her  grandparents’ farm in Northeast Missouri, where she learned firsthand the value of working in harmony with nature. his love of the outdoors  has shaped her approach to landscaping, leading her to transform her own  home (affectionately called "435 Local") into a model of sustainable  gardening. She installed a rain garden as part of the Deer Creek Watershed Project, established a native pollinator prairie to reduce mowing and support vital ecosystems, and continues to transition  her gardens to native plantings that enhance biodiversity.

At  Missouri Native Stewardship Services, Lisa is channeling her hands-on  experience and passion for conservation into meaningful work—helping  others protect and restore Missouri’s natural landscapes. Her mission is  clear: not just to maintain, but to enhance the land for future  generations.  

Lisa's favorite native is Blue Wild Indigo(Baptisia australis). 

Chuck Caverly grew up in the St. Louis area, spending weekends camping all across the state with his family and Boy Scout troop. The idea of being a botanist first started after earning  the Botany merit badge at S-F Scout Ranch just outside of Farmington,MO. While attending Truman State University, Chuck was able to intern with the taxonomy department of the Missouri Botanical Garden. College weekends and afternoons were spent  "botanizing" all across Northern Missouri. During those field trips, Chuck was able to collect several county and state records for native plants.  Some of those collections can be found in the herbarium at  Truman State as well as the herbarium at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

With  almost forty years of experience in the landscape design and  maintenance industry, Chuck has become a recognized, "go to" source of   information for design professionals and neighbors for all things  native. 

David Pierson, is a dedicated professional with 6 years of experience in Conservation and Environmental Stewardship. Originally from San  Diego,California, David now resides in the St. Louis area with his wife  and  two dogs, where he continues to contribute to the protection and preservation of the natural world.

David’s approach to stewardship is grounded in his belief that effective solutions require a blend of scientific understanding, practical  action, and community collaboration. 

He is committed to making a lasting positive impact and inspiring others to join in safeguarding the environment for future generations.

David’s Favorite Native is Rattlesnake master ( Eryngium yuccifolium )

Amanda Dieckhaus, is a Missouri Native, born and raised in Washington, MO. After graduating Southwest Missouri State with a BS in Accounting she worked for Deloitte and Touche, LLC (audit department) and Midwest Technology Services (Controller and Business Operations Manager).

Moves across the US took her to Kansas City, Atlanta, Michigan and Texas. During those years she grew her family, ran the household and volunteered with the PTO, having Treasurer and Volunteer Coordinator positions along with Chairperson of the annual fundraising gala.

Life brought Amanda and family (husband Jeff, daughters Mary and Emily) the  opportunity to move back to the StL area in 2015. The last few years have been busy caring for and coordinating kids school and sports, family activities and travel.

Amanda is organized, diligent, friendly, and excited to be a part of Missouri Native Stewardship Services and the commitment to our local  communities, the maintenance and stewardship of our environment, and ready to provide great service to all our clients and customers. 

Missy Castro graduated from Washington University with a B.F.A. in Communication Arts. Over the years, she has built a diverse career, working across industries such as video game design and brand identity.  This broad range of experience has equipped Missy with a versatile skill set, making her adept at tackling creative and strategic challenges. A constant thread throughout Missy's career has been her deep commitment  to environmental stewardship. Her passion for plant life and sustainable practices aligns perfectly with her current role at Missouri Native Stewardship Services, where she proudly helps advance the organization’s  mission of preserving and promoting native ecosystems.Missy resides in Webster Groves, Missouri, where she and her husband raised their three daughters. Their home is a sanctuary for a variety of animals,  dogs, cats, chickens and a thriving collection of  plants. When she’s not tending to her green space, Missy enjoys  paddleboarding on Missouri’s scenic rivers, playing guitar, drawing, painting, and pouring  candles. Missy's Favorite Missouri Native:Bee Balm (Monarda bradburiana).

Brian Welch Is a Missouri Native. He graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology. He has over 3 years of diverse experience in conservation as well as terrestrial and aquatic invasive removal.

Brian also has over 3 years of heavy equipment operation. 

In his free time he enjoys spending time with my wife and dogs, fishing, and  kayaking.

A fun fact about Brian, he has a pet African Bullfrog named, "Kong",

Brian's  favorite native tree is the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus Florida).