MEET THE HNP BOARD
Doug Tallamy
Cofounder
Doug Tallamy is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 111 research publications and taught insect related courses for 41 years. Chief among his research goals is better understanding the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His books include Bringing Nature Home, The Living Landscape (co-authored with Rick Darke), Nature's Best Hope (NYT Best Seller), and The Nature of Oaks (winner of the American Horticultural Society’s '22 book award). Doug has also been recognized with awards from The Garden Writer’s Association, Audubon, The National Wildlife Federation, Allegheny College, Ecoforesters, The Garden Club of America and The American Horticultural Association.
Michelle Alfandari
Michelle is a business development consultant, entrepreneur, and business owner. As founder and CEO of MODA Licensing, established in 1988, she had the opportunity to work with a global and diverse client base of corporations and non-profits building new businesses and revenue streams from intellectual property. Clients included The New York Times, Snap-on Tools, Ritz - Paris, Victoria and Albert Museum, Tour de France, National Trust for Historic Preservation, LYCRA®, Mack Trucks, America’s Vet Dogs, Better Homes & Gardens, Bushnell, The Henry Ford Museum, UNICEF, COTY Beauty and UNIPAL Corrugated Pallets. In 2020 she co-founded Homegrown National Park with Doug Tallamy. She is founder of Retimement® and is certified in executive coaching and applied positive psychology
Ken Monteiro
Board Secretary
A lawyer who spent most of his career working in philanthropy. He retired in 2019 as vice president, secretary and general counsel of the Ford Foundation. Before joining the Ford Foundation in 1995, he was an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton. He serves on the boards of Drug Policy Action, the advocacy and political arm of the Drug Policy Alliance, the Amenia Garden Club and Mad Gardeners. He was previously on the boards of Philanthropy New York, the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, the Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development and the Lesbian and Gay Law Association Foundation of Greater New York.
Jim Carras
Jim is deeply committed to promoting biodiversity through native plants. As the Founder and Director of Native Flora Seeds Inc., Jim established the nonprofit to provide native plant seeds that support ecosystems and wildlife. His passion for environmental sustainability is reflected in his dedication to increasing habitat for pollinators across the country. In addition to his work with Native Flora Seeds, Jim is an Executive Volunteer Partner at the American Red Cross, where he has implemented a Continuous Improvement Program for business processes. With over 40 years of experience in business transformation, Jim continues to make a meaningful impact through his work and volunteer efforts.
Randy Ramusack
Randy is an enabler. As CEO of Enabling Founders Randy provides early-stage entrepreneurs with business strategy, product direction, capital and team development, and sales, marketing and operations realization. With successful exits to Verizon and Clariti Technologies, and a Harvard Business School Case Study published on his venture-backed partnership with Frog Design, Randy brings a unique depth and breadth to every engagement. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Randy spent 15-years at Microsoft where, as Microsoft’s Chief Technology Officer to International Organizations, he provided technology policy and strategy advice to Secretaries-General, Government Ministers, and CEOs while directing Microsoft’s contribution to several groundbreaking technology solutions for millions in need including refugee populations, higher-education institutions, low-energy infrastructure, and internet for the most disconnected. Randy also invests significant time and energy ensuring the well-being of natural habitats.
Tyler Pride
Board Treasurer
A native of Chicago and proud Brooklynite, Tyler A. Pride is a seasoned attorney with extensive experience in U.S. federal income taxation, mergers and acquisitions, business law, and insurance products. Tyler has successfully structured and placed tax insurance programs exceeding $1 billion, providing enhanced risk management strategies for clients in the M&A space. Admitted to the New York State Bar and licensed as an insurance broker in New York, Tyler brings a strong blend of legal and regulatory expertise to any organization.
Outside of his professional career, Tyler serves as a mentor to college-bound high school students through SEO Scholars and as a Trustee Board member for PAVE Academy Charter School in Red Hook, Brooklyn. He enjoys swimming, traveling, making candles, and exploring the many gems of New York City with his wife.
Dennis Liu
Board Member
An internationally recognized expert in science education and educational media. Dennis was a zoology major at the University of Wisconsin, then received his Ph.D. in biology from the University of Oregon doing research in the Neuroscience Institute. Following postdoctoral studies, he was faculty in the department of genetics at University of Washington.
Mid-career Dennis shifted his focus from molecular medicine to what E.O. Wilson called “the little things that run the world,” – from ants to hummingbirds to pitcher plants, the millions of other species our very lives depend on. He is Vice President of Education for the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation.
Milda Vaivada
Board Member
Milda is the Founder and President of Soiree Atelier Inc., an event planning firm specializing in high end client private functions and non-profit fundraising events. She also owns a retail business in Sperryville, VA - Milda Vaivada H.O.M.E. (Honoring Our Mother Earth).
Milda is the author of COME CLOSER An invitation to Re-Connect with Nature and has written numerous commentaries on social and environmental issues. While she's especially interested in environmental advocacy, Milda's served on many boards, including Artspring, the Shelter for Abused Women and Children, Keep America Beautiful (Collier Division), Main Street USA (Immokalee, FL), Everglades Wonder Gardens, and Friends of Rookery Bay. She currently also serves on the board of the Friends of the Everglades.