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  • 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.

  • 20 Jan 2014 2:52 PM | Anne Lazo (Administrator)
    by Tali MacArthur, Chair of the Gala Planning Committee

    On July 18th, 2013- a day that almost broke record high temperatures (again!)- the New Jersey chapter of SWEP hosted its 7th annual Growing Great Women in the Garden State Gala. This year’s event took place in the breathtakingly beautiful conservatory room of The Madison Hotel in Morristown, NJ. This may have been our most gorgeous venue to date. The warm sun filtered through the glass ceiling showcasing the deep greens and vibrant colors of the plants and flowers as SWEP members, guests and honorees mingled and enjoyed drinks and refreshments.

    This year’s Gala drew the largest crowd yet, and the excitement and festive attitude of all attendees was evident. The highlight of the event was, as usual, the opportunity to recognize an outstanding member of our environmental community as well as the up-and-coming superstars. Ms. Amy S. Greene, President and Owner of Amy S. Greene Environmental Consultants was nominated and introduced by Ms. Susan Goetz of Acutest Laboratories. Susan highlighted Amy’s knowledge and application of natural resources management theories and practices, her ability to balance the needs of her clients with sound environmental principles, and her passion for developing her employees’ talents for over the past 25 years. Amy also volunteers her time to various professional organizations focused on education and awareness. Additionally, she serves as Trustee of The Nature Conservancy, helping to advance their conservation mission. Without question, Amy sets the highest of standards for quality and excellence in environmental field and demonstrates a personal commitment to leadership and achievement we should all strive emulate.

    This year, NJSWEP was able to award four scholarships to very deserving young ladies. The first place Undergraduate Award was presented to Megan Elizabeth Helsel of Montclair State University; the second place Undergraduate Award was presented to Carla Cordoves of Rutgers University; the first place Graduate Award was presented to Kelly Triece of Montclair State University; and the second place Graduate Award was presented to Kristen M. Tomasicchio of Rutgers University. A fun twist to this year’s presentation was the gigantic checks each of these remarkable women received to celebrate their success and accomplishments and to inspire them into future careers in this diverse and exciting field.

    This year’s Gala was a smashing success and the NJSWEP Steering Committee and the Gala Planning committee would like to thank our sponsors for helping make it all possible. We offer of sincere appreciation to our Platinum sponsors: Alpha Analytical, AWT Environmental Services, Inc., GEI Consultants, HamptonClarke-Veritech Laboratories, SWEP of Greater Philadelphia; our Gold sponsors: Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories Environmental, Geo-Cleanse International, Inc., Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Matrix New World Engineering, Inc., O’Brien & Gere; and our Silver sponsors: Roux Associates, Rutgers EcoComplex “Alternative Energy Innovation Center,” Sheppard & Sheppard, and Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association.

    This event is not a time to recognize only a few select outstanding women; it is most importantly when we come together to celebrate every  SWEP member, guest, committee member, Steering Committee member, and supporter for everything you do to conserve, protect, and enhance New Jersey’s natural resources, environment, and communities and for helping to make this organization fabulous. Kudos to each and everyone one of you!

    An excerpt from Amy’s acceptance speech is provided below:

    I often say I’ve been in the environmental field as long as there has been an environmental field.  I sometimes wonder about what sparked my interest in the environmental field, perhaps my summers at camp, perhaps my time spent in Weequahic Park in Newark as a young girl.  Perhaps the days spend wandering in the woods near my family’s home in West Orange.  A lesson that people should have access to parks and wild places to remind them of their connection to the natural world.

    I find it gratifying to ponder the role of women in the choice and development of my environmental career.My mother and even my grandmother were significant women role models for me.  Both volunteered their time in helping social causes.  My grandmother was active in the Urban League and also tirelessly raised money for a camp in NY State for special needs children and senior citizens.  My Mom was active in the League of Women Voters and several social services groups.  My Mom always did the household finances.  

    When I was growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s the typical professions expected of and available to women included teacher, nurse, and homemaker.  I came of age during the emergence of the feminist movement of the 1960’s and 70’s. Science and math were my favorite subjects.  All my science teachers were male, typical of that time, although I was particularly inspired by the two women amongst my otherwise male math teachers.  

    I volunteered at the recycling program at the West Orange Town dump in high school.  I celebrated the first Earth Day in April 1970.  I was inspired by the idea of protecting environmental resources while addressing human needs such as water supply, waste management, energy, transportation, and places to live and work.

    I wanted to major in environmental science in college but there were no degree programs in the field so I invented my own at BU, studying biology, ecology, geology, and geography.  Again, most of my science and math professors were male, but I was particularly inspired by Lynn Margulis, a prominent professor and researcher in evolutionary theory.

    Just out of college I was fortunate to get a job with the Essex County Park Commission Center for Environmental Studies in Roseland.   My coworker Lexa Johnson was an inspiring environmental professional, I assisted her while she explored all reaches of the Passaic River and wrote a short book about its treasures.  She also helped raise my awareness of the bias against women in everyday life and I followed her example in pointing them out to my colleagues and later to my children.

    I soon applied for a position as environmental scientist with Pandullo Quirk Associates, a consulting firm with an environmental department, a relatively new concept at the time.  My next mentor was Christine Papageorgis, my new boss.  She was one of the first women to be admitted to Princeton University graduate school and receive a PhD in Ecology.  One of my few women professional coworkers at PQA, from whom I learned about planning, was Marilyn Lennon, who is now excelling as head of NJDEP Division of Land Use Regulation.  At PQA I also worked with Ceil Mancini.  It was significant when Ceil and I were charged with doing a week of field work among the snakes in the Florida wetlands.  I followed Christine to Princeton Aquascience which was later acquired by IT.  As I developed a reputation in the field as a wetland ecologist I springboarded from there to starting my own business in 1986.

    All this while raising two children.  I deliberately tried to raise my daughter to be an independent woman.  When she was young I would tell her that Mommy was a scientist, proud that I had a non-traditional career for a woman and also of course pleased to be a scientist.  One day she asked me, Mommy, can men be scientists?  I knew then I had made my point and the world was changing for the better.  By the way, Lara graduated with a degree in Environmental Education and is a Science and Math teacher in North Carolina.

    Over the past 27 years I am so pleased to have nurtured the careers of many women as well as men environmental professionals as employees of Amy S. Greene Environmental Consultants, Inc.  They are of course the ones who make me look good!!  There are many to recognize.  Among them Sue Quackenbush Kerri QuagliaJen LaStella; and Sarah Bray.

    Since I have such a great staff it enables me to volunteer my time to assist other environmental professionals as well as to further environmental protection by participating in organizations including the Environmental Business Council, Society of American Military Engineers, Raritan Headwaters Association, Raritan Township Environmental Commission and Open Space Committee, and The Nature Conservancy.  

    My current women professional role models include Barbara Brummer, a PhD ecologist and business woman retired executive from J&J who has launched a new career as Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy New Jersey Chapter, an organization for which I am privileged to be a Trustee.  And also Valerie Montecalvo, a fellow TNC trustee who heads Bayshore Recycling, a construction waste recycling company, who is an active SWEP member.

    Thank you again for this recognition as a woman environmental professional, grown in the garden state!  I will strive to continue to live up to the standards of this award.

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