The Board of the Quogue Wildlife Refuge

Mary J. Post, President - Mary J. Post is owner and director of the Love of Learning children's school. She has volunteered on the Westhampton War Memorial Ambulance as an EMT for the past 17 years and served as one of their board of directors for over 14 years. She is the secretary of the Quogue Community Foundation and is an active member of the community. Enjoying the Wildlife Refuges' beauty is a favorite pastime and she loves to share it with her students, friends and family.

Deborah Shishido, Vice President – Debi is a native Long Islander, and after living in Tokyo, Japan for seven years, now resides in Quogue year round with her husband and two sons. Debi and her family regularly attend and volunteer at Refuge programs and are frequent hikers on QWR's trails. She has a MA in 3D Design from NYU, worked for 8 years as an Art and Spanish Teacher on the Junior High and High School levels, and is a trained volunteer organizer for Long Island Climate Action Network (LI-CAN). "I feel the Refuge has enriched our lives on so many levels. My Family has learned a great deal about wildlife and the environment. We have come to realize how a secluded natural place such as the Refuge, is precious and we all must do our part to make sure it is preserved and protected."

Linda Riley, Vice President - Linda is a resident of Southampton Village and an Attorney with offices located in Southampton. She is a former Southampton Town Attorney and is currently the Village Attorney for the Village of East Hampton.

Henry Lokaj, Treasurer - Hank is a Certified Public Accountant specializing in corporate/business tax compliance and planning. He is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University with a BBA in Accounting. Hank has 25 years experience in his field and is recently self-employed. He is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA).

Eileen Gerle, Secretary - Eileen Gerle is a Marine Environmental educator who is currently employed as the Director of Education at Atlantis Marine World Aquarium. Eileen has also worked at Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Riverhead Foundation for Marine research and Preservation.

Russell Ainbinder - Russell is an active member of the community, is presently a member of the Board of directors of the The Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island (CRESLI). He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Suffolk County Community College. Mr. Ainbinder received his A.A.S. in Information Technology from Suffolk County Community College, his B.A. in Earth Science from Dowling College, and an M.S. in Adolescent Education with a specialization in science. He currently is an Earth Science Teacher at Sachem High School. He is involved in research that includes projects concerning the water quality of the Great South Bay and Horseshoe Crab populations on Long Island.

Gilbert Foster - Gil has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Southampton Township Waterfowl Association, Inc. since the early 1970's and was President for 15 of those years. He has also been a member of the Southampton Town Conservation Board for 40 years and it's Chairman for 37 years. Gil taught Conservation Hunter training for New York State Department of Conservation for 25 years.

Kimberley Payne - Kim is a lifelong resident of the Village of Quogue and is very involved in our local community. He is currently serving as a Quogue Village Trustee and is a member of the Quogue Volunteer Fire Department.

Gigi Spates - "I have explored the Refuge in many capacities: as volunteer, naturalist/educator, assistant director and director. Through the years I find the Refuge fascinating yet peaceful, and urge all to experience the interesting yet comfortable wild areas of this dynamic place."

Evelyn Voulgarelis - Evelyn has been involved with the QWF since the 1970's when her children were in the Summer Ecology Program. She has been a volunteer and paid employee, and is now a board member (and still volunteers). She is a resident of Flanders and is a retired librarian.