Amy Goldsmith, NJEF State Director
Amy oversees all of New Jersey programs for Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund. She also serves on the Board of the NJ Work Environment Council, EarthShare New Jersey, Chairs the Coalition for Healthy Ports, as well as an appointee to the NJDEP Clean Water Council. From 1994-2002, served in various roles as National Coordinator for the Public Health Institute's (PHI) Jobs and Environment Training Consortium, National Just Transition Alliance Curriculum Writing Team and Training Logistics Coordinator. Before joining Clean Water Action in mid-1992, Ms. Goldsmith directed Clean Water Action/Fund's New England programs for seven years - leading a variety of public campaigns around water, superfund and Boston Harbor cleanups, and solid waste. From 1989-1992, Amy served as the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Nuclear Referendum Committee, focused on radioactive waste issues. In 2004, she received an Environmental Achievement Award from NJ Governor McGreevey. She has a B.S. in Land Use Planning from the University of Minnesota, and served for three years as a research scientist with the University of Minnesota's Entomology Department. Amy lives in Red Bank with her husband, 2 children, 3 cats, 4 fish and a turtle. She loves to garden and take walks in her favorite nature area.
David Pringle, NJEF Campaign Director
For over 25 years, David has been one of the state's leading environmental advocates, playing a pivotal role in advancing protections and defeating rollbacks in most of the key clean water, air and energy and land use campaigns over that span. He serves as Clean Water Action's chief strategist, media spokesperson, and lobbyist in New Jersey on a very wide range of issues with a particular focus on Trenton, field and electoral work. He helped found the NJ Highlands Coalition, chaired its Policy Committee, served as the NJ Assembly Speaker's public health appointee to the Drinking Water Quality Institute where he chaired its Health Committee, and is a Trustee of Consumers for Civil Justice. A graduate of Princeton University and lifelong resident of Cranford, NJ, David just celebrated his 20th anniversary with his wife and their 3 teenagers, serves on the Board of Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church, and also volunteers as a local boy scout leader, and basketball and soccer coach.
Peggi Sturmfels, NJEF Program Organizer
Peggi works with schools to adopt green cleaning, no bus idling, and other protective measures and coordinates Clean Water Action's sustainable energy and power plant safety initiatives. Prior to joining Clean Water Action, Ms. Sturmfels was Associate Editor of the Two River Times, Red Bank, NJ. Formerly a member of the Governor's Lyme Disease Advisory Council, cofounder and past president of Lyme Disease Coalition of NJ. Thirty years of experience and leadership roles in campaigns with special needs organizations, school boards, national, state (past vice president) and local PTAs.
Jenny Vickers, NJEF Communications Coordinator and Organizer
Jenny manages communications and marketing for Clean Water Action New Jersey’s campaigns, events, and programs, including website, email alerts, social media, print and online communications, and videos. Ms. Vickers also helps coordinate organizational events such as action-oriented lobby days, conferences, charity auctions, fundraisers, wine tastings, art shows, poetry festivals and more. She also conducts media and member outreach, grassroots and fundraising campaigns, mobilization efforts, responds to inquiries for information, and makes referrals on a wide variety of environmental issues. Formerly, the Program Assistant for the University Honors Program and Ethics Studies Program at East Carolina University, as well as Staff Writer/Editor of The East Carolinian Newspaper. She has a M.A. in International Studies from East Carolina University. Jenny is also a published freelance writer and owns her own Etsy shop where she makes and sells handmade crocheted and knitted hats, scarves, shawls, and more. In addition to the environment, she is passionate about traveling, hiking, yoga, organic gardening, and music.
Ben Davies, Field Canvass Director
Ben grew up in Brewster, NY and attended school at SUNY Purchase where he graduated with a B.A. in Political Science in January 2009. He started working in Environmental Activism in February 2009 and became Clean Water Action’s Long Branch Canvass Director in August 2010. He has immense passions in human rights and civil liberties and wishes to advance his career in such fields, but only after accomplishing great campaign victories with Clean Water Action.
Deborah Kim Gaddy, NJEF Environmental Justice Organizer
Kim develops and implements Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund's grassroots environmental justice campaigns and coalition building efforts. She is the Chair, Newark Environmental commission and former Chair of the Essex County Environmental Commission. Also, she is a member of NJDEP's Environmental Justice Advisory Council, founding member of the NJ Environmental Justice Alliance and New Jersey President of the International Black Women's Congress. Previously, she worked in Municipal government in Newark for 12 years and served as the first female Chief of Staff for the Newark Municipal Council. Kim is a 2000 Neighborhood Leadership Fellow and former elected school board member for the Newark Public schools. Kim is a 2007 recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 Environmental Community award for her fight for Environmental Justice in urban communities. She is a graduate of Rutgers University, member of the First Baptist Church of Nutley and proud mother of Sonny Jr., Frankie Mo’Nay, and Julian.
Eric Benson, Field Canvass Director
Eric started his Clean Water Action career managing the door to door canvass staff in Montclair just as he graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor's degree in Geography in 2004. The passionate and positively charged staff makes it exciting for him to go to work each day. With that, he brings new levels of environmental activism to our campaigns. In his spare time, Eric loves to travel, crotchet, and brew his own beer. Eric’s latest messy hobby is beekeeping. Now a resident of Montclair, Eric also serves on the Essex County Environmental Commission.