Our Team

Irene Sprecher, President

Irene has spent the last 18 years working with Hawaiʻi and Pacific Island forests through a variety of roles connected to public and private forest land management. She joined Forest Solution's team in 2021 following a 15-year career with the State of Hawaiʻi Division of Forestry and Wildlife, lastly as the Forestry Program Manager. Through her time with the State, she was responsible for the management and protection of the public and private forest lands in Hawaiʻi, and for supporting similar programs in the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands. 

Among a number of priorities, Irene has worked towards the development of Hawaiʻi’s sustainable forest industry, expansion of wood product markets, native forest management and restoration, land planning, forest carbon certification, perpetual land conservation, and community engagement and stewardship of natural resources. She has extensive experience in program development, contract and grant management, budget tracking, government procurement, environmental and regulatory compliance, and partnership development.

Irene obtained a Master’s of Natural Resources from Oregon State University for her work on the sustainable management of Hawaiian sandalwood, and has a Bachelor's from the University of Hawaiʻi focused in Forest Ecology and Human Stewardship of Natural Resources. 

Outside of work you may find Irene and her favorite sidekick, Wallie, exploring the shorelines, streams, or mountains on Hawaiʻi Island, or possibly set-up in a hammock under some trees.

irene_sprecher@forestsolutionsinc.com

Kirk Derasin, Senior Operations Forester

Kirk has over 15 years of forestry experience with Forest Solutions and serves as our senior operation forester, providing support to our clients with projects ranging from 5 acres to over 100,000 acres. He specializes in koa plantation establishment, silviculture, and management; weed suppression and control; native reforestation; fire planning; and creating and cultivating community engagement. Kirk is experienced in installing permit sample plots (PSP), ecosystem monitoring plots, and subsequently recording and analyzing the data. He also was the crew leader during the culturally significant Puʻukohola Heiau historic site restoration.

Kirk is a proud student of the Forestry Program at Hawaiʻi Community College, and is Co-owner of Derasin Ranch in Kaʻu where he manages cattle, citrus, coffee, and avocado orchards, as well as cut flowers (protea), among other agricultural commodities. On the weekends, you might see Kirk out riding horses, at the rodeos with his family, or swinging by the farmers markets to check in on the farm stand.

kirk_derasin@forestsolutionsinc.com

Aviva Gottesman, Research Forester

Aviva is a professional forester with 9 years of domestic and international experience in the laboratory, office, and field. Her work is backed by a master’s degree in forestry focusing on carbon dynamics, and a bachelor’s degree in natural resource management from the University of Vermont. She spent 2 years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mexico prior to joining Forest Solutions in 2019.

Aviva is responsible for the preparation of forest management plans for our public and private clients for a variety of purposes including under the auspices of the Hawaiʻi Forest Stewardship Program as well as other compliance and landowner financial assistance programs. Additionally, Aviva specializes in forest sampling, data analysis, and reporting.

Aviva manages Forest Solutions’ ecosystem monitoring program that features a summer internship which integrates her interest in community outreach and forest ecosystems. Guided by her passion for native forest conservation, Aviva continues to refine and strengthen her technical skills in the forestry field.

aviva_gottesman@forestsolutionsinc.com

Brutus LaBenz, ʻĀina & Cultural Planner/Coordinator

Brutus started at FSI in September 2024 and brings with him 25 years of professional and personal experiences in aloha and mālama ʻāina. He taught Hawaiian Studies for 7 years at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Kamakakūokalani, Center for Hawaiian Studies; spent 5 years working at the City & County in the Land Use Approvals Branch; and most recently was a Land Management Specialist for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Legacy and Programmatic Lands. As a cultural practitioner, Brutus has been a hula dancer for over 23 years, and an active member of the Protect Kahoʻolawe ʻOhana for over 25 years. Together these experiences lend to Brutus’ ability to evaluate, plan for, and advocate for the incorporation of Hawaiian cultural values and knowledge into resources stewardship and conservation in Hawaiʻi across local communities and agencies.

When he’s not at work for FSI, you might find Brutus on Kahoʻolawe, officiating a wedding, conducting a home blessing, popping up on your local TV in a local commercial, or spending time with his daughter.

brutus_labenz@forestsolutionsinc.com

Robert Lee Justice III, Forester, Fire & Wildlife Specialist

Robbie is a graduate of the Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science (TCBES) Master’s program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. His Master’s thesis, “Using Vocalizations to Monitor How Captive Bred ʻalalā (Corvus hawaiiensis) are Adapting to the Wild,” focused on reintroduction monitoring and vocal behavior of Hawaiʻi’s critically endangered crow species.

Before graduate school, Robbie gained diverse field experience across North America, primarily focused on avian research. His work has included acoustic monitoring of Northern Spotted Owls, population studies at a Caspian Tern colony, Wood Duck research on managed wetlands, and community-based conservation in rural Northwest Mexico.

Robbie is passionate about conservation, wildlife, and connecting people with the natural world. His current interests lie in landscape-scale forest restoration and fire mitigation-related projects, including both prevention and post-fire recovery. He also helps manage operations with the field crew and values being out in the field alongside them; not only to understand the full scope of each project from planning to implementation, but also to recognize and appreciate the hard work and dedication they bring every day to make these efforts possible.

In his free time, you’ll likely find Robbie in the ocean, running, being a meathead at the gym, or binging through a few seasons of his favorite TV shows while enjoying a nice Costco-portioned meal.

robbie_justice@forestsolutionsinc.com

Ryan Latta, Forest Technician

Ryan joined the FSI team in 2023 and brings a diverse background focusing on ridge to reef ecology and remote sensing. With a focus on innovation, he leads our drone and Information Systems programs to integrate emerging technologies into the future of forest management at Forest Solutions. He is a certified Remote Pilot and enjoys testing the capabilities of drones and their utility in forestry and natural resource management.

Ryan is a graduate from the Natural Resources and Environmental Management Program at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where he specialized in coastal ecology and management. Following his academic career, he worked in several research roles including algal biofuel research with the U.S. Department of Energy and captive breeding of Hawaiian ornamental reef fish. He continues to apply his research skills to projects at forest solutions including invasive species surveys, carbon inventories, weed management, and geospatial projects across the Hawaiian Islands.

In his free time, you’ll likely find him exploring the island, sourcing native plants, and traveling with friends and family.

ryan_latta@forestsolutionsinc.com

Kelly Campbell, Administrative Assistant

Kelly is responsible for timekeeping and payroll processing, receiving invoices, expense tracking, new hire orientation, and the maintenance of this beautiful website. She also coordinates field visits, company retreats and assists with materials procurement and logistics.

Kelly brings 6 years’ experience in business administration, including ownership of a few small businesses.

She has served as human resources assistant, payroll manager, mail clerk, town clerk, and in other administrative assistant capacities. She has undertaken studies in Business Management at the University of Phoenix, and volunteered on the local school Governing Board for 3 years.

Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her family.

kelly_campbell@forestsolutionsinc.com

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Brenna Daugherty, Office Manager

As Office Manager at Forest Solutions, Brenna Daugherty plays a key role in keeping operations running smoothly. From HR and recruiting to payroll, expense tracking, and social media management; she handles a little bit of everything to support the team.

Originally from northeast Ohio, Brenna honed her management skills as a coffee shop manager while earning her Business Administration degree. Her love for the outdoors led her to spend summers in Wyoming, guiding horseback rides through the stunning landscapes around Grand Teton National Park. After moving to Hawaiʻi in 2023 with her partner, she found the perfect fit at Forest Solutions, combining her administrative expertise with her appreciation for nature.

Outside of work, Brenna enjoys spending time with her horses, being with loved ones, or exploring creative outlets like drawing, knitting, and weaving.

brenna_daugherty@forestsolutionsinc.com

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