Contact Us

Below are listed the names, roles, and contact information for board members, key contributors, and chapter leaders for the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. Write the president – email: to find out more about volunteering for an open position.

Executive Committee

President: Randi Eckel

Vice President: Membership
Kazys Varnelis

Vice President: Chapter Liaison
Elaine Silverstein 

Secretary: Rusty Bell

Treasurer: Bob Swain

Corresponding Secretary: Bobbie Herbs

Board of Advisors

Webmasters: Kazys Varnelis & Michael Jacob

Horticulture: Hubert Ling & Jay Kratz

Entomology: Randi Eckel  

Agriculture and Natural Resources:

Legislative Committee

Laura Bush, Russell Furnari, Kazys Varnelis, and Melissa Thier

Chapter Leaders

Bergen Passaic Chapter 
Leaders: Tom Bender, Joanne Leslie, Elaine Silverstein, and Melissa Thier    

Delaware Bayshores Chapter
Leader: Joe Alvarez 

Essex County Chapter 
Leader: Deb Ellis   

Highland Park Chapter 
Leaders: Mary Denver, Belinda Beetham, and Herve Barrier  

Hudson Chapter 
Leaders: Kim Correro, Lorraine Freeney, Lauren Morse, and Dawn Giambalvo

Hunterdon Chapter 
Leaders: Susan Haake, Dawn Pogosaew   

Jersey Shore Chapter 
Leaders: Karen Walzer, Becky Laboy, Kelly Balon, and Pamela Almeida 


Mercer County Chapter

Monmouth Chapter 
Leaders: Kim Rowe

Somerset County Chapter
Leaders: Valerie Szkodny and Nancy Toro

Southeast Chapter
Leaders: Jesse Connor, Jack Connor, Barbara Fiedler, and Steve Fiedler  

Southwest Chapter (formerly Rancocas Nature Center Chapter) 
Leader: Tara Sullivan

Sussex Chapter 
Leader: Cynthia Rauth and April Fisher