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Two WithersRavenel employee-owners, Will Cauthen, Business Development Representative, and Emily Buehrer-Douglas, Landscape Architecture Senior Project Manager, were featured on the Queen City Green podcast in an episode titled “WithersRavenel and the Path to Sustainable Growth.” Hosted by John Searby, CEO of the Daniel Stowe Conservancy, the episode explored the partnership between the Conservancy and WithersRavenel on a transformative Natural Resources Master Plan.
A Shared Commitment to Sustainability
Cauthen and Buehrer-Douglas discussed how WithersRavenel’s work will redesign stormwater management systems, enhance biodiversity, and create new educational opportunities for Conservancy visitors. Cauthen, who lives in Gaston County and has personal ties to the Conservancy, emphasized his passion for helping communities thrive:
“One of my favorite things about working at WithersRavenel is getting the pieces together to build sustainable communities,” he said.
Buehrer-Douglas, who joined the project later, highlighted how her background in landscape architecture shapes her approach.
“One thing that I love about being a landscape architect is that I love observing nature,” she explained. “By observing natural patterns, we can design solutions that have lower maintenance needs, longer life cycles, and restore valuable habitats.”
Building Resilient Futures
Cauthen noted how recent work in Western North Carolina, particularly recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene, has sharpened WithersRavenel’s focus on protecting the environment and designing with resilience in mind. The Natural Resources Master Plan aims to correct past well-intentioned practices that created residual issues, replacing them with green infrastructure solutions that benefit both people and the environment.
Listen to the Full Episode
The conversation is an inspiring look into how engineering, landscape architecture, and conservation intersect to create sustainable growth.
Listen to the full episode here
