Our Board of Directors

We have the distinct honor of having a truly dedicated and proactive Board of Directors to help guide this ship we call the Greensgrow Philadelphia Project. Please take a few moments to learn about them and their commitment to Greensgrow Philadelphia.

Chairman:  Jerry Naples, Jr., Principal React Environmental Professional Services Group, Inc (REPSG)

Over the last 25 years , Mr. Naples has been working with municipalities, private developers and non-profit organizations in devising and implementing brownfields restoration projects. He provides consulting services to private firms engaged in mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcies and many other aspects of real estate transactions.

Before founding REPSG, Mr. Naples was the managing director of New Jersey operations for New England Pollution Control Company (NEPCCO). Mr. Naples has also been involved in a number of environmental remediation projects ranging from emergency response events (Chemical Control, Elizabeth, NJ) and UST management programs (Acme Markets system wide, City of Philadelphia Department of Public Property), to extensive groundwater assessment and remediation projects in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Mr. Naples received his B.S. in Environmental Conservation along with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire. He also holds Licenses for UST/AST removal and installation with the NJDEP, PADEP and DNREC, and is an active member of industry groups such as National Brownfields Association, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, and the American Railroad Association.

Secretary: Deborah P. Nason-Naples, Esq., Vice President/General Counsel Nason Construction, Inc. Wilmington, DE

Don't let her title fool you, Ms. Nason-Maples was practically born with a hammer and t-square in her hands. As a third generation offspring of a commercial contracting family, Nason-Maples is extremely familiar with the nuts and bolts, ins and outs, and the ups and downs of the construction business. More than 25 years ago, she started out in the family business as an assistant carpenter.

Today, as the company's Vice President and General Counsel, it's her job to keep the company's legal affairs and company infrastructure in place. That said Nason-Naples is, in many ways, the ideal board member combining her construction and legal skills... whether it's reviewing legal documents pertaining to a new Greensgrow venture... or plying her old construction skills helping to build a new hydroponics system on the farm.

Deborah has 20 years of law practice under her belt. She received her undergraduate degree in Philosophy, from Barnard College, Columbia University in 1983, and her law degree from Fordham University School of Law in 1989.

Treasurer: Donald Nienas, Vice President, The Situs Companies, New York, NY

A former Philadelphia resident, Donald now resides in New York City. While attending Temple University's MBA program in Real Estate, Don was attracted to Greensgrow's recycling and reuse programs conducted in the Kensington area. Donald actively volunteered and provided professional real estate guidance for Greensgrow since its inception in 1997. Donald also played major role in the organization's initial search for abandoned city property.

Donald's extensive experience in risk management, coupled with his undergraduate degree in Marketing and Forestry Products, has helped the organization become more streamlined, focused, and efficient.

Bruce A. Amos, Environmental Risk Management Consultant, Philadelphia, PA

Born and raised in Northeastern PA,. Bruce understands the potential negative environmental impact industrial facilities can do the land when gone unchecked. Bruce's experience in urban redevelopment spans more than 30 years. He holds degrees in Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, as well as an MBA in business management.
Bruce lives in Philadelphia with his wife and continues to commission reports on the use of environmental insurance in the redevelopment of contaminated real estate.

Honorable Susan I. Schulman, ex officio, Philadelphia, PA

As the a judge in the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County, Ms. Schulman is in touch with the Philadelphia community... at the street level. This insight makes her uniquely qualified for her board position on the Greensgrow Philadelphia Project. Always willing to lend a helping, or legal, hand, the Honorable Susan Schulman brings her organizational and managerial skills to the table and is committed to the community development that is inherent with the urban grass roots development projects targeted by Greensgrow Philly.

Ms. Schulman earned her B.A. from the University of Rhode Island and her law dregree from Temple University School of Law.
Patricia Hasson, President, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley (CCCS)

Since 1998, Ms. Hasson has guided the day-to-day operations and development of the company's staff and its initiatives. She has channeled much of her energies and resources into implementing and participating in financial literacy initiatives, benefiting low-to-moderate income households throughout the Delaware Valley.

In 2007, Hasson was appointed the Federal Reserve Board Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) for a three-year term. Founded in 1976, the CAC meets with the Board of Governors three times a year to advise the Fed on issues including fair lending, community development and consumer protection. She was recently appointed Vice Chair of the Community Affairs & Housing Committee for the CAC. Hasson is currently a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and Vice Chair of the Small Business Board for the Chamber. The Philadelphia Business Journal and NAWBO honored her with the 2006 Women of Distinction Award.

In 2005, Hasson was awarded the Center City Proprietors Association in Philadelphia Lifetime Achievement Award for her agency's commitment to stabilizing neighborhoods and improving the quality of life for individuals and families in the Greater Philadelphia area. She serves on the steering committee for the Governor's Institute on Personal Finance and Entrepreneurship Education. She and her agency are the lead agency managing the Philadelphia Saves Campaign.

She earned an MBA from Villanova University, and a B.S. in Finance from the University of Dayton.

Justin DiBerardinis

Justin is Fishtown native, foodie, enthusiastic but mediocre gardener, and a proud member of the Greensgrow Board. He has worked in the non-profit and community organizing fields, with most of his work focusing on public education issues in the Kensington neighborhood. His proudest professional achievement was the campaign for a new Willard Elementary School, which finally had its groundbreaking in Fall 2008. Last year he transitioned into the public sector and is the Legislative Director for City Councilwoman Maria Quinones Sanchez.

He and his wife Linda have recently moved to Germantown, where they enjoy the grass, trees, flowers and have become familiar with the operation and maintenance of lawnmowers.

Brigitte Cooperman

It was the city of brother love that first attracted Ms. Cooperman to the U.S. But, it was love that ultimately kept her here. Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Cooperman moved to the U.S. in the early 80's, where she met the man she eventually married, a Philadelphia native, on her first day of work.

Ms. Cooperman, who now resides in Radnor with her husband and teenage son, brings a sense of creativity and 25+ years of executive leadership skills through her experiences working for companies such as the Gap, J.Crew, Zainy Brainy and Urban Outfitters. During this time, most of her focus has been on human resource management, operational management and business development initiatives.

Patricia A. Hasson

Patricia A. Hasson has served as President and Executive Director of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley, Inc. (CCCS) since 1998. Reporting to the Board of Directors, Hasson oversees operation of the $5.5 million agency and its professional and administrative staff of 70 employees. During her ten year tenure the agency has tripled in size expanding to meet the increased demand for financial counseling and education service and now operates 16 offices throughout ten-county area of Philadelphia and southern New Jersey.

Hasson has channeled much of her energies and resources into initiating and implementing financial education programs, benefiting low-moderate wealth households throughout the Delaware Valley. She has also taken a lead role in sharing her knowledge and expertise with the local business and non-profit community as well as local, state and federal government officials on financial issues impacting consumers, specifically related to the housing and credit area.

In 2007, Hasson was appointed to the Federal Reserve Board Consumer Advisory Council (CAC) and in 2009 was appointed Chair of the Housing & Community Development Committee on the CAC. In 2009 the Reinvestment Fund (TRF) in Phila awarded CCCS with the George Bailey Award in recognition of its entrepreneurial spirit and outstanding commitment to investing in the community for a better future. Her agency was awarded the 2008 United Way of Southeastern PA Community Impact Award in recognition of the agencies community leadership to advance the common good.

The Philadelphia Business Journal and NAWBO honored her with the 2006 Women of Distinction Award. In 2005, she was awarded the Center City Proprietors Association in Philadelphia Lifetime Achievement Award for her agency's commitment to stabilizing neighborhoods and improving the quality of life for individuals and families in the Greater Philadelphia area.

She is also currently a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and is Chair of the Small Business Board for the Chamber.

Hasson has an MBA from Villanova University and BS in Finance from the University of Dayton.