Team and Mission

As Chief Executive Officer, Wes Knapp draws on his extensive experience in botany and plant conservation to lead CPC’s efforts to strengthen science-based conservation best practices, foster partnerships, and inspire action to combat the global extinction crisis. Throughout his career, Wes has been a leading voice in plant conservation, contributing to significant advancements in the taxonomy and conservation status of plant species across the United States and Canada. An expert in plant identification with extensive field experience, Wes has also described numerous new plant species and worked tirelessly to slow the pace of biodiversity loss resulting from the 6th mass extinction.

As the Chief Operating Officer, Matora Fiorey ensures operational efficiency to assist in saving plants. She provides support to the CPC staff and Board of Trustees while handling a wide variety of duties including financial management, human resources, compliance and event planning. Matora brings a unique background of over 15 years of experience as an administrator of a small nonprofit charter school and an organic chemistry background. She is dedicated to meaningful organizations and thrives when giving back to the community.

Shannon Fowler manages marketing and communications initiatives, supports advancement and fundraising activities, and serves as project manager for CPC’s Applied Plant Conservation Course. She also serves as the managing editor of CPC’s monthly newsletter and supports web-based educational communications on the Rare Plant Academy. Shannon brings to the team over ten years of experience in the museum industry, and a passion for blending mission-driven content with storytelling to engage, promote, and garner support.

Tina Stanley is an alumna of Princeton University’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. In her role as Conservation Program Manager, she is responsible for grant program management, program development, meeting organization, and database management.  Tina collaborates with CPC web developers to maintain and improve our organization’s data tools, including but not limited to, the National Collection database, CPC Reintroduction database, and Regional Seed Banking Modules. Tina also assists in the development of the online Applied Plant Conservation course and supports CPC’s marketing and communication efforts by developing content for monthly newsletters and social media platforms. She is passionate about accessible scientific resources, outreach, and education, and hopes to continue expanding her knowledge in plant conservation and research.