About Us

Meristem is a growing natural resource company with work in multiple Corps Districts/ Multiple States. Our current focus is the Ohio River Valley with the bulk of our collaborations taking place in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Illinois. We service various Clients throughout the nation as well. We are anticipating a new presence in Eastern Ohio/ Western Pennsylvania, and are looking forward to a renewed local presence in Central Florida. 

At Meristem, our goal is to listen first, and make your concerns our top priority.  We work with you as an extension of your team. Meristem is a collaborative initiative that seeks first to understand. We recognize that each and every project is a unique dream, circumstance, or endeavor that has had a tremendous amount of thought and hours dedicated to navigating the next steps that include big decisions. Many of these decisions are stymied by layers of constraints and challenges that seem nebulous, vague and many times overwhelming. Meristem looks to ease the burden of ambiguity by clearly articulating the current regulatory policies and then working with you to create a path forward that is both economically and environmentally fulfilling. 

Meristem, a young company with an old soul. Founded by Marc Woernle, who has over 30 years of experience, offers a full service experience including wetland delineations, natural resource permitting, water quality sampling, endangered species surveys, mitigation design, native plant landscaping, and other natural resource services to support your project.

Since our inception in January 2022, Meristem has worked on over 350 projects in multiple states including Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, and North Carolina; and we have completed in depth vegetation identification/ documentation analysis in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. 

Scroll down below to see our Team!

Marc is our Principal Ecologist. He started out his career in Florida in the mid 90's monitoring large mitigation sites for the Phosphate, Rock, Sand, & Titanium Mining Industries. His work in Florida is extensive and covers most of the state. For several years he surveyed and relocated Gopher Tortoises, trapped Florida Mice, monitored Burrowing Owls, Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers, Bald Eagles and completed globally rare plant studies in its Florida Scrub, Pine Flatwoods, Cypress Swamps and Tidal Wetlands. Moving to Indiana gave him the opportunity to work with the Military on rare plant and stream studies in the deserts of Arizona, wetland permitting in coastal non-tidal wetlands in Maryland, including other projects in various states. He has worked with  some of the largest energy companies in the USA and the largest homebuilders in the USA completing various types of wetland and endangered species assessments, permitting, mitigation designs, and integrating natural solutions to complex environmental constraints.  His aptitude for native plant identification and ecology allowed him to integrate wetland treatment systems in California, Maine, and elsewhere. He was the lead Field Director for Two Sections of I-69 overseeing rare and endangered fish, crayfish, mussel, bat, and neo-tropical migratory songbird surveys. He was also the Field Director for multiple large pipeline projects requiring endangered species, wetland, & stream assessments in Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Ohio, & West Virginia. He has extensive knowledge of flora throughout the United States and has expertise in natural resource permitting pertaining to Industrial Business Complexes, International Airports, and Residential Communities.

Bailey Duncan is an Ecologist with Meristem. Bailey graduated from Indiana University, holding a degree in Human Ecology with a focus in Natural Resource Management and Environmental Health.  After kick starting her career in parks and recreation, she shifted her focus from public education to a more hands-on approach to environmental quality post-graduation. Through her time working for parks throughout Indiana, Bailey gained experience assisting with stream quality studies, habitat restoration, wetland and tallgrass prairie ecosystem restoration and ecosystem management plan design for multiple local parks.  Since joining Meristem, Bailey has delineated wetlands and/ or completed Indiana Bat habitat studies in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Alabama and Georgia. Bailey also has experience working with other state-endangered species including Timber Rattlesnake, Little Brown Bat, and Yellowwood Tree.

Kat Pain is an Ecologist with Meristem. Kat graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s in Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology and a minor in Zoology. While attending Colorado State, Kat dedicated her time to Colorado State Forest Service Nursery, mainly working with native tree and shrub species. Kat also took part in a herpetology project concerning the adaptability of a species of tailed frog (Ascaphus truei). She acclimated tadpoles and tested their critical thermal maximums in order to evaluate how they and other species may respond to rising stream temperatures. After graduating, she worked for Colorado Parks and Wildlife monitoring waterways as it related to aquatic nuisance species, specifically freshwater mussels, snails, crayfish and certain plants. She has experience identifying and evaluating the likelihood of larval stages being present for Zebra and Quagga mussels, New Zealand mud snail, Rusty crayfish, and Eurasian watermilfoil. Through her studies and experiences, Kat has developed a firm understanding of Colorado flora and fauna, as well as field data collection and analysis; and is now utilizing her skillsets in the Midwest and other regions of the United States.

 Jolee Bisson is an Ecologist with Meristem. Jolee graduated from Virginia Tech with degrees in both Environmental Conservation & Society and Political Science. During her time at Virginia Tech, she worked at the Virginia Tech Soil Research Lab as a research assistant conducting soil sample analysis. This included pH measurements, particle size analysis, titrations, and organic material composition. Jolee collaborated with professors, graduate students, external colleges, and companies to further their scientific investigation. This experience allowed her to gain knowledge of Virginia soil as well as laboratory procedures. After graduation, Jolee worked under a graduate student to advance his research on crop-tree release by the U.S. Forest Service. This field experience enhanced her tree identification, data collection, and navigation skills. Among working on multiple projects for Meristem throughout Indiana, Jolee has recently completed a several mile pipeline project in Virginia focusing on wetland delineations and ETR habit surveys.

Ava Woernle is an Ecologist with Meristem. Ava is in her final academic year at Indiana University, pursuing a degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies with a concentration in Biodiversity. She presented a collaborative case study at the Indiana University Sustainability Symposium, researching Indigenous methods of ecosystem preservation in the Haida Gwaii region of Canada. Ava's coursework within the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs has provided a strong foundation of local ecology and plant identification. Her academic focus has shifted towards environmental management and sustainable development in the Midwest. As an intern with Meristem, Ava has gained experience assisting in wetland delineation, mitigation bank monitoring and maintenance, and Indiana Bat habitat surveys. 

Our corporate office is located in Avon, Indiana with remote offices in other Indiana Locales. 

Regardless of location, we look forward to visiting with you on your next endeavor.

Our Team has experience in the following States:

Arizona

Alabama

California

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Maine

Maryland

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

North Carolina

Ohio

Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Our Team has experience in the following USACE Districts:

Baltimore 

Buffalo

Charleston

Chicago

Detroit

Fort Worth

Huntington

Jacksonville

Kansas City

Los Angeles

Louisville

Mobile

Nashville

Omaha

Pittsburgh 

Rock Island

Savannah

St. Louis

St. Paul

Tulsa

Vicksburg