Maas Verde aspires to lead the landscape and construction industry into an ecologically-conscious paradigm. Our highest priority is to deliver functional landscapes that meet each client’s unique needs.
We focus on implementing native plant communities and green infrastructure to create biodiverse, sustainable landscapes at all scales. We apply ecological principles to all aspects of our work — from planting plans to hardscaping to rain garden construction and even steel fabrication.
Maas Verde was founded in Central Texas, by Texans, in 2015. We remain committed to our mission of enriching our local environment at its core. We believe in continually evaluating our techniques and impact as we seek to support long-term security of resources like clean drinking water and pollinator-dependent foods.
Our Team
Ted Maas
President & Founder
Ted guides Maas Verde based on a calculated passion for the fundamentals of nature. A Master Naturalist and licensed Landscape Irrigator, Ted earned two degrees from Oregon State University in 2014 — one in Natural Resource Management (conservation focus), and one in Sustainability (fisheries and wildlife minor). As a volunteer, he has led multiple nature hikes and backcountry ski trips, and participated in wildlife studies. But he found his calling in landscape restoration, and now leads Maas Verde's operations daily. While he's not working, he loves seeing live music and going on long walks with his black lab, Pondo.
Marc Opperman
Project Manager
An inspired ecologist, designer, entrepreneur, and graphic artist, Marc’s interest in landscaping as a trade started in 2007, when he volunteered for Austin’s Wildland Conservation Division. He soon networked his way into a group of Master Naturalists and earned the certification himself. He joined Maas Verde in 2021, bringing a decade of professional landscape experience with him. He is Maas Verde’s in-house encyclopedia of Texas wildlife, and ad hoc graphic designer. In his off time, he kayaks, camps, and builds garden-scale railroads.
Dennis Eimer
Superintendent
Dennis’s enterprising construction and landscape career has led him to job sites like the Pentagon and the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany, where he worked as a foreman for a major international constructor. He has also supervised build-from-scratch projects for Habitat For Humanity, coordinated ecological leadership groups in Panama for the Peace Corps, and installed air and water quality monitors across Texas for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Dennis plays multiple instruments and speaks fluent Spanish, English, and German — his first language.
Andy Maas
Office Manager
After earning a Business Administration degree from the University of Colorado, Andy began his career in corporate America. During eight years with a large company, he gained valuable experience in accounting, finance, capital projects, budgeting/forecasting, logistics, contracts, and negotiation. Looking for a change of scenery (or landscape), he jumped at the opportunity to join Maas Verde and help grow the family business. Andy enjoys traveling around Texas hunting, fishing, and spending time outside with his wife and two daughters.
John Harris
Director of Business Development
John’s interest in native landscapes began in his backyard. He was a career solid waste and recycling services professional when he took interest in native plant landscapes. The benefit to local urban habitats struck him as sustainability work he could do from the comfort of his home. He found passion for balance, aesthetics, and bringing deteriorated outdoor spaces back to life. He eventually traded callings – dumpster diving for landscape restoration – and joined Maas Verde in 2022. John holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Houston and a Masters Degree from Rice University – both in Business Administration.
Juan Carlos Hidalgo
Crew Lead
Juan comes to Maas Verde from an eleven-year career in aviation. He pivoted careers in response to COVID shutdowns, leveraging his personal interest in construction. Juan earned Total Resource Management (TRM) and first aid training in his aviation days and uses TRM daily in his leadership role at Maas Verde. Juan grew up in Quito, Ecuador, playing as much soccer as he could. He still holds a private pilot’s license, and enjoys spending time with his wife and two young daughters in Austin.
Kirk Naar
Crew Lead
Born in Sacramento, Calif., Kirk holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science (business minor) from Texas A&M. During college, he worked in landscape maintenance, and has now parlayed that background into an ambitious career. Kirk plans to pursue a Construction Science undergraduate degree, an Arborist’s license, and ongoing welding courses. At Maas Verde, he most values “working with great people, and bringing future enjoyment to all our clients.” Kirk went to high school in Shanghai, China, but now calls Austin home, where he loves to spend time at Lady Bird Lake.
Sam Anderson
Media and Public Relations Manager
Sam Anderson comes to Maas Verde from an outdoor sports and gear media career, where he most recently managed a remote news team. Trade work including trail construction, carpentry, and rope-access window cleaning also inform his background. He enjoys handling wild tarantulas like the Texas brown, and he's known to coax the big spiders into his hands to take them for a ride — as long as they're in a friendly mood.