Jose German-Gomez, Founder and CEO
jgerman@neearth.org
See the Founder page

Amanda McCabe, Assistant Programs Manager
amccabe@neearth.org
Amanda McCabe is a certified Rutgers Environmental Steward and the Chair of the Glen Ridge Environmental Advisory Committee, through which she has spearheaded several pollinator projects and organized sustainable landscaping workshops and education. She splits her time between gardening and music-related endeavors. She started working with NEEC in 2025.

Board Members:
David Wasmuth, Chair
David Wasmuth is a Rutgers Environmental Steward and a Duke Farms-certified Master Ecologist. He was the founder and Team Leader of the Montclair Backyard Habitat Project, which made Montclair the first NWF-certified Community Wildlife Habitat in New Jersey. David is passionate about ecological restoration, wildlife habitat, native plants, and pollinator gardens, and has taken the lead in NEEC native plant gardens at Crane Park, the Brookdale Park Overlook, and First Congregational Church in Montclair.

Marcia Almeida, Vice-Chair
Marcia Almeida is a Montclair community advocate who is passionate about environmental stewardship. As a member of the NEEC Board, she helps guide initiatives that protect green spaces, promote sustainability, and engage the community in caring for our planet.

Nancy-Jo Taiani, Secretary
Following a career in Information Technology, Nancy-Jo Taiani worked with 2nd graders in a local public school for seven years. She lives in Glen Ridge with her husband of 47 years where, in her spare time not devoted to advocating for peace, justice, immigrant rights and the environment, Ms. Taiani paints and gardens.

Anthony (Tony) Allen, Finance Committee
Tony Allen lives in Montclair where he and his wife raised their two children. Tony is the director of Student Diplomacy Corps, a nonprofit organization that helps high school students from undervalued communities build academic skills, leadership, and emotional maturity. Tony has decades of experience in nonprofit management, building and supporting cross-cultural education programs for secondary and post-secondary school students. In addition to serving on the board of NEEC, Tony serves on the board of Prime Produce Guild for Good, and is a member of Kiwanis.

James Cornejo, Finance Committee

Dr. Renee Baskerville

Munira Bootwala

Trina Paulus
Trina Paulus, known as “The Butterfly Lady,” is the author and illustrator of “Hope for the Flowers,” which has been translated into over 15 languages with more than 4 million copies sold in English alone. She is a lifelong peace and environmental activist.