Keynote

Alex Rivera chairs the Garden State Preservation Trust, a state authority that oversees New Jersey's constitutionally dedicated conservation funding. As a staff member and founding director of multiple urban policy centers at Kean University's John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research, Alex works on entrepreneurship, green infrastructure, and urban conservation policy.

Ben Spinelli is an innovative leader in environmental policy, land use practices, land preservation and strategic planning. His career spans both the public and private sectors, including two decades as a trial attorney, three terms as the elected mayor of Chester Township and several senior-level roles at the local, state and federal levels including his current appointment as the Executive Director of the Highlands Council. Ben is an active volunteer on community and non-profit boards and is a self-proclaimed “Jersey Guy” at heart, having visited each of the state’s 565 municipalities.

David Bressler has been with Stroud Water Research Center for nine years facilitating and supporting
community science primarily in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Prior to this he worked in private industry for 17 years doing freshwater science and monitoring work in support of federal, state, and county
environmental agencies.

As director of Environment New Jersey, Doug has led campaigns to fast-track New Jersey’s clean energy economy via offshore wind, solar and energy efficiency programs, to rejoin New Jersey in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) program, oppose the expansion of fossil fuel projects, and expand electric vehicles across the state. He has also led campaigns focused on New Jersey’s drinking water quality and protection of the state’s watershed lands. Doug serves on the boards of the Work Environment Council, and the Environmental Endowment of New Jersey and is the president of ChargEVC, an electric vehicle coalition. He was recognized by EPA Region II with an Environmental Quality Award in 2012.

Mike is the FoHVOS Stewardship Director and also serves as our Invasive Species Strike Team Program Director. He joined FoHVOS in 2007 and co-founded the Strike Team in 2008 with the goal of bringing greater efficiency and effectiveness to invasive species management. Mike has a Ph.D. in ecology from Rutgers University and over 25 years of experience in land stewardship, planning and research, working extensively in the evaluation and management of rare and invasive species and deer management. He has consulted with over 30 organizations in NJ including the NJ Invasive Species Council for which he prepared the New Jersey Strategic Management Plan for Invasive Species.

Emily Allen is a trustee of the Greater Culver Lake Watershed Conservation Foundation, an organization dedicated to protecting and preserving the watersheds of Lake Owassa and Culver Lake in Northern New Jersey. By day, she teaches at Ridge and Valley Charter School in Blairstown, NJ. In the summer, she lends her expertise to Applied GeoEcology on stream habitat creation and enhancement projects.

Emily holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from St. John’s University and a Master’s in Geography and GIS from the University of Illinois, with thesis work on the Squamish River in British Columbia. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, reading, yoga, and spending time in, on, and around bodies of water.

Info coming soon

Frank Zammataro is President and Co-founder of the Mendham Alliance for Preservation and Conservation (MAPC), a NJ nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the rural character, environmental resources, and historic heritage of the Mendhams. A longtime environmental entrepreneur and advocate, Frank works with residents, local officials, and regional stakeholders to promote thoughtful planning, responsible development, and the preservation of the area's open spaces and unique quality of life.

Gerry Lauro is a resident of Green Pond. He has been active in environmental matters at the Lake since 2017, serving as a diver and fundraiser for HIGLIN. He is also a member of the Green Pond Environmental Fund. He is retired after a career in Finance.

Harvey Klein has an extensive background in environmental and food chemistry, microbiology and public health. He is recognized as an expert witness in both state and local courts, and has given expert testimonies and lectures in the public and private sectors, incorporating years of experience in chromatography and mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, wet chemical analysis and bacteriology.

Henry Bayard is the Conservation Coordinator for the Hacklebarney Chapter of Trout Unlimited
in northern New Jersey. Following a 40-year career in the technology industry, he has dedicated
his retirement to watershed restoration, cold-water fisheries conservation, and community-based
environmental stewardship.

Henry is a graduate of the Rutgers Environmental Stewards Program and has contributed
hundreds of volunteer hours to the Raritan Headwaters Association, supporting stream
monitoring, watershed protection, and environmental education throughout the Upper Raritan River watershed. He leads the India Brook Restoration Project in Mendham, New Jersey, a multi-phase initiative to restore riparian habitat, rehabilitate the in-stream channel, stabilize streambanks, improve trout habitat and water quality, and increase the stream's resilience to flooding and climate change.

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.

Info coming soon

Jennifer Latzgo is Director of Education and Engagement for the Little Lehigh Watershed Stewards, where she leads community outreach and coordinates the organization’s summertime Salt Snapshot studies. She is also an active Pennsylvania Master Watershed Steward and a co-founder of Pennsylvania Road Salt Action (PARSA), a statewide network of professionals and volunteers working to reduce road salt pollution through education, advocacy, and the promotion of best management practices.

Before retiring, Jennifer spent 20 years teaching English as a Second Language in the Adult Literacy Program at Lehigh Carbon Community College. She is passionate about environmental education and empowering communities to protect local waterways.

In her free time, Jennifer enjoys kayaking, practicing yoga, traveling, solving puzzles, and seeking out new adventures with her husband, Tom.

Kathleen Farley, PhD has served as Executive Director of the Teaneck Creek Conservancy since July 2022. Before joining the Conservancy, Dr. Farley built a diverse career as an environmental educator, middle school science teacher, researcher, adjunct professor, and union leader. She earned her PhD in Biology from Rutgers University-Newark, where her research focused on urban ecology and ornithology. Her doctoral work examined habitat selection by the American Woodcock in urban environments and the ecological implications of using degraded habitats. Her broader research experience includes monitoring declining American Kestrel populations in New Jersey, modeling predation pressures on Band-tailed Pigeons in the Sonoran Desert, and studying avian biodiversity in Honduran cloud forests.
Dr. Farley also holds a Master of Science in Biology from Montclair State University and a bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Management from Rutgers University's Cook College, where she additionally completed studies in science education and agroecology. Through her leadership, research, and educational experience, she brings a unique perspective on urban ecology, conservation, and environmental engagement.

Kristine Rogers is the Watershed Programs Manager for the SCMUA-Wallkill River Watershed
Management Group.  In her current role, Kristine plans and facilitates environmental
programming, writes grants to fund Sussex County stream restoration projects, and organizes
watershed educational events for community volunteers. Kristine has been a member of the
Sparta Township Environmental Commission since 2023 and is currently serving as the Vice
Chair. Prior to being hired by the Wallkill River Watershed Management Group, Kristine
completed a year-long term of service with the AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador
Program.  Kristine holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Sustainability from Drew
University and a master’s degree in Sustainability Science with a concentration in Sustainability
Leadership from Montclair State University.

Nathaniel Sajdak is the Watershed Director for the Sussex County Municipal Utilities
Authority-Wallkill River Watershed Management Group (SCMUA-WRWMG). During his
25-year tenure, Nathaniel has overseen the development of multiple NJDEP-approved
watershed management and restoration plans, led a stream monitoring program, and is
now working with the rest of the SCMUA-WRWMG team to implement riparian
reforestation, green stormwater infrastructure, and agricultural best management
projects to improve stream health. Nathaniel previously completed a term of service with
the AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador Program and holds a biology degree from
Providence College.