Leadership
Linda J. Mead
President & CEO
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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!”
Linda Mead’s all-time achievements can be summed up in three words: Preservation, Stewardship, and Inspiration. The 22,000+ acres of land she has worked to preserve and protect are a gift to all of us who live and work in our region. Science tells us preserved land ensures cleaner air, more drinkable water, and the open spaces that will give us a running start in the race against climate change. Her innovative guidance of D&R Greenway from a grassroots organization to a national leader has left a significant impact on our region and beyond.
Mead’s enthusiasm for connecting D&R Greenway’s mission with people’s hearts and minds has resulted in substantial private/public partnerships to protect conservation lands and farms and has ensured a stable organization for the future. Her vision guided the creation of D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center in Princeton, NJ, surrounded by Greenway Meadows – whose permanent protection she spearheaded, purchasing the land from the General Robert Wood Johnson estate. Tenacious and determined to solve challenges, she persevered for six years to achieve permanent protection of a former Catholic orphanage in Hopewell; St. Michaels Farm Preserve is now a community asset enjoyed by thousands of people. Lands preserved through her leadership are known throughout New Jersey – from Farm View Fields in Princeton to Point Breeze, the former estate of the exiled King of Spain Joseph Napoleon Bonaparte. Her current challenge is guiding the strategic vision for a new preserve in honor of Betty Wold Johnson, a renown philanthropist whose sons donated her nearly 800-acre farm to D&R Greenway in 2021.
Nationally, Linda Mead partnered with a financial advisor to cofound an innovative national training program for land trusts and financial experts. Results include a mountain protected in Alabama and an innovative financing program in Colorado. Mead contributed to two studies that resulted in National Heritage Areas including the Crossroads of the American Revolution in NJ. She shares her visionary leadership sand expertise in structuring multi-party transactions by serving on the National Leadership Council for the Land Trust Alliance, the professional organization for more than 1,000 land trusts in the US.
Linda Mead’s innovative ideas led her to cofound the Delaware River Sojourn, now in its 27th year, and the Bucks County, PA Open Space Program. She has served on many Boards including Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve and the State of New Jersey Historic Easement Advisory Board. She was a founding member of the Abbott Marshlands Cooperative Stewardship Council and of AWE – the Alliance for Watershed Education for the Delaware River. She partnered with a national business to publish five audio tours accessed on the free TravelStorys app. D&R Greenway’s Healing Trails tour inspired similar tours in hospitals for healthcare workers during the pandemic; and, a tour birthed during the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote highlights Women in Conservation. A new tour, Seldom Told Stories along the Delaware River, will be released this fall.
Recognition with the 2022 Innovator of the Year Award by The Princeton-Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce marks the 25th anniversary of Linda Mead’s leadership of D&R Greenway Land Trust. A graduate of Rutgers University, Ms. Mead has lectured on innovative conservation partnerships at the University of Notre Dame, Princeton University, Yale and Rutgers. Past awards include the 2002 International Paper Conservation Partnership Award presented by The Conservation Fund at the National Press Club; the 2004 NJDEP Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in Open Space Preservation; the 2013 Environmental Achievement Award from Plan Smart New Jersey; the 2013 Women in Wildlife Leadership Award from Conserve Wildlife New Jersey; the 2014 Zone IV Award from the Garden Club of America; the 2017 Mercer Women Leaders Environment Award from Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello; and YWCA Princeton’s 2018 Tribute to Women Award. In 2021, the Rotary Club of Montgomery/Rocky Hill, NJ recognized her achievements with a flag flown for 12 days at the national Flags for Heroes celebration at our nation’s Capital.
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
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Fun Fact: Ask Deb about her interests in eagles, antiques and dancing!
Deb 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 in New Jersey.
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.
Deb Kilmer
Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
Manager of Business Partners in Preservation and Special Events
Read more
Fun Fact: Ask Deb about her interests in eagles, antiques and dancing!
Deb 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 in New Jersey.
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.
Land Preservation and Stewardship
Linda Mead brings over 30 years of experience in acquiring land and easements to directing D&R Greenway’s Land Preservation work. She is assisted by staff and expert advisors who have the financial and legal skills to enable complicated and beneficial land transactions. In addition, those who are dedicated solely to these responsibilities are noted below.
Rick Lear
Senior Director of Land Protection and Planning
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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 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.
Tina Notas
Director of Land Stewardship
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Fun Fact: In college, Tina hiked the Adirondacks, Catskills, and the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge surveying trees.
Tina oversees the stewardship of D&R Greenway’s preserved properties where she manages reforestation efforts along with the Stewardship Team. Previously, Tina founded the Office of Sustainability at Drew University, where she spent over a decade tracking and working to reduce the carbon footprint. She also managed trees on the extensively forested campus, as well as the creation of native no-mow areas and meadows and managed the annual fern restoration event with student and faculty involvement. She has worked extensively with contractors and coordinated grants with the development office. Tina regularly presents to the local community to educate about conservation and sustainability. Tina received a Bachelors of Science degree from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry.
Lara Periard
Manager
~ Discovery Center at Point Breeze
~ St. Michaels Farm Sharing Garden
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Lara Periard is our Manager of the Discovery Center at Point Breeze and the St. Michaels Farm Sharing Garden. She is involved in establishing the new garden at Point Breeze; overseeing the Sharing Garden at St. Michaels Farm Preserve; and assisting at the Native Plant Nursery.
Lara spent five years working at Chickadee Creek, a local, organic farm, where she managed field crops and irrigation, and all aspects of greenhouse operation. She was a farmers’ market lead for four years, working directly with customers and building relationships. While at Chickadee Creek, Lara managed germination chambers, heat mats, propane heating, greenhouse plastic repairs, seeded vegetable and flower crops, managed pests and diseases, fertilized, sanitized trays, mixed potting medium according to formula.
Richard Allen
Land Steward
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Richard is our Land Steward and has a background as a Rutgers Master Gardener, Certified Rutgers Environmental Steward, and was the trail coordinator for the Abbott Marshlands trail network.
David Smithers
Caretaker, St. Michaels Farm Preserve
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Johnson Education Center & Facilities Management
Laurie J. Emde
Chief Financial Officer
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Fun Fact: Laurie divides her time between New Jersey and Upstate New York where she and her grown family are restoring a 1912 Adirondack Foursquare on Lake Champlain.
Laurie joined D&R Greenway Land Trust in May of 1995. With more than twenty-five years of financial experience and certification in non-profit management, Laurie is responsible for financial and facilities management, office administration, and compliance. Laurie’s responsibilities are multi-faceted, including managing rentals and scheduled events at the Johnson Education Center. She supports the land preservation process and general operations by providing document review and paralegal expertise. Formerly, she was a partner in a family business, Tri-Boy Beverage, Inc.
Active in her local community, Laurie has facilitated the preservation of more than 200 acres in Lawrence Township, NJ. She currently serves as Treasurer for Lawrence Township Conservation Foundation, ex-Chairperson of the Lawrence Township Open Space & Stewardship Advisory Committee, ex-Treasurer for Sustainable Lawrence, and is a voting member of the Mercer County Agricultural Development Board.
Valerie J. Bay
Bookkeeper
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Val joined D&R Greenway in 2016 as a part-time bookkeeper, assisting the Operations Manager. She has an Undergrad degree in Accounting and a Masters in Finance.
She grew up in the countryside of Sergeantsville, NJ, where open space, fields of green and respect for nature are a way of life! Her passion is running. She also enjoys biking, hiking, and kayaking.
Development and Community Relations
Nancy Faherty
Director of Donor and Community Engagement
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Fun fact: Goat Hill Overlook is Nancy’s go-to vista for inspiration and strength.
Nancy Faherty is a public relations consultant with more than 30 years experience working with organizations in the areas of marketing, communications, programming and development. A 1989 graduate of the College of New Jersey, Nancy was presented with its Humanitarian Award in 2005 for her work with Angel’s Wings, a non-profit organization she co-founded in 1999 to care for children in crisis while developing foster families. She built upon that work from 2012-2018 as Director of Advocacy & Development at YWCA Princeton. Born in Trenton, Nancy currently lives along the Delaware River in Lambertville with her husband, Flip. They recently took up kayaking as they learn more about the 2020 River of the Year and the lands surrounding it. Nancy was a participating artist in the 2020 Jim Hamilton Memorial Shad Fest Poster Auction which funded two local scholarships despite the challenges of the pandemic.
Sharon Fink
Database Manager and Website Wizard
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Fun Fact: During Zoom calls, Sharon’s parrots sometimes…usually participate!
Sharon comes to D&R Greenway with an extensive background in business management and administration through her long-time involvement as a senior vice president and founding member of several area community banks. She is happy to be contributing to D&R Greenway’s mission in her role as Database Manager and Website Wizard, drawing on her previous experience in marketing, administration, and new product development to bring consistency to donor data collection, maintenance and reporting, as well as developing new content and improving functionality of the D&R Greenway website. She has also served on the board and as Chair of a number of local nonprofit organizations.
