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Nick Miller
Forester & Natural Resource Supervisor
With over 20 years of experience in the green industry, I began my journey at the age of 16, working alongside my grandmother at a plant nursery. My most exciting and fulfilling experiences have been right here in Billings, MT, where I've had the privilege of working with the Billings Parks and Recreation Department. The various roles I've held within the department have allowed me to explore and engage with the natural world in ways that go beyond what’s typically seen at the commercial level.
Currently, my focus is on region-specific plant material, soil health, and the urban forest for PRPL. I am passionate about creating sustainable solutions and enhancing our community's green spaces.
Eric Puetz
BLM Botanist
Hi everyone, my name is Eric Puetz, and I am a relatively new Botanist for the Bureau of Land Management in the Billings Field Office. I grew up in the small town of Clear Lake, SD along the SD/MN border and my hometown is in the Prairie Pothole region of eastern SD. This region is known for its rolling glaciated landscape and rich tallgrass prairie soils. I attended South Dakota State University (SDSU) for my bachelor’s degree in Rangeland Ecology and Management with a minor in Botany, and in spring 2024, I finished my master’s degree at SDSU in Biological Science with an emphasis in Natural Resource Management.
My masters project at SDSU included developing Species Distribution Models used to assess current and future habitat suitability of small-flower columbine (Aquilegia brevistyla), a native species of conservation concern in the Black Hills of SD. I would consider myself a native plant enthusiast and naturalist. I enjoy gardening, fishing, and hiking during my free time.
Kenda Herman
Botany Data Assistant
Kenda Herman is a biologist with a background in environmental science and plant ecology. She earned a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Montana-Western in 2012.
Kenda has spent most of the last 20 years working in support of land management, research, and conservation, including operating a small business designing functional landscapes for restoration, habitat enhancement, and water conservation projects using ecological concepts.
Kenda lives in Helena and is the Botany Data Assistant at the Montana Natural Heritage Program.
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