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Design Team:
Benjamin Hanley
Managing Director & Landscape Designer
Benjamin Hanley is an award-winning landscape designer and founder of Hanley Landscape Design based in Newport, Rhode Island. He is a CRMC Certified Invasive Manager, and a professional member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD). Ben and his work has been featured in nationally leading publications including Martha Stewart, Homes & Gardens, and Architectural Digest.
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With a background rooted equally in design, construction, and field operations, Ben approaches landscape design from a practical perspective. His work focuses on creating landscapes that feel cohesive with the architecture, function naturally for the client, and are thoughtfully detailed for long-term durability in the New England coastal environment. His projects often blend naturalistic planting with hard lines, soft material palettes, and refined outdoor living spaces with a strong emphasis on constructability, and craftsmanship. ​
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Outside of the office, Ben is an avid horticulturist and amateur pilot based in Newport. His passion for design extends beyond the workplace, with a strong interest in plants, architecture, aviation, and the coastal New England landscape.
Todd Bolton
Landscape Designer & Licensed Arborist
With decades of experience spanning arboriculture, environmental planning, natural resource management, and landscape design, Todd brings an unusually broad technical background to the firm’s tree health and site planning operations. Todd is an ISA Certified Arborist and ISA TRAQ qualified arborist with experience in urban forestry, invasive species management, woodland preservation planning, and environmental review.
Throughout his career, he has worked extensively with municipalities, park authorities, environmental agencies, and private development teams on projects involving tree preservation, ecosystem restoration, construction coordination, and natural resource protection. Prior to joining Hanley Landscape Design, Todd served as Arborist for the City of Takoma Park, Maryland, where he managed the city’s street tree program, tree protection permitting, invasive species management, and natural resource restoration initiatives. He also held leadership roles with the Fairfax County Park Authority and worked in private landscape design, installation, and development consulting.
Todd's ability to bridge environmental stewardship, design, and practical construction knowledge makes him a valuable resource on complex landscape and tree preservation projects.
Erinn McLinden
Landscape Designer
Erinn's work is heavily influenced by natural systems and native planting communities. Her design approach focuses on creating landscapes that feel organic to the surrounding environment, often blending naturalistic planting, ecological principles, and soft transitions between architecture and the landscape. Alongside her design background, Erinn has strong hands-on horticultural experience working within fine gardens and coastal properties throughout Rhode Island.
Her combined knowledge of planting design and horticulture allows her to thoughtfully select and arrange plant material with consideration for seasonality, texture, habitat value, and long-term growth. Her interests in native landscapes, meadow systems, coastal restoration, and regenerative landscape practices continue to influence her work throughout both the design and planting process.
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Erinn holds a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Rhode Island with a minor in community planning.
Landscape Construction:
Tyler Burton
Landscape Construction: Division Foreman
Tyler oversees field operations, construction coordination, equipment logistics, and day-to-day project execution. With a strong background spanning heavy equipment operation, landscape construction, and operations management, Tyler brings both technical experience and practical leadership to our largest team. Prior to joining Hanley Landscape Design, worked for a large landscape construction firm outside of Boston, where he worked on projects throughout the Boston metropolitan area. Tyler’s experience in construction operations, logistics, and field management allows him to efficiently coordinate complex projects while maintaining a strong focus on quality, organization, and execution in the field.
He plays the key role in translating design plans into built landscapes and keeping projects moving smoothly from start to finish.
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Outside of projects, Tyler lives in Tiverton with his wife and son, and spends much of his time outdoors and enjoying time with family.
Jorge M. Rivera
Landscape Construction: Heavy Equipment Lead
Jorge brings extensive experience in heavy equipment operation, transportation, and field logistics to Hanley. His background is in operating heavy, specialized equipment across a range of construction and recovery environments. With experience in towing and vehicle recovery operations, Jorge is highly skilled in equipment handling, transport coordination, and working safely in demanding field conditions.
His broad equipment knowledge make him a key part of construction operations, material movement, and day-to-day field support on active projects. Known for his reliability and versatility in the field, Jorge plays an important role in keeping projects moving efficiently while supporting both site work and construction logistics.
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Outside of work, Jorge enjoys being in the outdoors with his wife, and two daughters.
Ethan Thornton
Landscape Construction: Low Voltage Lead
With a background combining technical problem-solving and hands-on field experience, Ethan oversees landscape lighting and low-voltage systems. His work focuses primarily on landscape lighting installation, troubleshooting, system layout, and long-term maintenance for residential properties throughout coastal New England.
Working closely with both the design and construction teams, Ethan helps ensure lighting systems are thoughtfully integrated into the landscape while remaining practical, serviceable, and visually cohesive with the surrounding architecture and planting design.
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Ethan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering along with an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts, bringing an unusually detail-oriented and creative approach to technical field work. His experience includes low-voltage electrical systems, landscape audio systems, fixture installation, diagnostics, repairs, and ongoing service work related to outdoor lighting infrastructure.
Blais DiBattista
Landscape Construction: Field Operations Manager
Blais has busy days overseeing field team coordination. With over a decade of experience in landscape operations, turf management, arboricultural work, and snow and ice management, Blais brings a strong operational background paired with extensive hands-on horticultural and construction knowledge.
Prior to joining Hanley Landscape Design, Blais held leadership roles at Riverside Services and Global Industrial Services, managing field operations for high-end residential estates, commercial properties, and corporate campuses throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.
His experience spans crew leadership, arboriculture, turf and soil management, tree and shrub care, snow operations, client coordination, and operational systems development. Known for his disciplined and team-oriented management style, Blais focuses heavily on organization, training, and long-term property care.
Blais holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College in History and maintains numerous industry certifications.
Fine Gardens & Horticulture:
Yaqoob Iqbal
Fine Gardens: Pest & Disease Specialist
Yaqoob brings a strong horticultural background and years of hands-on landscape experience to the Hanley team. His work focuses on plant health, garden care, and practical landscape maintenance. His experience ranges from fine gardening and estate maintenance to tree care and large-scale landscape operations throughout Rhode Island and coastal New England.
Before joining Hanley, Yaqoob worked with several respected landscape and horticulture firms, where he developed extensive knowledge of ornamental plants, pruning, plant diagnostics, irrigation, and property care. His calm demeanor, attention to detail, and strong work ethic make him a natural fit for both high-end residential properties and complex landscape environments.
Outside of work, Yaqoob is an avid horticulturist with a genuine passion for plants and the outdoors. He enjoys continuing to expand his knowledge of plant science, garden systems, and landscape management through both hands-on experience and personal study.
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Yaqoob holds a Bachelor’s in Plant Science and minor in Philosophy from the University of Rhode Island.