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).
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.
Ian Connett, Esq.
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.
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.
Edward 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.
Linda Schoeck
Linda has been a year round resident of Quogue and a patron of the Wildlife Refuge for over 20 years. Linda lives just minutes from the Refuge and has been involved as a benefit planning committee member, auction donor, volunteer, and long time camp parent. She is also the owner of local business John’s Pools and Spas in Westhampton Beach. Linda is so proud of the work that the Refuge does for the community, families, children, and local environment through its many enrichment programs, camps, and fundraising efforts.
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.