The Pinelands Adventures Team
Meet the Pinelands Adventures team of expert guides and educators.
Vince Iannone, Manager
Vince joined the Pinelands Adventures Team in 2025, bringing years of management experience along with a love of nature and travel. He grew up right on Atsion Road in Shamong, where his excitement for the outdoors began at an early age with frequent visits to Atsion Lake and all of the local sites and waterways. Vince received his bachelor’s degree in Communication from Rowan University and worked in the area’s advertising and marketing field before becoming an operations manager for an organic grocery chain more aligned with his values. He is an avid Pinelands hiker and camper, but has also long-distance hiked in the Alps, China, and Corsica to name a few. His passion for travel can be seen in all aspects of his life, including in his beloved VW Vanagon which has been on many of his road and camping trips. Vince is thrilled to bring his enthusiasm for the outdoors full circle by joining the Adventures Team!
Monica Cahill, Assistant Manager, Driver and Guide
When Monica joined Pinelands Adventures as a driver in 2019, she fulfilled her lifelong dream of working in the great outdoors in ecotourism. A South Jersey native who eventually settled down in Folsom (just outside Hammonton), she enjoys sharing her ever-growing knowledge of the history and ecology of the New Jersey Pinelands. Her passion for protecting and conserving our last remaining wilderness comes straight from the heart. Monica has quickly become a customer favorite by sharing her experiences in the forests and talking about the unique flora and fauna she’s encountered during her explorations of rivers and trails. Nature is her church. Monica also has worked at Rancocas Creek Farms, a restorative farming project sponsored by the Pinelands Alliance. She enjoys creative cooking with all the fresh veggies grown at the farm. As a yoga practitioner, Monica has also earned her 200-hour yoga teacher training certificate and is continuing her studies. Favorite quote: “Heaven is under our feet, as well as over our heads” ~Henry David Thoreau
Megan Bailey, Outdoor Programming Manager
Megan’s experience includes over a decade of program leadership, education, and operations within mission-driven organizations. She is very excited to coordinate outdoor engagement and develop programs for diverse audiences that align with our mission.
Mel Jaggard, Customer Service Representative
Mel has returned to Pinelands Adventures, only in a different role. He was a seasonal driver during the 2019 and 2020 seasons along with having his full time job, (since retired), as facilities and material handling maintenance supervisor for a major food distributor in Philadelphia. Mel is also a 10 year Navy veteran and served from 1984 to 1994.
He grew up as a regular visitor to Wharton State Forest, first with his dad and later as a dad with his own kids. He always knew his way around Wharton and learned more about the Batsto and Mullica Rivers during his time putting people on the water in 2019-2020.
Mel loves freshwater fishing for Largemouths and Pickerel. You’ll also find him around New Jersey’s brewery scene. Besides kayak fishing, paddling the rivers and his dogs, he enjoys the best craft brews that Jersey has to offer. If you’re wondering where the spots are, he’ll probably know. As he drew closer to retirement, seeing the opportunity to get back to a place he loves, he couldn’t help but jump on a chance to come back to Pinelands Adventures and the team.
Jeff Larson, Driver and Lead Guide
Jeff Larson has been a pinelands resident for most of his adult life. He is an avid pickerel fisherman who has spent countless hours exploring the watersheds within the Pine Barrens. He has enjoyed many years of exploring the deepest, most remote areas of the woods and has a profound respect for the history and culture of the region. A professional musician and guitar teacher, Jeff released two albums with a pine barrens related theme that have been well received in the community and internationally.
Pascal “Frenchy” Chavanon, Driver and Guide
After many years as an “unofficial” guide for his friends, family and colleagues, Pascal “Frenchy” Chavanon joined Pinelands Adventures in 2024 to share his enthusiasm for hiking, paddling and camping in the Jersey Pines. Frenchy’s career in recreation began when, at the age of 19, he left Paris to work at Club Med Resorts around the world, from Greece to the Mauritius Island. Pascal’s move to the United States in the 80’s, led to a 25-year career as a Winslow Township Police Officer. Frenchy has biked the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail and the Katy Trail in Missouri, America’s longest Rails-to-Trails project. Always ready to “turn the page” when it’s time, he’s excited about this new chapter as a driver and guide with Pinelands Adventures!
Alexis Burns, Operations Assistant
Alexis joined the team in 2024. She grew up frequently visiting the pinelands with her grandparents and has a deep appreciation for the area. She currently attends Rider University, working with her professor in a dendrochronolgy lab and helping run the Green Team. Her goal of one day practicing environmental law has led her to take up jobs that involve being submerged deep in the wilderness. When she isn’t launching guests or analyzing tree cores, you can find her reading in the library or coming up with ideas for new Green Team events.
Eric Polack, Driver and Guide
Despite his growing up in a heavily industrialized part of the New York metropolitan area, outdoor adventures have been a constant in Eric’s life since childhood. His travels have taken him backpacking, hiking, cross-country skiing, sailing, and paddling in the wild spots of 36 U.S. States, as well as abroad. When not outside or driving for Pinelands Adventures, Eric teaches music at the university level and listens to his ever growing collection of 1,500 LPs and 4000 CDs on a vacuum tube powered HiFi he built for himself.
Jason Howell, Driver, Guide, Riverkeeper, & Photographer
Jason Howell is an NJ Volunteer Master Naturalist, Wilderness First Responder, and is a volunteer with Mid-Atlantic Search and Rescue covering Southern New Jersey and The Pinelands National Reserve. Jason works full-time as Stewardship Coordinator with the Pinelands Alliance and helps us at Pinelands Adventures whenever he gets the opportunity. Jason is an avid canoeist, hiker, and wilderness skills enthusiast.
Mike Neral, Driver and Guide
Mike arrived at Pinelands Adventures in 2018 not a moment too soon. At the time we needed another driver and Mike hit the ground running knowing just what to do. You might find him wandering anywhere in the Pine Barrens when he’s not helping launch customers or regaling them with stories about the Pines. Be sure to ask him about his cats or his adventuring pup, Patches!
Kevin Wilson, Driver and Guide
Some of Kevin’s earliest outdoor memories include family canoe trips down the various rivers of the Pines. An overnight trip down the Mullica is still a favorite birthday event for him! He turned his love of nature into a 30+ year long career in the zoological field, and now plans to reacquaint himself with the incredible wildlife of the area. Kevin has a personal goal of finding the biggest Timber Rattlesnake he can! As a driver, Kevin hopes to pass his enthusiasm on to everyone he meets.
Mackenzie Tansey, Driver and Outdoor Educator
Mackenzie joined the Pinelands Adventures team in 2024, bringing with her an infectious positive energy and passion for accessible and inclusive programs at historic sites. Having grown up in Burlington County closer to the Delaware River, she considers herself a “piney neighbor” residing in Mount Laurel, and where she works as an outdoor educator in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest. When she isn’t corralling dozens of children through the woods, fending off unpredictable kayak paddles in launch areas, or learning basic automotive mechanics, you can find her watching neighbors’ dogs and chickens, singing in the woods, looking for animal tracks, or making new paintings for local art shows.
Mark Regenthal, Driver and Guide
Mark joined PA in 2024 after recently retiring from a long career as a public school teacher. An avid camper and hiker, he spends much of his time exploring the natural beauty of New Jersey, particularly in the Pines and the Highlands. Mark enjoys outdoor adventures year-round, embracing all types of weather.
Ivar Johnson, Driver
Ivar is a former Tuckerton restaurant owner with great experience in customer service. He is also an avid outdoorsman who has spent his life canoeing, kayaking, cycling, hunting, and fishing. He is excited to learn more about the Pinelands and share his experiences with our paddlers!
Jose Rivera, Driver
Jose has spent most of his career supporting safe, well-run operations that balance public use with environmental responsibility. He is very excited to bring that experience into an outdoor, education-focused setting and connect people to the Pinelands through recreation and learning.
Wayne Mocci, Operations Assistant
Wayne is a retired wood shop teacher who enjoys working with his hands and he needs to stay active! Since he cannot sit still, he avidly hikes and explores the area’s forests and wetlands. Wayne is more than excited to start this 2026 season and we are happy to have him!