SOMERSET COUNTY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Treasurer, Vice President of Solutions Delivery GalaxESolutions Consulting, Somerset, NJ
Chuck has been a Foundation trustee since 2008 and is the Treasurer for the Foundation. He began his involvement with Somerset County Park Commission at Lord Stirling Stable in 1976 and over the years has served as President, Treasurer, and Trustee for the Friends of Lord Stirling Stable, a non-profit organization supporting the activities of the Somerset County Park Commission. He has served as a Board Member of the Greater Somerset County Chapter, American Red Cross and is Vice President - Programs and a Board Member of the Project Management Institute - New Jersey Chapter (PMI-NJ). A graduate of the Rutgers University School of Management, he stays connected to the Rutgers Equine Science Center and area equestrian and trail associations. Chuck is a certified Project Management Professional and program management consultant to commercial, government, and non-profit organization.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Director of Golf Maintenance
Job Titles:
- Partner at DiFrancesco, Bateman, Kunzman, David, Lehrer & Flaum, Warren, NJ
Donald DiFrancesco was the 51st Governor of New Jersey and President of the State Senate. Governor DiFrancesco's career in public service began with his election to the General Assembly in 1975 where he served on the Assembly Institutions, Health, and Welfare Committee, as well as on the Banking and Insurance Committee. He was Vice Chairman of the Joint Committee on Ethical Standards. In 1979, he was elected to the State Senate, to which he was re-elected six times. In 1992, he was chosen to serve as President of the Senate, and set a record for serving in that role for a decade. As Senate President, Governor DiFrancesco sponsored the constitutional amendment prohibiting unfunded State mandates, the 2000 law that renewed the Transportation Trust Fund, and the 1999 Bond Act that led to the establishment of the Garden State Preservation Trust Fund, a $98 million initiative to preserve open space, farmlands, and historic properties. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce, The Tri-County Chapter of the American Red Cross, University Hospital and Children's Specialized Hospital of Mountainside, as well as Crime Stoppers of Somerset County, an organization dedicated to promoting safer communities through a partnership with law enforcement, media, and local residents. Governor DiFrancesco previously served on the Board of Directors of Commerce Bancorp for several years.
Job Titles:
- Human Resources Administrator
Job Titles:
- Manager of Park Rangers and Property Management
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to Steve Kalafer
- Executive Assistant, Flemington Car and Truck Country, Somerville, NJ
Ellen is the Executive Assistant to Steve Kalafer and the customer relations manager for the Flemington Car and Truck Country Family of Brands, Clinton Honda, Land Rover Princeton, and the Somerset Patriots for more than 25 years. Prior to joining Steve in Flemington, she was the Chief of Staff of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development for the State of New Jersey. During her career, Ellen has served on the Board of the Hunterdon Chamber of Commerce and numerous other community and civic organizations. When her husband Paul died in April 2001, she became a founding director of the Paul R. Nardoni Foundation, whose mission is to support cancer patients and their families. Through fundraising and gifting, the Foundation proudly opened Paul's Place, a 35-bed inpatient cancer treatment center at RWJ Barnabas at Somerset. Ellen was awarded the American Lung Association Emily Bissell Award and received the Founders Groundbreaker's Award from the Cancer Support Community Central New Jersey for her work with the Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- Director of Operations, Somerset County Park Commission ( Ex - Officio )
Geoff served as Secretary-Director for the Somerset County Park Commission from 2018 through 2023. He is an attorney at law of the State of New Jersey having graduated from Brown University in 1986 and Seton Hall University School of Law in 1989. After a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Wilfred P. Diana, Geoff practiced law privately as a partner with Soriano & Soriano from 1990 to 2010. He was appointed and served as Prosecutor for the County of Somerset from 2010 to 2016 and thereafter served as an Assistant Attorney General with the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice until joining the Park Commission. Geoff, his wife Kathy and their twin son and daughter are avid "outdoors people" who very much enjoy the parks and facilities that Somerset County has to offer.
Job Titles:
- Administrator of Executive Services
- Administrator of Executive Services ( Ex - Officio )
Janine serves as the Administrator of Executive Services, and is responsible for assisting the Director with the management of the Park Commission. Janine's responsibilities also include oversight of the Information Management Department and Media Coordinator. After earning her BA degree in Communications from Rutgers University, Janine and her husband Jeff settled in Hillsborough in 1993 where they have enjoyed raising their three children. In addition to her role at the Park Commission, Janine and her husband own a physical therapy practice in Piscataway, NJ where Janine oversees the finances of their business. Throughout the past 20 years, Janine has been an active member of her community serving as a volunteer in various capacities.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Park Maintenance
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Vice Chairman - Dameo Trucking, Bridgewater, NJ
Jason Dameo has been working side by side with his brothers and family members at Dameo Trucking Company, a 3rd generation family run business, for more than 25 years. He has been an active member of the Somerville Bridgewater Rotary Club of 20 years, as well as a Past President. Jason is also an active Board Member for the People Care Center, as well as a Past President. He also serves time on the Executive Board of the Regional Center Partnership and is the Chairman of the Action Committee for the 200 Club of Somerset County. Jason also follows in his Grandfather's footsteps like the current President of the New Jersey Motor Trucking Association. In his free time, Jason enjoys teaching the value of teamwork as an F Licensed Soccer Coach and Level 1 Certified Lacrosse Coach. Jason also works at fostering these philanthropic and team values, alongside his wife of 20 years and his three children.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees
John brings 35 years of government and local experience to the Park Foundation. He was the mayor of Branchburg, Somerset County Freeholder, and Somerset County Park Commissioner. Uniquely, John also served as a senior staff member of the Park Commission, as the Deputy Director in charge of Golf Operations. John was an Incorporator and former Chairman of the Board of Somerset Valley Bank and is a Trustee and member of the 200 Club of Somerset County. John is a Vietnam veteran and former 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army Infantry. John has been a member of the Park Foundation since 2010, and the Chairman of the Pro/Celebrity Golf Tournament for the past ten years.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Manager, Spook Hollow Farm Bedminster, NJ
Karen Murphy is the Secretary and Joint Master of the Esses Fox Hounds which hosts the Weekend in Gladstone's Master' Chase at Natirar. Karen currently manages her family's Spook Hollow Farm in Bedminster where they have resided for over 40 years. Previously, she successfully competed in the equestrian sport of Show Jumping on the amateur and grand prix level; worked as a Financial Consultant with Merill Lynch; and managed Investor Relations for Technology Crossover Ventures in Palo Alto, CA. Karen is also an active supporter of the American Order of Malta and the Summit Speech School hosting the students each summer at Spook Hollow and serving on the annual benefit committees.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Golf Operations
- Manager of Golf Operations ( Ex - Officio )
Ken provides management to operations of all five of the Park Commission golf facilities, including Green Knoll, Quail Brook, Neshanic Valley, Spooky Brook, and Warrenbrook Golf Courses. This includes supervising staff at the golf shops, overseeing budget development, expenditures, and revenue. Ken also provides oversight to all golf programing including golf lessons, the award-winning junior golf program, multiple golf tournaments, golf clinics, and golf leagues. Ken provides input on capital improvement projects and has served as a management employee for almost 15 years. Ken serves on the committee to support the Park Foundation's Pro/Celebrity Golf Tournament, which supports TR and other Park Commission departments. Ken is a member of the New Jersey State Golf Association, the Professional Golfers Association of America (NJ Chapter), and the United States Golf Association.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee
- Member of the New Jersey State Senate
Following a long career in public service, Kip Bateman is currently a member of the New Jersey State Senate. He served as a member of the Branchburg Township Committee from 1983 to 1988, during which time he served as Mayor in 1986. From 1988 to 1994, he served on the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, serving as both Deputy Director and Director. In 1994, Kip was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly. He served as Assistant Majority Whip (1994-95), Majority Whip (1996), Chairman of the Assembly Banking and Insurance Committee (1996-2001), Assistant Republican Whip (2002-2003) and Assistant Republican Leader (2004-2005).
Job Titles:
- Qualified Purchasing Agent
Job Titles:
- Manager of Special Projects
Job Titles:
- Manager of Fleet Maintenance and North County Park Maintenance
Leonard J. Buck Garden is one of the premier rock gardens in the eastern United States. Begun in the late 1930's, the garden has reached a breathtaking point of maturity. It consists of a series of alpine and woodland gardens situated in a 33-acre wooded stream valley. Named for Mr. Leonard J. Buck, who developed the garden as part of his estate, it was donated to the Somerset County Park Commission by Mrs. Helen Buck in 1976.
Mr. Buck worked with Mr. Zenon Schreiber, a well-known landscape architect, to develop a naturalistic garden which incorporated several large rock outcroppings found on the property. Their aim was to create a garden that would be ecologically correct and not recognizable as being man-made. Each outcropping is slightly different, creating varying exposures and microclimates which enable different plant association s to thrive.
One of the greatest delights in visiting the Leonard J. Buck Garden is discovering its variety of plants. Tucked among the rocks are rare and exotic rock garden plants. The wooded trails connecting the outcroppings are lined with beautiful wild flowers that have flourished and multiplied through the years. Throughout the gardens grow various ferns. At the base of the valley walls, azaleas and rhododendrons produce a colorful display in May and early June. The Buck Garden's peak bloom is in spring, when favorite wildflowers, diminutive alpines, and delicate azaleas all compete for attention, but there is something interesting in bloom almost every week of the year.
To make the Leonard J. Buck Garden more accessible for visitors, the Somerset County Park Commission has increased parking and renovated the original carriage house as a Visitors' Center. This Visitors' Center houses the administrative offices, a meeting room, and restroom facilities. Please leave your pets at home while you are visiting Buck Garden, except for service animals. Please see Visitor Guidelines for other regulations unique to Buck Garden.
Job Titles:
- Administrator, Human Resources
Job Titles:
- County Commissioner
- Member of the Board of Trustees
Peter's public service is extensive. He has served on the Board of Chosen Freeholders since 1997, Mayor of Bernardsville Borough Council, Chair of the Bernardsville Board of Education, and a member of the Somerset County Planning Board. Peter served as President of the New Jersey Association of Counties Chairman of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, Founder and Chairman of the Freight Initiatives Committee, Chairman of the Raritan Valley Rail Coalition, on the Board of directors of the Somerset County Business Partnership, President of the Somerset County Governing Officials Association, and Co-Chair of the Somerset County Commission on Child Abuse and Missing Children. Peter served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, as a 1st Lieutenant. He is a retired actuary and was Vice President of Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co. Peter has been a member of the Park Foundation since 2009.
Hesco is a family owned business for over 50 years. Gary served Lebanon Borough for 15 years. Recreation, Council, Planning Board and Council President. He has lived in Dover DE, Middlesex NJ, Nebraska, Japan, Alabama, Southern California, Arizona, Madison NJ, Washington DC, London and back to Jersey. Favorite place - Vail. Graduate Drew University. Intern for Millicent Fenwick. Gary is the son of Fred and Marie Quick. He is the 13th generation of Quicks residing in South Branch on the family's former dairy farm. Current hobbies gardening, restoring and maintaining the 250 year old farm.
For the past 30 years, perhaps the biggest fundraiser is the annual (formerly Pro/Celebrity Golf Tournament) held the first Monday in May. The Raymond L. Hughes golf tournament has raised more than $1,000,000 for the Somerset County Park Foundation, supporting a variety of Park Commission programs with a majority of funding dedicated to the Therapeutic Recreation Department.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Recreation and Therapeutic Recreation
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Trustees
- Trustee
Job Titles:
- Manager of the Stable at Lord Stirling Park