NJSWEP's Steering Committee

The success of NJSWEP can be attributed to the members who have volunteered their time in various leadership positions. Our current Steering Committee members are recognized below. If you can contribute your time, thoughtfulness, and leadership for approximately 3-4 hours per month and are interested in joining the Steering Committee, please contact us.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Melanie Powers-Schanbacher, Chapter Co-Chair

Specialty Technical Consultants, Inc. - President

P. (908) 707-4001 / info@njswep.org

Melanie Powers-Schanbacher, is a CPEA and President of Specialty Technical Consultants, Inc., a WBENC-certified woman-owned environmental, health and safety consulting firm. Melanie has supported clients in a variety of industrial sectors to develop and implement various elements of their EHS compliance management programs such as EHS training, regulatory and legal requirements analysis and update monitoring processes, permit compliance and regulatory reporting procedures and work instructions, and internal compliance assessment and corrective action program. As STC’s President and Chief Financial Officer, Melanie oversees the day-to-day operations of STC’s consulting and regulatory information services and is responsible for establishing and monitoring company financial performance metrics as well as the company’s service line marketing and business development initiatives. She is a Certified Professional Environmental Auditor (CPEA) in Environmental Compliance and in Environmental, Health and Safety Management Systems, and an RAB-trained ISO EMS Lead Auditor. Melanie lives in Bridgewater where she and her husband are active members of the Dawn Patrol Motorcycle Club.

Lyssa C. Naron, Chapter Co-Chair

SLR International Corporation - Senior Scientist

P. (609) 228-9682 / info@njswep.org

Lyssa C. Naron is a Senior Scientist and LSRP specializing in environmental consulting, remediation strategy, and regulatory compliance. She serves in a leadership position within SLR Consulting’s Land Quality & Remediation practice in New Jersey, where she plays a key role in driving growth and expanding service capabilities across the Mid-Atlantic region. She works at the intersection of science, regulation, and real-world project delivery, helping clients move sites from uncertainty to closure. With more than a decade of experience, Lyssa has managed complex environmental projects for a diverse client base, including industrial organizations, investors, law firms, and commercial real estate stakeholders.

Her expertise spans the full lifecycle of contaminated site management; from early-stage environmental assessments through remediation design, implementation, and regulatory closure, from gas station closures to emerging contaminants including 1,4-Dioxane and PFAS. She is recognized for her ability to balance technical rigor with client-focused solutions, helping organizations navigate complex regulatory landscapes and achieve efficient, successful remediation outcomes. Lyssa has a BS in Environmental Science from the University of Mary Washington and a MS in Agriculture with a specialization in Soil Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. In addition to NJSWEP, Lyssa is an active member of the LSRPA, where she supports mentorship, collaboration, and professional development. Lyssa lives in a 200-year-old farmhouse along the Appalachian Trail in Sussex County with her husband, two children, two dogs, chickens, and bees.

Alexa Richman-LaLonde, Membership Committee Co-Chair & SRAG Liaison

Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland Peretti, LLP - Partner

P. (973) 451-8495 / membership@njswep.org

Alexa Richman-La Londe is a partner in Riker Danzig’s Environmental Group. Ms. Richman-La Londe has developed extensive experience in complex regulatory and transactional matters as well as environmental litigation. She handles various types of litigation, including CERCLA and Spill Act matters. She also counsels clients on significant regulatory issues, including ISRA, site remediation, environmental permitting and compliance.

Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers has included Ms. Richman-La Londe in its Client’s Guide since 2013 for Environmental Law. The Guide notes that she is “experienced in negotiating legacy liability in regard to Superfund sites, assisting clients in site remediation and advising on regulatory compliance.” She is also called a “great” lawyer noted for her litigation strengths, with particular praise for her responsiveness and ability to deal with difficult complications that arise during complex cases. Previous editions describe her as “very diligent, conscientious and knowledgeable,” as well as “very capable and polished.” Best Lawyers in America®, a peer review of U.S. lawyers, has included Ms. Richman-La Londe on its Best Lawyers list in the field of Environmental Law for 2018, 2020 and 2021. In addition to her law degree, Ms. Richman-La Londe earned a master’s degree in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School. While pursuing her J.D., she served as Note Editor of the Vermont Law Review. Ms. Richman-La Londe has lectured and published articles on an array of environmental issues and on insurance coverage matters.

Lily Connell, Membership Committee Co-Chair

Ramboll US Corporation - Managing Consultant
P. (609) 243-9853 / membership@njswep.org

Lily Connell is a Managing Consultant at Ramboll Americas Engineering Solutions, Inc. where she leads and collaborates on the design and implementation of investigation and remediation programs at commercial and industrial sites across North America. In her current position, Lily manages field operations for site assessment, investigation, and remediation, and prepares comprehensive reporting documentation. Lily received her Bachelor of Arts degree in environmental science from Franklin and Marshall College and her Master of Science degree in applied geosciences from the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Bernardsville, New Jersey with her husband and three young children. On the weekends you can find her on the trails at Natirar or the Great Swamp, gardening, reading a good book, or checking out a new local restaurant.

Katelynn Shields, Co-Treasurer

Integral Consulting, Inc. - Consultant

P. (856) 399-7720 / info@njswep.org

Katelynn Shields is an environmental scientist and LSRP at Integral Consulting with over ten years of experience in site remediation. Since working at Integral, she has spent a majority of her time specializing in investigation of emerging contaminants, including PFAS, on both state- and federal-lead projects. Her primary focus while working at Integral is conducting remedial investigations and actions as well as litigation support for industrial sites with cross-media contamination including soil, groundwater, surface water, sediment, and drinking water. Katelynn received her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science with a concentration in Earth Science from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. In addition to NJSWEP, Katelynn is also a member of LSRPA. She spends her free time with her husband and son, working towards her goal of visiting all of the National Parks.

Katrina McCormick, Co-Secretary 

Integral Consulting, Inc. - Scientist

P. (856) 399-7727 / info@njswep.org

Katrina McCormick is a Scientist at Integral with five years of experience in environmental site investigations. Her responsibilities have included fieldwork coordination and planning, technical reporting, and environmental monitoring. Katrina received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies from Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA. She spends her free time gardening, traveling, and visiting family.

Noelle Farook, Co-Secretary

Matrix New World Engineering - Project Manager

P. (732) 588-2999 / sponsorship@njswep.org

Noelle Farook is an Environmental Project Manager at Matrix New World Engineering (Matrix) with a focus on site remediation, brownfield redevelopment, regulatory reporting, and site management in New Jersey. Before joining Matrix, she spent over seven years between Environmental Resources Management (ERM) and PARS environmental (a Montrose Environmental Group Company), where she worked on a multitude of remediation projects in New Jersey and New York. Noelle received her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to SWEP, she is also a member of the LSRPA Aspiring Professionals Committee. When she’s not working, she enjoys traveling, trail running, cooking, and camping with her two dogs.

STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS

KariAnne Czajkowski, Gala Committee Co-Chair  

Roux Associates, Inc. - Principal Scientist  

P. (856) 832-3804 / gala@njswep.org  

KariAnne (Kari) Czajkowski has over 20 years of environmental project expertise, leading and managing complex ecological and sediment environmental investigations and remediation designs teams and projects. Kari's work spans various state and   national environmental regulatory programs, including California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, USEPA Regions 2, 3 and 9, and the Governments of Bermuda and Canada. She has extensive experience with design, implementation, review and preparation of screening level and ecological risk assessments and sediment remedial investigations as well as expertise in development, design and negotiation of ecological risk-based remediation cleanup strategies under state and federal programs. Kari is an active participant on the NJDEP Ecological Risk Assessment Stakeholder Workgroup and co-author and trainer of the NJDEP Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance and an active member of the Sediment Management Workgroup. In her spare time, Kari enjoys high-intensity functional fitness training and exploring the great outdoors.

Nadira Najib, Gala Committee Co-Chair

Honeywell Corporation - Remediation Manager

P. (973) 216-5209 / gala@njswep.org

Nadira Najib is a remediation manager within Honeywell.  She specializes in the environmental remediation, brownfield redevelopment, due diligence, and environmental compliance fields. She is a remediation manager at Honeywell where she manages high profile environmental remediation program in the EMEA and Latin America regions. Nadira Najib holds a B.S in Chemical Engineering from her home country Morocco and she has a M.E and a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. In her “free” time, Nadira enjoys reading, doing cross fit, and spending time with her family cooking, gardening, hiking, and traveling to explore new places.

Anita Locke, Golf Event Co-Chair and Sponsorship Co-Chair 

Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. – Senior Scientist

P. (609) 362-9240 / info@njswep.org

Anita Locke is a Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) and Senior Scientist at Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. in Pennington, NJ. Anita has over 20 years of experience in environmental consulting including managing a wide range of environmental investigations, assessments and remediation in New Jersey. She has performed, managed and directed varied projects for private, commercial and governmental clients including those in the industrial manufacturing, warehousing, chemical and petroleum sectors. She has assisted clients and interacted with regulatory agencies throughout all stages of investigation and remediation. She has conducted environmental due diligence for property transactions for buyers and sellers of commercial and industrial facilities. She serves as LSRP for commercial and industrial manufacturing facilities, with a particular focus on NJ Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA) sites.

In addition to NJ SWEP, Anita also serves as Chair of the LSRPA Finance Committee. Anita received her Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from the University of Delaware and lives in Bordentown City with her husband and son.  In her spare time, Anita enjoys traveling, live music and learning to play golf. 

Stephanie Turkot, Golf Event Co-Chair 

Provectus Environmental Products, Inc. - Technical Sales

P. (973) 600-6572 / info@njswep.org

Stephanie Turkot is an environmental scientist with over 15 years of experience with site investigation and remediation. Early in her career, she completed an internship at the NJDEP and worked for an international remediation company designing and implementing field scale treatment technologies. For eight years, she was a project manager at a multidisciplinary consulting firm, where she focused on due diligence, site and remedial investigations, and regulatory compliance. In January 2026, Ms. Turkot assumed the role of Technical Sales with Provectus. Her knowledge of and first-hand experience with remediation products, as well as her extensive environmental consulting experience, deliver guidance and technical solutions in an ever-evolving landscape.

Ms. Turkot is an active member of numerous civic and professional organizations, holding leadership positions in several, including: Urban Land Institute (ULI) Northern New Jersey, ULI’s Women’s Leadership Initiative, and her town’s environmental commission and planning board.

Emily Kwedor, Scholarship Co-Chair

Terraphase Engineering, Inc. - Senior Project Geologist

P. (609) 236-8171 / scholarship@njswep.org

Emily is a Senior Project Geologist at Terraphase Engineering Inc. (Terraphase) with a particular focus in site characterization and due diligence in New Jersey. Before joining Terraphase three years ago, Emily spent three years at the Thrasher Group in West Virginia performing Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) and subsurface investigations of soil and groundwater. Emily received her B.S. in Earth and Environmental Science from Lehigh University where she played softball, and her M.S. in Geology from West Virginia University. Emily and her husband have settled in the Princeton area and enjoy spending time outside with friends, family, and her newborn son.

Noelle Farook, Sponsorship Co-Chair

Matrix New World Engineering - Project Manager

P. (732) 588-2999 / sponsorship@njswep.org

Noelle Farook is an Environmental Project Manager at Matrix New World Engineering (Matrix) with a focus on site remediation, brownfield redevelopment, regulatory reporting, and site management in New Jersey. Before joining Matrix, she spent over seven years between Environmental Resources Management (ERM) and PARS environmental (a Montrose Environmental Group Company), where she worked on a multitude of remediation projects in New Jersey and New York. Noelle received her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to SWEP, she is also a member of the LSRPA Aspiring Professionals Committee. When she’s not working, she enjoys traveling, trail running, cooking, and camping with her two dogs.

Kali Primiani, News & Social Media Chair

Haley & Aldrich - Assistant Project Manager

P. (856) 399-7720 / news@njswep.org

Kali Primiani is an Environmental Scientist at Haley & Aldrich with a focus on site remediation, regulatory reporting, and site management in New Jersey. Before joining Haley & Aldrich, she spent over seven years between matrix, PARS environmental (a Montrose Environmental Group Company), Whitman and Infineum. At Matrix, Pars and Whitman she worked on a multitude of remediation projects in New Jersey, and at Infineum she worked as a chemical lab technician. Kali received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with a minor in Ecology Evolution and Natural Resources from the University of Rutgers. When she’s not working, she enjoys cooking, gardening, live music, traveling and hiking with her two dogs.

LIASIONS

Amanda Patterson-Dwyer, LSRPA Liaison

The ELM Group, a division of Haley & Aldrich - Senior Project Manager

P. (609) 359-3475 / info@njswep.org

Amanda Patterson-Dwyer is a Senior Project Manager with The ELM Group, a division of Haley & Aldrich, with over 18 years of environmental consulting experience, specializing in contaminated site management.  Prior to ELM, she was with Groundwater & Environmental Services for over a decade.  She has managed diverse site assessment, investigation, and remediation projects in New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.  She has extensive experience managing complex projects for clients in the petroleum, chemical, and real estate industries, and has filled roles in project management, account management, and regional program management.  Amanda received a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.  She and her husband live in Medford, NJ and enjoy cooking, traveling, live music, and getting out in the woods with their dog.

Sonya Ward, SRAG Liaison

Tetra Tech, Inc. - Operations Manager & Principal Hydrogeologist

P. (908) 691-9284 / info@njswep.org

Sonya Ward, PG, LSRP, CHMM, LRS, CGWP is the Operations Manager & Principal Hydrogeologist at Tetra Tech, Inc. in Whitehouse Station. She received a Bachelor of Science in Geology with a chemistry minor from University of Louisiana (Monroe) and a Master of Science in Environmental Science (hydrogeology) from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Sonya has over 30 years’ experience assisting clients in environmental compliance, due diligence, site investigation and remediation, and risk-based closure. Her project experience includes work for utilities, the manufacturing, chemical, and petroleum sectors, and local and state agencies throughout the US, Canada, South America, and Europe. In addition to NJSWEP, Sonya is also Chair of the National Chapter of SWEP and a member of SWEP of Greater Philadelphia, CIANJ, LSRPA, AEG NY-Philadelphia, and AHMP-NJ. Sonya spends time away from work traveling, indulging her love of photography, volunteering for Bucks County Habitat for Humanity and coaching future homeowners, and enjoying time with family and friends.