National Biodiversity Parks! |
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PERSONNEL |
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Scott Angus is an ecologist, biologist and senior wetland scientist at an environmental consulting firm. One of his specialties is Threatened and Endangered species with recent course work including: “New Jersey′s Threatened and Endangered Species, Northern and Southern NJ”, “Sedges, Rushes & Grasses Identification”, and “Vegetation Identification for Wetlands Delineation”. He is also Federally Certified as a Qualified Bog Turtle Surveyor and a member of the New Jersey Association of Environmental Professionals. Scott is qualified in wetland delineation, wetland enhancement and restoration, habitat restoration, species management programs, environmental permitting and environmental reports.
Mike Casper has fifteen years of field ornithology experience as a trip leader and Monmouth County Audubon Officer and President. He is the local coordinator in Ocean County, NJ for the National Audubon Society′s annual Christmas Bird Counts. He has performed various Department of Defense ecological surveys for NBP. He is a dedicated conservationist, designing and participating in various conservation fund raisers, participating in NJ Audubon’s World Series of Birding, contributing to Birds of New Jersey and establishing avian biodiversity records. He has also been a surveyor for NBP's Lakehurst Naval Base Breeding Bird Surveys from 2002 through 2006.
Dr. Emile Devito has agreed to assist NBP as an ecological advisor. He is the Manager of Science and Stewardship at New Jersey Conservation Foundation, one of the most important and active preservation advocates in New Jersey. He received a doctorate in Ecology in 1988 for research on bird communities and vegetation landscapes in New Jersey's Pine Barrens. Working together with varied groups and experts on flora and fauna, Dr. DeVito develops management plans for NJCF's 12,500+ acres of fee holdings and easements designed to protect and enhance biological diversity. Emile educates government officials, advocacy groups, land trusts, teachers and students on forest-interior habitat and migratory stopover needs of neotropical songbirds. He is a trustee of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and the NJ Natural Lands Trust. He serves on the Endangered and Non-Game Species Advisory Committee within the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, and the Science Advisory Committees of the NY-NJ Trail Conference and Union County Park System.
Patrick Dubois is a biologist with ten years of
scientific field experience at private and governmental organizations. Pat has
been a Parks Department Supervisor recruiting and coordinating volunteers to
assist the park in children′s education programs.
Scott Elowitz is a business owner and nature
photographer/videographer. His videography work specializes in underwater video
with scenes appearing on the Discovery Channel. His photography specializes in
avifuana with works that have been published in the National Audubon Society′s North American Birds, WildBird magazine, and a shorebird field guide. Scott is a Marine Mammal Stranding Center volunteer assisting with the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of whales, dolphins, seals and turtles. He has been a consultant to Ocean Alliance/Whale Conservation Institute. He is an experienced businessman, receiving the New Jersey Small Business Administration Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Scott has been the official photographer for NBP's Lakehurst Naval Base Breeding Bird Surveys from 2002 through 2006. Most of the photos on this site were taken by Scott. Visit his website www.scottelowitzphotography.com to see more of his work!
Dave LaPuma is currently working towards a PhD in the Ecology and
Evolution program at Rutgers University. His doctoral research focuses
on the effect of fire on the federally endangered Cape Sable seaside
sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis) in Everglades National Park.
More broadly, his interests are endangered species in dynamic habitats
and the forces which dictate their population structure. As a side
project, David runs woodcreeper.com, a website on which he tracks nocturnal passerine
migration over New Jersey using Doppler radar. Between 1998 and 2001,
David spent a cumulative time of six months in Costa Rica working
several jobs including lead biologist on a GIS mapping project for
Tropical Forestry Initiative (near Dominical), field technician for
Tropical Forestry Initiative, field technician to a graduate student
monitoring bird populations in the Osa Peninsula, and canopy tour guide
in the Santa Elena reserve near Monteverde. David looks forward to
finishing his PhD and developing new research projects in the tropics
aimed at population ecology and conservation.
Jim Lisa is an attorney practicing in NY and NJ.
His specialties are corporate, tax and real estate law. The Wall Street Journal,
USA Today and various TV stations have quoted Jim as a specialist in his field.
Dave Magpiong is a teacher in the Voorhees
Township School District in southern New Jersey. In his 12 years of working with
children, he has helped shape a future generation of conservationists by
taking students on bird/nature walks, instituting
annual Earth Day activities at his school, and establishing his school's first World Series of Birding Youth Team. His website Fledging Birders is being used by people around the country to inspire an appreciation of birding in our youth. He has actively helped conservation
efforts in the state by volunteering on New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Endangered and Non-game Species Program′s Shorebird Banding Project, working with their Shorebird Steward Program, and assisting with NBP's Lakehurst Naval Base Breeding Bird Surveys from 2003 through 2006.Contact Dave for info on NBP's Education Programs.
Jeff Marszal is federal officer and experienced Natural Resource Planner and present Masters candidate in GPS mapping and technology. Jeff has performed Forest Inventory Analysis for the US Forest Service, endangered species work for the US Forest Service, endangered species work with the Desert Tortoise Monitoring Project and Department of Defense ecological surveys for NBP.
Mike Meriney is an Environmental Project Manager and Professional Geologist with 15 years of environmental assessment, remediation and project management experience at multi-disciplined consulting firms. He has managed hundreds of varied projects, amounting to over $40,000,000. Possessing various professional certificates from the NJDEP, including licensed Subsurface Evaluator, he is proficient in property assessment and environmental evaluation, wetland soils identification and evaluation, geology, hydrogeology, ASTM Protocols, and NJDEP and USEPA guidelines and regulations. Mike has also performed various Department of Defense ecological surveys for NBP and established various biodiversity records. He has also been a surveyor for NBP's Lakehurst Naval Base Breeding Bird Surveys from 2002 through 2006.
Joe Ortuso has various governmental and private engineering experience. Joe is well versed in engineering software, land surveying, CAD operation and is a civil engineering candidate. He is experienced in various land use, planning and preservation issues.
Donna Ortuso has fifteen years of managerial and business development experience in private industry. She is proficient in various computer software and hardware.
Fred Virrazzi is a zoologist and a chemist. He has fifteen years of environmental management experience, regulatory experience, property management experience, various NJDEP licenses, scientific report writing experience and twenty years of non-profit volunteerism. He is a former executive at a NASDAQ environmental firm and recently serves as a federal officer in the science divisions of the USDA and US Customs. He is a dedicated conservationist and field zoologist writing various popular articles, taking top honors in NJ Audubon Society′s World Series of Birding, contributing to Birds of New Jersey and establishing avian biodiversity records. He has assembled a core staff of conservation-minded citizens and formed NBP. Fred has been successful in raising over $2 million in acquisition funds for NBP through various grant programs. He has also coordinated and supervised the Lakehurst Naval Base Breeding Bird Surveys from 2002 through 2006.