Our Staff, Page 2
Jana Stone
Marketing Manager
contact@beczak.org
Jana is BZK Edu’s Marketing Manager and oversees all of the organization’s fundraising and communication efforts. She holds a B.A. in Writing from Houghton College and a M.A. in Public Communication from Fordham University, and spent the first half of her career developing and licensing products for direct marketing companies. Her freelance writing, however, followed her personal interests more closely.
Jana learned about BZK Edu around ten years ago through a story in her local newspaper. She came to visit and heard talk of a BZK Edu canoe and kayak trip from Albany to Yonkers. As a long-time summer camp canoe instructor, she jumped on the opportunity to join in. After spending five days with about eight other river-lovers in a big wooden canoe, her friendship with BZK Edu was firmly established although that trip marked the beginning of her shift to kayaking.
Jana has served on her town’s Local Committee and is a member of the Mountain Club. She’s delighted to be able to combine her environmental sensibilities and love of the outdoors with her marketing skills at BZK Edu.
A Hudson Valley native, Jana and her husband have renovated several houses along the river. Now—when it is not soccer season—they and their two girls love to bicycle to their town’s farmers market and explore local hiking trails.
Tina Times
Director of Education
contact@beczak.org
Tina, a native of Yonkers, joined BZK Edu in 2005 as an educator responsible for designing and delivering interactive educational programs as well as assisting with exhibit design and creation. Currently, as Education Manager, she is responsible for scheduling and coordinating all education programs as well as training and supervising the education staff. She still manages to teach programs and maintain the aquaria, including cradling hogchokers. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychobiology.
During her studies, Tina worked as an educator at The Maritime Aquarium, teaching classes about local flora and fauna and working on the Marine Life Cruises aboard the Research Vessel Oceanic. She also worked in the Interactive Salt Marsh, as well as at The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research, where she assisted with all aspects of husbandry, rescue, release and rehabilitation of seals and sea turtles . And she served as a plover steward for the Suffolk County of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation, helping protect the endangered piping plovers of the local beaches from the threat of extinction.
Tina has long had an active interest in fresh and saltwater ecology. She spent a semester-at-sea aboard The Californian, a 145-foot schooner, sailing down the Baja peninsula from Long Beach, CA. She also is a certified water safety instructor and waterfront lifeguard. She also holds certifications in CPR, First Aid, and Connecticut Safe Boating.
Tina enjoys working at BZK Edu, and is happy to have found her niche along the Hudson River. She has helped create new programs and exhibits designed to educate both children and adults about the wonders and importance of Hudson River ecology. She looks forward to the new and exciting opportunities to come her way.
Tommas Ulker
Outreach Coordinator
contact@beczak.org
Tommas joined BZK Edu as an educator in 2008 and since then has also taken on the role of Outreach Coordinator. As an educator, he is responsible for developing and teaching hands-on programs both off-site and at BZK Edu. He also heads up 2 weekly after school environmental clubs as well as boy scout programs. In addition, Tommas has taken on the task of maintaining and updating BZK Edu’s website including troubleshooting the Hudson River Estuary real-time data section. When Tommas isn’t in the classroom he is working in the field with BZK Edu’s dedicated team of volunteers. It is his goal to get as many people involved in BZK Edu’s mission as possible. An eagle scout, Tommas has a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and a Master of Science in Educational Technology from Ramapo College of New Jersey.
Tommas got his feet wet as an intern for the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission’s Center. Upon the completion of his internship, Tommas was awarded the position of Post-Baccalaureate Fellow. This position is given yearly to one Ramapo College graduate. While at the Meadowlands, he taught salt marsh ecology programs for k-12 students, scouts, and senior citizens. He was also responsible for the care of the center’s 3 diamondback terrapins and many fish tanks. Additionally, Tommas spent time teaching on the beach for Brookdale Community College’s Ocean Institute at Sandy Hook. Most recently, Jason was an Education Specialist for the National Parks of New York Harbor Education Center. In addition to teaching New York Harbor history and ecology programs, Tommas was the project coordinator for the development of the year long Marine Invaders of Jamaica Bay field program. Students from several New York City high schools participated in the monitoring of invasive species in Jamaica Bay.
Tommas is a newcomer to Yonkers, originally from New Jersey and is looking forward to experiencing all the city has to offer on this side of the George Washington Bridge. In his spare time, he loves to go camping and hiking and often travels to the American West to explore. BZK Edu is happy to have Tommas on board, his passion and dedication adds to the dynamic of the education department. He is excited to be a part of the staff at BZK Edu and can’t wait to share his experiences with you.