Meet the Team

Crystal Wessel
South Jersey (UARP) Program Director
Crystal is the Program Director for our South Jersey Program based in Camden. She is thrilled to be living her childhood dream of being Captain Planet, and when not planting trees you can find her cooking or making pottery.
Elena Messina
North Jersey (RTP) Program Director
Elena is the Program Director for North Jersey Program based in Newark. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science from Northeastern University and she spends her free time reading, hiking and baking
Felix Peters
Jersey Shore Program Director
Felix is the Jersey Shore Community Tree Program Director. When not breaking ground on tree plantings you can find him playing card games at his local game store, eating at his local vegan spot, or prepping for one of his D&D campaigns!

609-781-9006
fpeters@njtreefoundation.org
Mike Sherr
Central Jersey Program Director
Mike is the Program Director for our Central Jersey Program based in Trenton. He has a B.A. in Political Science from The College of New Jersey and is usually hiking and flipping over rocks in his free time.

609-781-4886
msherr@njtreefoundation.org
Meredith Pichini
Education Outreach Director
Meredith is the Education Program Director for the NJ Tree Foundation. She has a B.A. in Political Science from West Virginia University. Apart from planting trees, Meredith enjoys books, coffee, thrift stores, and spoiling her dog.
Lisa Simms
Green Streets Program Director
Cat lover, tree hugger, day laborer at heart.
James Cunningham
Green Streets Crew Supervisor
James supervises our tree planting crew, takes care of NJTF equipment and bails us out when it rains on tree planting days.
Nicole Castillo
Development and Communications Director
Always wordy, often nerdy.
Pam Zipse
Executive Director
Pam is a NJ Licensed Tree Expert and has a degree in Forest Resource Management form SUNY ESF. Pam is also concerned about what might happen if the squirrels ever get organized.
Green Streets

Summer 2025 Crew
The guys:
Tyreem, Khali, Jaamir
Tony, Marcelo, Leroy
Have been working hard taking care of the Grove of Remembrance at Liberty State Park, and maintaining rain gardens in Camden

Our Board of Trustees

Jay Kaplan, Board President – Public Service Electric & Gas
John Anlian, Vice President - Attorney at Law
Peggy Middaugh, Board Secretary – Executive Director Worcester Tree Initiative, retired
Mark C. Franz, Board Treasurer – Integra LifeSciences Corporation
Robert Bartosz, Trustee – Thomas Jefferson University
William Comery, Trustee – Landscape Architect/Certified Tree Expert
Lenny Ward, Trustee – NJ State Parole Board, retired
David Wells, Trustee - Wells Tree & Landscape
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Scholarships

Through our ‘Planting Environmental Justice One Tree at a Time’ program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, we are offering scholarships to the New Jersey Shade Tree Federation Conference in October, and the Garden State Tree Conference in February. These conferences offer an opportunity for attendees to expand their tree knowledge and meet other industry professionals. No prior experience working in urban and community forestry is required.

Interested applicants should meet the following requirements:

  • Be over the age of 21
  • Live in a Census Tract identified by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening tool.
  • Demonstrate an interest in tree stewardship and a desire to share knowledge gained
    through the conference with their community

Scholarships will cover the cost of conference registration (including light breakfast/lunch), travel, and hotel accommodations. Application information will be made available approximately two months prior to each conference, so please check back regularly!

For more information, please contact Elena Messina
(emessina@njtreefoundation.org ) in Northern NJ or Crystal Wessel
(cwessel@njtreefoundation) in Central and Southern NJ.

Community Tree Stewards

The NJ Tree Foundation is seeking 2-3 Tree Stewards for its Community Tree Planting programs.

The Tree Stewards will assist the NJ Tree Foundation’s Program Directors with tasks related to our Community Tree Planting programs in each of our core cities: Camden, Trenton, and Newark. Applicants must reside in one of these cities, and will work in the city in which they live. We are seeking 2-3 Tree Stewards for each city for the Fall Winter 2024-25 season. At the end of the season, there will be the possibility for extension into the Spring 2025 season.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
The Tree Stewards will be responsible for helping the NJ Tree Foundation to implement new tree planting projects, as well as helping ensure the success of prior projects. Tasks will vary depending on the needs of each program, but may include the following:

  • Collecting data on prior tree planting projects (monitoring health of trees and checking for issues, measuring DBH, taking photos, etc.)
  • Canvassing for tree planting projects
  • Staking recently planted trees
  • Pruning and mulching young trees
  • Removing watering bags/stakes/deer guards from older trees
  • Assisting with tree plantings

As the tasks will take place at various locations throughout each city, applicants must be able to arrange transportation to each site.

Required Skills and Experience
The NJ Tree Foundation is seeking hard working and reliable individuals that enjoy working outside and would like to learn more about urban forestry. The applicant must work well with diverse populations, and have an interest in tree planting

For more information, or to apply, please contact Elena Messina
(emessina@njtreefoundation.org ) in Northern NJ or Crystal Wessel
(cwessel@njtreefoundation) in Central and Southern NJ.