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

Kathleen Gasienica, President

Kathleen discovered her passion for the marine environment as a child, while exploring the lakes and rivers of the Midwest, and has been involved in protecting the water, its shores and its inhabitants ever since.

She has provided marine environment education programs, both in the field at Sandy Hook, and in K-12 classrooms for more than two decades, and served on the Board of Education of The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School for nine. She is an avid kayaker, a community activist and an environmentalist. She is particularly interested in the preservation of the living fossil, the Horseshoe Crab, and is working to help strengthen laws that protect it. Kathleen joined the Board in 2008 and currently serves as President.

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.

Tally Blumberg, Vice 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 Stewardship Committee. She also serves on the Governance and Executive Committees.

Penney Riegelman, Secretary

Penney Riegelman grew up on an island in Lake Champlain so she has water in her blood. Now a resident of the Shore, she is learning the marine habitat of the area with the help of the American Littoral Society. Her background as a classroom teacher, educational leader and nonprofit trustee informs her work with educational programming and governance at the Littoral Society.
Penney joined the board in 2016 and heads up the Governance committee,

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 Governance and Policy Committees.

Angela Cristini, PhD
Angela is a Biology Professor at Ramapo State College, and the Director of the Meadowlands Environmental Education Program. A former Board President of the Society, she first became a Trustee in 2000, and currently serves on the Conservation and Education Committees.

Doug Douty
Doug Douty knows fish. He is the co-owner of Highlands, NJ, seafood purveyors “The Lusty Lobster,” Doug has devoted his professional life to an industry that depends on healthy estuarine and marine ecosystems. A life-long Fair Haven, NJ, resident, Doug is well known among local non-profit organizers, and brings to the Society his business acumen and his broad connection to the fisheries community. Doug serves on the Governance and Education Program Committees of the Board."

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 Stewardship Committee.

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.

Richard G. Lathrop, PhD
Rick first got involved with the American Littoral Society over thirty years ago when he interned with the Society as a sophomore in college. He witnessed how the Society made a real, on-the-ground difference in coastal conservation issues and, in particular, in stopping the misguided development of New Jersey’s few remaining undeveloped barrier islands.

In his present position as an academic scientist studying the impacts of human land use on coastal ecology, he supports the Society’s strong reliance on science to help inform its work on coastal conservation and restoration. As a university educator, he is inspired by the numerous ways the Society educates, enlightens, and connects people to the coast. Finally, as a private citizen who cares deeply about the health of our coastal and marine systems, he appreciates the Society’s role as voice and advocate for the coast. Rick, former President of the Board, now serves on the Executive and Education Committees.

Mark Mauriello
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 and Policy Committees.

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 currently serves on the Conservation Committee.

Cindy Zipf
Since her days as an intern for the Littoral Society, 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.

Officers and Trustees