State Council Chairman
Rick Axt, Ken Lockwood Chapter
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.
State Council Vice Chairman
This position is currently vacant.
Musconetcong Home Rivers Project Coordinator
Brian Cowden, Fred Burroughs/Northern NJ Chapter
Brian 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 brand new Musconetcong Home River Initiative Project Coordinator. 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 as well as state coordinator for our highly successful Trout in the Classroom program. In an effort to fully focus on the Musky Home Rivers job, Brian recently transfered his TIC state coordinator role to Jessica Griglak at DEP Fish & Wildlife at the state’s Pequest Trout Hatchery.
National Leadership Council (NLC) Representative
Rich Thomas, Central Jersey chapter
Rich was the Central Jersey chapter president until taking over as our NLC Rep. As NLC Rep., Rich works closely with his fellow NLC Reps. from around the country to map TU’s mission in each member state. Rich has past experience as Central chapter 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.
Treasurer/Northern Region Vice President
Rick Ege, Fred Burroughs/North Jersey chapter
Rick currently serves as both Treasurer and Northern Regional Vice President for state council. Rick has spent a lifetime advocating for conservation. Of his numerous TU credits, some worth mentioning are past state council chair, immediate past president of the F. B./North chapter, member of TU’s National Resources Board from 1995 - 2002 (later changed to the NLC). Rick’s interests in conservation have also led him to serve on a coalition for Open Space, become a member of the Highlands Coalition, the Delaware River Keeper’s Network, the Musconetcong Watershed Association and the Morris County Federation of Sportsmen and Farmers. He also acts as coordinator for Congressman Scott Garrett’s Sportsman’s Conservation Advisory Group.
Secretary
Glenn Tippy, Fred Burroughs/North Jersey chapter
Glenn joined state council as Secretary in January of 2007. In addition to his state council duties, he is also the Fred Burroughs/North Jersey Chapter president. 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.
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
This position is currently vacant.
Trout in the Classroom State Liaison
Dave King, Fred Burroughs/North Jersey Chapter
Dave joined as state-wide Trout in the Classroom liaison for this rapidly growing youth education program in the spring of ‘08. Dave is also his chapter’s TIC Coordinator. In his new role, Dave will work closely with Jessica Griglak, state TIC Coordinator at NJ Fish & Wildlife, our 9 TU chapters as well as our state council.
