John Volpa, Founder/Board Member Emeritus
John has been an Evesham resident for thirty years. While his children Kate and Dan attended Evesham Schools, John was a Vice President of the Marlton Elementary PTA. He became an Evesham Environmental Commission member in 2003. In that role he presented the concept of what became the Black Run Preserve (SEE History of the Black Run Preserve tab). As a sixth grade environmental science teacher in Shamong Township Schools, John coordinated the district’s environmental education program and also formed and advised the Indian Mills Memorial Student Council. In 2012, after a thirty-seven year public education career, John helped found the Friends of the Black Run Preserve and became a Senior Fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program. From 2015-2020, he was the Director of Education for Pinelands Adventures in Shamong Township. John continues to promote life-long outdoor recreation, education, and wellness in the Pine Barrens.
Jane Dean, President
Jane is a 20-year resident of Marlton. While raising her daughter in the Evesham school system, she volunteered as a room mother and was active with the Cherokee High School Band Boosters. She has also organized and hosted 12 Alex’s Lemonade Stands in her neighborhood, raising over $10,000 for the foundation. Originally, from a very small town in Ohio, she has found solace from the hectic suburbs in the Black Run Preserve. She enjoys meandering through the preserve, photographing and writing poems about the scenery. She is a co-chair of the Black Run Preserve Membership Committee, co-chair of the BRP Events and Outreach Committee and was on the Judging Committee for the BRP Middle School art contest, “People of the Pines, People of Peace.” She is passionate about protecting the Black Run Preserve so that others may seek their solace there as well.
Dan English, Vice President
Dan has lived in Evesham for 25 years. He has spent many years volunteering as a coach, coordinator, and commissioner for multiple programs within the Marlton Recreation Council. He is a graduate of the first cohort of the FBRP Ambassadors program and currently serves as chairman of the Ambassadors committee. As chairman
of the Ambassadors committee Dan was tasked with creating a program that would educate the public about BRP. Today, that program includes hikes, tours, and various educational events.
A major outdoor enthusiast, Dan enjoys camping, boating, fishing, and hiking and has visited many state and national parks across the country. Hiking highlights include Valley of Fire State Park - Nevada, Zion National Park - Utah, Grand Canyon's Bright Angel Trail - Arizona, and Black Run Preserve - New Jersey.
Rich Taylor, Treasurer
Rich is a Marlton resident and a longtime trail and hiking volunteer. While living in north NJ for many years, Rich was a New York-New Jersey Trail Conference volunteer, a member of the Long Distance Trails Crew, and supervisor for 22 miles of the Appalachian Trail from the New York State line north to Route 17. Rich is also a hike leader for the Appalachian Mountain Club, leading hikes every summer in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. While not playing around outside hiking or skiing, Rich is Vice President of Coperion Corporation, a process equipment supplier to the global plastics and chemical industry, responsible for the customer service sales business in the Americas. Rich graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology with both undergraduate and masters mechanical engineering degrees, with additional graduate work in both management and computer science.
Jim Rosenthal, Secretary
Jim Rosenthal, a resident of neighboring Cherry Hill Township and member of the Cherry Hill Environmental Board, has been a long-time participant on the trails in the Black Run Preserve. He is committed to land preservation and in seeing the Black Run Preserve protected and improved for all outdoor enthusiasts in the area.
Amy Golden
Dr. Amy Golden graduated Trinity College with a biology and psychology dual major. Before and while attending University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, she worked as a nature program teacher at various museums including Philadelphia's Academy of Natural Sciences. Dr. Golden was an adjunct assistant professor at University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and is an Honorary Fellow of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry. She is an avid photographer as well as board member of South Jersey Camera Club and has won awards in local juried shows and Photographic Society of America. A resident of Voorhees Township for 33 years, Dr. Golden loves nature and outdoor activities. She recently retired from dentistry and is looking forward to new adventures and opportunities to explore.
Marti Balcom
Marti Balcom has lived in the New Jersey Pinelands since 2015 and quickly discovered The Black Run Preserve where it became a special place for her and her family. Marti is founder and President of the Balcom Group that provides conference and meeting management to a select list of clients helping them further their organization’s mission. She is equally excited about being able to do the same for the Black Run Preserve with the goal of making it more accessible for the enjoyment of its beauty and rich natural and cultural history. Marti has a particular interest in mushroom foraging and, as member of the New Jersey Mycological Association, continually explores and increases her understanding of the amazing world of fungi!
Jay Jones
Jay is a resident of Cherry Hill with a long history of dedicated service in managing public assets and leading efforts in conservation and healthy recreational activities. Since 2019 Jay has been the Director of Operations for the Battleship NJ Museum. Prior to that he held several leadership positions with the South Jersey Port Corporation (SJPC). Jay has supported his communities serving on the Haddon heights Zoning Board and Environmental Commission and today is a current member of the Cherry Hill Twp Green Team community. His love of nature and biking has found him at the forefront of a number of off road biking associations and task forces.
Ron Pugh
Ron is a 53+ year resident of Evesham Twp, a veteran (U.S. Army), a retired (35 years) specialist with the NJ Department of Labor , a United States Soccer Federation officiate and a former LL Bean employee. Ron’s lifelong passion is nature and the outdoors including birding and nature photography. Ron is a huge asset to the BRP participating in ambassador led tours, trail management and a variety of BRP projects.
Jill Giulianelli, Board Member Emeritus
Jill Giulianelli is a 30 year resident of Evesham Township. She works in Regulatory for a pharmaceutical company. While raising her family, Jill volunteered for many years with the Girl Scouts and Marlton Rec Council. She believes it is very important to preserve open spaces in New Jersey, like the Black Run Preserve, for conservation and recreation.
Rosemarie Lambe, Board Member Emeritus
Rosemarie Lambe is a CPA certified in the State of Pennsylvania. She is currently a Sr. Financial Analyst with ABB Optical Group headquartered in Coral Springs, FL and has previously held various positions from Auditor to Controller for various manufacturing companies in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Rosemarie is a resident of Mount Laurel and when not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, walking, bird watching and visiting the Jersey shore.
Keara Giannotti, Board Member Emeritus
Keara R. Giannotti is the Director of EcoStudies & Executive Director of Project HEAL (Human, Environmental & Animal Links), a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing and restoring the connection between children and nature. The organization provides year-round nature programs for children, environmental education programs for schools and scouts, and an outdoor summer day camp called Camp Creek Run, which is also the name of its 50-acre nature preserve located in Marlton, NJ. Ms. Giannotti is an environmental educator with over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, ranging from children’s services and healthcare planning to wildlife conservation and rehabilitation. She loves to explore and travel with her husband and daughter, both avid adventurers who occasionally slow down to enjoy all the bugs, birds, and fungi along the way.
Joanne Maxwell, Board Member Emeritus
Joanne Maxwell is a Marlton resident who works as an environmental manager for a transportation company. She enjoys hiking the Black Run Preserve and learning more about Pine Barrens ecosystems, with a special interest in birding and botany.
Michael Isham, Board Member Emeritus
Mike was a King's Grant resident, a founding member of the FBRP, and its first Secretary. The Black Run stream literally ran through Mike's backyard and fed his passion for FBRP's mission. He currently lives in Georgia with his family.
