Fun Fact:  Linda loves to travel and counts among her best wildlife experiences a safari in South Africa where she says, “We got close enough to hear the breath of the lions!”

Click below to watch a video from the Princeton YWCA Tribute to learn about Linda Mead’s passion for the work of D&R Greenway Land Trust.

Deb Kilmer
Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
Manager of Business Partners in Preservation and Special Events

Fun Fact:  Ask Deb about her interests in eagles, antiques and dancing!

Deb Kilmer came to D&R Greenway Land Trust in 2011 because she is committed to D&R Greenway’s mission of preserving and protecting natural lands, farm lands, and open space.

Deb’s responsibility for D&R Greenway’s Business Partners in Preservation grew from her former work of 18 years with the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce where her ultimate role was Director of Communications. Deb began her professional career as a Tax Examiner for the Internal Revenue Service. She has subsequently held positions at JDK Restorations; Jones New York; AA Matulay, Inc. and Ethix-Mid Atlantic.  She is an accomplished business writer, publicist and editor, as well as skilled in greenhouse management. She studied Business and Photography at Bucks County Community College and later enhanced her skills at the Cittone Institute of Business and Technology.

In her spare time, Deb is the Sole Proprietor of an Antique business with the motto of Recycle, Restore, Relove.  Deb maintains a close relationship with the outdoors and nature and enjoys dancing, swimming, gardening, birdwatching, walking and traveling. She is a volunteer for the NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Wildlife Conservation Corps, providing updates on the eagles’ nest situated on the transmission tower on the D&R Canal in Lambertville and is a member of the Colonial Sportsmen’s Club in the Sourland Mountains and the Lambertville-based Kalmia Club.  On any Saturday morning, you can find Deb with her camera and binoculars watching the wildlife on the canal or perusing local yard sales and antique markets in search of that very special find.

Fun Fact:  Ask Deb about her interests in eagles, antiques and dancing!

Deb Kilmer came to D&R Greenway Land Trust in 2011 because she is committed to D&R Greenway’s mission of preserving and protecting natural lands, farm lands, and open space.

Deb’s responsibility for D&R Greenway’s Business Partners in Preservation grew from her former work of 18 years with the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce where her ultimate role was Director of Communications. Deb began her professional career as a Tax Examiner for the Internal Revenue Service. She has subsequently held positions at JDK Restorations; Jones New York; AA Matulay, Inc. and Ethix-Mid Atlantic.  She is an accomplished business writer, publicist and editor, as well as skilled in greenhouse management. She studied Business and Photography at Bucks County Community College and later enhanced her skills at the Cittone Institute of Business and Technology.

In her spare time, Deb is the Sole Proprietor of an Antique business with the motto of Recycle, Restore, Relove.  Deb maintains a close relationship with the outdoors and nature and enjoys dancing, swimming, gardening, birdwatching, walking and traveling. She is a volunteer for the NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Wildlife Conservation Corps, providing updates on the eagles’ nest situated on the transmission tower on the D&R Canal in Lambertville and is a member of the Colonial Sportsmen’s Club in the Sourland Mountains and the Lambertville-based Kalmia Club.  On any Saturday morning, you can find Deb with her camera and binoculars watching the wildlife on the canal or perusing local yard sales and antique markets in search of that very special find.

Ann Zawartkay, CPA, CGMA, Non-Profit Accounting Solutions
President, formed NPAS in 2014. With almost 20 years experience working with non-profit organizations, Ann recognizes the necessity for accounting and compliance services tailored specifically to the non-profit community.  Ann is a CPA licensed in the State of New Jersey, a Chartered Global Management Accountant, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.  Non-Profit Accounting Solutions understands the rapidly changing non-profit landscape, including financial reporting, IRS regulations, and compliance. Ann has the experience and knowledge to deliver high-quality accounting and consulting services to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of non-profit financial management.

Prior to joining, Ann joined State Theatre New Jersey in April 2015 as Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Prior to her tenure at the Theatre, Ann spent ten years at Mercadien, P.C. Certified Public Accountants, providing auditing and accounting advisory services to nonprofit and government entities. As a member of the firm’s Nonprofit and Government Services Group, her responsibilities included managing, training, and supervising staff in the planning and performance of audit engagements and resolving audit issues with management and board members of clients. Ann also served as the Chief of Authorities and Auditing with the Division of Local Government Services, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, where she monitored compliance of local authorities with prevailing statutes and oversaw the examination of local authority budgets and audits.

Ann holds a B.S. in Accounting and a B.A. in Classical Civilization from Lehigh University, where she was a high honors graduate and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She is a certified public accountant licensed in the State of New Jersey, A Chartered Global Management Accountant, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.  Ann is a frequent speaker on both nonprofit and government topics and serves as a faculty member for the BoardConnect program of VolunteerConnect.

Fun Fact: Rick has hiked the entire Appalachian Trail…… in New Jersey! All 72.2 miles from the Delaware Water Gap to Greenwood Lake.  Although New Jersey doesn’t have the highest peaks along the Appalachian Trail, it has some amazing scenery.

Rick Lear joins D&R Greenway after 17 years with the Middlesex County Office of Parks and Recreation where he served as Director of Parks and Chair of the Open Space Advisory Board since 2015. He created the Middlesex County Conservation Corps in 2006 to help steward over 8,000 acres of open space and 35-miles of trails in the County. Rick started his environmental career with the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association (now the Watershed Institute) as an Education Intern in 1994 and joined full-time in 1996. He holds a B.S. in Natural Resources – Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Oregon State University and will oversee easement monitoring, new acquisitions and assist with the planning for Hillside Farm with D&R Greenway.

Fun Fact: In college, Tina hiked the Adirondacks, Catskills, and the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge surveying trees.

Tina Notas has directed the stewardship of D&R Greenway’s preserved properties since 2019. Along with the stewardship team, she manages reforestation efforts, leases on five farms, the deer management program, and public access on 50 miles of trails. Tina also manages D&R Greenway’s plant nursery that grows native plants from seeds. Previously, Tina founded the Office of Sustainability at Drew University, where she spent over a decade tracking and reducing the carbon footprint, managing campus trees, and installing native restoration areas to replace campus lawn. Tina received a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Fun fact: Eric once tended free range laying hens, gathering eggs for his small farm to table cafe in a restored grist mill.

Eric Derby believes his role in life is to make good things happen in the world. At D&R Greenway, he carries that purpose into his work building relationships, inspiring philanthropy, and strengthening the organization’s ability to preserve land, support farmers, and connect people with nature. Previously, as Director of Development and Communications at the Foodshed Alliance, he advanced farmer viability programs and led transformational fundraising that expanded the organization’s reach and impact. His career has centered on creating partnerships that help communities thrive, farmers succeed, and the landscapes that sustain them endure.

Fun Fact: Dan has hiked all of Custer State Park, completing their 2023 trail challenge. It was his first time seeing bison, a sight he will never forget. Living free and in the wild!

Fun Fact:  About 10 years ago, Lisa traveled to India and was walking with her roommate in the town of Dharamsala.  They were walking on a roadway in the vicinity of the Himalayan Mountains and heard a car beep – “I turned to look, and it was the Dalai Lama with his driver….we all waved to one another!”

Lisa Bruno joined D&R Greenway as a Volunteer Educator in 2021 after retiring from NJM Insurance Group as a Senior IT Project Manager.  Lisa’s life passion for non-profit causes led her to secure her current role with Mercer Street Friends as the Director of IT and Project Management.  She emphasized there is a powerful force when shared values, compassion, and drive come together — resulting in positive change.  Lisa’s commitment to being a nature enthusiast and an avid recreational kayaker aligned nicely to become D&R Greenway’s Kayak Program Manager.

Kayak Education is an initiative of The Discovery Center at Point Breeze and launches from Bordentown Beach.  The program afforded Lisa the opportunity to appreciate our precious waterways, respect natural habitats, and honor cultural history.  It brings great pleasure and joy to Lisa to share the experience with our community and students.  The opportunity revved up Lisa’s passion to protect the planet for our future generations and to foster a more equitable, sustainable world.  Lisa holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development & Change.  She enjoys traveling, gardening, festivals, day trips, wine tastings, and the NJ boardwalks.

Fun fact: Susan is the author of AMC’s Best Day Hikes Near Philadelphia

Susan Charkes has been assisting D&R Greenway with various communications projects since 2010. A writer and poet, she is the author of AMC’s Best Day Hikes Near Philadelphia and Outdoors With Kids–Philadelphia. She works in easement stewardship with Brandywine Conservancy, a Pennsylvania-based land conservation organization. She is a long-time volunteer with community environmental organizations in Pennsylvania, has worked as an attorney and in information management, and has been in the nonprofit environmental field since 2006, with prior positions at New Jersey and Maryland organizations. She has served on the Stewardship Council of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Susan holds a BA from The University of Chicago, a JD from Columbia University, and an MLS from Rutgers University. She leads hikes and is a volunteer Appalachian Trail maintainer.  See more on her website, www.susancharkes.com.