The Team

Ryan Becklund

Ryan started in food service part-time, while getting her Master’s Degree. She quickly grew attached to the challenging, fast paced restaurant world and it grew into a career. She has lived in Virginia for the majority of her life and has a love for the natural beauty that can be found here. Her passion for plant-based food and encouraging an environmentally conscious lifestyle drive all aspects of her life. She has trained in a variety of plant-based nutrition and culinary programs that have led to a thoughtfully designed menu with bold flavor and creative food. Her mission: to demonstrate the satisfaction of a vegetable centric plate.

If she wasn’t in the food service industry, Ryan would likely be working with animals.

Favorite Animal: Turtles

Theme Song: All I Really Want by Alanis Morissette

Martin O’Donnell

Martin is the founder & caretaker of “Fartin’s Garden” which is Martin’s garden that supplements our storefronts with locally grown produce. Martin has a passion for fashion, enjoys telling people how funny he is while assuring Ryan (see above) that she is not cool, & being a Roy Kent impersonator. He worked a job prior to this that he didn’t like very much, and he is very thankful that it is over. Martin also loves attention and compliments, so when you see him, be sure to hit on him! He hasn’t filled out this description of himself yet, so we did it for him & hope that it accurately reflects him.

If he wasn’t in the food service industry, Martin would likely be unhappy full time instead.

Favorite Animal: His dead dog

Theme Song: Lovely Day by Bill Withers

Lance Zimmerly

After nearly a decade of working many roles in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, & DC restaurants, Lance felt it was time for a new adventure. In 2020, he began the second stint of his plant-based coffee training in hopes of assisting Ryan in transforming the Charlottesville vegan food scene with Botanical. With a firm belief that we are never done learning & improving, Lance continues to educate himself on plant-based coffee trends & standards. He hopes to bring a fun, modernized, plant-based take on coffee to Charlottesville.

If he wasn’t in the food service industry, Lance would probably own a flower shop.

Favorite Animal: A really, very fat seal

Theme Song: Kesha’s entire first album

John Driscoll

John recently graduated with a degree in Economics from East Carolina University. He has worked in the food service industry for the past 12 years in a wide range of roles. He bartended for 6 of those years, loves to cook, and makes up recipes for cocktails when ever he can. He moved to Charlottesville to bring those passions to Botanical and he is very excited to be here.

If he wasn’t in the food service industry, John would definitely be in the NBA.

Favorite Animal: Penguins

Theme Song: The Pokemon Theme Song

Jeff Gregerson

Jeff has worked in libraries, parks, and elections and is passionate about vegan cooking and music. He loves to travel and explore vegan options in new places. He is thrilled with the development of the food scene in Charlottesville over the past few years.

If he wasn’t in the food service industry, he would probably be building a solar powered tiny house.

Favorite animal: Foxes

Theme song: My Dog by Blinker the Star

Steph Shoby

Steph entered the plant-based world by making a bet in 2007 that she could not eat meat for a month. She never thought this simple bet would make a dramatic impact on her life. Besides being a firm believer in a healthy lifestyle, Steph has a passion for people and their stories. She has worked in higher education since 2015, and the food industry since 2005. She is originally from Cleveland, came to Charlottesville by way of Boston, and is ecstatic to call this place home.

If she was not working in the food industry, she would be a book reviewer for NPR.

Favorite animal: Winnie the Pooh

Theme Song: Bat Out of Hell by Meatloaf

Moss McCade

Moss is a Charlottesville native and excited to be a part of an incredible team who is bringing flavorful and delicious plant-based eating to town. He has worked in the restaurant industry for nearly 8 years as both FOH and BOH and enjoys working in an environment where there is the opportunity to do both during every shift.

If he wasn’t in the food industry he’d be running an animal sanctuary in the PNW and making art. 

Favorite animal: Wolves

Theme song: Soul Factory by Bendigo Fletcher

Tyler Hesselberth

Tyler is a lifelong wanderer whose travels have brought him to Charlottesville, where he is currently studying Architecture at UVA. He has more hobbies than there are hours in the day, and he’s always on the lookout for something new and interesting.

If he wasn’t in the food service industry, he would be a stage performer or voice actor.

Favorite Animal: Ravens

Theme Song: Der Weg ist Mein Leben by Fabian Bruck

Rebecca Cain

Becca has worked in the food industry since 2007 and bartending since 2012. She recently entered into real estate field and performs closings and works as a closer during the day. Her entire family follows a whole food plant based diet and she is super excited to learn from botanical.

If she wasn’t in the food industry, Becca would learn how to surf and live on an island somewhere!

Favorite Animal: Poodle

Theme Song: Man, I feel like a Woman! by Shania Twain