Downtown Categorical is thrilled to current our inaugural class of Downtown Block Stars. From innovators in schooling to pioneers in arts and tradition, our thirty honorees show that decrease Manhattan is the crown jewel of our stunning metropolis. We’re desirous to elevate up the dynamic panorama that lives beneath Canal Road, together with Chinatown, Tribeca, Battery Park, South Road Seaport, Governors Island, One World Commerce Middle, and a lot extra.
President and CEO, South Road Seaport Museum
An educator and ship captain, Jonathan Boulware has steered the South Road Seaport Museum’s operations since 2013. Boulware leads fundraising for and restoration of the historic buildings and ships within the Museum’s assortment and oversees a brand new $40 million stability fund secured by an air rights switch in 2021. Lately, he’s seen the Seaport Museum by three consecutive years of doubled customer attendance and programming progress, with additional plans to increase the galleries and choices for New York Metropolis college students and most of the people. He’s additionally engaged in resiliency planning for Decrease Manhattan, having endured Hurricane Sandy’s floodwaters.
Co-Founder, Mercer Labs Museum of Artwork and Know-how
A famend developer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Michael Cayre serves as co-founder of Mercer Labs. As well as, he’s co-founder of Midtown Equities, Casa Cipriani, and Chez Margaux. He has performed a pivotal position in remodeling experiential landscapes and revitalizing communities all over the world.
Principal, Chinatown BID/Partnership
Wellington Chen is a first-generation Asian American with a lifelong devotion to and curiosity in neighborhood revival. He’s a extremely revered public servant and is main the Chinatown BID/ Partnership. Mr. Chen was deeply concerned in lots of neighborhood initiatives, together with the Downtown Flushing revitalization efforts. Wellington is the primary Chinese language American to serve on a CB and LDC in Queens. An architect by coaching, Wellington labored for I.M. Pei Architects and Planners. He’s presently on the boards of the Bowne Home Historic Society; Coro NY Management Middle; DASNY; Governor’s Island Neighborhood Advisory Board; GrowNYC: The NYC Landmarks Preservation Fee; the Decrease Manhattan Historic Affiliation; the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork; the NYC Regional Financial Growth Council; YMCA of Higher NY and extra.
Chairman, The Alliance for Downtown New York
Ric Clark is co-founder and managing associate of WatermanClark, an actual property funding and working firm. Previous to WatermanClark, Mr. Clark had been with Brookfield Asset Administration and its associates since 1984 in varied senior roles – together with chairman and chief government officer of Brookfield Property Group, Brookfield Property Companions and Brookfield Workplace Properties. Mr. Clark is chairman of the Alliance for Downtown New York and the Downtown-Decrease Manhattan Affiliation. He serves on the manager committees of the Actual Property Board of New York and the Actual Property Roundtable, on the Board of Trustees of the Nationwide September 11 Memorial and the Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Middle on the World Commerce Middle.
President, Downtown Impartial Democrats
A lifelong New Yorker and a longtime resident of Decrease Manhattan, Richard Corman has an intensive historical past of involvement with neighborhood initiatives. He was a founding member and chair of the Tribeca Group, which targeted on restoration of the neighborhood after 9/11. Extra lately, he has devoted his time to the neighborhood as a member of Neighborhood Board 1, the place he works on neighborhood problems with land use, the atmosphere, and waterfront and parks. Whereas government director of The River Venture, a marine science and schooling nonprofit in Hudson River Park, he spearheaded the merger of the group into the Hudson River Park Belief as a continuation and enhancement of its mission. He’s additionally president of Downtown Impartial Democrats, pushed by the assumption that native motion brings nationwide change.
President and CEO, Hudson River Park Belief
Noreen Doyle is president and CEO of the Hudson River Park Belief, which oversees the design, administration, growth and programming of the four-mile-long park and its 400-acre estuarine sanctuary. Below Noreen’s management, the Belief has accomplished building of latest public open areas just like the Science Playground, delivered excessive influence environmental academic programming to 30,000 folks every year, and accomplished two massive habitat enhancement tasks. Noreen has additionally championed direct entry to the Hudson River by native partnerships and environmental analysis. Beforehand, Noreen was a vice chairman at AKRF Inc., a number one environmental and planning marketing consultant, the place she helped handle tasks just like the Second Avenue Subway. Noreen has a B.A. from Smith Faculty and accomplished coursework in the direction of a doctorate in comparative literature from New York College.
Meeting Member and Assistant Majority Chief, New York State Meeting
Charles D. Fall is a member of the New York State Meeting and serves as assistant majority chief. He proudly represents New York’s 61st Meeting District, masking the North Shore of Staten Island, Decrease Manhattan and elements of Brooklyn. Fall is the primary Muslim and African American Meeting Member elected from Staten Island and Decrease Manhattan. He comes from a working-class household of six. His dad and mom immigrated to New York from Guinea, West Africa, and displayed a dedication to enhancing the lives of these round them. Within the six years he has been in workplace, Fall has secured over $100 million {dollars} for his neighborhood and has 20 payments he authored signed into regulation. Fall’s priorities embrace public security, schooling and offering financial alternatives.
Meeting Member, New York State Meeting
Representing Decrease Manhattan for over 30 years, Deborah Glick has strongly advocated for civil rights, reproductive freedom, animals/environmental preservation, and tenants’ rights. Meeting Member Glick’s profitable laws contains the Reproductive Well being Act, codifying Roe v. Wade in New York State regulation; banning the dangerous apply of conversion remedy; offering hospital visitation rights for home companions; requiring divorce courts to think about the curiosity of a companion animal when figuring out custody; renewing the Loft Legislation – which brings formerly-commercial buildings to residential code and protects tenants from eviction; and authorizing NYC to increase a life-saving pace security digital camera program. A protracted-standing advocate for the atmosphere, Glick was appointed as chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee in 2023. She additionally serves on the Methods and Means, Guidelines, and Authorities Operations committees.
Co-Government Director, Coalition for Asian American Kids and Households
Anita Gundanna (she/her) joined Coalition for Asian American Kids and Households (CACF) as co-executive director in April 2017. She has labored all through her profession to stop and tackle violence towards ladies and kids, and to advertise wholesome households, primarily in minority and immigrant communities of New York Metropolis. Previous to her return to CACF, Anita labored as a marketing consultant with a variety of small and rising community-based nonprofit organizations principally serving Asian American and immigrant communities. Anita holds a Ph.D from Columbia College Faculty of Social Work.
Government Vice President, Brookfield Properties
Callie Haines is government vice chairman, Northeast area head for Brookfield Properties. On this position, she is accountable for the strategic positioning, leasing, and working efficiency of 28+ million sq. ft of workplace properties throughout New York Metropolis. Chief among the many present tasks in Callie’s portfolio are Manhattan West and Brookfield Place, two defining mixed-use campuses, in addition to iconic towers Lever Home, 660 Fifth Avenue, and the Grace Constructing. Callie joined Brookfield Properties in 2005 as director of design and building. Previous to Brookfield, Callie spent 5 years at Turner Development Firm as a challenge engineer. Callie obtained her Grasp of Enterprise Administration from London Enterprise Faculty and her Bachelor of Science from Princeton College, majoring in civil engineering and structure.
Particular Tasks Supervisor, NYC Taxi and Limousine Fee
As particular tasks supervisor with NYC Taxi and Limousine Fee (TLC), Rebecca Harshbarger is a key contributor to TLC’s Imaginative and prescient Zero, driver schooling, and accessibility packages. Serving on the TLC’s Imaginative and prescient Zero activity pressure, Rebecca coordinates company efforts to stop site visitors crashes. She lately led the event launching an enhanced TLC driver license renewal course that options an interactive curriculum with AI situations regarding Imaginative and prescient Zero, accessibility, and anti-discrimination coaching. To serve the general public as a TLC-licensed driver, candidates should take an in-person 24-hour TLC driver schooling course, a customer support course for passengers with disabilities, and a three-year renewal course. These education schemes are additionally an necessary space of Rebecca’s work. The NYC TLC is positioned in Decrease Manhattan on Beaver Road.
Founder, Quest Lifelong Studying
Throughout the summer time of 1995, Bob Hartmann joined with a gaggle of seniors, most of their 60s and 70s, to kind a brand new peer studying group to check and be taught collectively. Thus, Quest was shaped with about 90 members and was welcomed as a part of the Middle For Employee Training (CWE), a division of CCNY positioned at 25 Broadway in downtown Manhattan. Research subjects ranged from Shakespeare to Sondheim musicals, from well-known ladies spies to the historical past of the Center East. Quest now boasts 240 members. Hartmann has served twice as Quest president and as board member for 4 years. He has established a perpetually-endowed scholarship for the schooling of a CWE undergrad pupil, which has enabled many graduates to maneuver up the financial ladder whereas contributing to a extra productive society.
Senator, New York State Senate
Senator Brian Kavanagh represents greater than 330,000 residents in New York’s Senate District 27, masking neighborhoods throughout decrease Manhattan from the Battery to 14th Road. As chair of the Senate Committee on Housing, Development and Neighborhood Growth, Brian has constructed on his many years of advocating for entry to top quality, protected, reasonably priced housing for all New Yorkers. Brian has additionally been a frontrunner in selling environmental sustainability. He launched the All-Electrical Constructing Act, which might ban building of latest buildings that require fossil fuels. He’s additionally a proud co-sponsor of the Local weather Management and Neighborhood Safety Act, essentially the most complete and bold local weather change regulation in the US.
Co-Founder and Creative Director, Downtown Dance Manufacturing facility
Hanne Larsen moved to New York Metropolis from Sydney, Australia in 2005. She is creative director and co-founder of Downtown Dance Manufacturing facility (DDF). She holds a level in theater and music, and diplomas in ballet instructing, jazz instructing and studio administration, lately including certifications in acrobatic arts and Giordano jazz approach. Hanne lives in Tribeca the place she has raised her 4 kids, all of whom have danced at DDF. Her daughter India is now a DDF trainer and freelance dancer and her son Atticus dances with Gauthier Dance in Germany. Hanne counts DDF’s biggest successes as not solely its nationwide awards and its dancers’ admissions into town’s high performing arts excessive colleges and the nation’s high school dance packages, but in addition its creation of an exquisite downtown dance neighborhood.
Meeting Member, New York State Meeting
Meeting Member Grace Lee is a longtime resident of Decrease Manhattan, a mom of three, and a devoted advocate for working New Yorkers. She made historical past in 2023 as the primary Korean-American lady to serve within the state legislature. In her first time period within the Meeting, she secured $391 million for the Emergency Rental Help Program (ERAP) to help public and sponsored housing residents. Moreover, she received a document $30 million for nonprofits serving the Asian neighborhood for 2 consecutive years. Lately, she handed the Hate Crimes Modernization Act to strengthen New York’s legal guidelines towards hate crimes. Meeting Member Lee has used her place to raise ladies’s points – advocating for help for working moms, looking for justice for victims of sexual abuse, and combating for reproductive justice.
Co-Government Director, Coalition for Asian American Kids and Households
Vanessa Leung (she/her) joined Coalition for Asian American Kids and Households (CACF) as co-executive director in April 2017. She has served the schooling neighborhood by her profession, advocating on behalf of Asian Pacific American college students and English language learners in New York Metropolis public colleges. She was appointed by Mayor Invoice de Blasio to the Panel for Instructional Coverage (PEP) and served as chair of PEP for eight years from January 2014 to December 2021. She presently additionally sits on the Advisory Panel for the Brooke Astor Fund for New York Metropolis Training.
Rabbi, Tamid: The Downtown Synagogue
Darren Levine is the founding rabbi of Tamid: The Downtown Synagogue and has been serving the Jewish neighborhood downtown for twenty years. He’s the creator of “Positive Judaism: For a Lifetime of Well-Being and Happiness,” and believes that the aim of faith and religion communities within the twenty first century is to present hope and inspiration for all times. Darren loves the vitality and creative spirit of Decrease Manhattan and his imaginative and prescient for New York Metropolis is a spot the place all folks really feel protected and supported and reside with hope of their hearts. His congregation is a dynamic mix of individuals of all ages and backgrounds who like to have a good time Jewish life and to make a constructive influence on our metropolis and the world.
Manhattan Borough President, Manhattan Borough President’s Workplace
Since taking workplace in 2022, Borough President Mark Levine has targeted on fairness, resilience, and the wellbeing of Manhattanites. His key initiatives embrace constructing extra housing within the borough, pushing for AI insurance policies in municipal authorities, increasing the city cover, and advocating for higher site visitors administration and biking infrastructure. Beforehand, Levine served as a metropolis council member, the place he led on tenants’ rights, public well being, and park funding. He handed landmark laws guaranteeing authorized counsel for tenants dealing with eviction and rose to nationwide prominence throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Mark’s background as a public faculty trainer and neighborhood organizer shapes his dedication to numerous, inclusive management.
Hospital Administrator, Battery Park Veterinary Hospital
As a local New Yorker, Terry has been enthusiastic about veterinary medication since studying about veterinarians in elementary faculty. Her expertise within the veterinary discipline began in 1999 in Buffalo, NY. After ending her bachelor’s on the State College of New York at Buffalo, she hung out working as a veterinary assistant and hospital supervisor for a small animal hospital in New York Metropolis. She grew to become a member of the Downtown Veterinary Medical Hospital’s administration crew in 2006 and obtained her Grasp of Enterprise Administration in 2012. On this time, she has helped the hospital group increase and develop into 4 profitable areas. At this time, she is the hospital administrator for Battery Park Veterinary Hospital, the place she oversees the day-to-day care supplied by her wonderful crew.
President and CEO, Battery Park Metropolis Authority
As Battery Park Metropolis Authority (BPCA) president and CEO, Raju Mann drives the group’s $2 billion portfolio of tasks to guard western parts of decrease Manhattan’s shoreline and inland areas from the threats of storm surge, sea stage rise, and excessive rain occasions. Previous to BPCA, he labored at design and engineering agency Arup, main transportation, housing coverage, and local weather adaptation tasks. Earlier, he served the director of land use and deputy chief of workers for the New York Metropolis Council, the place he led a crew of planners and attorneys working with council members, metropolis companies, and communities to develop planning methods for neighborhoods citywide. Raju earned his B.A. in philosophy from Columbia College and his M.A. in city planning from the College of Michigan.
Council Member, New York Metropolis Council
Born and raised on the Decrease East Facet, Council Member Christopher Marte has been representing Decrease Manhattan within the Metropolis Council since 2022. In that point, he has supplied service to 1000’s of constituents, handed payments to reshape our metropolis, and fought for these whose voices are usually excluded from Metropolis Corridor. Marte has allotted his price range to plant lots of of latest road timber, buy higher trash bins, open two new parks, whereas guaranteeing each public faculty has afterschool packages. Marte has targeted his legislative priorities on points that cross all earnings ranges. His No Extra 24 Act bans the 24-hour workday for homecare staff, guaranteeing that the immigrant ladies working these shifts have affordable situations and sufferers obtain the essential round the clock care they want.
Assistant Advertising Director, Kofinas Fertility Group
Curtis Murphy is the dynamic assistant advertising and marketing director and visible designer for Kofinas Fertility Group, headquartered in Decrease Manhattan. With experience in built-in advertising and marketing and social media administration, Curtis is keen about elevating Kofinas’ model consciousness by modern methods. His management and collaborative abilities make him a key contributor to the advertising and marketing crew. Curtis is devoted to staying forward of developments and driving engagement throughout platforms, making him a precious asset for enhancing Kofinas’ digital presence. One in all his biggest joys in fertility branding is remodeling a delicate subject into one thing approachable, empowering ladies to take that first step towards fertility therapy with out worry.
Co-Founder, Mercer Labs Museum of Artwork and Know-how
Roy Nachum, born in 1979, is an experimental artist recognized for his complete creative apply which spans throughout varied mediums, together with sculpture, portray, structure, set up and know-how. His works make the most of conceptualism, interactivity, and components of artwork historical past to discover complicated psych-visual elements like sensory substitution, inside representations, transhistorical paradigms, and psychological rotation. The experimental establishment of Mercer Labs challenges conventions and defies expectations, bringing tradition and innovation along with the intention to humanize know-how. Nachum obtained his schooling at The Cooper Union in New York, and his work might be present in vital private and non-private artwork collections. He gained recognition with a Grammy nomination for the 59th annual Grammy Awards for his contributions to Rihanna’s acclaimed album, “Anti.”
President and CEO, The Belief for Governors Island
Clare Newman serves because the president and CEO of the Belief for Governors Island (TGI), which is charged with the planning, redevelopment, and operations of 150 acres of Governors Island. Clare involves TGI from the Brooklyn Navy Yard Growth Company (BNYDC) the place as chief of workers and government vice chairman she carried out tasks to create jobs and foster growth. Earlier than BNYDC, Clare was a senior chief at Bloomberg Philanthropies, heading a global competitors for options to city challenges. Beforehand, Clare was a vice chairman at NYCEDC, executing tasks such because the restoration of Kings Theatre, town’s bike share program, and the Utilized Sciences initiative. Clare obtained a Grasp of City Planning from Graduate Faculty of Structure, Planning and Preservation at Columbia College and a B.A. with honors in political economic system from Williams Faculty.
CEO, President and Chairman of the Board, Seaport Leisure Group
Anton D. Nikodemus is the chief government officer of Seaport Leisure Group (SEG). Mr. Nikodemus has spent over 30 years in leisure and hospitality main the event and operations of business premier vacation spot manufacturers. Previous to becoming a member of SEG, he served as president and chief working officer of CityCenter for MGM Resorts Worldwide from December 2020 to November 2023, the place he oversaw operations for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Vdara Resort & Spa and ARIA Resort & On line casino. He additionally served as portfolio president of Las Vegas Properties; president and chief working officer, Bellagio and Park MGM from April 2020 to December 2020 and president and chief working officer luxurious portfolio at MGM Resorts Worldwide from February 2019 to March 2020.
Government Director, Perelman Performing Arts Middle (PAC NYC)
Khady Kamara Nunez is the manager director of the Perelman Performing Arts Middle. As an arts supervisor for over 20 years, she has a confirmed document of considerably rising earned and contributed income. Along with managing strategic planning, her core focus is strengthening neighborhood relations and creating new audiences with an consideration to range and inclusion.
Beforehand, Khady was government director of Second Stage Theater (Tony Award® winner, “Take Me Out”). Her previous expertise additionally contains management roles at Washington DC’s Enviornment Stage, the place she doubled the subscription base, elevated patron engagement, and contributed to the world premieres and New York transfers of “Dear Evan Hansen” and “The Originalist.” Khady is an adjunct professor of arts administration at George Mason College.
Founder, Full Playground Inc.
Alex Reznik, founding father of Full Playground, developed and carried out the concept for an inclusive household middle and indoor playground after he confronted difficulties discovering areas in New York Metropolis that accommodated all three of his kids, considered one of whom is identified with Autism Spectrum Dysfunction. His son’s remedy appointments had been typically irritating on account of their scientific nature and distant areas, leaving the household reluctant to attend. Throughout journeys to Europe, Alex found indoor playgrounds that supplied extra partaking and supportive environments. Realizing that nothing comparable existed in New York Metropolis, Alex got down to create Full Playground — the primary Manhattan nonprofit inclusive area that caters to the various wants of all kids. Beforehand, Alex had efficiently based CompleteBody, Manhattan’s solely privately-owned health club chain, in 1995.
Senior Vice President and COO, NewYork-Presbyterian Decrease Manhattan Hospital
Marie-Laure S. Romney M.D., MBA, senior vice chairman and chief working officer at NewYork-Presbyterian Decrease Manhattan Hospital manages the day-to-day operations and the working and capital budgets, and likewise implements scientific technique. She most lately served as vice chairman of operations at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, the place she directed the administration of scientific departments and served as vice chair of high quality and affected person security at Columbia College Division of Emergency Drugs. Dr. Romney beforehand served as director of high quality, steady enchancment and affected person security within the Division of Emergency Drugs at Kings County Hospital Middle. She holds an undergraduate diploma from Cornell College, a medical diploma from Rutgers College Robert Wooden Johnson Medical Faculty, and a Grasp of Enterprise Administration from the Wharton Faculty on the College of Pennsylvania.
COO, Ferries & Transportation, Hornblower Group
Scott Thornton is the chief working officer of Hornblower Group’s Ferries and Transportation Division the place he leads Hornblower’s operations of NYC Ferry in addition to the worldwide operations of HMS Ferries, Seaward Companies, Inc., HMS Ferries Puerto Rico, Hornblower Marine, and Hornblower Wind. In his greater than three many years with Hornblower, Scott has served at each stage of the group. Scott exemplifies the management and creativity that drives Hornblower’s continued progress and success, serving to to guide quite a few legacy and start-up operations and guaranteeing the best stage of operational requirements and concentrate on security, high quality, and crew growth.
Co-Founder and Enterprise Director, Downtown Dance Manufacturing facility
Initially from Montreal, Melanie moved to New York Metropolis from Canada in 2000. She and her husband, Phil, shortly realized that downtown NYC was their new residence, they usually raised their three kids in Tribeca. With a Bachelor of Commerce from Mcgill College, an MBA from the College of Toronto, and prior work expertise in each finance and consulting, Melanie, together with enterprise associate Hanne, launched Downtown Dance Manufacturing facility (DDF) in 2009 to cater to the rising neighborhood of households in search of dance for his or her kids. In truth, Melanie’s personal kids grew up dancing at DDF. Whereas she has fortunately watched DDF develop considerably over the previous 15+ years, her biggest pleasure is seeing the tight-knit neighborhood that DDF has constructed, with dance at its core.
