2012-2013
Board of Trustees

President
Jennifer McMillan Rubin

1st Vice President
John Kendrick

2nd Vice President
Kathleen Silberstein

Treasurer
George Milne

Secretary
Phyllis Dain

Jillian Abbott
Kenneth Albert
Nina Bachrach
Eric Berry
Serena Carson
Carol Ellis
Marc Forman
Linda Harnisch
Annette Hollander
Allyson Powers Johnson
Hillary Kelbick
Kyu Lee
Elizabeth Miracky
Henry Pruitt III
Scott Reddin
Jeffrey Russell
Michael Shannon
Kurt Stenzel
Cynthia Sumner

Honorary Trustees
Lorraine Cohen
Elizabeth Colten
Phyllis Dain
Norman Davis
Gallya Gordon
Rolf Hoexter
Joan V. A. Johnson
Marie Karanfilian
Renee Leiter
Priscilla McKenna
David Nichols
Alice Pierson
Louise Pitkin
Carolyn Stenzel

Executive Director
Stephen Wiessner

Flat Rock Brook Staff

Stephen Wiessner Executive Director
Stephen Wiessner email
Steve is responsible for the overall management of Flat Rock Brook. He came to us from the Greater Newark Conservancy, where he was Program Director. He has extensive management experience and holds a Master's degree in environmental policy and a Bachelor's degree in environmental economics.

Jill Bennetta Education Director
Jill Bennetta email
Jill is responsible for developing and coordinating Flat Rock Brook's programs. She came to Flat Rock Brook from the Lookout Mountain Nature Center in Colorado, and has also worked for the National Audubon Society. Her degree in wildlife and fisheries is from the University of Tennessee. She is a creative and innovative teacher and naturalist.

Land Manager
Ryan Hasko email
Ryan Hasko has worked on a part-time basis at Flat Rock Brook for the past two years. He has recently accepted the full-time position of Land Manager overseeing the management and maintainance of our 150 acres of property. Ryan graduated from Rutgers University in May, 2007 with a degree in Environmental Policies, Institutions, and Behaviors.

Kristen Pakonis Naturalist
Kristen Pakonis email
Kristen holds a degree in environmental education from the Audubon Expedition Institute. During her studies, Kristen has traveled through Alaska, Hawaii, and the Atlantic Coast. Kristen has been a naturalist for the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, and at the Irvine Nature Center in Baltimore. Kristen also has previous experience at Flat Rock Brook, teaching our Summer Nature Day Camp in 2004 and 2005, and was our part-time Naturalist in 2010 and part of 2011. Welcome back Kristen!

Sandy Chiappino Office Administrator
Sandy Chiappino email
Sandy keeps our office running smoothly. She has an eclectic administrative background. She worked for the state of New Jersey for 25 years and since retirement has been employed as a paralegal, a floral designer and managing director of an arts group.

Lisa Higgina Accountant
Lisa Higgins email
Lisa keeps track of Flat Rock Brooks financial record. She has a degree in accounting and an honors degree in international management. Lisa worked years for a multinational company for nine years. leaving to raise her family. She continues to work as an accountant on a part time basis and currently works two days a week at Flat Rock Brook.

The Flat Rock Brook Nature Association is managed by a 30-member volunteer Board of Trustees drawn from nearby communities. Board members have a wide range of expertise and donate many hours of their time to Flat Rock Brook.

Our full-time staff includes an Executive Director, Education Director, Land Manager, and an Office Manager. We also employ a naturalist teacher, and a part-time accountant.