Staff

 
Executive Director

    VACANT

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Faisal Al-Juburi, Vice President, MillionTreesNYC

Faisal Al-Juburi joined NYRP in 2009 and oversees MillionTreesNYC, part of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s PlaNYC 2030 and a partnership between NYRP and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.  This groundbreaking initiative sets out the ambitious goal of planting and caring for one million new trees throughout New York City’s five boroughs, and is recognized nationwide for incorporating education and capacity building programs tailored to specific community needs.

Prior to assuming his current position, Faisal served as a fundraising specialist at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the United States' leading arts institution located in Washington, D.C.  He was also involved with The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Campaign at Ford's Theatre, an effort to preserve and honor the legacy of the United States' sixteenth president.

Faisal holds a degree in History from Thomas Jefferson's prestigious University of Virginia, and is recognized outside of the United States for his contributions to Living Well Magazine, Jordan's best-selling lifestyle publication.

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Jo Anne Barry, Chief Financial Officer

Jo Anne Barry is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 20 years of experience in the financial field. In 2004, she joined NYRP as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) overseeing all aspects of the Finance Department and playing a key role in the operational and strategic decision-making processes of both the not-for-profit organization and its for-profit subsidiary.

Prior to NYRP, Jo Anne was Controller/CFO of a fast-growing, celebrity-owned manufacturing/wholesale corporation, where she was responsible for improving the company’s cash management and financial reporting capabilities. Prior to that position, Joanne spent five years as Assistant Controller of a high-end international women’s retail fashion corporation, an assignment that followed 12 years as an auditor in public accounting with such firms as Price Waterhouse Coopers and Hays & Company, LLC in New York City, where she worked with diverse industries from retail, insurance, manufacturing and securities to minor league baseball, not-for-profit charities and the dairy sector.

Jo Anne received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1985 and was certified in 1988. She is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA).

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Kristin Dougherty, Chief Development Officer

Kristin Dougherty leads NYRP’s process to chart its course in philanthropy and fund development. In her position as Chief Development Officer (CDO), Kristen serves as an organizational ambassador, securing charitable contributions to support NYRP’s mission and vision, nurturing community relationships and identifying individuals for board candidacy. Her responsibilities include fostering a culture of philanthropy throughout NYRP and creating a donor-centered culture that helps sustain loyalty through comprehensive relationship-building programs, including cultivation and communications.

Prior to joining NYRP, Kristin held positions of increasing responsibility at the Bayard Advertising Agency in New York City, moving from Account Coordinator to Account Executive. Before that, she was an Administrative Assistant at Talbert Communications, Ltd.

Kristin graduated from Adelphi University in 2004, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, in English. She also maintained dual minors in Business and Secondary Education.

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Amy Gavaris, Executive Vice President

Amy Gavaris has been on staff at NYRP since its founding by Bette Midler in 1995 and has since helped lead the organization from its grassroots origins to becoming one of New York City’s – and the nation’s – leading and most respected environmental non-profit entities.

Amy manages NYRP’s programmatic initiatives, open space redevelopment and major capital projects. Among her key accomplishments are: overseeing the cleanup of a five-acre dump site on the Harlem River and creating Swindler Cove Park and Riley-Levin Children’s Garden, assisting in the acquisition of 55 community gardens and creation of the subsidiary New York Garden Trust, overseeing the construction of the Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse on the Harlem River, supervising the design and installation of a Cherry Tree Esplanade along the Harlem River Drive and restoring a historic stone building in Fort Tryon Park, home to the New Leaf Restaurant & Bar – an NYRP enterprise whose profits support the organization’s ongoing park maintenance and beautification.

In addition, Amy has managed several special restoration projects in post-Katrina New Orleans, chief among them guiding the design and construction of a new community park in Gentilly, one of the city’s most flood-ravaged neighborhoods.

Amy spent her early years at a Rudolf Steiner school, learning the value of environmentalism through organic gardening, composting and reading Rachel Carson. Her love of nature and passion for New York City led her to earn degrees in Landscape Architecture and a Master’s in Urban Planning from the City College of New York, where she was the recipient of many awards for design, writing, academic and athletic achievement.

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Catherine Hall, Chief Operating Officer

As Chief Operating Officer (COO), Catherine Hall oversees NYRP’s internal organizational and operational functions – managing day-to-day operations including facilities, human resources and technology – and serves as AmeriCorps Program Director.

Prior to joining NYRP in 1998, Catherine worked with director Alan J. Pakula, where she was directly engaged in the research, development, budgeting, production and release of four major feature films and management of his production office for eight years. Previous professional experience includes office management at Lehman Brothers, Kuhn, Loeb and management of a stock photography agency.

A native of the United Kingdom where she studied Economics and History, Catherine received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of Visual Arts and has a certificate in Non-Profit Fiscal Management from New York University.

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Akiima Price, Chief of Education and Programs

Akiima Price joined NYRP in 2007 and quickly developed a strategic plan for the organization’s educational programming focusing on Urban Ecology, Urban Conservation, Urban Planning, Boat Building and vocational objectives – all incorporating major NYRP initiatives, including the MillionTreesNYC initiative. Akiima is responsible for a number of innovative, diverse and collaborative public programs that encompass in-school, drop-in, vocational, recreational and multi-generational offerings, which maximize the use of NYRP-maintained sites citywide.

Akiima brings a wealth of hands-on experience and dedication to NYRP. Prior to joining NYRP and over the course of 10 years, she held a number of positions focusing on all aspects of environmental education, including Environmental Education Director at the Earth Conservations Corps; Outreach Manager with Discovery Creek Children’s Museum of Washington, DC; and a variety of consulting, program management and volunteer positions with environmental organizations, such as Chesapeake Bay Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and several others headquartered in the Capital area.

In 1995, Akiima received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Maryland – Eastern Shore, where she also minored in Communications.

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Darin Johnson, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, Marketing and Policy

Darin joined NYRP in 2007 and is responsible for managing NYRP’s role under MillionTreesNYC and identifying new programming, education and community outreach activities and partnerships which align with NYRP’s mission and strategic plan. In addition, Darin develops and implements marketing and communications strategies that raise NYRP’s visibility in New York City and nationally. His responsibilities also include organization of NYRP’s government relations and policy strategies.

Prior to NYRP, Darin was National Public Relations Director at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^®, where he was directly responsible for the integrated marketing, creative and online communications, and public relations strategies relating to all Ringling Bros^®. circus productions and ancillary programs, including CircusFit^TM – a national youth fitness program. Prior to that position, Darin was a Vice President at Witeck-Combs Communications and worked as a Managing Director at Hill and Knowlton Public Relations in Chicago. He was also a Vice President for Public Affairs/Director of Government Affairs for the National Rural Health Association in Washington, DC, and started his career as a Legislative Director in the Congressional Office of U.S. Representative Glenn Poshard.

Darin received a Master of Arts degree in Issues Management and Government Affairs from George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management in 1997. He also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theater, awarded from Millikin University’s School of Fine Arts in Decatur, IL, in 1993.

Barrett Robinson, Vice President of Horticulture and Construction

Barrett Robinson joined NYRP in 2007 and is responsible for managing the design process for the organization’s 55 community gardens and individual park renovation projects, working with many renowned landscape architects and designers from across the country. In addition, Barrett oversees NYRP’s procurement of all horticultural and construction materials and selects landscape contractors for NYRP’s capital and MillionTreesNYC-affiliated projects. He is also principal coordinator of our Corporate and Community Volunteer days and manager of the MillionTreesNYC Training Program.

Prior to joining NYRP, Barrett worked in garden design and project management in New York City and was responsible for project cost analysis, scheduling, site management and materials procurement. Prior to that, he held positions of increasing responsibility at a number of landscape service companies specializing in sourcing and procurement and also as an independent designer and installer in and around the Columbus, OH, area. Early in his career, Barrett was employed in the hospitality industry.

Barrett attended Ohio State University, where he majored in Agri-Business and minored in Marketing. He also attended the ATI Extension of Ohio State, where he majored in Landscape Design and Construction.

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