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

For more than 20 years, Tally has served as the Chief Program Officer of the Open Space Institute, working in land conservation on the eastern seaboard. Excited by the opportunity to work on marine and shoreline issues, Tally was elected to the Board in 2015 and brings to the Society deep experience in organizational strategy, development, and management. Tally serves as the President, is Chair of the Stewardship Committee, and she also serves on the Governance and Executive Committees.

Mark Mauriello, Vice PRESIDENT

Mark Mauriello began his career with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in May 1980, after earning a bachelor’s degree in geology from Middlebury College in Vermont. He accepted a position as a shoreline mapping specialist with the New Jersey Geological Survey, and during the 1980’s and 1990’s he rose through the ranks of the Division of Coastal Resources and Land Use Regulation Division, and was appointed as Division Director in 2002. In 2006, Mauriello was selected to be Assistant Commissioner for Land Use Management, and in 2008 he was nominated by Governor Jon S. Corzine to serve as Commissioner of the DEP, replacing newly confirmed EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. He served in that capacity from November 2008 until his retirement from DEP in January 2010. Upon retiring from DEP in January 2010, Mauriello formed Mark Mauriello Consulting, LLC, specializing in coastal zone management, floodplain management, land use regulation and regulatory compliance, and in March, 2010, Mauriello accepted a position as Director of Environmental Affairs and Planning with Edgewood Properties.

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 became Vice-President of the Board in 2019 and currently serves on the Governance Committee and is chair of the Policy Committee.

R. Gregory Quirk, edd, CPA, Treasurer

Greg Quirk cares about the coast. A former naval officer and school administrator, Greg’s professional experience and training as a CPA and school leader 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. He also serves on the Executive and Audit Committees.

Lewin Weyl, Board Secretary

Lewin Weyl served as a Deputy Attorney General representing New Jersey on public trust issues and cases in state and federal courts for over 25 years. He also advocated for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on waterfront development, the Coastal Area Facility Review Act, and freshwater wetlands cases, in addition to 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.

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.

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 organizations focusing on water quality in the New York– New Jersey Bight (ocean waters between Montauk, NY and Cape May, NJ). 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 partners.

George Kowallis, MD
A 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.

Gail Elizabeth Lalla
Gail Lalla is an Associate and Business Development Manager for T&M Associates, a leading national consulting, environmental, engineering, technical services, and construction management company. Gail is responsible for business development, grants research and procurement, project management, and the cultivation of existing client relationships. She provides a multi-faceted background in renewable energy, environmental planning, and community resilience.

Prior to T&M, Gail was the Vice President of Greener by Design LLC where she delivered proven results for public and private clients. In addition, Gail helped launch the Resilient Microgrids toolkit that is housed in the New Jersey Institute of Technology, to help various entities understand how to plan, finance, and build-out advanced Town Center microgrids in New Jersey. The creation of the toolkit has led to the completion of several advanced microgrid studies.

Gail has been asked to speak on many panels including the Roosevelt Strategic Council, Rutgers Alternative Energy Symposium, the NJ League of Municipalities, US Green Building Council’s Women in Green event, the NJ Chemistry Council, and various symposiums on clean energy.

Gail has been published in NJBIZ, American City and County, U.S. Green Building Council, Microgrid Knowledge, and NJ Spotlight.

Gail earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Rutgers University. She currently serves as a member of the U.S. Green Building Council Market Leadership Advisory Board, the Crossroads of the American Revolution Steering Committee, the Middlesex County Planning Board, and the Woodbridge Township Arts Alliance.

Officers and Trustees