Barbara Davis leads The Land Conservancy of New Jersey’s planning program. By working with towns to protect land and build resilience against climate change, Barbara has led The Land Conservancy in preserving over 200 residential flood-prone properties in 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.

Cali’s role on the board of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey follows 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 programs at the local level. Cali served as an administrator at the New Jersey Department of Health and played a pivotal role in licensing and compliance in the wholesale pharmaceutical, seafood and shellfish, aquaculture and fisheries industries.

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.

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. She also oversaw New Jersey’s Homeless Management Information System. 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. Donna has a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Pace University.

Dorothy P. Guzzo is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Historic Trust where she oversees the administrator of the historic preservation matching grant and loan programs. 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.

Doug Vornlocker joined The Nature Conservancy as the Land Projects Manager in 2022. Doug’s passion for nature started at an early age while exploring the floodplains and forests near his home along the Raritan River. After earning his BA from Rutgers University, Doug worked in the environmental sector as a project manager and consultant before shifting to the public sector in public and environmental health. In 2006, his work in compliance and enforcement - particularly the development of the Somerset County Waterways Enforcement Team - earned him an NJDEP Outstanding Achievement Award. Doug is a proud husband and father of three amazing children.

Dr. Chuck Stead was raised in the Village of Hillburn, in the Ramapo Mountains of Lower New
York State. His podcast, Get the Lead Out is a chronicle of the environmental degradation of a
watershed and its deadly impact on an indigenous population. His podcast follows his journey from boyhood, hunting and trapping in the Torne Valley of Ramapo where he first discovered Ford Motor Company’s pollution of the watershed. During the passage of some five decades, Dr. Stead built the narrative of Ford’s impact on the land and upon the tribal members of the Ramapough Lunaape Nation. Dr. Stead teaches at Ramapo College and online at Marymount Manhattan and the University of Montana in Billings

Dr. Jaclyn Rhoads is the assistant executive director of Pinelands Preservation Alliance. She serves on the NJ League of Conservation Voters political committee, NJ Keep it Green Coalition executive committee, and Darby Creek Valley Association and Friends of the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge board of directors in Pennsylvania where she lives. Dr. Rhoads manages the policy and science staff at Pinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA), leads the organization’s activities for the Delaware River Watershed Initiative, and primarily handles lobbying efforts

Elliott Ruga is the Director of Policy & Communications at the NJ Highlands Coalition. He is the founding chair of the Boonton Trails Committee, which is developing the Boonton component of the Morris Canal Greenway and is the vice chair of the Boonton Historic Preservation Commission. Elliott has also served on the Morris County Open Space Committee and the Morris County Heritage Commission. Elliott directed, edited and shot a recent documentary about the Native American experince in Northern NJ, The Way of the Ramapough.

Eric Derby is a passionate local food advocate whose 12 years of experience as both the Associate Publisher of Edible New Jersey and a board member of the Foodshed Alliance have been focused on developing a healthy local food movement. As the Program Manager of the Foodshed Alliance’s Sustainable (SAgE) program, Eric is driven to directly impact the success of farmers practicing regenerative growing methods.

Erin’s expertise in all things plants began cultivating as a child growing up in a central Ohio farming community. A graduate of Oregon State University with a Master of Science in Horticulture, she spent her graduate year researching living, or “Green,” roofs. She moved to New Jersey in 2010 to explore vegetable farming. She has also gotten her hands dirty in beekeeping, estate gardening, and hydroponic farming. But her favorite way to garden is to garden with a purpose, whether building a rain garden, a garden for pollinators, or growing vegetables for food.

Jeremy grew up on Lake Hopatcong, the headwaters of the Musconetcong River where he gained an appreciation and interest in water and water sports. As an adult he began exploring and appreciating the downstream Musconetcong River more when he began paddling near Saxton Falls and Lubbers Run. Ever since encountering a bear on the river, Jeremy has been documenting all his kayak trips through photo and video. Jeremy is active on social media, and hopes that his visual storytelling will positively inspire others to get out and explore.

In 2016, Jeremy became River Watcher volunteer which deepened his appreciation for the river. He considers himself a steward of the outdoors and spreads his passion by connecting with people about their experiences kayaking and walking the river’s banks, and by talking about conservation science. Through networking, Jeremy has expanded his volunteering to the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, and has recently become a founding board member for the newly formed non-profit, Peace NJ (People Enjoying Active Conservation in the Environment in New Jersey).