Staff and Trustees

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Jaclyn Rhoads, Ph.D, Executive Director
Jaclyn received a Ph.D in environmental policy from Drexel University and joined the Alliance’s staff in 2004. She also teaches environmental studies and policy at Drexel and Widener University. She serves on the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters political committee, as co-chair for the outreach committee for the New Jersey Keep it Green Coalition, and as president of the Darby Creek Valley Association and Friends of the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in Pennsylvania where she lives. Jaclyn was awarded Woman of the Delaware River Watershed by Penn Future in 2018 and Environmental Advocate of the Year by the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners in 2017. Contact: 609-859-8860 ext. 118 or Email Jaclyn@pinelandsalliance.org 

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Andy Alvarado, MBA, Director of Enterprises
Andy joined the Alliance to lead its enterprise initiatives and advance the long-term financial sustainability of its programs. He is a veteran and holds an MBA in Finance from Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business and a B.S. in Biology from Rowan University. Prior to joining the Alliance, Andy worked across agriculture, corporate business, and operations, developing expertise in financial strategy, enterprise performance, and organizational systems. His professional focus is on strengthening mission-driven business models, integrating operational strategy across programs, and ensuring that earned revenue initiatives support lasting conservation impact. He currently serves on the board of Veteran Farmers of New Jersey. Outside of work, Andy enjoys cooking, baking, and spending time with his wife and two children. Contact: 609-859-8860 ext 116 or Email andya@pinelandsalliance.org

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Stephen Elliott, Director of Watershed Programs
Stephen joined the Alliance in 2023. He returned to Burlington County, where he was born and raised, in 2017 after over 14 years living throughout the country and overseas. Growing from his sense of duty and passion for the natural world, he left his career in the federal government to find a place among those working to make the planet a safe and healthy environment for all its inhabitants. Stephen was first hosted by the Alliance as a NJ Americorps Watershed Ambassador for the Rancocas watershed where he received experience and training which assisted in his career transition. He graduated from Rancocas Valley Regional High School, obtained his B.A. in Philosophy from Penn State University, and brings a wide range of professional experience to the Alliance. When not serving as The Alliance’s “waterbender,” he is likely wandering in the woods with his dog, reading, or learning a new skill or hobby. Despite his wandering tendencies, Stephen feels like he found a home back in familiar territory and with the dedicated, talented the Alliance team. Contact: 609-859-8860 ext. 127 or Email: Stephen@PinelandsAlliance.org

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Rebecca Free, Director of Development & Engagement
Becky joined the Alliance in 2007. Becky has worked for the American Cancer Society, The Nature Conservancy of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens Program, and as a seasonal park ranger at Big Bend National Park in Texas. She has a Master’s Degree from Texas A&M University in Parks, Tourism and Recreation. Becky grew up in Bucks County PA and is married to Jeff Tober, Rancocas Creek Farm Manager. When she isn’t working to save the Pinelands or picking strawberries, she is playing sports with her sons or training as a powerlifter and a Strongman competitor. Contact: 609-859-8860 ext. 121 or Email Becky@pinelandsalliance.org 

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Andy Giles, Property and Equipment Steward
Contact: 609-268-0189 or Email andy@pinelandsadventures.org.

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Audra Hardoon, Director of Operations
Audra serves as the Director of Operations at the Alliance, overseeing a range of critical functions including finances, employee payroll and benefits insurance, office operations, and property management.  Additionally, she provides financial and administrative support to Pinelands Adventures and Rancocas Creek Farm.  Audra holds a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and has over ten years of experience as a Commercial Real Estate Business Manager.  Before joining the Alliance, she worked as a Hospital Business Manager.  Outside of her responsibilities in the Pinelands, Audra enjoys spending time at the beach, playing pickleball, and relaxing with her pets. Contact: 609-859-8860 ext. 123 or Email Audra@pinelandsalliance.org 

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Kayla Harris, Membership Manager
Kayla joined the Alliance in 2026. She grew up in Monmouth and Ocean Counties and later lived in Delaware. Growing up at the Jersey Shore created a passion for the ocean, the bay, and the Pinelands. Kayla has received her undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware and is pursuing her MFA at Louisiana State University – New Orleans. Her career started by knocking on doors for the NJ Plastic Bag Ban with Clean Water Action. Since then, she has worked at the Long Beach Island Foundation of Arts and Sciences and TerraCycle, a global recycling company. She was also appointed as Secretary for Bordentown Township Environmental Commission. Her work has been featured in Breaker Magazine, Magnificently Made Anthology, Jersey Collective, and the Climate Imaginarium. Now, she lives at the shore with her boyfriend and two cats. She can be found running, walking on the boardwalk, and writing poetry. Contact: 609-859-8860 ext 132 or Email Kayla@pinelandsalliance.org

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Jason Howell, Public Lands Advocate
Jason Howell joined the staff in 2015. He is a New Jersey Volunteer Master Naturalist and Wilderness First Responder. In addition to working as a public lands advocate and land steward, Jason creates film and video projects for the Alliance. One such project, Pinelands National Reserve – Wilderness Remains, is a long-form non-narrative film that documents the unique landscapes and ecology of the Pinelands. Jason is a board member of the Rancocas Conservancy, a senior fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program, and an avid canoeist, hiker, and primitive skills enthusiast. Contact: 609-859-8860 ext. 125 or Email Jason@pinelandsalliance.org 

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Sean Kane-Holland, Access Nature Disability Advocate
Sean joined the team in November of 2022 as the Access Nature and Disability Advocate. Attending Rutgers University, He graduated with a B.A. in American History & Political Science. Since 2014 he has worked in the New Jersey Park Service at Batsto Historic Village in Wharton State Forest as a member of the history department. Overcoming many challenges, he was born with a birth defect, (Spina Bifida) and needs the use of leg braces and forearm crutches to get around – but that doesn’t hold him back from accomplishing his goals. A lifelong Southern New Jersey resident. Being an avid outdoorsman – any chance he gets, you’ll find him kayaking one of the many rivers in the Pinelands or exploring the countless historic/cultural sites with his dog. He’s devoted to the preservation of natural, cultural, and historic sites being a proud member of American Battlefield Trust which protects hallowed ground. He’s thrilled about working in an organization that shares the same goals and commitments as he does for preserving, restoring, and interpreting natural and historic resources for current and future generations and ensuring everyone in our diverse collective community has a chance to enjoy the magnificence of New Jersey’s great outdoors. Contact (609) 859-8860 ext. 117 or Email sean@pinelandsalliance.org

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Michael W. Klein, JD, Ph.D, Director of Government Relations
Michael joined the the Alliance staff in July 2024. He started his career working for NJ Governor Tom Kean and, after getting a law degree, served as legislative director to then-Assemblyman Leonard Lance. Michael was appointed as an assistant counsel to Governor Christine Todd Whitman and then worked in Treasury and Community Affairs. For almost 20 years, Michael advocated for public higher education through the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities. Michael later led the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University, was selected as a public policy fellow at the Rockefeller Institute of Government at SUNY, and became a lecturer at Rutgers, where he teaches higher education law and finance. Michael is a member of the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, the George W. Bush Institute’s Veteran Education Policy Working Group, and the NJ Governor’s STEM Scholars Advisory Board. Contact: 609-859-8860 ext. 131 or Email michael@pinelandsalliance.org

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Jennifer Krumins,Ph.D, Science Director
Jennifer’s scientific career has centered on soil ecology and how plant and soil interactions change under the influence of anthropogenic disturbance. She received her bachelors degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her doctorate from Rutgers University in Ecology and Evolution. After completing her PhD, she went on to an NSF funded postdoctoral fellowship at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology in Europe. Since that time, she has taught classes, mentored students and led a productive research agenda as a professor at Montclair State University. Currently, she shares her time between Montclair State University and Pinelands Alliance as the Science Director. Jennifer is also very active in her scholarly community. In January of 2025 she will begin her role as President of the Soil Ecology Society of America. Contact: 609-859-8860 ext. 143 Email jennkrumins@pinelandsalliance.org

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Jade Latham, Data Entry & Community Engagement Associate
Jade received her Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University Camden in Business Management. Prior to coming to the Alliance, Jade worked as a Radiology Fellowship Coordinator at The Hospital of The University of Pennsylvania and then as a Clinical Trial Associate at a Clinical Research Organization. Outside of her corporate endeavors, she has worked with The Opportunity League as the Executive Administrator for about 9 years and that connection led her to discover the Alliance. Originally brought on as a Community Engagement Apprentice, Jade has since expanded her role to include data entry for The Alliance’s bookkeeping department. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys painting, reading, and connecting with nature.

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Carleton Montgomery, Director of Strategic Initiatives
Carleton became the Alliance’s second executive director in 1998. Carleton left legal practice in Washington, D.C., where he was a partner in the firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, to join the nonprofit world and devote himself to environmental protection. Carleton has a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and an M. Phil. from University College London, both in philosophy, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Carleton is the editor of Regional Planning for a Sustainable America: How Creative Programs Are Promoting Prosperity and Saving the Environment, published by Rutgers University Press in 2011, a book he compiled and to which he contributed the introductory and concluding chapters. Carleton is a founding board member of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. Contact: 609-859-8860 ext 119 or Email Carleton@pinelandsalliance.org

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Seigha Omuso, Community Engagement Liaison
Seigha joined the Alliance in September of 2022 after working with the Alliance and Rancocas Creek Farm in designing a farm to table internship program. Through this work, he was able to collaborate with several community-based organizations allowing youth to gain a hands on farming experience including community discussions, business professional engagements, and more. Seigha is also the Executive Director of 14 years for The Opportunity League, a nonprofit community development and public health organization based in Burlington County. He earned his B.S. in Business Marketing from Cabrini University in Radnor, PA. In the span of Seigha’s career as a community organizer, he has been awarded the Southern Burlington County NAACP “Legacy Award”, Burlington County “40 under 40” Award, and was a Russ Berrie “Making a Difference” Honoree, as well as, a Youth Council Member of the Burlington County Workforce Investment Board and Youth Investment Council member of the Burlington County Workforce Development Institute. Seigha looks forward to connecting other communities to the work that the Alliance focuses on and bringing awareness on issues affecting our communities and environment. Seigha is the father of 3 brilliant little minds, the husband to a remarkable woman, the oldest brother to a few and many, and a son of two amazing parents. Contact: (609) 502-5041 or Email seigha@pinelandsalliance.org.

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Mike Pippin, Volunteer Services Coordinator
Contact: (609) 859-8860 ext 115 or mike@pinelandsalliance.org

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Jennifer Presidente, Groundskeeper
Jennifer grew up in a tropical country with her grandparents for a decade. She went to school and always had a love for plants when she was younger. However, along the way when she went back home to her parents in the US, she lost her passion for plants. She went through different paths in life from attending a new school with a different culture and language to motherhood, and working in the fashion industry as well as in the medical field.  Yet, she could not find the motivation in her life to continue those jobs. She redirected her life to work in a landscape company with little experience in 2019.  During that time, she acquired so many skills and plant knowledge as an employee at a landscape company. There, she received an offer to help the Alliance as a contractor in June 2021 to plant native plants and ended up working as an on-site JAM Catering manager in September 2021. She was hired as a groundskeeper for the Alliance in March 2023. In her spare time, she enjoys interacting with the plants. They are the best medicine for her soul. 

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Marianne Tatcher, Development Database Associate

Marianne joined the Alliance in September 2025. She has lived in the New Jersey Pinelands all her life. Prior to working for The Alliance, Marianne worked at Joint Base McGuire – Dix- Lakehurst. She was a Recreation/Special Events Specialist for over 30 years. She oversaw outdoor adventure trips and coordinated community and base wide events, such as concerts, Fourth of July ceremonies, air shows and more. Collaborating with the Environmental Services Department, she oversaw Earth Day cleanups, Interpretive programs and assisted with the Bald Eagle Project with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. She volunteers in the community and at Island Beach State Park. Marianne enjoys spending quality time with her family, taking her four grandchildren on adventures, going to the beach, hiking with her dog, horseback riding, traveling, advocating for animals and the great outdoors. Contact: 609-859-8860 ext. 111 or Email marianne@pinelandsalliance.org

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Erin Tobiassen, Finance Manager
Erin joined the Alliance in February 2021. Coming from a non-profit background she enjoys working for an organization that has a mission. Erin brings over 18 years of experience as a full-charge bookkeeper managing all aspects of receivables, payables and financial reporting. Among other interests, Erin likes to read and takes classes to hone her skills. As avid photographers, it is not unusual to find Erin and her husband Ted up at dawn waiting for a beautiful sunrise, driving through the trails at Whitesbog or searching for the Snowy Owl at Island Beach State Park. Both have received recognition for their photography in local art shows. A great day for Erin is spending time with family, taking photographs and simply enjoying nature and wildlife. Contact: 609-859-8860 ext 112 or Email Erin@pinelandsalliance.org.

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Kellie Westervelt, Director of Philanthropy
Kellie joined the Alliance in 2021. Originally from Mays Landing, Kellie was raised in and studied southern New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, earning her degree in Environmental Science from Stockton State University. Before joining the Alliance, Kellie worked as Development Director for Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve and Director of Development for the Wildlands Network; was Habitat Director for the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and led a 436-acre restoration as Project Director for the American Littoral Society. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including the Society for Ecological Restoration at both the chapter and international level. She has translated a lifelong passion for nature into a career advocating for its protection and is happy to return to the area she first called home. Contact: 609-859-8860 ext. 124 or Email kellie@pinelandsalliance.org

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Kelvin Wagner, Food Systems Associate Director
Kelvin joined the Alliance in 2023. His mission is to cultivate an ecosystem within the Pinelands that not only provides access to fresh nutritious foods but also fosters entrepreneurial opportunities for underprivileged communities. Kelvin’s journey into urban agriculture stems from a deep-seated family legacy. With over 100 years of Black-owned farmland in his lineage, agriculture runs in his blood. He graduated with a B.A. in Mass Communications and an associate degree in English while on a dual scholarship for Football and Track and Field. Before joining the Alliance Kelvin was a full-time Entrepreneur and Director for an online web series called The Teaspoon of Love Cookbook Challenge, where he would bring families together for some fun in the kitchen using fresh fruits and vegetables to advocate for healthy eating. Kelvin is committed to preserving and revitalizing the farming traditions that have shaped his family’s heritage. Through his work at the Alliance, he’s determined to ensure that future generations have access to the same opportunities and resources that have guided him on his journey. As Founder and Designer of his brand “Not Many Are Like Us”, Kelvin has earned his Certificate of Graduation from J.P. Morgans Entrepreneurship Program to further his business career. He enjoys all things creative, vinyl records, running, and quality time with his family.

Contact: 609-682-0329 or Email: coordinator@rootstoprevention.com

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Jonathan Wetstein, Food Systems Director
Jonathan joined the Alliance in early 2024. He carries a long-standing commitment to equitable development work. A graduate of Pennsylvania State University’s Community and Economic Development Graduate Program, Jonathan’s professional experience began in 2005 as a consultant in comprehensive land use planning and design. After 2011, Jonathan entered the field of community development as an independent consultant. During this time, he worked alongside non-profits on a variety of food system development initiatives as well as founded Roots to Prevention (RTP). Established in Camden, New Jersey, this cross-sectoral collaboration brings together residents, nonprofit organizations, farmers, institutions, and government entities. The goal is to leverage each other’s strengths and resources to create new economic and lifestyle opportunities for those most affected by limited access to healthy food. Jonathan also teaches a Sustainable Food Systems course at Temple University as an adjunct professor. Contact: Email jonathan@pinelandsalliance.org.

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Kevin Whitley, Database Manager
Kevin joined the Alliance in November 2022 with an extensive background as a database professional. Most recently he helped support healthcare IT projects for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  He holds a master’s degree in Information Technology from Penn State University.  Originally from Northern New Jersey, Kevin is a long-time resident of Burlington County and raised his family in Marlton Lakes, where he instilled in them a love of nature and responsibility for the environment.  Kevin considers himself a very amateur birder and in his free time enjoys volunteering at music festivals and Irish social organization events. Contact: 609-859-8860 ext. 129 or Email kevin@pinelandsalliance.org

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Heidi Yeh, Ph.D, Policy Director
Heidi joined the Alliance in 2022. She grew up in Vermont but has made an annual pilgrimage with her family to visit relatives in South Jersey. Rutgers University brought her to the state as a permanent resident, where she completed her dissertation in the Department of Marine & Coastal Sciences. Although a scientist by training, she has kept a foot in policy work through internships with the U.S. EPA, the NJ Legislature, the Rutgers Office of Federal Relations, and the Hudson River Foundation. She is passionate about science communication and getting more scientists involved in policy, which she has pursued as co-president of the graduate student group Science Policy Advocacy at Rutgers (SPAR). She is particularly interested in communicating science through food (microbial foods such as sourdough, yogurt, and kombucha), and likes to incorporate scientific themes into her art (oil and watercolor paints). Heidi spends far too much time cooking and baking, but her husband and toddler don’t think this is a problem! Contact: 609-859-8860 ext. 122 or Email heidi@pinelandsalliance.org.

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Rancocas Creek Farm Staff

Jeff Tober, Farm Manager for Rancocas Creek Farm
Jeff joined the Alliance in 2020 as the Farm Manager. Prior to the Alliance, Jeff started a CSA farm (Community Supported Agriculture) at Fernbrook Farms in Chesterfield in 2007 and was the Farm Manager for 13 years. Jeff got his love for growing food at Aspen Farms Community Garden in West Philadelphia and later apprenticed at Brookfield Farm CSA in Amherst, MA. Jeff got his degree in English (not Agriculture) from Muhlenberg College and later served for 2 years with AmeriCorps and went on to work for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Philadelphia Green Program revitalizing urban parks before farming full-time. Jeff is on the board of the New Jersey Agricultural Society and the Burlington County Agricultural Development Board. Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife Rebecca and their 2 sons and generally being outside. Contact: 609-859-8860 ext 130 or Email Jeff@pinelandsalliance.org.

2026 Rancocas Creek Farm Crew:

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Pinelands Adventures Staff

Vince Iannone, Manager
Vince joined the Pinelands Adventures Team in 2025, bringing years of management experience along with a love of nature and travel.  He grew up right on Atsion Road in Shamong, where his excitement for the outdoors began at an early age with frequent visits to Atsion Lake and all of the local sites and waterways.  Vince received his bachelor’s degree in Communication from Rowan University and worked in the area’s advertising and marketing field before becoming an operations manager for an organic grocery chain more aligned with his values.  He is an avid Pinelands hiker and camper, but has also long-distance hiked in the Alps, China, and Corsica to name a few. His passion for travel can be seen in all aspects of his life, including in his beloved VW Vanagon which has been on many of his road and camping trips. Vince is thrilled to bring his enthusiasm for the outdoors full circle by joining the Adventures Team!

Monica Cahill, Assistant Manager
When Monica joined Pinelands Adventures as a driver in 2019, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of working in the great outdoors in ecotourism. A South Jersey native who eventually settled down in Folsom (just outside Hammonton), she enjoys sharing her ever-growing knowledge of the history and ecology of the New Jersey Pinelands. Her passion for protecting and conserving our last remaining wilderness comes straight from the heart. Monica has quickly become a customer favorite by sharing her experiences in the forests and talking about the unique flora and fauna she’s encountered during her explorations of rivers and trails. Nature is her church. Monica also has worked at Rancocas Creek Farms, a restorative farming project sponsored by the Pinelands Alliance. She enjoys creative cooking with all the fresh veggies grown at the farm. As a yoga practitioner, Monica has also earned her 200-hour yoga teacher training certificate and is continuing her studies. Favorite quote: “Heaven is under our feet, as well as over our heads” ~Henry David Thoreau Contact: 609-268-0189 or Email monica@pinelandsadventures.org.

Bill Sherwood, Ranger at the Pine Tree Center
Bill joined the Adventures team in 2025 but is no stranger to the Pine Tree Center. He has been the Ranger there since 2018 when it was still owned by the Boy Scouts. He loves the outdoors, especially the NJ pinelands. When he isn’t working or enjoying Pine Tree Center, he spends his time paddling, exploring and figuring out the history of the pinelands. Contact: 609-784-2315 or Email bill@pinelandsadventures.org

Megan Bailey, Outdoor Programming Manager
Megan’s experience includes over a decade of program leadership, education, and operations within mission-driven organizations. She is very excited to coordinate outdoor engagement and develop programs for diverse audiences that align with our mission. Email megan@pinelandsadventures.org.

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Board of Trustees

Below you will find all the voting members of the Board of Trustees for the Pinelands Alliance.

Executive Committee

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Trustees

Trustee Bios

James Barnshaw, M.D.

James Barnshaw, M.D. is a retired physician who has been a member of the board since 2012. After 12 years of volunteer work with the Adirondack Forty-Sixers and The Mercer Alliance to End Homelessness, Jim returned to volunteer in the Pine Barrens, where he has spent many days hiking and canoeing, having resided as a youth in Merchantville, NJ. In 2014 Jim became Chair of the Board of Trustees and served for six years before stepping down as chair in 2020. Jim continues to serve on the board.

Patricia A. Butenis

Patricia A. Butenis joined the Board in 2017 and was elected board chair in 2020. Raised in Atco, NJ and with an undergraduate degree from Penn and a master’s from Columbia, Pat retired back home after a 34-year career as a Foreign Service Officer which included assignments as ambassador to Bangladesh and to Sri Lanka and Maldives. She also served in Pakistan, Iraq, Colombia, El Salvador, India and Poland. Her favorite project in Sri Lanka was promoting the welfare of its wild and captive elephant populations. She serves on the Waterford Township Environmental Commission.

Timothy J. Byrne

Timothy J. Byrne, a resident of Princeton, New Jersey, is a private-practice attorney in New York. He is the son of former governor Brendan Byrne and has a long-standing interest in Pinelands preservation. Tim joined the board in 1999.

Charles M. Caruso

Charles M. Caruso is a retired Patent Counsel who has been a member of the board since 2016. During his 28-year career at Merck & Co., Inc., he served as International Patent Counsel, representing Merck at pharmaceutical industry trade associations worldwide on intellectual property law and policy matters, and he also litigated patent cases to protect patented medicines. He earned his Juris Doctor from Rutgers University School of Law and was a Master of Science candidate in Chemical Oceanography/Environmental Chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a Master Naturalist and an active member of the Barnegat Bay Partnership.

Medio Demarco

Medio Demarco joined the board in 2026. Medio Demarco is a native of Hammonton NJ, having grown up in a vibrant farming community on the edge of the Pinelands. He operates Demarco Orchards LLC, a multi-generational family farm with deep roots in the area. It is also New Jersey’s first Perigord Black Truffle Orchard. Medio has a deep respect for nature and is interested in preserving it for future generations.

Emile DeVito, Ph.D.

Emile DeVito, Ph.D. joined the board in 2002. Emile is the Manager of Science and Stewardship at the New Jersey Conservation Foundation since 1989. He received a doctorate in Ecology in 1988 for research on bird communities and vegetation landscapes in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens. Dr. DeVito develops management plans for NJCF’s 20,000 plus acres of holdings designed to protect and enhance biological diversity. Emile educates government officials, advocacy groups, land trusts, teachers and students on forest-interior habitat and migratory stopover needs of Neotropical songbirds. He is also a trustee of the NJ Natural Lands Trust. He serves on the Endangered and Non-Game Species Advisory Committee within the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, the New Jersey Invasive Species Council, and the Science Advisory

Stephen Fielder

Stephen Fielder joined the board in 2026. Steve is a retired custom kitchen-and-bath contractor. Steve and his wife, Barbara, are Currently Co-Chairs of Go Green Galloway. Steve chairs the Galloway Township Environmental Commission, co-chairs the Atlantic County Parks and Environmental Advisory Board, and co-chairs the Southeast Chapter of the New Jersey Native Plant Society. Steve served on the Galloway Township Planning Board for three years and has served as Secretary of the Galloway Township Historical Society for over 20 years. Since retiring, Steve has made several documentary films, one funded by an ANJEC grant: “Twelve Tenacious Invasives”. This film, about invasive plants, has been shown virtually and in person statewide. Other films include “Friends Along the Mullica”, an award-winning documentary through the Sustainable Jersey HUB program. Steve writes as a columnist about the environment and general interest topics in local newspapers. He also wrote a historical research booklet called “The Little Indian Day Camp: A Woodlands Experience”.

Michael Filippone

Michael Filippone joined the board in 2025. He is a Vice President at OceanFirst Bank, a regional bank providing financial services throughout New Jersey and in the major metropolitan areas between Massachusetts and Virginia. Michael earned his MBA from William Paterson University, where he received the Outstanding MBA Graduate Award with a Concentration in Finance. Michael also holds a BA in Finance from Muhlenberg College, where he pursued double minors in Physics and Business Administration. Michael enjoys spending time at the beach, exploring all things related to New Jersey, and is an avid soccer fan.

Bill Fisher

Bill Fisher retired in 2019 from Liberty Trust, where he served as Senior Project Manager, National Development, with over 35 years of hands-on experience in development, planning, design, and construction management in the U.S. and overseas. His particular expertise is creating innovative, energy-efficient environments for commercial, industrial, medical and research clientele. Bill is currently furthering the implementation of the Navy Yard Business Center’s Master Plan, which covers 1,200 acres along Philadelphia’s Delaware River waterfront. Bill joined the board in 2014.

Michael Gallaway

Michael Gallaway served as the New Jersey Sierra Club’s representative to the advisory committee established by the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, which gave birth to PPA in 1989. He is a founding board member of PPA and has chaired numerous board committees. He serves as the NJ Sierra Club’s representative on the PPA board and has been the chair of the Medford Lakes Environmental Commission. He is a pediatric optometrist with a private practice in Marlton, NJ, and is an Associate Professor at Salus University in Philadelphia.

Joe Greipp

Joe Greipp joined the board in 2026 and directs a private arboretum in central New Jersey. He is a lifelong resident of southern New Jersey and a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in Environmental Planning and Design. Joe is the Executive Director of the NJ Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture and serves on the NJ Community Forestry Council and the NJ State Board of Tree Experts. He is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and a NJ Licensed Tree Expert. His career has focused on preserving rare and historically significant trees, and he is committed to outreach and education. Joe lives in Moorestown with his wife and two children.

Lamar Gore

Lamar Gore joined the board in 2021 and is the Refuge Manager at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in Philadelphia, PA. Lamar works with partners to connect the greater Philadelphia area’s communities to the refuge and brand it as America’s First Urban Refuge. Previously, Lamar worked in the Northeast Regional Office of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as Assistant Refuge Supervisor and Chief of the Office of Diversity and Civil Rights. During this time, Lamar was responsible for the Career Discovery Internship Program, which was designed to introduce culturally and ethnically diverse students to the USFWS. Lamar has also worked as Assistant Regional Biologist, Assistant Refuge Biologist, and Biological Technician. His work during this time involved tidal saltmarsh restoration, non-breeding season bird monitoring (song birds), sea turtle protection, sea lamprey control, and wetland restoration from Vermont to Virginia.

Ivette Guillermo-McGahee

Ivette Guillermo-McGahee is the founder and CEO of Allies In Caring, Inc. a New Jersey nonprofit offering counseling as well as indoor/outdoor educational programs that foster resiliency, promote healing and bring people together in meaningful interactions. Ivette is also the founder of Con-Vivir Wellness Hub a center pursuing pioneering solutions that alleviate loneliness and social isolation, and other factors contributing to the rising behavioral problems that have become a major burden for our communities. Ivette’s late work has been focused on generating collective impact by building coalitions among different sectors, strengthening communities form the inside out by addressing divides in our communities and mobilizing the talents of neighborhood residents.

Joann Held

Joann Held comes to the Alliance through her vast experience in environmental science and policy and her leadership role in the League of Women Voters. Joann worked at the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for 26 years, specializing in air quality and site remediation issues. She has authored or coauthored numerous scientific papers on these topics. She has a BS in Meteorology from St. Louis University and a Master’s Degree in air pollution control from the Harvard School of Public Health. Since retiring from NJDEP, Joann is involved in many civic activities. These include serving on the NJ Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board; the NJDEP Environmental Justice Advisory Council; and leadership positions in the Pennington Borough Environmental Commission and Hopewell Valley Green Team. In 2017, the Camden Collaborative Initiative recognized her as a Camden Environmental Hero for her advocacy for the City of Camden.

Joe Kalucki

Joe Kalucki joined the board in 2026. Joe is a first-generation farmer and digital marketing professional who, with his wife, Kelly O’Neill, owns and operates Timberline Farms in Folsom, New Jersey. Joe and Kelly bought their farm in 2016 and have since developed it into a small, diversified farm that produces flowers, eggs, baked goods, and other value-added agricultural products. Joe’s experience farming in the Pinelands has given him a firsthand appreciation for the relationship between agriculture, conservation, land use, and the long-term preservation of South Jersey’s unique landscape. At Timberline Farms, he has focused on sustainable growing practices, wildlife habitat, and creative ways for small farms to remain economically viable while staying connected to the land and the surrounding community. Professionally, Joe has a background in digital marketing, communications, and a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Rowan University. He brings to the Pinelands Alliance a perspective shaped by both his professional experience and the everyday realities of operating a small farm within the Pinelands.

Chris Kosseff

Chris Kosseff comes to The Alliance after a distinguished career in the field of behavior health. Chris retired in 2016 as President and CEO of University Behavioral Healthcare of Rutgers University (formerly the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey), where he was responsible for all aspects of the largest behavioral healthcare system in New Jersey. Prior to assuming the top job he held several leadership positions in UMDNJ’s behavior health programs. He has held appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the New Jersey Medical School. Chris is an avid and adventurous traveler and an accomplished nature photographer.

Frank Latham

Frank Latham has been a Social worker for more than 20 years. He is currently the Advocacy Coordinator/Principal Presenter for the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities. Before his current position, Frank was Grants Manager and served as Program Coordinator for the Youth Leadership Project and Youth Leadership Institute at the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities. A longtime coach and mentor, Frank has been a high school and AAU basketball college coach for the past 25 years, and has also served as a golf coach for the Special Olympics. He is also the founder and president of U-turn Inc. a (501c-3) that assists struggling students in navigating the education system. He is the President of the board of directors at The O League (TOL) and is a member of two other (501c-3) (3)) not-for-profit organizations that support and mentor youth.

John Murphy

John Murphy joined the Board in 2020 after a 38-year career as a partner at the Stradley Ronon law firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During his tenure at the firm, he served as Chairman of the firm’s 70 attorney litigation department and specialized in civil litigation involving securities, employment, property and commercial disputes. John is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he served as an editor on The Daily Pennsylvanian. He subsequently attended Rutgers Law School where he served as Projects Editor of the Rutgers Law Review. John has paddled the rivers and lakes and hiked the forests and trails of the Pinelands for over 25 years. An avid cyclist, John regularly participates in charity rides for a wide array of organizations like the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Society, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and World Team Sports. He resides in Medford, New Jersey with his wife Mary and daughter Erin.

Luis Olivieri

Luis Olivieri joined the board in 2021. He is the Director of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) at Hopeworks Camden, a nonprofit that has used an advanced training curriculum for more than 20 years to help youth 17-24 return to school and find a safe pathway to their future. For more than 15 years, Luis worked as a professor in the areas of GIS, remote sensing, and GPS. While working at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, he directed a program sponsored by NASA, recognized by the agency as one of their best education programs at the time. He worked as a researcher for the Puerto Rico Water Resources and Environment Research Institute and has also worked as a private consultant in the area of GIS for the State and Federal government and the private sector. Luis has lived in the Pinelands since he moved to NJ in 2008.

Laura L. Palazzo

Laura L. Palazzo joined the board in 2023. Laura has enjoyed a 40-year career in financial management in the casino industry. She currently is the Chief Financial Officer of Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City. Although Laura grew up in North Jersey (Morris County), she has been a resident of South Jersey, since attending and graduating from Stockton State College (now Stockton University), with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business, concentration in accounting. She is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and serves as a member of Stockton’s Business School Advisory Board. Laura currently resides in Stafford Township, and in her free time away from work, enjoys spending time tending to her vegetable garden and enjoying life with her husband at the Jersey shore.

Dana Patterson Grear

Dana Patterson Grear joined the board in 2026 and is a proud Rancocas Creek Farm CSA member. With over 18 years of experience in the environmental field, she serves as Director of Marketing and Communications for Princeton Hydro, a mission driven ecological engineering consulting firm, where she specializes in stakeholder engagement, branding, proposal & grant writing, and digital media strategy. She is a passionate environmental communicator who has worked across the nonprofit, academic, and private sectors and focuses on values-based communication techniques. Dana earned her Master of Environmental Management from Yale University’s School of the Environment and holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She volunteers as Co-Chair of the Jersey Water Works Stormwater Utility Subcommittee, Board of Directors for Sustainable South Jersey, and First Vice President for the Society of American Military Engineers NJ Post. On weekends, you can find Dana birdwatching in parks, capturing nature’s beauty through photography, exploring new trails with her dogs, and browsing thrift stores with her husband and son.

William Rodio

William Rodio joined the board in 2017. Bill is an attorney and a life-long resident of Hammonton, where his legal practice is located. Bill has been exploring the Pine Barrens since childhood and has followed his parents’ example by introducing his two children to the woods from an early age. Bill’s legal practice of 20 years is focused on transactional matters, including real estate and commercial transactions.

Joe Sikora

Joe Sikora joined the board in 2024. Joe is president of Sikora Wells Appel, a landscape architectural practice in Haddonfield, New Jersey. With over 30 years of experience, his work focuses on creating ecologically and socially sustainable places. His firm’s award-winning work includes projects at universities, healthcare facilities, and institutional campuses, as well as public and private parks and gardens. He received his BLA from Syracuse SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He has taught graduate and undergraduate courses at several universities and has been an invited speaker at professional conferences regionally, nationally, and internationally. Joe is licensed in NJ, PA, NY, and DE and is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects

Barbara Trought

Barbara H. Trought has been member of the board since 2012, has been active for over 45 years in numerous community service and political activities. She was appointed by Gov. Thomas Kean to the Department of Environmental Protection’s Tidelands Resource Council, and served from 1987-2011. Barbara has also moderated candidate forums for the League of Women Voters throughout the state, served as Government Director for NJ State League in the 1990’s as well as being an advocate for affordable housing. Barbara has served as a Trustee for the Forums Institute for Public Policy, been a docent at the Alice Paul Institute in Mount Laurel and a member of the Institutional Review Committee for the Cooper Health Systems, 2001-2003.

Amy Vasquez

Amy Vasquez joined the board of trustees in October 2020. Amy has represented children and parents in child welfare matters for 20 years through her law practice in Burlington, NJ. She co-authored a report on the overrepresentation of children of color in segregated special education classrooms entitled, “Segregated and Second Rate, II.” As the recipient of the Inaugural Haywood Burns Fellowship for Civil Rights, Amy worked at the Innocence Project led by Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld. She is proud of her work there, where, in cases where she was charged with locating and preserving physical evidence, DNA evidence eventually exonerated three clients and freed them after decades of imprisonment. Amy received the Democratic nomination for Congress in NJ-4 in 2004. Before law school, Amy was a teacher and now teaches legal studies to middle and high school students online. Amy has a 12-year-old daughter, and together they enjoy hiking, geocaching, exhibiting annually at the Philadelphia Flower Show, and rescuing terrapins and horseshoe crabs.

Use the following links to review the Conflict of Interest Policy, the Whistleblower Policy and the Records Retention Policy of the Pinelands Alliance.