Officers & Trustees

The American Littoral Society is led by an all-volunteer Board of Trustees. Littoral Society Trustees have included some of the most gifted and passionate people in the fields of marine biology, environmental science, coastal policy and management, litigation, technology and science education. Littoral Society Trustees are the fiduciaries who steer the organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, as well as making sure the nonprofit has adequate resources to advance its mission.

Our board members provide foresight, oversight, and insight: we think of them as up in the crow's nest scanning the horizon for signs of storms or fair weather, ready to explore, perhaps with a pot of gold at the end!

Officers

Tally Blumberg, President

A shorebird by inclination, Tally has been working at Open Space Institute on land protection issues for more than a decade. She is excited for the opportunity to return to her watery roots, and brings to the Society deep experience in organizational development and management, as well as a true commitment to coastal protection. Tally was elected to the Board in 2015 and in addition to serving as the Vice President, is Chair of the Development Committee. She also serves on the Governance and Executive Committees.

Mark Mauriello, Vice PRESIDENT

During his long career with NJDEP, culminating in his service as Commissioner, Mark has concentrated on coastal policy. Long familiar with the Society's work, he has only recently become available to serve as Trustee. Mark joined the Board in 2015 and with his vast experience with Trenton policies and procedures, has been a valuable contributor to the strategic planning of conservation and policy initiatives. Mark serves on the Governance Committee and is chair of the Policy Committee.

R. Gregory Quirk, edd, CPA, Treasurer

Greg Quirk is “at the top of his game.” A former Navy officer, teacher, and school administrator, Greg’s professional experience and training as a CPA and EdD have become invaluable to the Society since his election to the Board in 2012. Currently serving as Treasurer, Greg’s guidance through the Society’s business and accounting complexities has ensured responsible management during a period of significant growth. Greg also serves on the Executive and Audit Committees.

Trustees

David Chapman
As a natural resource economist, David has worked nationwide on coastal recovery projects following natural and man-made disasters. Drawn to the Society’s policy work on habitat protection and restoration, he was elected to the Board in 2009 and currently serves on the Conservation and Policy Committees.

Peter Hetzler, MD
While pursuing a distinguished career in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Peter continues his life-long commitment to the American Littoral Society. In his youth, his devotion to coastal protection was inspired by the Society’s first Executive Director, Dery Bennett. A Trustee since 1995, Peter sits on the Development Committee.

Russell Furnari
Russell Furnari is the Manager of Environmental Policy Enterprise at Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) with responsibility for managing the analysis, interpretation and position development on regulatory and legislative issues facing PSEG’s operating subsidiaries. He has been with PSEG for 40 years, working in a variety of operating and technical support positions, before taking his current position.

Russ has a BS in Industrial Administration (NJIT) and an MA in Environmental Management (Montclair State University). He is active with several environmental organizations working to promote, climate mitigation/adaptation, sustainable communities and habitat restoration throughout the state and the region. Organizations include the NJ Climate Change Alliance and the PSEG Institute of Sustainability Studies at Montclair State University.

Venetia Lannon
Venetia is Vice President at Matrix New World, with market development responsibilities including climate adaptation services with a focus on nature-based systems for waterfront facilities, green infrastructure and renewable energy. Prior to joining the private sector, Venetia spent 20 years in the public service most recently as Governor Cuomo's Deputy Secretary for the Environment. In this capacity, she served as environmental policy advisor to the Governor and his cabinet and oversaw the operations of the state’s environmental agencies, including the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Office of Parks Recreation & Historic Preservation, the Environmental Facilities Corporation and the Adirondack Park Agency.

Previously, Venetia was appointed by Governor Cuomo as Regional Director for the Department of Environmental Conservation, overseeing 200 staff and all aspects of DEC’s work in New York City. Prior to that she held several positions working for the City of New York, as a Senior Vice President of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and as Deputy Director of the Recycling Bureau at the New York City Department of Sanitation, where she ran the composting program. At EDC, she ran the Maritime division, where key projects included launching the East River Ferry service and developing a barge and rail-served municipal recycling facility in Brooklyn. She was an active contributor to Mayor Bloomberg’s Solid Waste Management Plan and an early advocate for sustainability and environmental justice. Venetia graduated from Vassar College with departmental honors and holds a master’s in public administration, focusing on environmental policy from Columbia University.

Jennifer Samson, Ph.D.
With broad experience in the field, Jennifer Samson was appointed Chief of Marine Chemistry at NOAA’s Marine Science Laboratory in 2010. Long familiar with the work of ALS, she looks forward to strengthening the bonds between the Lab’s scientific endeavors and ALS’s education, restoration, and policy programs. Jennifer joined the Board of Trustees in 2014 and currently serves on the Conservation Committee.

Cindy Zipf
Since 1982, when she joined the American Littoral Society as an intern, Cindy has never left the family. Working closely with the Society, Cindy has spawned and nurtured Clean Ocean Action into one of the most effective grassroots organizers focusing on water quality in the New York – New Jersey bight. A long-time Trustee of the Society, Cindy plays an active role on the Finance Committee, and helps to coordinate Society policy positions with COA and other regional policy leaders.

George Kowallis, MD
Longtime Trustee and former Littoral Society President, George brings the depth of many years’ experience to his work on the Board. Currently serving as a member of the Program Policy Committee and the Audit Committee, he plays an active role in evaluating the strategic directions of the Society. His current interests include genetic complexity, with a focus on seaweed variations found in the cold, coastal waters of Maine.

Lewin Weyl
Lewin served as a Deputy Attorney General representing the State on public trust issues and cases in State and federal courts for over 25 years. He also advocated for the NJDEP on waterfront development, Coastal Area Facility Review Act and freshwater wetlands cases, besides representing the Highlands Council and the Delaware & Raritan Canal Commission. As part of his advocacy, he helped to conserve thousands of environmentally sensitive acres of land throughout New Jersey. Prior to State service, he represented affordable housing developers. Before law school, Lewin earned a Master of City and Regional Planning from Rutgers and worked for the City of Trenton as the Economic Development Director. He has also served on and staffed the boards of several nonprofit groups.

Officers and Trustees