Alix Fellman Senior Program Manager, Whedco Alix Fellman Is a Senior

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP 2017 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES

Alix Fellman Senior Program Manager, WHEDco

Alix Fellman is a Senior Program Manager in WHEDco's Community Development Department, where she works primarily on the Jerome Avenue rezoning and Bronx CookSpace, an incubator kitchen. Alix also regularly contributes to WHEDco’s advocacy efforts, using the organization’s practical experience to demonstrate the need for public policy improvements. Alix has 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector in a wide variety of roles, including program development, fundraising, communications and community organizing. She holds a Master of Science in City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute.

Alix’s Neighborhood Change Project will build upon WHEDco’s work on the Jerome Avenue commercial corridor, with the goal of improving community safety and cleanliness, connecting businesses to resources and technical assistance, and promoting local businesses and community assets.

Andrew Stricklin Manager, Streetscape Improvements & District Planning, Garment District Alliance

Andrew Stricklin is Manager of Streetscape Improvements & District Planning at the Garment District Alliance in Midtown Manhattan. At the Alliance, Andrew oversees a $2 million capital improvement budget and liaises with City agencies to implement streetscape-level urban design projects as well as economic development initiatives to improve the neighborhood. Prior to joining the Garment District Alliance, Andrew worked at the Times Square Alliance as a Policy, Planning & Research Fellow and in the Office of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. Andrew also served as a Teach For America corps member in Fort Worth, Texas, where he taught high school physics and chemistry for English language learners. Andrew earned his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida and holds a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of California, Los Angeles.

For his Neighborhood Change Project, Andrew will be developing a strategic plan for public space in the Garment District. The plan will focus on uncovering latent public space, reclaiming sidewalk and street space for pedestrians, and advocating for major public space capital infrastructure projects.

Neighborhood Leadership is a partnership with the New York City Department of Small Business Services. Generous funding support has also been provided by the New York City Council, Surdna Foundation, TD Bank, Citi and Signature Bank.

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP 2017 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES

Clara Inés Schuhmacher Director of Marketing & Events, DUMBO Improvement District

Clara Inés Schuhmacher has over a decade of experience in the cultural sector, working primarily at the intersection of the arts, community and public space. Currently, she is the Director of Marketing & Events for the DUMBO Improvement District, where she develops programming for the neighborhood’s public spaces in partnership with, and for the benefit of, its residents, businesses and cultural organizations, including Live at the Archway, a free, weekly performance series. Previously, she held creative leadership positions with Make Music New York, the New York Village Halloween Parade, and New Music USA. Clara is on the editorial team of the arts research think tank Createquity. In addition, she is an active classical vocalist, and moonlights as a food writer and video artist. Clara holds a Bachelor’s in Ethnomusicology from Brown University, and an Masters in Arts Politics from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Clara's Neighborhood Change Project will focus on mitigating the impact of impending street reconstruction on DUMBO by advocating for diverse stakeholder needs throughout the process, continuing to foster neighborhood momentum through updated marketing strategies, and creating spaces for community connection through innovative, yet temporary, placemaking tactics that activate atypical physical and emerging virtual spaces.

David Shuffler Executive Director Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice

David Shuffler, was born and raised in the Bronx River section of the South Bronx where he continues to work and live. Shuffler is the Executive Director at Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ). YMPJ is a multi-service, faith based, grassroots community organization located in the Bronx River/Soundview sections of the Bronx. Shuffler first started his career in this work as a member at YMPJ in the summer of 1994. Quickly, joining the staff at YMPJ, Shuffler, was an integral part of forming the original R.I.V.E.R. Team, which led grassroots community organizing efforts that resulted in victories. Shuffler also worked on other issue campaigns such as unemployment and police reform. With his many years of experience as a trainer of community and other related organizing issues David continues to be a mover and shaker influencing varying levels of government on local issues. Over his career David has been able to secure over $50 million dollars for community led efforts throughout the city, move effective policy through the New York City and State - which directly benefitted low-income New Yorkers.

The Westchester Avenue Corridor is a vital economic engine and thoroughfare for residents in the Bronx River and Soundview Neighborhoods. Parts of the Westchester Avenue corridor have been disconnected from other parts of the corridor due to a lack of businesses, residential dwellings, vacant lots or simply an uninviting presence along the commercial strip. The vision of Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice (YMPJ) is to change that by leveraging projects we have conducted in the project area for over fifteen years. YMPJ is responsible for bringing the only NYC Department of Transportation public plaza to this area, the development of Concrete Plant Park – a former brownfield site, now a public park and the NYC Parks Department Bronx River Greenway connections. Our goal is to continue to make this a neighborhood people find leisure, enjoy shopping, and access different modes of transportation. Neighborhood Leadership is a partnership with the New York City Department of Small Business Services. Generous funding support has also been provided by the New York City Council, Surdna Foundation, TD Bank, Citi and Signature Bank.

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP 2017 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES

Gail M. Davis Director of Women's Brooklyn Enterprise Center, Local Development Corporation of East New York (LDCENY)

Currently working at the LDCENY, Gail has provided leadership to several commercial revitalization projects including Pitkin Avenue and Atlantic Avenue between Pennsylvania and South Conduit in East New York. In this capacity, she fostered projects to induce business attraction and retention. These efforts created opportunities to work with arts organizations and community partners to generate advocacy campaigns for local businesses. At present, she is the Director of the Women’s Brooklyn Enterprise Center at the LDCENY, a program that assists entrepreneurs with starting and growing businesses. She is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising, Baruch College of the City University of New York with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing, and a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from New York Theological Seminary.

Gail’s Neighborhood Change Project seeks to establish ENY as the “Car Hood” – emphasizing the largest industry in the community through strengthened B2B and B2C connections, graphic/industrial design installations, and ultimately a car show in the next year.

Glenn Greenidge Executive Director, Sutphin Boulevard Business Improvement District

Glenn Greenidge is the Executive Director of the Sutphin Boulevard BID where he is currently focused on economic and community development utilizing his training and development skills in commercial real estate. Glenn also heads up the Queens Community Board 12 Economic Development Committee and the CB12 Land Use committee, which takes care of large portion Southeast Queens. Glenn is also a coach and senior facilitator of the International Black Summit and co-created coaching programs, “The 90 Day Enhancement Program” and “Be the Leader in your Life”. Glenn also helped create “People of African Descent Empowerment Group” out of a commitment to the development of entrepreneurs and small and medium size business development.

Glenn is committed to causing a renaissance of the Downtown Jamaica corridor bringing it back to the early 70s, a vibrant business corridor featuring major retailers as well as unique boutique shops that offer high fashion.

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP 2017 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES

Isidro Medina Deputy Director, Washington Heights Business Improvement District

Isidro joined the NYC Washington Heights Business Improvement District in February 2016 and is currently the Deputy Director of Operations. He conducts merchant outreach and the execution of retail attraction initiatives. Prior to joining the WHBID, Isidro worked extensively in the real estate industry. During his tenure at the City College of New York, he was an academic advisor and an adjunct professor teaching International Studies and Political Science. Isidro holds a Bachelor’s & Master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations & Economics from the City College of New York. He is very active within the Washington Heights and Inwood community where he is a Board Member of the Manhattan Community Board 12. Isidro is also a Board Member of the NYC Commission on Public Information and Communication.

Isidro’s Neighborhood Change Project is to connect and develop a personal relationship with city agency representatives and other stakeholders to create a task force headed by Community Board 12. He is a Community Board member and feels that the Community Board is the most influential entity to continue to improve Washington Heights and Northern Manhattan.

Jacob McNally Senior Associate for Operations and Economic Development, Hudson Square Business Improvement District

Jacob McNally is the Senior Associate for Operations and Economic Development at the Hudson Square Business Improvement District (BID). He is responsible for designing and managing the BID’s budgeting process, financial systems, and economic research, in addition to leading special projects. Prior to joining the BID, Jake served as a fellow at the New York City Parks Department where he coordinated with internal divisions to analyze program performance, improve operational tracking methods, and support the development of job training programs. He holds a Master’s Degree in City & Regional Planning from Cornell University and a Bachelor’s in Geography from Binghamton University.

Jake’s Neighborhood Change Project will focus on expanding the BID’s boundaries through a stakeholder-based planning and outreach process with the goal of creating a more cohesive, vibrant, and self-sustaining neighborhood.

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP 2017 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES

Jane Wolterding Director of Planning, Alliance for Downtown New York

Jane Wolterding is Director of Planning in the Operations Department at the Alliance for Downtown New York. At the Alliance, she oversees projects related to streetscape improvements, public space enhancements, sanitation issues, transportation initiatives and quality of life concerns. With a passion for technology, she leverages it to analyze conditions throughout the district and inform decision-making to improve the services the BID offers and promote Lower Manhattan as a premier destination. Jane has a Bachelor's degree in Geography from Colgate University and a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University.

Jane’s Neighborhood Change Project will involve the building out the second phase of a customized GIS-based web application that tracks public safety, sanitation and quality of life issues, as well as the maintenance of streetscape and wayfinding elements.

Jennifer Tausig Director of Community and Economic Development, Mosholu Preservation Corporation

Jennifer Tausig is the Director of Community and Economic Development for Montefiore Health System. In this role, she is the Executive Director of the Jerome Gun Hill BID which surrounds the main campus of Montefiore Medical Center in the Norwood section of the Bronx. She works closely with all relevant stakeholders to continue to transform the district into a safe, vibrant shopping corridor for those who live and work in the area. Jennifer also supports four merchant associations where she acts as a backbone, organizer and fiscal agent. She also works on community and economic development projects in other cities where Montefiore has a presence including Yonkers and Mount Vernon, to name a few. Jennifer has worked in the Bronx for several years and cares deeply for underserved communities. Jennifer holds a Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning with a specialization in Economic and Community Development from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Jennifer’s Neighborhood Change project is to build a new retail market analysis which focuses on commercial revitalization. Coupled with qualitative data from Montefiore employees, the retail attraction strategy will focus on creative marketing to reduce vacancies and bring new and improved retailers to the neighborhood to meet the needs of both community residents and those who work in the area.

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP 2017 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES

Jesse Gericke Program Manager, Pitkin Avenue Business Improvement District

Since February 2015, Jesse Gericke has been the Program Manager for Physical Improvements and Special Projects at the Pitkin Avenue Business Improvement District in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Jesse helped launch a façade improvement program, the Pitkin Avenue Renaissance Program, to encourage small business growth and preserve Pitkin Avenue’s historically significant architecture. In addition, Jesse works with property owners and real estate brokers to identify and attract businesses that reflect the needs and desires of Brownsville’s residents. Before coming to Pitkin Avenue, Jesse was part of a grassroots effort to develop a community-based recovery plan on Staten Island in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Jesse holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from the City College of New York and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning from Hunter College.

Jesse’s Neighborhood Change Project is to develop and expand on the BID’s recently launched storefront improvement initiative – the Pitkin Avenue Renaissance Program. The Renaissance Program seeks to increase economic activity along Pitkin Avenue by upgrading commercial spaces and being a catalyst for local entrepreneurs to open businesses on Pitkin Avenue.

Jessie Lee Deputy Managing Director, Renaissance Economic Development Corporation (REDC)

Jessie Lee is the Deputy Managing Director of Renaissance Economic Development Corporation. She oversees REDC’s lending program and operations. She provides the organization with strategic guidance for expansion and works to increase REDC’s long term community impact. Additionally, she cultivates partnerships with both public and private institutions. Prior to REDC, Jessie was the Director of Small Business Lending forValley Economic Development Center (VEDC). She helped to launch a $20 million loan fund in New York and oversaw VEDC’s Chicago and Miami operations. She also worked at Next Street and CAMBA managing community lending. After receiving her MBA in 2008 from Boston University, she worked at Ernst & Young’s Tax Credit Investment Group. At E&Y, she managed projects for Fortune 500 companies invested in affordable housing. Her expertise is in small business and community lending.

Jessie’s Neighborhood Change Project is creating an immigrant entrepreneur loan fund to support new immigrants with starting or expanding their business in NYC. She will be responsible for programming, implementation and developing funders’ interest and investment.

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP 2017 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES

Kelly Vasquez Director, Neighborhood Initiative Development Corporation (NIDC)

Kelly has worked in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx with merchants and community stakeholders to revitalize the existing Merchant Association and establish a thriving commercial corridor. As the Director of Special Projects, Kelly oversees the agency's Crime Prevention Program funded by Senator Jeffrey Klein. Her commitment to community work and the dedication needed for sustainability was undeniable while working for Council Member Andy King of the Bronx. NIDC has provided the opportunity she has always desired and she enjoys going out into communities and engaging them in change. Kelly’s community work has also included advocacy for children and families, and now for small businesses. Kelly’s academic background includes studies at Rutgers University, Audrey Cohen College, and Metropolitan College of New York where she obtained her Masters of Public Administration.

Kelly’s Neighborhood Change Project is the revitalization of the Castle Hill Merchant Association while creating a thriving commercial corridor. Through sustainable projects and activities she will encourage neighborhood economic growth.

Layman Lee Placemaking Manager, Community Solutions

Layman Lee is a veteran facilitator and producer of creative interventions in public spaces. She is currently the Placemaking Manager at Community Solutions working to improve the built environment and neighborhood health through the lens of art and design in Brownsville. Previously she was the Creative Director at ORE Design working on a variety of projects from transformations of vacant lots in Brooklyn into small business incubators and community space with shipping containers, an emergency jacket to aid the homeless, to a modular lighting system using clear PVC from laboratories. She gained hands on experience with large art installations at Fung Collaboratives where she helped construct the massive snow and ice sculptures designed by artist and artists teams including Tatsuo Miyajima and Tadao Ando, and Anish Kapoor and Future Systems, Jaume Plensa and Norman Foster, and Yoko Ono and Arata Isozaki for The Snow Shows in Lapland, Finland and the Winter Olympic Snow Show in Torino, Italy. She has traveled to New Mexico to help realize the SITE Sante Fe Biennial: Lucky Number Seven, and most recently to Atlantic City as Project Director for ARTLANTIC, a project aimed at transforming the vacant lots through public art with the landscape design firm Balmori Associates and artists including Robert Barry, Ilya & Emilia Kabakov, Kiki Smith, Peter Hutchinson, and John Roloff. In her free time, Layman is a multidisciplinary artist and designer working in the belief that every project should be equitable, innovative, and foster positive social and environmental change. Layman graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Arts focused on Painting, Installation and Sculpture.

Layman’s Neighborhood Change Project is Belmont Revitalization with the goal of transforming the Belmont Business Corridor into a thriving civic space and business district. Utilizing a collective impact model, the Belmont Revitalization aims to improve public safety, drive economic development, and restore a strong sense of community by realizing place-based projects that activate vacant space, improve the streetscape and feature locally designed public art interventions. Neighborhood Leadership is a partnership with the New York City Department of Small Business Services. Generous funding support has also been provided by the New York City Council, Surdna Foundation, TD Bank, Citi and Signature Bank.

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP 2017 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES

Leslie A. Ramos nd Executive Director, 82 Street Partnership

Leslie A. Ramos is the Executive Director of the 82nd Street Partnership, a Business Improvement District serving the diverse communities of Jackson Heights and Elmhurst in Queens. Her public service career has been devoted to fostering economic growth and advocating for small and independently-owned businesses. At the Partnership, she has implemented educational programs to ensure that small and immigrant-owned businesses are at the center of the area’s economic growth. Prior to joining the Partnership, she served in various positions within the City of New York, including leading the Economic development Unit at the Office of Management and Budget, Assistant Commissioner for Finance at the Department of Housing Preservation & Development, and Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office for Industrial & Manufacturing Businesses. Leslie received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

Leslie’s neighborhood challenge project seeks to create a uniform district while maintaining the cultural and economic diversity of the businesses in the area and to engage the community in improving the south side while addressing fears of gentrification and displacement.

Majora Carter CEO, Majora Carter Group LLC

Majora Carter is an urban revitalization strategy consultant, real estate developer, MacArthur Fellow and Peabody Award winning broadcaster. She is responsible for the creation and successful implementation of numerous economic developments, green-infrastructure projects, policies, and job training & placement systems. After establishing Sustainable South Bronx and Green For All (among other organizations) to carry on that work, she built on this foundation with innovative ventures and insights into urban economic developments designed to help move Americans out of poverty. In 2014, after Co-Founding StartUp Box as a social enterprise to seed diverse participation through entry level jobs in the knowledge economy, she launched StartUp Box #QA (Quality Assurance testing services) which was proud to assist in the launch of Digital.nyc, the behemoth New York City website dedicated to its start-up and entrepreneurial community. Majora Carter has helped connect tech industry pioneers such as Etsy, Gust, FreshDirect, Google, and Cisco to diverse communities at all levels, and continues to drive financial resources that value diversity for its ability to leverage innovation, into the communities left out of previous economic growth trends.

Majora has continually set new standards of excellence with projects in her South Bronx community, while expanding her reach through philanthropic pursuits and business interests that have all pointed toward greater self-esteem and economic potential for low-income people everywhere.

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP 2017 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES

Maria Diaz Executive Director, Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce

Maria Diaz is the Executive Director of the Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1949 by a group of small business entrepreneurs in Greenwich Village; the Chamber has steadily grown to service Greenwich Village, Chelsea, SoHo, NoHo, Union Square, Flatiron, and the East Village. Maria has been working in the economic development community for three years. Prior to working at the chamber she served as the National President of a Latina Sorority and currently serves as the President of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations. A mom of two, she lives with her family in NJ. She loves to travel and a few favorite destinations to date have been Istanbul, Machu Picchu, and Florence.

The Chamber wanted to create a space for business owners to engage with local officers to attain the goal of improved community policing in the NYPD. The idea was simple; invite local business owners on a private tour of neighborhood precincts and meet face to face with the Commanding Officer of each precinct so this past year a series of NYPD precinct tours targeting the business owners of various neighborhoods launched. Maria’s Neighborhood Change Project will be to better bridge the gap between business owners and local officers with expanded tours in 2017.

Nick Petrie Neighborhood Rezoning Coordinator, Make the Road New York (MRNY)

Nick Petrie is the Neighborhood Rezoning Coordinator with Make the Road NY. He works on Staten Island's North Shore and in Bushwick Brooklyn and East NY, Brooklyn. As Neighborhood Rezoning Coordinator, Nick supports a team of community organizers working for housing justice and equitable economic development. Before taking on his role as Neighborhood Rezoning Coordinator, Nick rebuilt Make the Road New York's Small Business Organizing committees in Bushwick, Brooklyn and Jackson Heights, Queens.

For his Neighborhood Change Project, Nick will be focusing on the Bay Street Corridor Rezoning project on Staten Island. Working with the Staten Island Housing Dignity Coalition, Nick will work to ensure that the Bay St. Corridor rezoning leads to broad-based, equitable economic development for the North Shore.

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP 2017 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES

Paula Horowitz Director of Hospitality and Special Events, Grand Central Partnership (GCP)

Paula Horowitz is the Director of Hospitality and Special Events for the Grand Central Partnership. She has been with GCP for more than 25 years during which time she created and initially managed the Visitor Services Program for GCP. For the last few years, in her current position, Paula has worked to engage with the culinary and retail communities of the Grand Central neighborhood which includes approximately 900 street level businesses. Her responsibilities also include spearheading GCP’s big annual event, Grand Gourmet, development of business to business networking events, and fostering relationships with stakeholders and sponsors. She began her career in the neighborhood as a Concierge at the Grand Hyatt New York and is a graduate of Hunter College with a degree in Political Science/Urban Affairs. Paula has lived with her family in Brooklyn for more than 20 years enjoying urban life.

Paula’s community change project will be to design and implement a survey of our Grand Central District’s retail businesses, large commercial tenants, building owners/management, and other members of our organization. While the Grand Central Partnership has been providing business support to our community for nearly 30 years, recent physical changes in our neighborhood resulting from new business development and construction have affected several of our signature community building programs and events. The results of the survey will help us to change our approach to programming at a time when change provides us with new opportunities for community engagement.

Scott Grimm-Lyon, AICP Deputy Executive Director, Flatbush Avenue and Church Avenue BIDs

Scott Grimm-Lyon, AICP, is the Deputy Executive Director of the Flatbush Avenue and the Church Avenue Business Improvement Districts. Scott is an urban planning and design professional experienced in community organizing and economic development. Scott has worked with stakeholder groups in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Newark and on Long Island on issues including affordable housing, retail analysis, business displacement, and developing a riverside greenway. Scott serves on the Board of Directors of the American Planning Association NY Metro Chapter and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. He has a Master's in City and Regional Planning from the Pratt Institute, and has studied Graphic Design and Anthropology.

Scott’s Neighborhood Change Project uses art and urban design to better define the identity of Brooklyn’s Flatbush Neighborhood to both foster a sense of safety and stability for its historic Caribbean community and improve its appeal to visitors.

NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERSHIP 2017 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES