The Greater Millville Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that its selection as the “Outstanding Citizen” for April 2015 is Renee Brecht. Renee is being recognized especially for her key role as one of the organizers of Code Blue. Whether in her personal life or her varied professional jobs, Brecht has made volunteer service a priority in her life.

 

“This would be a better place if everybody would devote a little time out of their own lives to do something meaningful to them and to the community,” Brecht said.

 

The Rev. Steve Harris, pastor of the Millville Community Church, who serves as a director of Code Blue with Brecht and with the Rev. Dave Ennis, said:  “I’m really excited about working with Renee because first and foremost, she has a heart for the community, and she cares deeply about people. She has a gift of being able to bring people together in an organized way.” Code Blue is designated by the state as a “warming center,” where homeless people go in cold weather for food and shelter. The two centers in Millville are the Epiphany Center and In His Presence Worship Center.

 

From mid-January to mid-March, 2,500 volunteer hours were donated, along with food from various local restaurants and individuals, Brecht said.

 

Among Brecht’s current volunteer activities are president of the Roebling Museum, member of the Cumberland County Health Advisory Board, interim secretary and chair of the legislative committee of Friends of Cape May National Wildlife Refuge, founder of the Delaware Bayshore Chapter of the N.J. Native Plant Society, and a volunteer coordinator of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 

Currently, Brecht is program director of the Delaware Bayshore Office of the American Littoral Society, located in Millville. Her previous jobs included serving as an assistant wetlands botanist/ecologist for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, associate director of Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries, consultant/director of technology for the Levoy Theatre, and information technology support specialist for the Millville Rescue Squad.

 

Brecht graduated summa cum laude from Bethany University and has Dual Master Certificates in Project Management and Project Management IT from Villanova University. She is a graduate of Millville Senior High School.  A former Millville resident, Brecht currently lives in Greenwich with her son and daughter.

 

 

 

Renee Brecht