State Council Chairman
Rich Thomas, Central Jersey Chapter
Prior to taking on the State Council Chairman role, Rich was the NJ National Leadership Council (NLC) representative from 2007 to 2012. As NLC Rep., Rich worked closely with his fellow NLC Reps. from around the country to map TU’s mission in each member state. Also in this role, Rich chaired the Delaware Watershed Conservation Workshop which focused on improving the trout habitat within the watershed by insuring equitable flows from all reservoirs. This group worked closely with other workshops which focus on understanding and limiting the impacts of gas development within the Marcellus Shale region. Rich has past experience as Central chapter Vice President and President, Central Region V.P. and also with thermal studies, river clean-ups (Musconetcong River), introducing the Central NJ Boy Scout Council to fly fishing and river stocking.
State Council Vice Chairman
Glenn Tippy, Fred Burroughs/North Jersey Chapter
Glenn has served as State Council secretary for the past 6 years and has graciously agreed to continue his services as Council Vice Chair. In addition to his state council duties, he is past President of the Fred Burroughs/North Jersey Chapter. Glenn has been involved in local politics including serving as the mayor for his town and serving as president of his local school board of education.
Treasurer
Dennis McCarthy, Rahway River Chapter
Dennis is the current treasurer for the Rahway River Chapter. In this position, he has developed their first working budget and works closely with various committees to ensure best practices for all accounting purposes. In addition to managing funds for his chapter, Dennis manages extensive funds with great success within the business world. He is a welcomed asset to NJTU.
Secretary
Andy Brasko, Ray Neile Chapter
Andy is the current secretary for the Ray Neirle chapter and was eager to be more involved at the State Council level. When the opportunity came up to serve as Council Secretary, Andy quickly volunteered. Andy is an avid fly tier and is known within the industry for his wet fly creations. He also presents his craft at local chapters and participates in conservation projects.
Musconetcong Home Rivers Project Coordinator
Brian Cowden, Fred Burroughs/Northern NJ Chapter
Now a full time TU national employee under the Eastern Conservation staff, Brian currently serves as our Musconetcong Home Rivers Initiative Coordinator. Brian first joined the NJ state council as Vice Chair in January 2007 only to resign that position in January of 2008 to take on TU’s full-time position as the Musconetcong Home River Initiative Project Coordinator in February of 2008. This is TU national’s first paid staff position in New Jersey. Brian answers to Elizabeth Maclin, VP of Eastern Conservation. His previous TU volunteer experiences have been as chapter education chair, chapter vice president (a volunteer position he currently holds), state coordinator for our highly successful Trout in the Classroom program, as well as past state council vice chair. In an effort to fully focus on the Musky Home Rivers job, Brian recently transferred his TIC state coordinator role to Jessica Griglak at DEP Fish & Wildlife at the state’s Pequest Trout Hatchery.
National Leadership Council (NLC) Representative
Dave King, Fred Burroughs/North Jersey Chapter
Dave joined the NJTU ranks several years ago as a member of Fred Burroughs North Jersey Chapter.He quickly became involved and stepped up to the role of Chapter TIC coordinator. In the spring of 2008 he assumed the state-wide Trout in the Classroom liaison position, as part of NJ State Council, for this rapidly growing youth education program. He served as the North Jersey Chapter President from 2009 -2012 becoming heavily involved with fundraising and conservation initiatives leading to great success. As well as being involved with issues at the Chapter and State levels, Dave has attended several National meetings and has engaged with National Staff on many different topics. This interaction, proven leadership, and past experience has made him the perfect choice for the NLC Representative position.
Vice President of Resources
Agust Gudmundsson, Central Jersey Chapter
Agust is our most recent past Chair of state council (2000 – 2006) and proof that reaching our youth results in new TU members down the road. In 1975 in the 8th grade, Agust took a fly-fishing course with the North Jersey chapter and joined TU several years later. In the Central Jersey chapter, he has held numerous positions including Chapter VP and President. During Agust’s time at TU in various leadership roles, he has been instrumental in such areas as setting up Trout Conservation Areas (TCAs) at Point Mountain on the Musconetcong, and Ken Lockwood Gorge on the South Branch Raritan. In addition, Agust has testified numerous times in support of sound conservation practices for our rivers and watersheds, from support for C-1 classifications for trout production waters to support for the Highlands Act. He has served on the Liberty Twp. Environmental Committee. Agust has been and continues to be a major force for TU’s mission in New Jersey and beyond.
Central Regional Vice President
Bart Lombardo, Central Jersey Chapter
Bart is the current Chapter President of the Central Jersey Chapter. He has also served as Vice President and assumed the lead role in many of his Chapter’s functions. Bart has agreed to step up and provide leadership and guidance as the new Central Regional Vice President. In this role, he will coordinate the efforts amongst our centrally located chapters and create partnerships with respect to projects and programs.
Past Council Chairman
Rick Axt, Ken Lockwood Chapter
Rick served as NJTU Chair from 2007 to 2012 and led efforts to insure TU’s mission was advanced in NJ. During his tenure, two new Chapters were added, Rahway River and Ridge & Valley and he successfully re-charted the other 10 chapters. Rick also led the efforts to have all chapters create by-laws as required by a TU National initiative. Prior to taking over the state council Chair position in January 2007, Rick spent the past 6 years as vice chair and the past 11 years as state council Stream Restoration Workshop Director. Rick has held numerous positions within the Ken Lockwood TU chapter including past president, resource chair and program chair. In addition to his TU works he has also been involved with the NJ section of the American Water Resource Association, Central Jersey Director of Stream Restoration Committee Member and has served on the Flood Hazard Area Rules Subcommittee. Rick is now retired and living in NY on the East Branch of the Delaware doing what he loves to do most, chasing trout.
