Save Barnegat Bay was founded by Charles Hedlund and neighbors in 1971 as the Ocean County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America in response to a proposed development in what are today Traders Cove and F-Cove in Brick Township. In 1985, the organization became reinvigorated, expanded its scope to the whole watershed, and adopted the name Save Barnegat Bay.
From the 1980’s until well into the first decade of the twenty-first century, the group’s primary focus was on resisting imprudent development and promoting conservation of open space in its natural state. In recent years, as the watershed has become largely built out, Save Barnegat Bay has been responding to the vast number of factors that threaten the health of Barnegat Bay and its ecosystem.
Our Mission is Clear
Save Barnegat Bay’s mission is to restore and protect Barnegat Bay and its ecosystem. We advance our mission by being a strong and independent voice for the Bay throughout the watershed, including all of Ocean and part of Monmouth Counties. We do this through effective educational programs and targeted advocacy campaigns that engage over 3,500 Save Barnegat Bay members who cherish the Bay as a natural, recreational, and economical resource for the community and all of New Jersey.
The success of our educational programs and advocacy campaigns are the result of our strong connection to the Bay, environmental expertise, ability to collaborate with other organizations, and credibility as a 48 year community-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a record of accomplishment. Our members and donors generously support the work of Save Barnegat Bay, giving us flexibility and a strong foundation from which to grow.
Meet the People Behind the Scenes
Britta Wenzel
Executive Director
Graceanne Taylor
Education and Outreach Coordinator
Gerry Anicito
Administrative Assistant
Britta Wenzel
Executive Director
Britta Wenzel has been actively involved with the protection and restoration of Barnegat Bay since her childhood. At 18, she was named Ocean County’s “Environmentalist of the Year.” She served on the Lavallette Borough Council from 2003 to 2009, affecting many environmental programs and policies. She currently drives Save Barnegat Bay’s advocacy efforts by working alongside locally elected officials, county government, state legislators and federal representatives. Britta’s current position as well as her personal experience of being an advocate from her youth will help to inspire and directly inform the public on important Barnegat Bay issues.
Graceanne Taylor
Education and Outreach Coordinator
Graceanne’s passion for educating individuals about the Barnegat Bay began as an intern at the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center. Since, she served AmeriCorps as the Barnegat Bay Watershed Ambassador. Graceanne had worked in multiple facets throughout the watershed doing scientific research and environmental education before joining the Save Barnegat Bay community. At Save Barnegat Bay, she conducts public programs to help ignite passion and conservation of the watershed and bay. Graceanne enjoys free time volunteering, traveling, and playing on the Barnegat Bay scuba diving, boating, and paddling.
Gerry Anicito
Administrative Assistant
Gerry has enjoyed working for Save Barnegat Bay since January 2010 when the office was located in Lavallette. During the past four years, she has been a part of our team, enthusiastically facing and meeting the challenges of a growing non-profit organization. She currently is the Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper, responsible for processing donations made to Save Barnegat Bay. Our supporters have reached over 2100! As a past resident of Ocean Beach, she has a love for both the ocean and the bay. Gerry now resides in Toms River with her husband John.
Board of Directors
William deCamp Jr.
President
Louise Wootton
Vice President
Andrew Bess
Treasurer
Karen Argenti
Board Member
Edwin O’Malley
Board Member
Kevin Knutsen
Board Member
Joseph Rizzo
Board Member
Sherrard Urner
Board Member
RJ Cericola
Board Member
Mary Judge
Board Member
Maria Ritter
Board Member
Denise Garner
Board Member
William deCamp Jr.
President
Willie deCamp has been president of Save Barnegat Bay since March of 1986. He enjoys sailing, kayaking, and walking in the woods. Willie’s passion for protecting the Barnegat Bay ecosystem stems from his family’s longtime love of the sport of sailing and of hiking natural areas. Willie grew up summering at the shore and currently lives year-round in Mantoloking. He was educated in Rhode Island.
Louise Wootton
Vice President
Bio coming soon.
Andrew Bess
Treasurer
Bio coming soon.
Karen Argenti
Board Member
Karen Argenti has a background in administration, municipal governance, politics, environment, and community participation. She has a Masters of Public Administration from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and BA from Lehman College. In New York City, she was employed by Council President Carol Bellamy’s Office of the Ombudsman, the Bronx Democratic County Committee, a New York State Senator, and a New York City Council Member. She consulted on political and environmental campaigns, including as consultant for the Gaia Institute, building Green Roofs and Enhanced Tree Pits. Karen resides in Manchester Township which is a part of the Toms River and greater Barnegat Bay Watershed. She brings her organizing and educational experience to help Save Barnegat Bay write grants to start up another NEMO program.
Edwin O’Malley
Board Member
When not working, Ed is an avid sailor, skier, and fisherman, vacationing in Florida and Vermont. He is also an active member of Mantoloking Yacht Club and Manasquan River Golf Club. In addition, he also gives his time as a volunteer and board member of Save Barnegat Bay (NJ), a volunteer for the Mt. Washington Observatory (NH), and a consultant to the Mantoloking Environmental Commission. Ed is also a member of the Point Pleasant Beach Rotary, and the Bay Head Business Association.
Kevin Knutsen
Board Member
Kevin is an avid birder and passionate photographer. He has worked and volunteered throughout the Barnegat Bay watershed over the years helping to educate the public on local flora and fauna. Kevin participated in the Student Grant Program in the first ever class of Awardees in 2007. He evaluated the growth and development of plant species utilized for erosion prevention on coastal dunes.
Joseph Rizzo
Board Member
Bio coming soon.
Sherrard Urner
Board Member
Sherry Urner has been a proud Board member of Save Barnegat Bay since 2004 after retiring and moving to Bay Head full time. She has served as Secretary, Vice President and Nominating Chair – never Treasurer! Sherry has been sailing with her husband on the Bay for 50+ years and is passionate about protecting this body of water from degradation and pollution. As a nurse, she is committed to promoting clean waters for healthy recreation. She is an environmentalist and supports the advocacy positions of SBB.
RJ Cericola
Board Member
Mary Judge
Board Member
Mary Judge retired from the Barnegat Bay Partnership (one of the country’s 28 National Estuary Programs) in 2017. She is the long-time chair of her town’s Environmental Committee and a co-leader of the Jersey Shore Native Plant Society, which she helped form to provide post-Hurricane-Sandy
Maria Ritter
Board Member
Denise Garner
Board Member
Ms. Garner is a seasoned IT / GIS professional with over 20 years of experience in both the commercial and government fields. She is highly experienced and knowledgeable in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Specialist / Analyst, Project Manager and Oracle Relational Database user and administrator. Her hands-on Geographic Information System (GIS) experience with a wide variety of complex systems from public, private and military geospatial analysis including geospatial maintenance, scanning, digitizing, data and image analysis, interpretation, presentation, technical documenting and data conversion, and software / database architectural design for software systems.
Ms. Garner has served over 19 years as the Vice Chairperson on two Environmental Commissions: three (3) years for Pemberton Township and sixteen (16) years for Jackson Township. She understands the challenges and objectives that are associated with each application that is presented before either the Zoning or Planning Boards for their environmental impacts, stormwater management and traffic studies.