MCMEC Information

Personnel

The Commission employs a full-time professional staff of twenty-four employees. The Commission hires 12 seasonal employees for various periods between April and December to assist in field inspection, spraying, clerical and laboratory operations. All of the seasonal employees handling pesticides used for mosquito control are thoroughly trained, in house and on the job by the Inspectors. The Commission Training Manual is given to each seasonal employee and training sessions are held to familiarize them with the job they will be performing. The Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Entomologists, and all Inspectors are New Jersey State Certified Pesticide Applicators. All other non-clerical employees are encouraged to obtain certification as pesticide operators.

The following individuals are responsible for specific administrative and scientific aspects of our comprehensive program:

Mr. Vincent Poulsen joined the Commission as a wetlands specialist for water management on August 1, 2004. Mr. Poulsen has a bachelor's of science degree in environmental science and professional experience with Freehold Soil Conservation District and private consulting firms. Mr. Poulsen will assist Victoria Thompson in the water management program of the Commission and will assume responsibilities of Secretary to the Monmouth County Water Resources Association.

Ms. Vivien Roegner joined the Commission staff, in July of 2004, on a permanent part time basis, as a Laboratory Technician, at the MCMEC Laboratory at Rutgers University's Center for Vector Biology. Ms. Roegner provides Mr. Healy with the support necessary to perform polymerase chain reaction assays and blocking ELISA assays for current laboratory projects. Ms. Roegner has a bachelor of science degree in biology and a master of science in biochemistry. Ms. Roegner is an accomplished laboratorian with previous experience in laboratories with Rutgers University, Department of Animal Sciences, as well as assisting National Medal of Science Winner Evelyn Witkin at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology.

Mr. Anthony Acquaviva joined the permanent staff of the Commission as Senior Biologist in May 2001. In August 2002, Mr. Acquaviva was promoted to the position of Entomologist. Mr. Acquaviva has a bachelor's of science degree in biology and has worked for the Commission as a seasonal employee for 19 seasons. During the mosquito-breeding season, Mr. Acquaviva is responsible for counting and identifying mosquitoes caught in various traps as well as preparing mosquito pools for laboratory testing for West Nile virus and other disease-causing agents.

In 1998 the Commissioners conducted a search of the eastern United States to recruit an individual to serve as Entomologist/Educator for a new program that the Commission was initiating. The Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders designated the Monmouth County Mosquito Commission as the first Commission in New Jersey to provide services to County residents relating to ticks and the diseases they transmit.

Mr. Sean Healy, in July 2001, was hired as Entomologist/Educator to manage the scientific and administrative duties of the Tick-borne Diseases Program. Mr. Healy has a bachelor's degree in zoology and a master's degree in entomology and has previous affiliations with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Office of Mosquito Abatement Coordination and the Tick Research Laboratory at the University of Rhode Island as well as the Rhode Island State Office of GIS. Mr. Healy maintains the Commission's web pages on the internet and has experience in web design and graphic design for the production of educational material. In September of 2004 Mr. Healy was promoted to assume the duel role of manager for the cooperative laboratory with Rutgers University, Mosquito Research and Control Unit and as Entomologist with the Commission. Mr. Healy holds an appointment as Visiting Scientist with the Department of Entomology, SEBS, Rutgers University. Mr. Healy manages the scientific and administrative duties of the cooperative laboratory and oversees the laboratory technician. As the director for the Tick-borne Diseases Program, Mr. Healy oversees tick identification and testing of ticks for the public. In addition, he continues to manage cooperative vector-borne disease initiatives with other federal, state, and municipal agencies.

Ms. Victoria Thompson was appointed as a Senior Environmental Specialist with the Commission on November 18, 1996. Ms. Thompson previously worked for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. With a master's of science degree in applied marine science/coastal geology and a bachelor's degree in geology, Ms. Thompson is responsible for overseeing the water management projects undertaken by the Commission. She has also successfully completed the Mosquito Identification and Mosquito Habitat Course and has attended several continuing professional education classes at Rutgers University. Ms. Thompson also has experience in grants administration and has a major role in obtaining and coordinating outside funding from local, state and federal sources for water management projects. Ms. Thompson is also responsible along with the Commission Engineer for obtaining the permits necessary for the water management projects that we undertake. Ms. Thompson was promoted to Environmental Scientist II in 1999. In 2000 she began coordination of the expanded surface water management initiative. She represents the Commission in watershed management activities throughout the county. On May 1, 2002, Ms. Thompson was promoted to the position of Assistant Superintendent. In her capacity as Assistant Superintendent, Ms. Thompson oversees the operational mosquito control program.

Mr. Douglas L. Guthrie Sr. was promoted to the position of Superintendent on May 1, 2002. Mr. Guthrie has been the Assistant Superintendent/Entomologist with the Commission for the past 26 years. Mr. Guthrie has a bachelor's and master's degree in Entomology from the University of Delaware and the Pennsylvania State University respectively. As the Assistant Superintendent, he was responsible for all field operations, mosquito surveillance, and chemical control of larval and adult mosquitoes, mosquito identification and IPM activities including the bio-control program. In his capacity of Assistant Superintendent he supervised the entire operational workforce of the Commission and was responsible for all in house training of operational personnel. Mr. Guthrie is a licensed Pesticide Applicator. As Superintendent, Mr. Guthrie oversees all aspects of the comprehensive program that the Commission operates; including the recommendation of new programs and personnel, and preparation of the budget. Mr. Guthrie works in maintaining liaison with other County Departments and agencies.

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Monmouth County Mosquito Extermination Commission
PO Box 162 • Eatontown • New Jersey • 07724
(Tel) 732-542-3630 • (Fax) 732-542-3267
mosquitoes@co.monmouth.nj.us