The NREF Board of Directors is a volunteer group of diverse individuals who work tirelessly towards achieving our mission. The board works collaboratively to manage all the aspects of the organization which includes finances, science, education and communication.
Our team
Nancy Eriksen
Former President
Nancy, a trailblazing founding member of NREFNJ, Inc., has been integral to the Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education since 1999. With a remarkable history as the past NREF Board of Directors Treasurer and President, she resumed the role of President in 2011. A fundraising dynamo, Nancy’s efforts have garnered over $500,000 in donations, showcasing her unparalleled commitment. Formerly a manager at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, Nancy is a Monmouth University graduate in Business Management and Marketing. Residing in Point Pleasant with her fiancé, Joe Bonacci, she finds joy in birding, hiking, traveling, reading, boating, and dedicated volunteering for NREF, Bay Head Shores Property Owner’s Association, and the United Way of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
Dane Ward, PhD
Current President
Dane is a Teaching Professor at Drexel University, teaching in the Department of Biodiversity, Earth, & Environmental Science. Dane’s work focuses in conservation biology, marine ecology, population ecology, and habitat restoration, Dane conducts impactful research in locations ranging from New Jersey’s Pinelands to Cienfuegos, Cuba. Serving on the board of directors for NREF since December 2019, he has secured habitat restoration funding in collaboration with esteemed organizations like The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Dane’s commitment to both teaching and conservation science exemplifies his dedication to environmental stewardship.
Joe BonaCCi
Treasurer
Joe, a distinguished finance professional, holds a BS in Business Management from The University of Tampa and an MBA in international economics and finance from Pace University. With a robust background in corporate lending, he excels in Wealth Management, co-managing $300 million in assets at Morgan Stanley. Beyond finance, Joe finds solace in the sky as an avid private pilot. His multifaceted expertise, from business acumen to adventurous pursuits, defines Joe as a respected figure in Wealth Management.
Emily Pirl
Former Secretary
Emily joined the NREF Board of Directors in the fall of 2021. Emily had an early career in wetlands monitoring and assessment in which she was involved in several projects at the Lighthouse Center including the living shoreline project, long term wetlands monitoring, and coastal forest studies. She currently works as a Water Quality Specialist for New Jersey American Water where she gets to continue her love for science and innovation. When not at work or the Lighthouse center, Emily enjoys time outside with her family and friends in and around the water or up in the mountains.
Christine Raabe
Ex Board Member
Christine is a founding member of the NREFNJ, Inc. and has been involved with the Lighthouse Center for Natural Resource Education since 1998. She worked on the original Management Plan and assisted in the negotiations for the eventual purchase and preservation of the property for open space and educational purposes. Christine has been employed by the Ocean County Soil Conservation District since 2004 where she currently serves as the District Director. Christine resides in Brick Township along the Metedeconk River and has been married to her husband Tom since 1986. Together they have 2 children, Rosie and Jake as well as a grandchild Jude.
Martha maxwell-Doyle
Board Member
Martha joined the NREF board in 2022 but has been involved in science and resilience at the LHC for almost a decade. She has more than 30 years professional experience in environmental protection, resource management, and climate risk mitigation. More recently, she held leadership roles in two National Estuary Programs — PDE and the Barnegat Bay Partnership and returned to PDE this year. Maxwell-Doyle has more than 25 years of emergency risk management and hazard mitigation experience. This background allows her to integrate applied climate science with local and regional resiliency. She also serves in leadership roles on various regional and statewide groups and councils, including the New Jersey Tidelands Resource Council, Rutgers Climate Alliance, and New Jersey Coastal Resiliency Collaborative. Martha spends her free time enjoying the Mullica River with her dog bear and traveling the world with her friends, exploring all that nature has to offer.
LeeAnn Haaf, PhD
Board Member
LeeAnn Haaf, Ph.D. is one of the newest board members at NREF. She currently works as the Estuary Science Assistant Director at the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. In this role, LeeAnn performs research on coastal wetlands and forests, helps manage a variety of research projects, and leads scientific reports on the status and trends of the health of Coastal Estuaries. Before joining the board, LeeAnn spent a lot of time at the LHC conducting field experiments as a student at Drexel University, even collecting data for her Ph.D. thesis on the response of Mid-Atlantic coastal forests to sea level rise and climate change. LeeAnn’s work hopes to help bridge the gap between rigorous scientific research and its’ implementation to inspire positive environmental change. LeeAnn lives in Salem County NJ and in her free time she enjoys horseback riding (her own horse, Reiner, is retired!) and going on hikes with her dog, Sprocket.
Jack Henderson
Board Member
Jack is a longtime neighbor of the Lighthouse Center property and has served the Pebble Beach Homeowners Association as their Secretary for more than 2 decades. Jack’s involvement in the Ocean Township Environmental Committee and the Fish Hawks Saltwater Anglers Club show his passion for natural resources and thus making him an excellent fit for the NREF Board of Directors. He has served for over 15 years and has been instrumental in connecting NREF and the Lighthouse Center to the local community.
Roger L. Thomas
Board Member
Roger has over forty-five years’ experience in environmental monitoring, project development and management, and outreach and education. He has led or participated in a variety of Barnegat Bay environmental monitoring assessment projects and his tenure of over 20 years at Drexel University brings him and his students to LHC often to explore and learn about the diverse environmental communities on property.
Barbara Gindhart
Board Member
Barbara joined the NREF board of directors after becoming a dedicated volunteer in 2021. She had over 40 years experience managing people and projects in the service industry and her passion for connecting with people is unmatched. After retiring, Barbara’s passion for people connected her with many different organizations in which she volunteered her time. She got involved with NREF through a small group of volunteers who worked weekly at LHC. After joining the board, Barbara has brought on dozens of new volunteers, initiated large donations to NREF and has overseen all of the facility improvement projects. When Barbara is not working on infrastructure repairs, she spends a great deal of time at the LHC leading tours, organizing volunteer groups and mentoring students.
Gloria Caswell
Board Member
Gloria, a dedicated Waretown resident for 40 years and owner of Bob’s Bay Marina, began volunteering at LHC in 2021, contributing significantly to infrastructure improvements. Introduced to the LHC by board member Jack Henderson, Gloria became an avid volunteer, dedicating time almost weekly since the summer of 2022. Her favorite project involved planting and gardening in the Elizabeth Morgan Memorial Garden, combining her love for gardening with a passion for a good cause. Gloria values the property’s rich history as the former Lighthouse International Camp for the Blind, and she finds solace in the peaceful surroundings. Encouraging others to volunteer, Gloria highlights the unexpected impact of sharing one’s talents, emphasizing the collective effort to enhance LHC’s natural beauty.
This could be you!
Board Member
NREF, a dynamic environmental education non-profit, is on the lookout for passionate individuals to join our board. If you’re dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment and have skills in leadership, outreach, or fundraising, we want you! Together, let’s inspire change, foster sustainability, and shape a greener future. Be a part of NREF’s mission – apply today and be the driving force behind environmental education! 🌿
#JoinNREFNJ #EnvironmentalLeaders #MakeADifference
Express your interest by emailing a letter of interest to info@nrefnj.org