Our Staff
we are Green Star | Staff Profiles
Mary Carol Edwards
Mary Carol Edwards
Owner
Mary Carol founded Green Star Wetland Plant Farm in 2018 to meet a need for native aquatic species for all kinds of projects, from backyard raingardens to large acreage restorations. She previously worked as the stormwater wetland specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Texas Community Watershed Partners, as well as TCWP’s freshwater wetland restoration program, at landscape design and landscape architecture firms, and also in genetics research labs at Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University. Mary Carol is a Houston native, raised on Galveston Bay. She has a BS in Biology and an MA in Architecture from the University of Houston and enjoys bringing both disciplines together to create wonderful natural settings.
Kirsten Brueggerhoff
Kirsten Brueggerhoff
Office Manager
Kirsten brought her business skills to the company on day one, and has been the reason the non-business types have been able to keep our minds through the start-up phase. She has years of bookkeeping and project management, including 8 years in a construction office. She's no stranger to plants though, and plunges into the nursery or field work with an infectious joy. Tenacious tracker of solutions and warm heart of the team–all companies should be so fortunate as to have a Kirsten!
Veronica Hernanadez
Veronica Hernanadez
Senior Nursery Staff
Whether she is singing or laughing, Veronica keeps spirits high while working hard rain or shine. Born in Mexico, she came to Texas at the age of 20 and has worked in a handful of industries, including a plant nursery and shrimp inspection, while raising her children. Her love of plants is as obvious as her love of family who also lend helping hands at the farm.
Megan Davidson Photo by Lyndsey A. Ware.
Megan Davidson
Native Plant Technician
Megan is a native Texan, raised in Alvin. Growing up in the country and on the Gulf Coast, she took advantage of her natural surroundings through many recreational activities. She loves the outdoors and all things nature. Megan has a BS in Ocean and Coastal Resources from Texas A&M Galveston. Mixing her roots and knowledge makes her very passionate about conservation. Megan loves her family, friends, and all things plants!
Margaret Campbell
Margaret Campbell
Native Plant Technician
Margaret grew up in Manvel TX, surrounded by animals and always in nature or the garden with her family. Following her passion for the environment, Margaret earned a BS in Environmental Science and GIS from Stephen F. Austin State University. After graduating, Margaret chose to continue her studies and see the world, which led her to earn a MS in Hydrology from Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Margaret has many passions including ecology, environmental justice, art, travel, food, as well as her pets, both furry and green!
Chastity Porter
Chasity Porter
Native Plant Technician
Chasity is a native Houstonian, wife, and mother with a lifelong fascination for the natural world. Her passion for plants, the environment, and conservation inspires both her personal and professional pursuits. A professional artist, she holds a BFA in Applied Design and Visual Arts and brings a creative perspective to everything she does. Chasity is currently pursuing an MS in Horticulture Science at Texas Tech University, where she enjoys applying what she learns to her work at Green Star.
Pat Gurfinkel
Pat Gurfinkel
Native Plant Technician
Pat is Green Star‘s dedicated seed collector and plant scout. Pat is a naturalist enamored by the many creatures that live among us. Knowing that the foundation of our ecosystem lies in its native plants, they’ve sought out places where people are working to heal our landscape. They find joy in learning the names and habits of the plants we grow, and hold a particular fondness for animals that have commonly been misunderstood and feared.