Engineering Firm Volunteers In Jersey Shore Beach Clean-Up

MONMOUTH BEACH, NJ - Clean Ocean Action’s “beach sweep” got a big boost in Monmouth Beach on Saturday from Florham Park-based Matrix New World Engineering, which had 15 staffers volunteering to pitch-in for the annual cleanup.

Monmouth Beach was among 60 Jersey Shore sites where Clean Ocean Action’s volunteers conducted cleanups for the 32nd year this past weekend. In 2016, the group’s volunteers removed 218,807 items – mostly plastics and cigarette butts – including tires, broken skateboards, toilet seats, porcelain fixtures, lawn ornaments, Christmas trees, a car door, computer parts and other trash.

“I’m pleased that so many of our environmentally-conscious employees volunteered their time and energy for Clean Ocean Action’s worthwhile beach sweep,” said Jayne Warne, president and co-founder of Matrix, a full-service engineering and environmental services firm with a local office in Eatontown.

“While I am very proud of our employees, I am not surprised,” said Warne. “Much of our firm’s expertise is devoted to shoreline preservation, preventing beach erosion, restoring coastal wetlands, and providing ecological studies that enhance beachfront resiliency. The people we choose to hire at Matrix are dedicated and knowledgeable about these vital issues.”

Seeking company volunteers started with Stephanie Kelly, a staff scientist with the firm’s Ecological Services Group. A South Plainfield resident, Kelly said she volunteered for Clean Ocean Action’s beach sweeps several times in previous years.

“It is absolutely terrific that so many of my co-workers offered to participate in this beach cleanup,” said Kelly, who picked Monmouth Beach because it is near Matrix’s satellite office in Eatontown and it is one of Kelly’s personal favorite shore towns.

Kelly dual-majored at Rutgers University in marine and environmental sciences.

“Like many people I work with, I’m passionate about New Jersey’s coastal issues and concerns. On the job, my goal is finding the best scientific ways to resolve ecological issues. Recently, we have been involved in several coastal projects in New Jersey and New York. On Saturday, my co-workers and I took a more hands-on approach.”

For more information about Clean Ocean Action please visit: www.cleanoceanaction.org, and for Matrix New World Engineering, please visit: www.matrixneworld.com.

(Back Row L to R) Matrix employees Alyssa Shuart, Maxine Gates, Jody Mack, Samantha Adler, Tiffany Alves, Matt Sheldon, Jordan Farber. Standing in front of Matt and Jordan is their friend. Kneeling (L-R) Julia Bordelon, Melissa Clelland, Stephanie Kelly, Adriana Valencia and Christiana Seiffer.