“Some of my best memories involve adventures in nature – getting lost in the woods,   surrounded by the rush of healthy streams, the song of wild birds and experiencing the thrill of spotting rare animals and discovering hidden places.   I want that for my children and their children – a place for them to breathe deeply and to take in the fragile beauty of our land.”

Christopher DeGrezia is a partner in the Real Estate Department of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP’s Princeton office. The primary focus of Christopher’s practice is on complex commercial transactions and land development projects. He has extensive experience in all aspects of real estate development. Christopher has provided guidance to a variety of governmental entities including, but not limited to planning boards, zoning boards of adjustment, public utilities and numerous governmental subcommittees and commissions. He is Past President of the Princeton Bar Association, and is a member of the Mercer County and Monmouth County Bar Associations, the New Jersey League of Municipalities, and the New Jersey Institute of Municipal Attorneys. He received a J.D. cum laude from Seton Hall University School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Virginia. Christopher lives in Montgomery Township with his wife and two children where he can frequently be found coaching a variety of sports and activities.

“Love for the natural beauty and wildlife that make this our Garden State is my motivating influence in joining with D&R Greenway to plan the future as we want it to be for generations to come.”

Wendy is the CEO and Design Director of Mottahedeh & Company, a wholesale distributor and design firm specializing in antique reproduction of porcelain, brass and other ceramic decorative accessories.  She is a sculptor and has worked at the Johnson Atelier Institute of Sculpture.  She holds or has held licenses with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Charleston, Mount Vernon, U.S. National Trust, Musee des Arts Decoratifs, National Geographic and Passion for Maps. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Holyoke College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts: Sculpture with Honors from Pratt Institute of Fine Art.

“Along with my wife, Diana, I have supported D&R Greenway for a number of years.  Living in East Amwell we enjoy daily the beauty and recreational opportunities offered by the many preserved forests, farmlands and trails in the local area.”

Adrian Huns worked for over 40 years in consumer and pharmaceutical products marketing and general management, living in England, Belgium and the US. He retired in December 2013 as Vice-President at Church & Dwight, Inc. and now dedicates his time to consulting projects, nonprofit board interests and frequent travel, especially to spend time with a geographically dispersed family.  He contributes strategic thinking and understanding of corporate interests to D&R Greenway.

“My passion for the environment and animals is what drives me to do what I can through my artwork to support this important mission to preserve land.”  

James Fiorentino is an American artist who currently resides in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. James’s artwork was recognized at an early age. At the age of fifteen, James Fiorentino became the youngest artist ever to be featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum for his likeness of Reggie Jackson. In 1998, James became the youngest artist to be inducted into the prestigious New York Society of Illustrators, along with such artists as Norman Rockwell and Andrew Wyeth. He is a graduate of Drew University where James was also the starting shortstop for all four years of his college career. He has painted for and met many legends of the past and stars of today, including Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Cal Ripken Jr., Arnold Palmer and Muhammad Ali to Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Albert Pujols. His photo-realism in watercolor has helped him become a nationally-known wildlife and portrait artist, painting people from everyday life to Presidents and Nobel Peace Prize winners. Many of James’ works currently grace the walls of notable museums, galleries, universities, companies and private collections. James’ work has won numerous awards and can be seen nationally in books and magazines and on trading cards. In 2001, “The Fiorentino Collection” consisted of approximately 100 paintings for Upper Deck Trading Cards depicting legends in five major sports. James’ work and story has been carried on international and national television shows, and in magazines and newspapers. James is a member of the New Jersey Watercolor Society, American Watercolor Society, Society of Animal Artists and Artists For Conservation. James is also a trustee of the Raptor Trust of NJ.  Info on his life and artwork can be found at www.jamesfiorentinonatureart.com

“As a lifelong resident of central New Jersey, the work of D&R Greenway to help sustain the health of our environment has not gone unnoticed. D&R Greenway is a role model for land preservation in this region, and together with state and local partners collectively preserves our fragile landscape. It is a wonderful sight to see a D&R Greenway Land Trust sign on a preserved property and knowing that the natural benefits of that land will forever be part of our community.  As a new member to the board, I look forward to continuing those efforts and further protecting our natural landscape for generations to come.”

Michael was born in Trenton and has lived most of his life in central New Jersey. He currently resides in the Griggstown section of Franklin Township with his wife, son, and German short-haired pointer, Duke.  Michael is employed by Siemens Financial Services, the financial services division of Siemens AG, as Vice President & Risk Head for its commercial real estate and construction loan businesses. He has been in a credit/risk management role with Siemens for over 15 years and have over 20 years of commercial lending experience. He graduated from Widener University with a B.S. in Business Administration and a concentration in Finance. In his free-time Michael goes outdoors to bike, hike, kayak or just enjoy the natural sights and sounds of his community.

“I care about D&R Greenway for the incredible stewardship work  it does on the thousands of acres of land they have preserved.  It is critical to be able to maintain the land once it has been preserved in perpetuity.  J.M. Barrie said it best , ‘Forever is a very long time’ and I trust that D&R Greenway is here for the long run.”

Johan joined the Board of Trustees in 2014 after he and his wife Emily preserved their farm in Montgomery Township with D&R Greenway, adding to an expanse of contiguous preservation.  A graduate of Queen Mary and Westfield College with a Bachelor in Aerospace Engineering from the University of London,  Johan also holds a Masters degree in Information Systems from Pace University.  Johan works with the Firmenich Corporation as Global Project Manager in Sustainability where he is responsible for annual sustainability reporting, natural sourcing programs around the world and overview of ethical audit programs.  He has made a commitment to land stewardship on his farm which serves as a model for creation of pollinator meadows and native habitat.

“We have all heard the expression, ‘Land – they’re not building it anymore’…….which is why it is so important that we work to strategically preserve those acres of land that are so critical to protecting the overall environment, including clean water and establishing greenways.”

Peter is the owner of Leigh Visual Imaging LLC, a 67-year old Princeton-based company that provides commercial photography, digital imaging, large format printing and signage needs for the corporate community.  In 2003, he was named the Princeton Chamber’s Entrepreneur of the Year.  Peter became involved with D&R Greenway in the year 2000 on a committee of business advisors enlisted to evaluate strategic decisions that resulted in the preservation of Coventry Farm and Greenway Meadows in Princeton, and he joined the D&R Greenway Board of Trustees in 2013. Active in the local community, he has held leadership roles in the Princeton Corridor Rotary Club, the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Mercer County Chamber of Commerce, Mercer Business Magazine, and Eden Institute.  He serves on the Foundation Board of Mercer County Community College and the Princeton Chamber Foundation Board.  Peter is a fly fisherman and woodworker.

“As the daughter of a farmer, I believe that it is important that we keep the ‘garden’ in our Garden State!”

Kristin S. Appelget is the Director of Community and Regional Affairs at Princeton University.  She oversees and strengthens the University’s relationships with the municipalities and counties in which the University resides.  She works extensively on municipal and regional issues related to transportation, sustainability, land use, planning and zoning.  From 1999 to 2006, Kristin served as an elected member of the West Windsor Township Council, where she was influential in the preservation of open space and the creation of recreational opportunities throughout the Township.

“Open space has tremendous value, both to the whole community and to the individuals within that community, in ways both calculable and ineffable. Being amidst the natural world, recently dubbed ‘forest bathing’ has now been proven to benefit both mind and body.  I am passionate about having us all preserve and maintain this precious resource for everyone, now and for the future.”

Over the past several decades, Kathy raised her family, renovated an historic home in Princeton and has been an actively engaged community volunteer with the Arts Council of Princeton; Friends of Princeton Open Space; Enable, Inc.; and, the YWCA.  She was editor of the independent arts magazine ‘Ellipses’, and has dedicated herself to many causes.

“D&R Greenway is important to me because it acts with urgency and integrity to preserve fragile and dwindling natural resources.”

As Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff & Chief Compliance Officer of NRG Energy, Michael reports to the CEO and serves as a member of the Executive Management Team for a $13 Billion, Fortune 250 integrated energy company. He provides counsel and leverage to the CEO and the management team, working across all businesses and functions. He has enterprise-wide responsibility for corporate and regulatory compliance, reporting to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. Sustainability and positiveNRG, the Company’s philanthropic arm, operated under his leadership.  Michael is a graduate of George Washington University and The Dickinson School of Law of Pennsylvania State University.

“I grew up in the city but my mother always had a small vegetable and flower garden, and she instilled her love of gardening in me.  My parents always made sure we had opportunities to be outside and enjoy nature at the beach, in the parks near our home, and on family trips.  As an adult I have even more appreciation for the time I am able to spend outdoors.  D&R Greenway plays a vital role in making sure that there will always be open land left in New Jersey, which means we will have abundant wildlife, untainted water supply, farm-fresh food, and the physical and mental well-being that comes with being out in the natural world.”    

Pat is an attorney whose practice consists of serving as a mediator and arbitrator of employment-related and commercial disputes. Prior to starting her own firm in 2010, Pat was a litigator for fifteen years with both a large national firm and a small labor and employment boutique. She also spent thirteen years in the financial field in both private and public corporations, holding the position of Manager of Financial Reporting at a Fortune 100 public corporation immediately prior to attending law school.  Pat, who has resided in Hillsborough for more than twenty years, is an avid gardener and enjoys walking at St. Michaels Farm Preserve and Greenway Meadows with her husband and their adopted beagle mutt.

“Preserving natural places, habitat and waterways is fundamental to our quality of life and the well-being of our planet. I have always had a strong affinity to natural places and the diversity of birds, plants and animals that thrive in our woodlands, fields and waterways. D&R Greenway’s mission, energy and great success have provided me with the perfect opportunity to realize my goals to preserve our natural lands.”

Rich is a partner in the law firm Drinker, Biddle & Reath LLP. He concentrates his law practice on municipal land use law, real estate development, administrative law, real estate leasing and transactions, and, school law.  He is past Chair of the Board of Trustees of D&R Greenway from 2004 – 2010, and returned to the Board in 2015 after a hiatus.  He has held leadership roles on the Boards of Young Audiences, New Jersey and PlanSmart NJ.  Rich, a former Deputy Attorney General of New Jersey, has also served as Counsel for the West Windsor Township Planning Board, Counsel for the Washington Township Zoning Board and Township Attorney for East Windsor Township.  He currently serves as counsel to The Hun School of Princeton, Rutgers Preparatory School and Princeton Day School.  Over the years he has structured numerous land preservation deals on behalf of D&R Greenway, as well as private land owners.

“It all starts with preservation of the Land: preserve pieces of that, and the air and waterways above and within it, and the plants and animals that inhabit it, and then you can conserve, steward, educate, and celebrate our human connection to it. I love that D&R Greenway works on all these levels simultaneously—land preservation is just the beginning.”

As a composer, author, educator and publisher, Ken conceived and led development of the innovative Music Together® early childhood music and movement program, now offered in over 3,000 communities in 41 countries. He is coauthor of the Music Together song collections and materials, and producer/arranger of the Music Together recordings. The Family Favorites® compilations from these recordings have won over 30 awards. An early childhood music specialist for more than three decades, Ken has trained thousands of music and early childhood educators nationwide and abroad. He has also composed scores for numerous off-Broadway, regional theatre, concert and film productions.   The Music Together headquarters that he created in Hopewell, New Jersey, uses solar technology and green building techniques, important to Ken’s personal commitment to the environment.

“I support D&R Greenway Land Trust because its work to protect our land ensures generations to come access to a natural environment and farmland for healthy, locally grown food.”

From Southern California, Diana’s commitment to the environment has been lifelong. She has witnessed how vitally important preservation and conservation of both land and natural resources, like water and healthy soil, are in richly populated areas.  Diana has spent the last three decades as a volunteer in several fields including women’s health, early childhood education, public space (analysis and use) and coordination of legal teams for poll watching.  She designed and implemented a community services program for Head Start centers while nurturing age appropriate empathy and generosity in elementary school children of more means.  Diana has a degree in Psychology and has studied Landscape Architecture.  She is on the Board of Focusing Philanthropy, a Los Angeles based nonprofit.

“I was lucky enough to grow up traversing the rural woods, streams and landscapes of Central New Jersey. Thanks to the great work of D&R Greenway, these increasingly endangered tracts are being preserved forever, enabling my children (and hopefully their children) – and others like them – to enjoy and benefit from the same natural pursuits that I did.”

Bill is an entrepreneur and investor. He currently runs Raging Capital Management, a private investment partnership focused on public equities that he founded in 2006. Bill is also a co-founder of Princeton Ventures. As an entrepreneur, he has co-founded a number of financial information companies, including Raging Bull and InsiderScore. He has served on a number of public company boards, including Bankrate (2000-2009), Vitesse Semiconductors (2014-2015), and Immersion (2019-present). Bill has also been a guest speaker at Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School, MIT, and the University of Virginia. He attended the University of Virginia.

Bill and his wife Geniva are long-time Taplin Circle donors to D&R Greenway. They live on Spring Hill Road north of Hopewell with their three young children. Bill grew up near land that D&R Greenway preserved in Millstone Township, and enjoys walking on preserved lands where he played as a child.

“Dating back to my early childhood, my grandparents and parents afforded me endless opportunities to explore open spaces and wilderness, and observe the beauty of nature and wildlife. Today, my husband and I share our love for the outdoors and nature with our young daughter. When I overheard my daughter rattling off the various species of birds eating at the birdfeeder one morning, I knew we were on the right track. I am truly inspired by the natural resource and land preservation work that D&R Greenway Land Trust has accomplished. And so I look forward to advancing the organization’s mission, furthering its impact and promoting a conservation legacy.”

Heather concentrates her practice in wealth planning and estates, advising high net worth individuals, families, business owners and fiduciaries in matters such as estate planning, trust and estate administration, taxation, guardianships, probate, contested estates, tax controversies on the federal and state levels, business succession planning, charitable giving and non-profit formation.

Heather is a frequent lecturer on a broad range of tax, trust, estate and probate topics and presents before community and professional education organizations for accountants, financial planners and advisers, attorneys and insurance professionals. She served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Paulette M. Sapp-Peterson, P.J.Cv., New Jersey Superior Court. She is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association; Mercer County Bar Association, Princeton Bar Association, Mercer County Estate Planning Council, CohnReznick Executive Women’s Forum and serves on the Princeton Child Development Institute’s Board of Trustees. While in law school at Syracuse University, Heather was an editor of the Syracuse Journal of International Law and Commerce.

“In my comic strip MUTTS, I try to see the world through the eyes of animals. It is my firm belief that there is nothing more important than saving and preserving the natural world. D&R Greenway is a model for what can be done to keep our planet green. We are blessed by and grateful for their vital work as are all our fellow beings.”

Patrick is a cartoonist, author and playwright. He is the creator of the daily comic strip Mutts, syndicated since 1994, which appears in more than 700 newspapers across 20 countries. Prior to creating Mutts, Patrick was a freelance magazine illustrator for numerous publications including the Russell Baker Observer column for The New York Times Sunday Magazine.

McDonnell has won numerous awards for both his artistry and for his activism in animal welfare. Peanuts creator Charles Schulz called Mutts “one of the best comic strips of all time.”

McDonnell’s characters have been enlisted by the United States Marines (2006 Toys for Tots holiday poster), the American Library Association (2007 “Read!” poster), and by the Humane Society of the United States (humane postage stamps). The Mutts characters appear on the New Jersey Animal Friendly license plates, which fund state pet population programs.

In 2009 McDonnell collaborated with author Eckhart Tolle to create Guardians of Being, a philosophical book about nature and the present moment. In 2012, McDonnell’s children’s book, Me…Jane, based on the childhood of Jane Goodall, was awarded the Caldecott Honor. It later was staged as a children’s musical for the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Patrick was a member of the Board of Directors of the Humane Society of the United States for 18 years. He currently serves on the boards of The Fund for Animals and The Charles M. Schulz Museum. He resides in Princeton with his wife Karen, their rescue dog and formerly feral cat.

“There is nothing that can feed the soul, calm the mind and restore the spirit as Nature can. No land, no Nature. Save it and we save ourselves and every living creature that depends upon it.”

Laura Napoli is an environmental scientist who has worked in the areas of land restoration, ecosystem services and land conservation transactions.  As a corporate member of the Land Trust Alliance representing ExxonMobil, she worked to facilitate the conservation of corporate land within the U.S.  She has also served on the Advisory Committee of the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust, and over the years has donated numerous hours to various other conservation related efforts.

“I’m inspired by D&R Greenway’s diligent efforts to make nature and fresh food accessible to all – from the thousands of acres preserved across the countryside that surrounds the Delaware watershed, to the organization’s “in-town” projects like Capital City Farm in Trenton and the new Bordentown kayak program, to championing civic duties by having Johnson Education Center serve as a polling place. D&R has worked for decades to defend New Jersey’s clean water, fresh air, and open space, but the organization’s thoughtful work on ensuring equity in environmentalism is what I think is truly powerful, and I look forward to supporting more of these efforts that fight for a healthy future for all of our state’s residents.”

Alanna is a communications strategist with a strong interest in the environment. She currently is employed by the NJ Board of Public Utilities as their Assistant Director of Communications.  In her current position, Alanna works closely with leadership and agency heads to promote the agency’s mission and priorities. She works with press and social media, and contributes to the implementation of the overall agency communications strategy. A young professional, she has held several positions including with Taft Communications where she executed all communications activities for ReThink Energy, NJ, a statewide energy/environmental campaign. Her work has involved developing annual communications goals and their implementation. She helped achieve approximately 700% growth in Facebook and Twitter followers for clients in 2017. She has managed a $40M marketing budget, and supported 37 product launches. She has developed educational brochures and posters, and received “Best Practices” recognition and awards.

She was selected as a 2018 Fellow by Lead NJ, a network of civic leaders focused on improving New Jersey’s public and private sectors. Alanna graduated, cum laude, with a BA in English from The College of New Jersey, and holds an MBA, cum laude, from Rutgers University where her capstone thesis was: “The State of Green Marketing.”

Alanna is newly married and lives in Toms River, NJ and works in Trenton. She has been participating on our Community Conservation Committee.

“D&R Greenway is pioneering creative ways to preserve green space, expand stewardship, and connect people to the joys, wonder, and essential need to spend time in nature. My contributions resonate deeply with me as a way to contribute to my neighbors and regional environment.”

Jeanne Perantoni, AIA is the Chief Executive Officer of SSP Architectural Group, a woman-owned business based in central New Jersey. She leads SSP’s planning and design services and is a licensed architect, LEED-accredited professional, and certified Educational Facility Planner. Her portfolio of work is nationally recognized for seamlessly incorporating energy efficiency, environmental regeneration, and smart growth planning principles into public sector projects. She has served on the Foundation Boards of Somerset Medical Center, Raritan Valley Community College, and on the NJ State Board of Architects. Ms. Perantoni continues to advise Somerset County Freeholders on matters pertaining to energy, resiliency, and renewable resources as Vice Chair of the Energy Council. She has served for many years on Princeton’s Historic Preservation Review Committee and advocates for both open space preservation and Green Schools. Ms. Perantoni holds an A.B. in Architecture and Urban Planning from Princeton University and a Masters in Architecture from Rice University.  She became licensed in New Jersey in 1984 at a time when less than 2% of the state’s registered architects were women.

“As a girl who grew up in what was then rural NJ, I strongly believe that the D&R Greenway’s mission to preserve and protect the last remaining open spaces in New Jersey is something that needs to be supported vigorously and urgently while opportunities still exist.”

Joan Ruderman is a biologist and environmentalist.  Following a long career at Harvard, she served as the first woman President & Director of the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA.  Her professional research focuses on the impact of hormonally active pollutants on marine animals and the implications for humans.  She is currently a lecturer at the Princeton Environmental Institute, Princeton University.

“Preserving natural land has become more and more essential to maintaining our quality of life and the health of our planet. Of all the philanthropies I could be involved in, one that focuses on land preservation seems to be the most important given the accelerating and consequential pace of global climate change. D&R Greenway provides the perfect opportunity to have a direct impact on this exact issue in a place where I grew up and love dearly. D&R Greenway also holds a special place in my heart through the construction of the Iron Mike Trail honoring the passing of my father.”

Ian Snyder is a Sell-Side Credit Research Associate at J.P. Morgan responsible for High Grade/High Yield coverage of Transportation (Aviation, Rail, Freight, Shipping) and Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) sectors. Ian has formal coverage of over 100 large corporates within the Transportation and REIT sector, publishing quarterly on each of them for credit investors across the globe. Before joining the Credit Research team at J.P. Morgan, Ian worked at Wells Fargo as an Interest Rate Derivatives Sales Analyst where he provided large corporates and middle market clients interest rate market commentary, educational instruction, and customized analysis for interest rate risk solutions. Ian earned his BS from Duke University, majoring in Public Policy and earned a certificate in Markets and Management Studies. He also was a member of the varsity wrestling team at Duke University, and was on the All ACC Academic Honor Roll.

Peter is Co-Chair of the firm’s 200-attorney Corporate Department. His practice spans a wide variety domestic and international corporate matters. Ranked as a leading attorney by Chambers USA, Peter has worked on several hundred major transactions throughout his career.

While previously serving as the Chair of the International Practice Group at an Am Law 20 law firm, Peter was the architect of the first-ever acquisition of a European law firm by a U.S. law firm with which it had no prior affiliation.

In 2005, the President of the Republic of France, Jacques Chirac, bestowed upon Peter the title of Chevalier (Knight) of the French Legion of Honor which recognizes eminent service to the Republic of France and is the country’s most prestigious award.

Peter studied at Georgetown University, the University of Dijon in France and The Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands.

Peter is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Pennington School. For 16 years he served as President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the French-American Chamber of Commerce. Peter serves on the Board of Directors of London Life Reinsurance Company and the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, Inc.  He also served multiple terms as Co-chair of the International Law Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

International travel is one of Peter’s passions and to date he has visited 82 countries.

Peter maintains the world’s largest private collection of letters written by and furniture owned by Joseph Bonaparte and recently curated an exhibition of his Bonaparte collection, which was profiled in The New York Times. He appeared in a television documentary, “Bonaparte’s Retreat.”

In 2014, Peter participated in a medical mission to Haiti in conjunction with The Pennington School and participated in medical missions to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in conjunction with the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation.

“D&R Greenway preserves and adeptly stewards many treasured parcels of land that I frequent nearly every day with my dog and family at my side. These lands and their inhabitants bring me joy and peace and that is why I give back.”

Holly Welles is Program Manager for the Carbon Mitigation Initiative (CMI) at Princeton University. CMI is a 20-year research program that seeks solutions to the carbon and climate problem.  Previously, she directed communications for the Princeton Environmental Institute, Princeton University. Holly also held positions at Pacific Gas and Electric Company; the US Agency for International Development; the President’s Council on Environmental Quality; and in the US House of Representatives.  She earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Planning at UC Berkeley, a Master of Forest Science from Yale University (School of Forestry and Environmental Studies), and a B.S. in Geology and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Colorado. In her free-time, Holly enjoys spending time outdoors.