For Gloucester County Freeholder
Freeholder Heather Simmons, a resident of Glassboro, has lived in Gloucester County for 18 years. She is a native of Philadelphia, PA where she earned a bachelor's degree in international relations and politics from Saint Joseph's University, minoring in French. There she was Valedictorian of the Class of 1991. She also holds a master's degree in public relations from Rowan University and completed several courses toward a Ph.D. in education at Capella University (Minneapolis, MN). In 2011, she was appointed to the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders to replace former Freeholder Director Stephen M. Sweeney. Her liaison assignments include Economic Development, Public Works (Planning, Engineering, Roads, Highway, Mosquito Control), Housing Authority, Buildings & Grounds, and the Solid Waste Advisory Council.
Heather has been the owner of Heather Simmons Communications for six years, a firm that specializes in public entity and non-profit public relations campaign work. She has conducted community relations outreach efforts, media relations and five consecutive successful budget campaigns for Glassboro Public Schools over the last five years. She also works with the Borough of Glassboro on community and media relations related to the Rowan Boulevard project, and has worked with the president's offices at Saint Joseph's University and Gloucester County College. Other clients have included Rowan University, Salem Community College, United Way of Gloucester County, the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce and Underwood Memorial Hospital.
Heather began her career as a public relations administrator at Gloucester County College in 1991, where she served 13 years in public relations, marketing and alumni relations. She was also an adjunct instructor for 12 years, teaching journalism, mass media, desktop publishing, feature writing and electronic pre-press. While at the College, she served on the board of the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (Greeley, CO), editing the group's national newsletter and serving on the conference planning committee. She also served on the editorial board for Movin' On Magazine (Houston, TX), a publication marketing the community college sector.
In 2001, Heather was named Woman of the Year, Women in Communications, by the Gloucester County Commission for Women. She served two years on the Marketing Committee for the United Way of Gloucester County and two years as Secretary/Treasurer of the Greater Glassboro Chamber of Commerce. She was also a Commissioner with the Gloucester County Library System for seven years and is a member of the Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce.
Heather is grateful for the support of her husband Jeff Silvestri and two stepchildren, Mackenzie (17) and Anthony (14).
Lyman J. Barnes
Lyman J. Barnes has a dynamic background that includes experience in the private sector and in municipal management.
Professionally, Lyman has over 20 years experience in financial management and regulatory compliance for privately owned businesses in the environmental industry. Coming from the private sector, Lyman understands the demands of operating a business and meeting bottom line budgets.
Lyman’s capacity for public service has also allowed him to create and manage shared services and to help formulate municipal budgets that consistently had no tax increases for 4 consecutive years. As a taxpayer he will work to make sure more money stays in the pockets of homeowners and to cut government spending whenever he can.
A 15 year resident of Logan Township, Lyman has been married for 22 years and has three children. He is a past President and member of the Board of Directors for the YMCA of Gloucester County and has served his community by volunteering in a variety of roles including Environmental Commission, Planning Board and Youth Sports Coach. Lyman holds a BS in Industrial Relations from Rider University.
Adam Taliaferro
A former standout two-way back at Eastern High in Voorhees, NJ. Adam was paralyzed while making a tackle for Penn State in a game at Ohio State in 2000. Adam was a true freshman at the time. After spinal-fusion surgery, three different doctors told Adam's parents their son would probably never walk again. Three months later, the miracle was completed. Adam walked out of Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia.
Today the miracle continues as Adam embarks on a career as a practicing attorney.
