Mac Highet, President
Mac has been on the Quogue Wildlife Board since 2016 and for much of that period served as Treasurer. He retired from a career in finance and operations management and is now a Quogue resident. Prior to settling in Quogue he had a summer home in Quiogue for 20+ years. As a CPA, Mac started his career in New Zealand, then moving to London, and finally settling in the US. He spent the majority of his US career with Reed Elsevier, a London based corporation engaged in the global publishing and information sector, and latterly served as CFO of Reuters, America. He has also been on the boards of several not-for-profit organizations including Bergen Volunteers (NJ), The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference and The Quogue Association. An active outdoor enthusiast, Mac can frequently be found enjoying the trails at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge with his wife Carroll, family and friends. He and Carroll have three daughters, Christine, Emily and Gillian, and 5 grandchildren.
Alan E. Lazarescu, Vice President
Alan Lazarescu has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Quogue Wildlife Refuge since July 2015. He has served as Quogue Village Justice and held positions in Quogue as Village Prosecuting Attorney, Chairperson of the Design Review Board and as Alternate Member of the Planning Board. He is an attorney admitted to practice in New York State, the Supreme Court of the United States, the Tax Court and various other federal courts. During his thirty-five year career at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, the litigation, insurance, corporate, labor relations and compliance attorneys reported to him. He was chairperson of the Board of two Metlife subsidiaries with substantial real estate assets, for example, Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town. For twenty-seven years he was the General Counsel (Pro Bono) of the Society of Actuaries. For thirteen years he was an Adjunct Professor of Law at St. John’s University School of Law. Also, for many years he served as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association.
Marcey Becker Brody, Treasurer
Marcey joined the Board of the Quogue Wildlife Refuge in December 2023. She and her husband Bob Brody and their two children, Joel and Ethan, have had a home in Quogue since 2004. The whole family has enjoyed and participated in various programs at the QWR over the years. They are also members of the Shinnecock Yacht Club, where Marcey frequently volunteers and Ethan works as a dockhand and sailing instructor. Marcey is a board member of the Quogue Association where she serves as Treasurer. She is also the Secretary and founding Board member of Young Women in Finance, a non-for-profit she started with business school colleagues. Professionally, Marcey served as the Senior Vice President, Finance and Corporate Development, Treasurer and CFO for Elizabeth Arden, Inc, a publicly owned global beauty company. Prior to joining Elizabeth Arden, Marcey was an investment banker at Merrill Lynch (Bank of America) and at Dean Witter Reynolds (Morgan Stanley).
Ian Connett, Esq., Secretary
Ian officially joined the Quogue Wildlife Refuge Board of Directors in December of 2024. Growing up as a lifelong summer resident of Westhampton Beach and Quogue, Ian and his wife Sarah Faye now live full-time on the East End in the hamlet of Remsenburg, where they remain active in supporting several local initiatives, including participating in and supporting programming at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge, Shinnecock Yacht Club and Remsenburg Association. An avid cross-country runner, wooden boat bay sailor, and current Commodore of the century-old SS Class Sailboat Association, Ian has a deep appreciation for the outdoors and is committed to preserving Long Island’s unique ecological environments and wildlife. In addition to serving the Board, Ian is a full-time attorney at the prominent law firm of Harris Beach Murtha, PLLC, where he practices Corporate Law. In 2012, Ian began his decade long legal career at the firm’s Business and Litigation Group, where he has represented entities in both the private and public sector. Ian is also the previous Founder of the boutique law firm, Connett, PC and the Rivertowns Chamber of Commerce, a local not-for-profit supporting the small business community in New York State.
Anthony Bonner
Anthony Bonner is a lifelong resident of East Quogue and Westhampton. He was born, raised and educated in our own backyard. After graduating from Westhampton Beach High School in 1982, he embarked on his dream to have his own business. Anthony has owned and operated Sea Level Construction for over 40 years. Anthony is one of nine brothers and sisters, most of whom still live locally, and therefore has deep and meaningful roots in the community. Anthony was a volunteer firefighter for 23 years. In addition to responding to calls, both large and small, he helped fight the Sunrise Wildfire of 1995. He is on the board of directors at WHBPAC. He has been a patron of the wildlife refuge with his wife, Sandy of almost 45 years. Together with their 3 children, Robin, Patrick and Kirsten, and grandchildren Theo and Charlotte, they have enjoyed many occasions at the refuge. He has been on the board of directors at WHBPAC for 5 years.
Patrick Bonner
Mike Firestone
Mike Firestone is a seasoned library professional with over 30 years of experience and currently serves as the Director of the Bayport-Blue Point Public Library. A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Mike is an amateur birder and photographer with a deep appreciation for the natural world. His connection to the Quogue Wildlife Refuge dates back to childhood, and he is passionate about its mission to inspire environmental stewardship. A strong believer in the message of Last Child in the Woods, Mike is committed to preserving vital natural spaces like QWR and supporting efforts to educate the public about nature and the outdoors.
Bob Murray
A third generation resident of Quogue, Bob spent his pre-teen years wandering the meadow behind Mrs. Tuttle’s farm on Quogue Street, looking for muskrats, raccoons and other wildlife. An avid bird-watcher and member of both the Eastern LI Audubon Society and the Group for the East End, he is currently on the Board of Directors for the Westhampton Historical Society, and a full time Associate Real Estate Broker with the Corcoran Group, where he, his wife, and his daughter are known as The Murray Team. A graduate of Yale University and a Vietnam vet, Bob spent 20 years as a Procter & Gamble manager before becoming president of RCP, a property management company in Princeton, NJ. He is a former instructor with the Institute of Real Estate Management, past president of the Westhampton Chamber of Commerce and past president of the Westhampton Historical Society. Married now for 57 years, he and Meredith have three daughters, and six grandchildren.
Doug Nappi
Doug Nappi grew up in East Quogue and Westhampton Beach and frequently visited the Quogue Wildlife Refuge as a child. His love of nature and being outdoors has led to degrees in Horticulture and Landscape Design and a 30+ year career in the landscape industry. Doug and his wife, Barbara, own Dragonfly Landscape Design – a full-service landscaping company dedicated to serving the local community with landscape design services, landscape construction, custom masonry, outdoor lighting, and property maintenance. Over the years, the Dragonfly team has helped the Refuge with a number of development projects (including the Butterfly Garden) as well as ongoing maintenance projects. As a Board member starting in 2024, Doug is excited to become even more involved in the Refuge’s future plans, ensuring that the Refuge will continue to be a special place for children and adults alike.
Ted Necarsulmer, III
Ted Necarsulmer is a year-round Quogue resident. He is actively involved in the Quogue Fire Department, serves as President of the Quogue Firefighters Benevolent Association, and is a Trustee of the Village of Quogue. He has spent the majority of his career with the investment firm of C.J. Lawrence Inc., and at successor firms in New York City. Ted was also the head of the US equity business for Deutsche Bank Securities, and subsequently joined the firm of Wasserstein Perella as CEO of the equities business. In addition, Ted served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the William George Agency for Children in Freeville, and is past president of the Board of Trustees of Saint David’s School in New York City. He has been married to his wife, Terry, for 48 years, and together, they have one son, Edward, who is a literary agent in New York City.
Julia Priolo
Julia Priolo has been a part of the Quogue Wildlife Refuge community for over 15 years, enjoying recreating, volunteering and attending programs here with her family. Beginning with a college internship in 2008 and 2009, Julia was able to learn about many aspects of the Refuge, including caring for the resident animal ambassadors, most notably the bobcat, teaching environmental education programs, and serving as the nature center office assistant on the weekends. Julia completed her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Stony Brook University and was able to study abroad in Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar. As Julia continued her career in the environmental protection field, the Quogue Wildlife Refuge has been a constant source of inspiration that aligns with her passions. Julia currently serves as a Principal Environmental Analyst at the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, Division of Environmental Quality, helping with the implementation of on-site wastewater treatment upgrades to protect and restore water quality throughout the County. Julia lives in Center Moriches with her husband Peter and son Davis, who spend much of their free time in the Moriches Bay, the Pine Barrens and their backyard garden.
Linda Schoeck
Linda Schoeck has been a dedicated member of the Quogue Wildlife Refuge community for over 20 years, serving proudly on the Board of Directors and playing a vital role in events, fundraising, and volunteer coordination. Her connection to the Refuge began when her daughter, Haley, was a child participating in the Summer Ecology Program, sparking a lasting family passion for conservation and environmental education. A longtime Quogue resident who lives just minutes from the Refuge, Linda has been a driving force behind events like the Spooky Walk, Enchanted Forest, and Wild Night for Wildlife, contributing as a planner, donor, and volunteer. Beyond her environmental work, Linda is the owner of John’s Swimming Pools and Spas, a respected local business serving the East End for over four decades. Her leadership across both environmental and business spheres reflects her deep commitment to community, while Haley now continues the family legacy as Chief of Staff at NYU Steinhardt and a fellow supporter of the Refuge.
Gigi Spates
Gigi was Quogue Wildlife Refuge’s executive director for nearly 15 years, managing all aspects of the Refuge: She had begun her experience there a decade before, first as a volunteer, as naturalist/educator, then as assistant director: thus understanding the programming, maintenance and all around management of the Refuge. She continues to be on the Board of the Refuge and volunteers her time and ideas with the staff there. She has her permanent New York State teachers certificate and a masters degree from Stony Brook University. Gigi lives on the North Fork but visits the Refuge frequently, fully realizing the essential value of the Refuge not only to herself but to the whole community of the East End of Long Island and to the public at large.