Vice President 1: Eric M. Stroud, PhD (uncontested)
I am an organic chemist and fell into this wonderful Franklin and Sterling Hill mineral scene a little over 2 years ago. My primary objective is to restore our beloved Picking Table journal to its greatness. I live within 20 minutes of our museums, and I try to attend as many night digs and club functions as possible. I am a small business owner for over 25 years, co-founding SharkDefense Technologies. I am an inventor and hold a number of patents on technologies covering medical devices, magnetics, and repellents.
I am passionate about our minerals and history. I have built and continue to refine a Franklin-Sterling Hill AI Large Language Model (LLM) called “Franklinium” to help us identify new minerals. I’ve also self-funded a new analytical laboratory to help our community with research. Check out Eric’s Rock Lab ! My wife is very supportive of my hobby and FOMS!
With your votes, the following wonderful nominees will put our Vision into affect without administrative impediments:
Vice President 2: Tommy Hennighan
I am Thomas Hennighan and I am asking for your consideration for the office of 2nd Vice-President. I’m a Montclair State University graduate with a degree in Anthropology/Archeology. I joined FOMS September 2024, and although I may not have talked or met with you alI, I have been actively serving you in many capacities and functions of our society. I was a volunteer for this year’s banquet, spring show and fall show. Many days, I can be found doing the odd job for a sale or show at the Franklin Museum, and you can always catch me at least once a week as a volunteer tour guide at the Sterling Mine.
In short, I’m a doer not a watcher. I see some areas of our organization that need action, and I want to spearhead this effort.
Secretary: David Kaminski
Both Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary.
Dave is “Boots on the ground”! In this last year: I have attended all the trips, spent almost every weekend in Franklin (and Sterling)–including the winter, and helped recruit new members by meeting them in person and encouraging them. I give rocks to new diggers and use my teaching background to help them learn. This year I have been collecting material (letters, books, digital items) to document Franklin and Sterling and the New Jersey Zinc Company. I spent a week transcribing NJZC material held by the NJ State Library, and I devoted two weeks to help add content for the lead paper for the Geological Association of New Jersey 2025 conference at Sterling Hill. I have been building on local resources to create a 1500+ item database / bibliography of all important articles and books on Franklin and Sterling. At the fall sale, I spent 36 hours parking cars, shaking hands, and making sure that everyone was happy. And yes, I was overnight security in my tent. My goal is to see FOMS succeed.
Treasurer: Ed Frisbie
My name is Edward Frisbie, and I am nominated for the position of Treasurer of FOMS. I joined FOMS earlier this year, and have greatly enjoyed getting to know fellow members and participate in the society’s activities.
I bring with me 35 years of experience with the United States Postal Service, where I worked in various aspects of finance, budgeting, and office management. Throughout my career, I have developed a strong background in financial accountability, record keeping, and organizational leadership.
In addition, I served with the Hardyston Volunteer Fire Department for 18 years as Treasurer, and 5 years as Secretary, where I was responsible for managing financial reports, maintaining accurate records and ensuring transparency and fiscal responsibility within the organization.
I believe my experience in both professional and volunteer roles has prepared me well to serve FOMS as Treasurer. I am committed to maintaining clear, accurate financial records, supporting the Society’s mission to promote mineralogical education, preservation, and community engagement.
Thank you for your consideration and for the opportunity to contribute to the continued success of our Society.
Trustee: Sean Stimac
Sean Stimac is the owner of PerkyBoxes.com, an online retailer specializing in global rocks and minerals, with a particular focus on fluorescent minerals, perky boxes and micro boxes, mineral collecting supplies, and UV flashlights. With more than 30 years of collecting experience, he has developed a broad knowledge of mineralogy and a deep appreciation for the mineral collecting community.
His primary collecting interests include wulfenite and other members of the scheelite group, micromounts, thumbnails, and the distinctive minerals of Michigan’s Iron and Copper Ranges. He is especially passionate about the fluorescent minerals of New Jersey’s Franklin Mining District, where he has assembled a reference collection of more than 600 specimens. Additionally, he maintains a strong interest in the diverse mineralogy of the Grenville Province, particularly the minerals of St. Lawrence County, New York.
Beyond his business and collecting pursuits, Sean serves on the Boards of Directors for both the Fluorescent Mineral Society and Friends of Mineralogy, where he contributes to advancing education, outreach, and preservation within the hobby and science of mineralogy.
Trustee: Kyle Kustka “Mr. Sphalerite”
My name is Kyle Kustka. I currently work as an environmental project Coordinator for utilities. I have been a serious collector of minerals since 2018, and have a collection focus of worldwide fluorescent zinc minerals. One of my favorite hobbies is researching and exploring mineral localities in the search for new interesting finds. I hope to help FOMS prepare for the future by working to engage younger mineral enthusiasts through various forms of media.
Trustee: John Kushmerick
I’m a data-driven e-commerce and analytics professional and a lifelong rockhound who has spent nearly two decades running Kush Fine Minerals, where we specialize in offering high-quality mineral specimens and rocks for collectors of all levels. Over the last 10 years we’ve steadily transitioned to primarily UV-reactive minerals—especially those from the Franklin and Sterling Hill district—curating, documenting, and educating customers on fluorescence and locality provenance. Professionally, I bring senior-level experience across e-commerce, online marketing, business analytics, database development, and software project management. I’ve optimized the full e-commerce lifecycle—from merchandising and marketing to warehouse logistics and inbound/outbound freight—and I’m fluent in web analytics (Google Analytics/CoreMetrics), SQL (MySQL/MSSQL), multi-channel marketing, social media, marketplace management, and data architecture/modeling. I specialize in gathering and analyzing data from multiple sources to optimize business processes, identify inefficiencies, and drive measurable improvements. As a Trustee for the Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society (FOMS), I would pair that hands-on business background with organized, transparent, and results-oriented leadership—supporting member education, strengthening shows and field trips, and applying data-informed planning to budgets, programs, and outreach.
Trustee: Brittany “Brit” Smith
Brittany Smith is a descendant of a Hungarian mining family from Franklin, who grew up collecting fluorescent minerals with her grandfather. She began seriously pursuing mineralogy as a hobby in 2019, first focusing on studying FrOg minerals in depth before her attention to collecting specimens with meaningful historic labels and provenance. She feels it’s a loss to find a beautiful specimen without its story, its discoverer, its origin, and the reason it was once carried home in a lunch pail. Through future Picking Table articles, she hopes to encourage the preservation and archiving of provenance and specimen labels for future generations.