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Barbara Davis

Barbara Davis

Vice President of Programs

The Nature Conservancy of New Jersey

Barbara Heskins Davis leads The Land Conservancy of New Jersey’s planning program working with towns to protect land to build climate resiliency, especially for flood mitigation. With the team at The Conservancy, over 200 residential flood-prone properties have been preserved in traditionally underserved communities. Embracing collaborations is the hallmark of her work. Experiencing the beauty of the state from the seat of her bike is her passion, where she can be found pedaling along the state’s back roads.
Donna Rendeiro

Donna Rendeiro

Executive Director

New Jersey Office of Planning Advocacy

Donna Rendeiro was named Executive Director and Secretary of the State Planning Commission and the Executive Director of the Office of Planning Advocacy within the Department of State in July 2019. Previously, she served as Chief of Administration for the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, as well as Chief of Staff. She also oversaw New Jersey’s Homeless Management Information System, managed through HMFA. Donna was the Director of Community Planning at the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority, Acting Executive Director of the Office of Smart Growth, and Brownfields Policy Director. She has worked with the Governor’s Office of Economic Growth on urban policy. Previous experience includes redevelopment and shared services at the municipal and county levels. Donna is a former Vice President at Citibank as Chief of Staff to the Senior Credit Officer in the credit card division and was a Branch Manager. She has a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Pace University.
Cali Alexander

Cali Alexander

Policy Committee Chair

Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey

Cali Alexander currently serves on the board of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey (NOFA), transitioning from a 35-year career in environmental science and law as a Public Health Administrator. As a licensed health Officer and Director, Cali managed and delivered years of environmental public service and programs at the local level. Her experiences include extensive on-site evaluations, land use reviews and retail food inspections and regulations. She served as an administrator the New Jersey Department of Health, and played a pivotal role in licensing and compliance in the wholesale pharmaceutical, seafood and shellfish, aquaculture and fish farming industries. In 2014, Cali received the Governor’s appointment to the New Jersey Board of Pharmacy. Her work was instrumental on policy, outreach and education involving and establishing fish consumption advisories in urban estuaries, and environmental justice.
Dorothy Guzzo

Dorothy Guzzo

Executive Director

New Jersey Historic Trust

Dorothy P. Guzzo is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Historic Trust, an agency affiliated with the Department of Community Affairs. Ms. Guzzo oversees the administration of the historic preservation matching grant and loan programs. The Historic Trust was created in 1967 to advance historic preservation in New Jersey for the benefit of future generations through education, stewardship and financial investment programs that save our heritage and strengthen our communities. Formerly, Ms. Guzzo served as the Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer having oversight of the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places program, implementation of the state’s cultural resource regulations, and certifying projects to qualify for the Investment Tax Credit. Ms. Guzzo also served on the Governor’s Heritage Tourism Task Force advancing the development of the State’s Heritage Tourism Master Plan.
Carla Rodrigo Herrera

Carla Rodrigo Herrera

Environmental Engineer

PEACE NJ

Carla Rodrigo Herrera is an environmental engineer, born in Bolivia. In 2016, she joined Agua Sustentable to empower indigenous women leaders in the Lake Titicaca region in protecting water quality. One outcome of this work was publishing her monitoring guide “Participative Monitoring Guide of Water Quality". In 2019 Carla worked for Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), managing the introduction of an experiment-based environmental, science and technology education program in the primary school. Currently she is a consultant to PEACE NJ, working as a bridge for the Latino community in Hackettstown, NJ as a community coordinator.
Doug Vornlocker

Doug Vornlocker

Land Projects Manager

The Nature Conservancy of New Jersey

Doug Vornlocker joined the organization as the Land Projects Manager in 2022. His passion for nature started at an early age while exploring the floodplain and forests near his home along the Raritan River. He earned a BA in Biology from Rutgers University and is nearing completion of a Master of Natural Resources Stewardship, with a specialization in Ecological Restoration, from Colorado State University. After graduating from Rutgers, he worked in the environmental sector as a project manager and consultant. Doug shifted to the public sector when he accepted a position in public & environmental health. In 2006, he was selected by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for an Outstanding Achievement Award related to his work in compliance and enforcement; including the development of the Somerset County Waterways Enforcement Team. Doug, a member of many emergency services agencies, spent most of his career as the Director of the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management. After managing many emergencies and disasters, he enthusiastically transitioned back to a position closer to his life-long interest in ecology and conservation. Doug is a proud husband and father of three amazing children – and two great dogs. He spends his free time outdoors and enjoys hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, and playing golf.
20181026_Pohat-trib-Brass-Castle -Ryan Jiorle_edited.jpg

photo credit: Ryan Jiorle

2023 Presenters

N W

N  J

Northwest New Jersey

Rivers Conference

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