Ben is a Biologist and an Aquatic Specialist and the Business Development Consultant for Northern TX, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. He has a passion for the outdoors and his commitment to conservation aligns perfectly with SOLitude’s mission. He enjoys leveraging his strong communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships with clients and contribute to the protection of aquatic resources.

Prior to his current role as a Business Development Consultant for SOLitude, he performed a variety of biological work across the country and internationally. As an undergraduate, he worked in a water quality and fisheries management lab at Wright State University and also completed an internship in South Texas working as a ranchland management technician. Immediately following graduation, Ben worked in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska as a fisheries observer for a year. He worked and lived on-board commercial fishing vessels and provided biological information about fish-catch efforts to regulating bodies. Following his stint as a fisheries observer, he began graduate school at Texas Christian University and worked on freshwater systems and heavy-metal dynamics of High Arctic ponds in Greenland.

Ben graduated from Texas Christian University with a Master of Science in Biology. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Sciences from Wright State University in Ohio. With a diverse background in biological sciences, Ben has gained extensive experience in various ecological settings across the United States and internationally.

Ben is originally from central Ohio and grew up with a love for the outdoors. He spent the better part of two decades dedicating himself to becoming a better hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman. This love for the outdoors has informed his career path, and he’s looking forward to contributing to the conservation of aquatic resources with SOLitude.

Stradder Caves is an accomplished aquatic ecosystem professional and Operations Manager at SOLitude Lake Management, where he leads the planning and execution of complex lake and pond restoration projects across New York. With deep expertise in aquatic vegetation control, water quality improvement, fishery health, and erosion mitigation, Stradder ensures that field operations meet the highest standards of regulatory compliance, safety, and ecological performance.

Since joining SOLitude in 2019, Stradder has held progressive leadership roles, including Project Manager and Certified Field Trainer. He has overseen the successful management of over 100 lake projects, coordinated the permitting and regulatory strategy for more than 70 waterbodies annually, and played a key role in training and mentoring field teams. Known for his technical writing and precision with GIS and water quality data, he regularly prepares management plans and ecological assessments that guide long-term stewardship.

A Certified Lake Manager (CLM), Stradder brings a scientific and strategic approach to environmental problem-solving. His work is grounded in a strong academic foundation, with an MS degree in Lake Management and an MBA degree in Organizational Management.