Molly Neeson was born and raised in Pottstown and is a recent graduate of the Environmental Science program at the University of Scranton. She has been involved with GreenAllies since 2016 as a volunteer, a part of the Student Leadership Team, a Summer Programming Director, and now a member of the Board of Directors. Through her time with GreenAllies, Molly has been inspired to pursue a professional career cultivating land stewardship and environmental accessibility through education. She has since worked for environmental education centered non-profits like Adirondack Mountain Club. You can usually find her either spending too money on coffee or identifying native plants and mosses on the side of a trail somewhere.

Chef/Former Owner of Shorty’s Sunflower Cafe, a local favorite since 1996 serving fresh, locally sourced, homemade breakfast and lunch specialties. The Cafe has been (working with/sponsoring?) the Althouse Arboretum for several years, collaborating with and utilizing the vegetables grown by the student volunteers.  In 2012, while expanding the Cafe into the world of food trucking, George helped to found the Philadelphia Mobile Food Association, a 501(c)6 non-profit, providing mentorship, creating a communal voice for vendors, improved standards in the industry and providing valuable networking opportunities for members. George has served as Clerk, Treasurer and eventually President of the PMFA until 2017 when he retired from the food truck scene.

Elwood Taylor has lived in Upper Pottsgrove Township next to the Althouse Arboretum for the last 30 years. As long-serving President of the Township’s Board of Commissioners, he supported the Hilsee family’s special vision for their ancestral land and led the Township to purchase the Althouse property for the creation of an environmental education center. He has also led Upper Pottsgrove Township in acquiring and preserving over 300 additional acres of Open Space for public enjoyment. Elwood was the President of the Township’s Planning Commission for 20 years as well as a founding member of the Pottstown Regional Metropolitan Planning Committee where he oversaw progressive municipal planning and award-winning Open Space protection that have made a valuable and lasting impact on the local community and beyond. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, Elwood earned a BA degree in sociology and a certificate to teach social studies. An avid history buff and collector of antique U.S. flags, he taught American History in the Pottsgrove Middle School for 27 years and is now retired. Elwood is a member of the Board of Directors for Green Allies and serves as its Treasurer. He can be seen most days walking the trails of the Arboretum with his dear and devoted wife, Paula

Dennis DiBiagio who resides in Chalfont, PA has been working in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 42 years. After graduating from Duquesne University School of Pharmacy, he moved from Western, PA to Philadelphia.  He was a founding partner at PMRS, a Contract Drug Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and is currently working at Altasciences (CDMO) as Vice President, Scientific Advisor. Dennis has a real passion for gardening and for making wine. He knows the importance of taking care of the environment and does his part to help promote the importance of sustainability. Together with his wife Laura, they enjoy gardening and then stocking up their freezer and pantry with frozen and canned goods! Dennis and Laura have two children, four grandchildren and Riley (their dog) that give them great joy and keeps them busy when not weeding or crushing grapes!

Jenah Fluck grew up in Telford, PA where she graduated from Souderton Area High School. There, she had the privilege of meeting Mr. Ken Hamilton, joined the environmental organization he formed: S.A.V.E (Students Against Violating the Earth), and took his AP Environmental class. She gained a new confidence to make an impact in her school and community. Those 4 years shaped her into a person that cared deeply for the environment and wanted to continue to do more.  After high school she moved out the State College, where she currently lives, to attend the Pennsylvania State University. She got a degree in Secondary Education, Earth and Space Science. While in school she worked at a daycare, where she currently remains. There is so much joy that comes from caring for and teaching little ones. She continued her involvement with S.A.V.E. after graduation. She traveled to Costa Rica, Tortola, Haiti and Florida for work projects, met the Althouse family, and was around as GreenAllies was formed. She became a board member and jumped right into working at the Althouse Arboretum. She enjoys hiking, camping, mud runs, watching all Philadelphia sports and the Olympics, traveling with family, going to the Outer Banks with friends and spending time with her two crazy but sweet cats. She also spends her days babysitting, pet sitting and getting involved with her church and community, doing charity work.

Wendy Gaynor has been thrilled to serve on the Board of Green Allies for 8 years.  She is the Executive Director of the Resilient Students Network which exists to help under-resourced college students meet the basics, such as food and housing, while obtaining education.  She spent many years in Philadelphia where she served in the life of Broad Street Ministry, leading both the Breaking Bread program and a diverse music ministry including the Motley Order Choir. Her work with 315 South Café, an overnight respite, ignited a commitment to working to end homelessness and hunger in the region. More recently she served as the Director of Food Access and Community Education at Chester County Food Bank (CCFB). She has a passion for housing, environmental and food justice and a desire to continue ongoing conversation around issues relating to the root causes of poverty.  She holds a BA in Communications Media & Film from West Chester University, an MA in Organizational Leadership from Eastern University, is a Bridges Out of Poverty Trainer, sits proudly on the Board of Green Allies, is a member of the Advocacy Committee at CCFB, and co-owns Steep of Faith Tea Company with her husband David on their small farm where she tends chickens.  You can often find her spending time with family, friends, and animals by a campfire with a ukulele in her hands.

After spending years in high school working as a student leader at the Althouse Arboretum, Alyssa Geniza is a proud member of the Board of Directors at GreenAllies. She majored in Marketing and Business Analytics at Drexel University’s Lebow College of Business, graduating in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Her love for nonprofit work and sustainability follows through in her role as Community Engagement Coordinator at Sharing Excess, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing food waste to fight food insecurity in Philadelphia, where she resides. In her free time, she enjoys adding to her vinyl collection, thrifting clothes, collecting tabletop games, and volunteering for cultural nonprofits, such as Asian American Women’s Coalition and National Federation of Filipino American Associations

Abby Holmberg is currently attending Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She got involved in Green Allies through her high school environmental club EnAct, at North Penn High School. She is an environmental science major, and plans to do pursue something in that field for her career. She is passionate about helping save the planet and enjoys spending time outdoors. She also sews and play oboe in her free time.

Nicole Mattiacci is an intended Economics and International Relations double major with a focus on environmental sustainability at Mount Holyoke College, a historical women’s college located in Western Massachusetts. She went to North Penn High School in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, where she first got connected with Green Allies through her work at the Environmental Action Club at her high school, and she’s been working with them as a student member of the Board of Directors since 2023. In her first year at Mount Holyoke, she has been actively involved as an officer in the Climate Justice Coalition, working on sustainability projects and initiatives around campus, as well as an officer on the Model United Nations team. She is also the Director of Special Events at the 14th annual Five College Model United Nations conference and is active in three Student Government Association committees focused on topics including finance and project management. She hopes to further study foreign policy, economics, and sustainability. She is fluent in American Sign Language. In her free time, she enjoys drinking copious amounts of coffee and tea and reading nonfiction books.

Herb Miller had a hand from the beginning of Green Allies when as Chairman of the Upper Pottsgrove Township (UPT) Open Space/Parks and Recreation Committee he helped identify the opportunity to support the acquisition of the Althouse Arboretum by UPT and the simultaneous establishment and entrusting the management of the Arboretum to the newly formed Green Allies.  An Albright College alumni and recipient of the Jacob Albright Award for his outstanding contributions in service to society, and, after a successful marketing career with Mrs. Smith’s Pie Co., Snow King Frozen Foods, and Gold Kist, and others, Herb dedicated himself to responsible local government including as Upper Pottsgrove Township Commissioner, Planning Commission, Open Space/Rec Board, Historical Board, and many other leadership positions.  He continues to fight for the preservation of open space and has also dedicated himself to the preservation of numerous revolutionary war battlefields.

Jeremy is originally from Maryland where he grew up as part of a large military family. A very happy transplant to the Philadelphia area, he is the son-in-law of former board president Rich Roller, and a proud resident of Wyndmoor in Springfield Township for over a dozen years. Jeremy has a history of service including several years serving as treasurer, vice president, and president of Our Mother of Consolation Home and School board, as well as serving as pastoral council chair for Our Mother of Consolation parish.  In addition to his volunteer service, Jeremy works as chief marketing officer for Vectorworks Inc., a design technology company that specializes in software for architects, landscape architects, garden designers, lighting designers and more. Through his professional and personal life, he has developed a passion for supporting sustainability in design and in education. In his personal time, Jeremy enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, constantly surrounding themselves with all things music, food, and Philadelphia. He is also a food enthusiast and loves inventing new burger recipes.

Tyler Queen resides in Upper Pottsgrove, PA  and is the owner of Center Stage Photography.  Tyler grew up local to the Arboretum and is a graduate of Pottsgrove High School. Tyler holds a BA in History from The Pennsylvania State University and was an active contributor to THON, which raises millions for childhood cancer yearly. He recently received a professional certification for Non Profit Board Leadership from West Chester University and has served Green Allies as a board member for two years.  In his free time, Tyler and his wife Alycia enjoy traveling abroad and enjoying the outdoors with their two dogs.

Patrick Rieker was born and raised in Pottstown, Pennsylvania and went to Pottsgrove High School. It was there that found GreenAllies and began to garner his passion for environmental activism. He started with GreenAllies as a student on the Core Leadership Team and then participated in the internship program. Now, Patrick studies Landscape Architecture at Temple University in Philadelphia and at the Temple Arboretum in Ambler. In addition to his studies, he is involved with Temple’s Office of Sustainability, Tyler School of Art and Architecture Admissions Office, and the Temple Run Club. He hopes to one day work for a city or town in a position to advocate for green infrastructure and sustainable public spaces. On any given day, he can be found running through many of the Philadelphia parks or jamming out to some music, or both!

Frank Shafer resides in North Wales, PA and is a Pediatric Hematologist working as a Senior Clinical Research Director for Sanofi Pharmaceutical Company in drug development for rare blood disorders. Originally from Iowa, Frank has never forgotten his Mid-west upbringing and importance in serving as a steward of the land.  He served as a Boy Scout Leader for many years and valued being able to volunteer in this capacity while being able to enjoy camping, hiking, and caring for the environment with his four sons.  He founded the St. Francis Ecology Council at his parish, Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Catholic Church in North Wales as a group interested in promoting environmental awareness.  He is an avid gardener and considers each growing season as an opportunity to experiment with new vegetables, unique flowers, and planting techniques.  He and his wife Kathy enjoy canning and cooking with the garden harvests and just spending time in our yard with our dog, Maggie

Steph Snader currently lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania working for UPMC Presbyterian as a nurse in a Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit. Steph, originally introduced to GreenAllies through peers at Pottsgrove High School, enjoyed volunteering as a part of the Althouse Arboretum core team of high school student leaders. During this time, she developed a strong passion for the environment and enjoyed helping inspire community members to get outside and learn about sustainability. Now, she is happy for the opportunity to continue to work with GreenAllies by serving as a board member.

Julia is the youngest grandchild of John and Violet Althouse. Her fondest childhood memories are the family gatherings she spent at the “Farm”, the nickname for the property that is now the Althouse Arboretum. Julia completed both her MS and PhD degrees in School Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University and has over 25 years of experience as a school psychologist, in Henrico County, VA, Central Bucks School District, PA, and currently in Abington School District, PA. Julia has served on the Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania (ASPP) Executive Board as Legislative Chair and President. Currently she is the Chair of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Government and Professional Relations Committee. Her work as a school psychologist and advocate has earned her state and national recognition including the 2019 Pennsylvania School Psychologist of the Year and the 2021 National School Psychologist of the Year.

John Bayard resides in Cranford, NJ and works as the International Tax Senior Manager at Anchin, Block, and Anchin LLP in New York.   Originally from Montgomery Country, Pennsylvania, John developed a passion for the environment and conservation while volunteering as a member of SAVE (Student’s Against Violating the Earth) as a student a Souderton Area High School.  John holds a BA in Political Science and History from Elizabethtown College, a MA in Chinese Studies from Valparaiso University, and a JD from Valparaiso University.  He served as a former youth group leader at Trinity Episcopal Church in Ambler, PA and as a volunteer for Manna on Main Street in Lansdale.  He is a former Treasurer for Green Allies and has been a proud board member since 2017.  In his free time, John and his wife Tina enjoy hiking with their Dog, Lovie.