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Meet the Board
Erika Stehl, President & Co-Founder
Erika Stehl, President & Co-Founder
Erika Stehl, President & Co-Founder
Erika is President and Cofounder of the Growing Love Community Garden. GLCG was established in 2017 and officially opened in 2018. Erika has a Masters of Social Work from Adelphi and Certificate in Organic Gardening from Cornell Cooperative. She has lived in Port Washington for 24 years with her husband, Richard, 5 kids and 2 golden retrievers.
Amanda Khalil, Vice President
Erika Stehl, President & Co-Founder
Erika Stehl, President & Co-Founder
Amanda has been a dedicated community advocate and culture driver on Long Island for over a decade. After a career in private banking and management consulting, Amanda left the corporate world to focus on her family. Soon after, she launched Port Washington Mama, a website and social media account highlighting insider tips, local events,
Amanda has been a dedicated community advocate and culture driver on Long Island for over a decade. After a career in private banking and management consulting, Amanda left the corporate world to focus on her family. Soon after, she launched Port Washington Mama, a website and social media account highlighting insider tips, local events, and more that’s become a trusted resource for thousands of followers. She also founded the Momtrepreneur Fair, a first-of-its-kind event to promote mom-owned businesses.
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Ed Janoff, Secretary
Erika Stehl, President & Co-Founder
Gina Ciorciari, Treasurer
Deputy Director & Chief of Staff of Union Square Partnership and an expert in park and streetscape planning and public-private partnership administration. Prior to joining Union Square, Ed held positions at Street Plans, NYCDOT, NYC Parks, and the Bryant Park Corporation/ 34th Street Partnership, among others, and has orchestrated many d
Deputy Director & Chief of Staff of Union Square Partnership and an expert in park and streetscape planning and public-private partnership administration. Prior to joining Union Square, Ed held positions at Street Plans, NYCDOT, NYC Parks, and the Bryant Park Corporation/ 34th Street Partnership, among others, and has orchestrated many dozens of projects developing and managing signature public spaces citywide.
Gina Ciorciari, Treasurer
Alex Gregorek, Plot Member Liaison, Communications, Events
Gina Ciorciari, Treasurer
Gina has called Port Washington home since 1997, where she has raised a family and thrived in this beautiful and diverse community. With over 30 years of experience in media sales, Gina is now honored to contribute to a space dedicated to empowering members to cultivate their own healthy food. She is deeply grateful for the support and opportunities Growing Love community has provided.
Steph Alongi, Social Media & Events
Alex Gregorek, Plot Member Liaison, Communications, Events
Alex Gregorek, Plot Member Liaison, Communications, Events
Stephanie serves on the board and leads social media and events for the Growing Love Community Garden, where she brings people together around a shared love for nature. She is the founder of SMA Dental Billing and has lived in Port Washington with her family since 2010. Passionate about nature and community restoration, she is dedicated t
Stephanie serves on the board and leads social media and events for the Growing Love Community Garden, where she brings people together around a shared love for nature. She is the founder of SMA Dental Billing and has lived in Port Washington with her family since 2010. Passionate about nature and community restoration, she is dedicated to protecting the environment and fostering connection through community garden events.
Alex Gregorek, Plot Member Liaison, Communications, Events
Alex Gregorek, Plot Member Liaison, Communications, Events
Alex Gregorek, Plot Member Liaison, Communications, Events
Alex has been involved with the Garden since 2021, starting as a plot member before joining the board three years ago. She typically grows flowers, bringing pops of color throughout her garden beds. Alex works locally in real estate and loves welcoming new people into the community. When she’s not at the Garden, you can find her walking h
Alex has been involved with the Garden since 2021, starting as a plot member before joining the board three years ago. She typically grows flowers, bringing pops of color throughout her garden beds. Alex works locally in real estate and loves welcoming new people into the community. When she’s not at the Garden, you can find her walking her dog, Winston, with her wife around Port Washington, enjoying everything the town has to offer.
Analia Flores - Outreach Liaison
Analia Flores - Outreach Liaison
Analia Flores - Outreach Liaison
Professional interpreter
Analia is the proud mom of two daughters.
She is in love with Port Washington's diverse community, and has strong beliefs about nature , music, art, and gardening.
The Growing Love Garden is the best place to connect with nature and cultivate friendship.
“I want to talk about my land,
I want to talk about the riv
Professional interpreter
Analia is the proud mom of two daughters.
She is in love with Port Washington's diverse community, and has strong beliefs about nature , music, art, and gardening.
The Growing Love Garden is the best place to connect with nature and cultivate friendship.
“I want to talk about my land,
I want to talk about the rivers and celestial dreams
I want to talk about time and its songs,
about the love of flowers for the wet dirt."
--song by Los Kjarkas
Meet the Committee
Kris Murphy, Garden Educator
Teresa Peterson, Garden Educator
Teresa Peterson, Garden Educator
Kris Murphy departed from a long career as an art teacher, and is now the director of the Growing Love Community Garden where she nurtures both plants and neighborhood connections. With a nature-positive outlook and a passion for sharing creativity, she strives to inspire others to care for the planet and grow a better world.
Teresa Peterson, Garden Educator
Teresa Peterson, Garden Educator
Teresa Peterson, Garden Educator
Teresa (Tess) Peterson is an avid gardener and horticultural enthusiast. She has 10 years of plant-growing experience and 6 years in the green industry, including roles as a greenhouse manager, lead intern at the Long Island Native Plant Initiative, and garden educator. Tess has a Bachelor's in Horticulture Technology Management from Farm
Teresa (Tess) Peterson is an avid gardener and horticultural enthusiast. She has 10 years of plant-growing experience and 6 years in the green industry, including roles as a greenhouse manager, lead intern at the Long Island Native Plant Initiative, and garden educator. Tess has a Bachelor's in Horticulture Technology Management from Farmingdale State University and has excelled in classes such as Entomology, Sustainability, and Arboriculture. She is passionate about self-sustainability fueled by a love for natural food systems. Some of her hobbies include birdwatching, reading, and collecting houseplants.
Irene Candela, Garden Events
Irene Candela, Garden Events
Irene Candela, Garden Events
Hi! I’m Irene Candela and I moved to Port Washington in January 2021 and found Growing Love Garden through an Oh My Goodness kids gardening class with my daughter, Maddie. We both immediately fell in love with this beautiful hidden gem upon arrival and have visited for events, garden classes, yoga classes and to simply sit in calm many
Hi! I’m Irene Candela and I moved to Port Washington in January 2021 and found Growing Love Garden through an Oh My Goodness kids gardening class with my daughter, Maddie. We both immediately fell in love with this beautiful hidden gem upon arrival and have visited for events, garden classes, yoga classes and to simply sit in calm many times since. As I familiarize myself more with our town and community the more I fall in love with all we have to offer, especially through the Garden.
I’m beyond excited to join this team of incredible humans and help plan and execute the to help plan and execute events at the garden.
Liz Mudge, Graphic Designer
Irene Candela, Garden Events
Irene Candela, Garden Events
Liz began her career in wedding planning, which evolved into a passion for graphic and web design. She enjoys creating engaging materials for community events and currently supports the Growing Love website and email marketing.
Introduced to Growing Love through her sister, Stephanie Alongi, Liz values being part of a close-knit, community
Liz began her career in wedding planning, which evolved into a passion for graphic and web design. She enjoys creating engaging materials for community events and currently supports the Growing Love website and email marketing.
Introduced to Growing Love through her sister, Stephanie Alongi, Liz values being part of a close-knit, community-driven team.
She resides in Garden City with her husband and three children, balancing family life with her creative work.