William J. Lewis

As a lifelong resident of New Jersey, William loves the diversity of the people of New Jersey and of the landscapes of New Jersey's great outdoors. In the morning, one can have a lox and bagel sandwich for breakfast at a local deli in Allentown New Jersey and by lunch enjoying a WAWA hoagie at Island Beach State Park. All of which are things William J. Lewis enjoys. Mr.Lewis deeply believes in environmental stewardship and seeking to serve others. One amazing opportunity and accomplishment was when in 2009 Mr. Lewis was accepted and graduated as a Rutgers Environmental Steward. This event would expand Mr. Lewis' knowledge of environmental issues and lead to him becoming chairperson of Plumsted Environmental Commission, President of the Executive Board of Directors of EarthShare NJ, chairperson of the Sustainable Jersey committee of Plumsted, and President and founder of Nurture Environmental Stewardship Today! (NEST) nonprofit 501c3.

The most memorable moments so far in life excluding personal family-related items is a trip to the horn of Africa while working for the federal government and watching birds over a barbed-wire fence. If Mr. Lewis was asked, “What’s the best advice you can give someone?” his immediate response would be, “Seek to serve.” Server others and the environment you are in. Through volunteer service, we find value in all things and experience life through other’s eyes. Mr. Lewis has gained several distinguished awards for his community service to include a Silver Medal in 2011 Federal Executive Board (FEB) Region 3 Green team, the Bronze Medal in 2012 FEB Outstanding Community Service, and an Environmental Achievement Award from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissioners (ANJEC) in 2012 and 2013. If you asked Mr. Lewis where he gained the drive and knowledge to lead many of the diverse teams in his life, he would credit the United States Marine Corps. As a noncommissioned officer stationed in Kaneohe, Hawaii, he attended a leadership school called the Corporal’s Course. They selected him as the Honor Grad, top of his class. This life experiences have led him to becoming a writer, hoping to share his passions with the world. His debut book New Jersey's Lost Piney Culture hit the #1 Amazon Hot New Releases in January of 2021.