Meet Our Team:
Roger Wiese has over 20 years of experience in the landscape construction and ecological restoration industries. While earning a bachelor's degree in Horticulture from Iowa State University, Roger worked in road construction as a concrete finisher, and for an irrigation contractor as a technician. He has overseen numerous landscape construction projects throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Iowa. Roger draws on his years of experience to ensure Cardinal State, LLC not only meets the project requirements, but does so with professionalism and integrity. In his free time, Roger can be found enhancing his personal landscape, caring for his chickens and garden, and enjoying the outdoors with his family and friends.
Roger Wiese
President
Jason graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. in Biology. His focus concentrated on Plant and Conservation Biology. After college, Jason spent multiple years in the field as a crew foreman running terrestrial and aquatic ecological restoration projects across the Midwest in a wide array of ecosystem and habitat types. As the Operations Manager at Cardinal State, LLC, Jason oversees all field operations while specializing in managing the large scale plantings and ecological restorations/vegetation management projects. Jason's extensive experience and high attention to detail and organization give him the ability to run complex, cross discipline projects in an efficient and effective manner. Our crew and fleet organization is all thanks to Jason. In his free time, Jason enjoys coaching baseball and enjoying quality time outdoors with his family and friends.
Jason Siegler
Operations Manager
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Joshua Kattner
Project Manager
Joshua graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Environmental Science and a minor in Sociology, with studies focused on hydrogeology, soil science, erosion management, and limnology. He began his career in residential landscape construction while attending college and later worked in environmental restoration, advancing to Site Foreman before serving as a Senior Environmental Scientist on stream and ecological restoration projects. His restoration background includes hands-on experience with grading, earthwork, and heavy equipment operation, providing practical insight that complements his project management responsibilities today. As a Project Manager at Cardinal State, Joshua oversees large-scale commercial projects involving erosion control, stream restoration, retaining walls, tree plantings, and other landscape construction improvements. His background in both environmental restoration and construction allow him to develop efficient solutions that complement the surrounding environment. Outside of work, Joshua enjoys hiking, growing native plants, and spending time on the water fishing with his three children.
Colin Rich
Estimator
Colin graduated with honors from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio with a B.S. in Biology and a Minor in Geology. His academic interests included plant biology and conservation as well as molecular ecology and plant physiology. After college, Colin relocated to the Chicagoland area where he spent multiple years in the field as a crew foreman installing, restoring, and maintaining ecological restoration projects throughout the region. Colin continued his career as an NPDES/SWPPP Consultant in the residential construction industry working with homebuilders, land developers, and contractors to meet federal, state, and local regulatory agency's soil and water pollution standards. As an Assistant Project Manager and ISA Certified Arborist at Cardinal State, Colin manages a wide variety of project types, assists staff with project needs, performs tree and ecological assessments, and communicates with clients and vendors. Colin’s education and unique work background provide the knowledge and field experience to communicate sound multidisciplinary solutions to complex environmental problems with the goal of maximizing management strategies within the project’s budget and timeline. In his free time, Colin enjoys hiking with his girlfriend and two dogs, kayaking, fishing, golfing and backpacking.
Andrew Wirtz
Project Manager
Andrew earned a Bachelor of Science in Botany with a minor in Economics from Western Illinois University, and has further strengthened his expertise through professional certifications in Landscape Design, Nursery Management, Blueprint Reading and Drafting, Dynascape, and Plant Genetics. Combining this educational foundation with more than 15 years of hands-on experience, Andrew has built a career specializing in landscape construction, ecological restoration, site development, and project management. He has successfully planned, budgeted, and managed projects ranging from large-scale park and native habitat restoration to commercial and residential landscape installations, overseeing every phase from pre-construction through project completion. His expertise includes grading, erosion control, heavy equipment operations, native plant establishment, and construction logistics, while his leadership experience has enabled him to develop efficient workflows, mentor field personnel, and deliver projects safely, on schedule, and within budget. Andrew works closely with clients, contractors, and project teams to develop cost-effective solutions that meet project goals while emphasizing long-term performance, sustainability, and craftsmanship.
Jennifer Ellman
Assistant Project Manager
Jennifer supports the successful planning and execution of restoration and landscape construction projects. Drawing on experience in native restoration, inventory management, and field operations, she works closely with project teams, vendors, and field personnel to help keep projects organized, efficient, and on schedule. Jennifer is known for her collaborative approach, strong organizational skills, and ability to adapt to changing project needs while building positive relationships with clients, crews, and business partners. Passionate about continuous learning and professional growth, she is committed to delivering exceptional service and contributing to the long-term success of Cardinal State and the clients it serves.
Ismael has been in the landscape construction industry for over 28 years with a focus on high-end residential and commercial landscape and hardscape installation, retaining wall installation, green roof and green infrastructure installation, and City of Chicago parkway plantings and maintenance. His ground-up experience in the industry has given him the knowledge and skill to coordinate with clients, engineers, architects, and subcontractors to achieve project goals while sticking to strict timelines. Ismael trains and oversee our field crews and their operations to ensure projects are completed on time while achieving the highest quality possible. When he isn't working, Ismael can be found enjoying time together with his family and friends.