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  • 16 Sep 2014 11:11 AM | Kelly McCormick


    Each year, there is something truly memorable about the NJ SWEP Gala. Whether it’s scorching temperatures and warm wine, a venue that takes one’s breath away, or a speech by the VIP that truly makes a lasting impact on all who hear it, the Gala is often the most talked about event of the year. This year, attendees at the 8th Annual New Jersey Society of Women Environmental Professionals Gala were treated to a fantastic water front view and a glimpse of New Jersey’s Official Tall Ship, the A.J. Meerwald, which was anchored several hundred meters from the party.


    NJSWEP members and friends honored a very deserving and passionate environmental professional and visionary: Meghan E. Wren.  Meghan dreamed of making a real difference in the Delaware Bayshore area of NJ. But she didn’t stop at dreaming and she didn’t let setbacks throw her ”off course” (pun most certainly intended). She persevered until the Bayshore Discovery Center in Bivalve, NJ and the restored Meerwald were both thriving realities. It is for this commitment to history, education, stewardship, community, and the natural environment of the Delaware Bay that NJSWEP honored her at this year’s Gala. It was our great pleasure to meet Meghan, to hear her stories and to present her with the Growing Great Women in the Garden State award. This year, the blue and orange colors of the lovely glass globe created once again by GlassRoots reflected the Gala’s theme- Sunset on the Water.


    Planning for this year’s Gala took an interesting twist. In addition to finding a venue that could accommodate our attendees and fulfill our usual needs and desires, we wanted to find a place to showcase the Meerwald, the ship so lovingly restored to glory by our Growing Great Women in the Garden State awardee. Seabra’s Armory in Perth Amboy fit the bill beautifully, with a lovely view of the harbor, sunset and ship. We were so glad to be able to be on the waterfront, with the ship nearby, as we honored Meghan and all that she has accomplished.


    This year’s Gala continued the tradition of not only honoring an amazing woman who has already accomplished so much but also recognizing young women with the potential to do so as well. Two impressive students were awarded NJSWEP Scholarships. Danielle Nichols of William Patterson University was presented with the Undergraduate Scholarship and Natalie Sherwood of Montclair State University received the Graduate Scholarship. NJSWEP congratulates these women and wishes them all the best as they ”set sail” into the future of their environmental careers.


    Check out some great photos from the 2014 Gala here.


    NJSWEP was honored to have a very special guest attend the Gala this year. Perth Amboy’s first woman mayor and the only elected Latina mayor in NJ, Wilda Diaz, joined us and spent a few moments addressing guests. She thanked us for choosing her beloved hometown for our Gala, spoke a bit of her passion for the city and the waterfront, and shared with us her dedication to preserving and restoring the city’s historical resources- a perfect fit considering our awardee’s similar commitments. We were so pleased that Mayor Diaz accepted our invitation to attend and celebrate with us.


    So many people helped make this year’s Gala a success. The ”crew” included Tali MacArthur, Jeanne Mroczko, Elizabeth Limbrick, Jillian Mooney, Sharon McSweiney, Jeena Sheppard,  Linda Watson and Beth Hyde.


    Support from our very generous sponsors kept this year’s Gala ”afloat.” We sincerely thank:

    PLATINUM SPONSORS

    GEI Consultants, Inc.

    HamptonClarke-Veritech Laboratories

    Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP

    SWEP of Greater Philadelphia

    GOLD SPONSORS

    Alpha Analytical

    Brinkerhoff Environmental Services, Inc.

    Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories Environmental

    Geo-Cleanse International, Inc.

    Langan Engineering & Environmental Services

    LSRPA

    SILVER SPONSORS

    O’Brien & Gere

    Quest Environmental & Engineering

    Roux Associates

    Wetlands and Environmental Technology, Inc.


  • 16 Sep 2014 8:00 AM | Kelly McCormick

    The Graduate Student Scholarship was awarded to Natalie Sherwood.  Natalie has a Bachelors degree in Zoology from Rutgers University, and a Masters degree in Ecology and Evolution from Montclair State University.  Natalie is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Environmental Management at Montclair State University. Natalie's dissertation aims to 

    identify the  effects of mercury contamination in aquatic food webs, with a specific focus on bioaccumulation and biomagnification in snapping turtles.  One of the objectives of Natalie’s research is to be able to provide the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection with recommendations on turtle consumption advisories, harvesting practices, and regulations to conserve a healthy and sustainable turtle population for future generations.







    The Undergraduate Student Scholarship was awarded to Danielle Nichols.  Danielle is a senior at William Paterson University, majoring in Environmental Science.  Danielle has previously worked as an intern for the Office of Water at the USEPA in Washington, DC.  Danielle is currently an intern at the Wind Cave National Park in Hot Springs, South Dakota, where she will be developing cave tours, trail guides, and other interpretive materials for the park’s summer visitors.  Danielle is interested in pursuing a career with the National Park Service.






  • 29 Jul 2014 10:26 AM | Deleted user

    On Wednesday, July 23, NJSWEP hosted its first MetroNet event in almost two years at Egan & Sons in Montclair, NJ. Old friends and new faces enjoyed appetizers and beverages, while lounging on the restaurant’s outdoor patio. With 36 enthusiastic individuals in attendance, it was a great kick-off to MetroNet. NJSWEP polled guests on ideas for future MetroNet events, and raffled a beach-themed basket donated by Geo-Cleanse International.


    MetroNet caters to NJSWEP members and supporters alike in the North Jersey/New York Metro Area by providing networking, social, and educational opportunities in the Northeast portion of New Jersey and in New York City. If you have an idea for a future MetroNet event, or if your company is interested in sponsoring a future event, please contact Cristin Mustillo at cmustillo@scclegal.com or Ilkay Cam-Spanos at icam@langan.com












  • 29 Jul 2014 9:30 AM | Elizabeth Limbrick

         


    The Department of Environmental Protection's AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program is seeking recruits for its 2015 class.  


    “This is an excellent program that develops environmental stewardship in our young people, who are the leaders of tomorrow,’’ said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. “They will be entrusted with the task of protecting New Jersey’s environment, its air and water, natural and historic resources, long after we have departed. It is great to know such talented young people will be in charge of New Jersey’s future.’’ 


    Please see attached document for more information and this link to apply. More information on the program is available on the NJDEP website.  Please forward this email to anyone you feel is motivated to serve his or her community by engaging citizens in environmental education and stewardship.


        

  • 03 Jun 2014 8:00 AM | Kelly McCormick

    On the beautiful spring evening of May 13, 2014, NJSWEP representatives joined host, The New York City Brownfield Partnership,  and sponsor, The Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast, for an unusual guided tour of the High Line.  The High Line is an elevated freight rail line that was transformed into an innovative public park on the West Side of Manhattan (we accessed it from 30th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues), a new, must-see destination in NYC.  Most High Line tours focus on the adjacent architecture of the new developments or the landscape architectural and public art features of the park.   Not this walking tour!  Ours focused on 6 ongoing or completed development sites along the park that are being remediated for reuse. Speakers included Dan Walsh, the Director of the NYC Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) whose office was involved with every project along the route; Gary Rozmus of GEI Consultants, who spoke about CSX's decision process to allow the defunct rail line to be used for recreational purposes; and consultants from Langan and AKRF as well as Posillico, the contractor for one of the sites currently being remediated.  Hudson Yards, a large mixed used redevelopment and the Whitney Museum's new location at 820 Washington St. were featured on the tour. The tour group of about 65 completed the tour at a beer garden under the High Line, near the Standard Hotel. 

    Elizabeth Limbrick (NJIT)  and Jillian Mooney (Riker Danzig), SWEP co-chairs attended; as did Stephanie Turkot (Geo-Cleanse), SWEP Program Chair; Cristin Mustillo (Sedita Campisano), Sue Boyle (GEI), and Jeanne Litwin (CDM).  This is an event that bears repeating, perhaps annually and will be a GREAT way to ramp up our Metro Net efforts.  Several women from Langan's NYC office asked about SWEP and Metro Net specifically; this  collaborative tour may have long-lasting positive impacts on SWEP



  • 03 Jun 2014 7:30 AM | Kelly McCormick
    Stephanie Turkot of Geo-Cleanse International Inc.  and NJSWEP's Programs Chair spoke on the Remediation Planning and Management panel on April 7, 2014 at MGP 2014, the Fifth International Symposium and Exhibition on the Redevelopment of Manufactured Gas Plant Sites held in Destin, FL.  Tracy Straka of Creamer and Sue Boyle of GEI Consultants attended as did new NJSWEP member, Ashley Thompson of Isotec.  Stephanie's presentation was entitled "Utilizing In-Situ Chemical Oxidation at MGP Sites: Lessons Learned Leads to Success."
  • 26 Mar 2014 4:26 PM | Kelly McCormick

    The New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Women Environmental Professionals ("NJSWEP") is pleased to announce the continuation of the Scholarship Program in 2014. The purpose of the Scholarship Program is to encourage women to pursue careers in an environmental field; to mentor undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring in environmental and related subjects and to provide students with opportunities to connect with SWEP members for future internships/careers in the environmental industry.

     

    In 2014, we hope to grant scholarship money to two women, one undergraduate student and one graduate student, who are pursuing studies related to the environment with an intended commitment to pursue a career in an environmental field. NJSWEP will determine the amount of the scholarships based on fundraising activities; our goal is to award two $2,000.00 scholarships. The scholarships will be given directly to the students in one lump sum. Also included with the award is a free one-year membership to NJSWEP.

     

    Both scholarship recipients must be female and a United States citizen or hold permanent resident status. The undergraduate student must be entering her junior or senior year in the Fall of 2014 or have completed 60 credit hours as of August 2014. The graduate student must either start or continue graduate or law study in the Fall of 2014. A minimum GPA of 3.0 (scale of 4.0) or its equivalent and a declared major in a field related to the environment is also required.

     

    Applications must be received by April 15, 2014.  The NJSWEP Scholarship Committee plans to announce the scholarship awards in May 2014, and present the awards at the Gala to be held in June/July 2014. Immediate family members of SWEP Board of Directors and/or SWEP Scholarship Selection Committee are not eligible to apply. 

     

    Application is provided in the link below. For questions or additional information contact NJSWEP by email at info@njswep.org  (please include "NJSWEP Scholarship" in the subject line of email) or you may contact Kavitha Subramaniam (Scholarship Chair) at ksubramaniam@langan.com.

     

     

    2014_NJSWEP_Scholarship_Application.pdf

  • 13 Mar 2014 8:53 AM | Kelly McCormick

    On February 26th,  2014 twenty members of the New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Women Environmental Professionals braved this never ending winter and made it out to the new members breakfast and annual meeting.  The meeting was a great success, with new faces and those more well-known on the circuit, both, making appearances.  NJSWEP was well represented as a new and exciting year began with the election of three new chairs. 

    The new chairs were elected by the members of SWEP as follows:

    • Kavitha Subramaniam – New Scholarship Chair
    • Stephanie Turkot – New Programs Chair
    • Jillian Mooney – New Co-Chair

    It was also a bittersweet time as we said farewell to one of our long-standing and iconic co-chairs, Jeanne Mroczko. After 5 years of service as the NJSWEP co-chair Jeanne will now be spending her time Master Gardening and helping out with NJSWEP’s many programs.  NJSWEP is grateful of everything Jeanne has done over the last 5 years including helping facilitate the new website.  Jeanne was also praised for her welcoming nature, kindness, and friendship.

     

    There are many upcoming events that NJSWEP and Philadelphia SWEP will be organizing, for more information and details on upcoming events please visit the NJSWEP website, http://www.njswep.org/, and the Philadelphia SWEP website, http://swepweb.com/.

     

    Thank you for everyone who attended.

  • 10 Mar 2014 11:49 AM | Kelly McCormick

    NJSWEP is very pleased to announce our new Board and Steering Committee members:

     

    Jillian Mooney, of Riker Danzig, has been elected to a three-year term as Co-Chair of NJSWEP.  She is well known to many of you in the organization, as she has diligently and passionately served as chair of the scholarship committee for the past two years.  Together, Elizabeth Limbrick and Jillian Mooney look forward to leading NJSWEP into the future. 

     

    Kavitha Subramaniam, of Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, has been appointed as the Chair of the NJSWEP Scholarship Committee.  Kavitha has been a member of NJSWEP for many years and looks forward to continuing our tradition of growing great women in the Garden State through the scholarship program.

    Stephanie Turkot, of Geo-Cleanse International, Inc, has been appointed Chair of the NJSWEP Programs Committee.  Stephanie is active member of both NJSWEP and Philly SWEP and looks forward to coordinating interesting and dynamic programs in her new leadership role.

    We would like to express our deep gratitude to Jeanne Mroczko, who has led this organization as Co-Chair with her characteristic dedication and limitless energy for the past four years.  Jeanne Mroczko will continue to serve as Co-Chair emeriti and plans to stay very active in the organization.

     

    Welcome aboard Jillian, Kavitha, and Stephanie! 

  • 20 Jan 2014 2:53 PM | Anne Lazo (Administrator)
    On April 30, 2013, the New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Women Environmental Professionals toured EnviroSolutions (ESI's) Doremus Avenue Recycling Transfer (DART) Transload Facility in Newark. 

    Glen Wilkinson of ESI led an in-depth discussion and tour of the facility for approximately one dozen NJSWEP members.  Glen talked about the materials that the facility handles, which include:  municipal solid waste, construction & demolition debris, contaminated soils, filter cake/treatment sludges, drums, dredge spoils, and the list goes on.  On the tour, Glen showed us how the materials that enter the facility are baled and then transferred to railcars for recycling / disposal.  During our tour we also saw how the DART facility uses an air canon, which produces a very loud explosion to scare away birds.  Although the birds didn’t seem to flinch when the cannon fired, the explosions did manage to startle the NJSWEP members, who ducked for cover.  We all got a good laugh from it.  Everyone who attended enjoyed the site tours and was impressed with the scope and scale of the operation.   

    ESI hosted a lovely reception after the site tour, with the catering from Hobby’s delicatessen (a true Newark institution) and an exquisite selection of wines and soft drinks.  The event was a huge hit with everyone that attended.  NJSWEP thanks ESI for hosting the event.

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