Rick Huffman is principal and founder of Earth Design Inc. with over 30 years of experience in landscape design, horticulture, bioengineering, and ecology. He has particular expertise in native plants as they occur in natural models. As founder and past-president of the South Carolina Native Plant Society, he has brought awareness of these natural models to the public through presentations and workshops on a statewide and regional level.

Mr Huffman is a member of The American Society of Landscape Architects and is active in the US Green Building Council’s South Carolina Chapter. Rick was named the Upstate Forever Volunteer of the Year for 2010. Mr. Huffman received the 2003 Environmental Educator of the Year Award from the Environmental Educators Association of South Carolina. In 2006, Mr. Huffman received the Governors Award for Environmental Awareness for his educational outreach and conservation efforts across the state.

His commitment to education is reflected in his work at Earth Design. Mr. Huffman has worked extensively with local schools, teachers, and administrators to promote environmental education and implementation of indigenous plants on school grounds. He has conducted numerous environmental education workshops for the South Carolina Wildlife Federations Schoolyard Habitat Program, the Environmental Educators Association of South Carolina (EEAC), and the South Carolina Marine Educators Association (SCMEA).

Mr. Huffman’s responsibilities as owner/principal of Earth Design include client communications, proposal preparation, project research, contract preparation, and oversight of daily office functions. As an integral part of the Earth Design team, Mr. Huffman has performed on LEED certified landscape designs for high schools, office complexes, roof gardens, interactive gardens for children’s hospitals, sustainable residential landscape designs, and master plans for parks and environmental education centers.