Our Team

Meet our Staff, Board and Chairman’s Council

Staff

Our team includes experts in construction, horticulture, design, environmental education, administration and fundraising.


Leadership

Lynn B. Kelly

Executive Director

Gary Dearborn

Chief of Capital

Robyn Rehak

Chief Advancement Officer

Simon Skinner

Chief of Programs and Operations

Administration

Alexis Braxton

Office Manager

Michelle Brown-Conway

Director of Finance

Engagement and Programming

Corey Blant

Director of Urban Agriculture

Caio Miranda Carneiro

Engagement Coordinator

Genevieve Harding

Urban Agriculture Manager

Michael Horwitz

Public Programming Coordinator

Charlie Reynoso

Director of Engagement

Development and Marketing

Chris Barrett

Institutional Giving Director

Megan Dooley

Individual Giving Officer

Cory Hasson

Government Affairs Manager

Monique Holloway

Database Manager

Sophie Maisterra Navratil

Executive Office & Communications Associate

Sophie Regina

Advancement Coordinator

Ariel Lauren Wilson

Senior Director of Marketing & Communications

Operations

Lovett Evans

Bronx/Manhattan Zone Gardener

Carley Guida

Zone Gardener, Brooklyn Gardens

Charles Hill

Landscape Supervisor, Northern Manhattan Parks

Annie Klein

Citywide Project Coordinator

Ryan Lawrence

Forest Restoration Specialist

Kareen Matadeen

Gardener, Northern Manhattan Parks

Christopher McArdle

Deputy Director, Northern Manhattan Parks

William Pries

Citywide Project Coordinator

Yessenia Santiago

Assistant Operations Director

Edwards Santos

Sherman Creek Park Manager

Jason Sheets

Director of Garden Horticulture & Citywide Greening Projects

Jason Smith

Director, Northern Manhattan Parks

Andrew Stewart

Citywide Project Manager

Donte Taylor

Deputy Director, Community Gardens

Dustin Thomsen

Director of Repair & Construction

Jerell White

Groundskeeper, Northern Manhattan Parks

Seasonal Staff

  • Landon Bates Seasonal Parks Stewardship Assistant
  • Camilla Conde Seasonal Parks Stewardship Assistant
  • Mario Fong Seasonal Urban Agriculture Coordinator
  • Mel Giraldo Engagement and Programming Seasonal Assistant
  • John Ramirez Seasonal Assistant Groundskeeper
  • Nelson Thomas Seasonal Parks Stewardship Assistant

Board

NYRP's Board includes leaders in architecture, design, real estate, and entertainment who oversee the affairs and advance the core mission of the organization.

Bette Midler

Founder

Darcy Stacom

Co-Chair

Samuel M. Ashner

Co-Chair

Vered Rabia

President

Erhard Marius

Treasurer

Sara Arno

Krystyna Blakeslee

Bruce Bozzi

Heather Butts

Betty Y. Chen

Todd DeGarmo

Susan Donoghue

Ex-Officio

Rachel Mattes Greenberg

Harry Guinness

Walter Hood

Michael Kors

Michael Lorber

James L. Nederlander

Kelebohile Nkhereanye

Janice Parker

ASLA

David Rockwell, FAIA

Josh Sirefman

Shannon Szoke

Sophie von Haselberg

Sondra C. Wenger

Miriam Wheeler

Shelly Malkin

Emeritus

Ann Ziff

Emeritus

Chairman's Council

NYRP's Chairman's Council represents a select group of civic-minded individuals who, through their involvement and leadership, embrace and promote the mission of our work.

  • Janice Parker, Chair
  • Leleah James
  • Charles Bendit
  • Mychal Johnson
  • Adrian Benepe
  • Sophie Coquillette Koven
  • Noble Black
  • Jakob Levison
  • Diane Brownstone
  • Rob Light
  • Alexandra Cohen
  • Margo MacNabb Nederlander
  • Frank DiLella
  • Joshua Rider
  • Douglas Durst
  • Paul D. Selver
  • Amy Goldman Fowler
  • Andrea Woodner
  • Tim Gunn

Join the Chairman's Council

Members participate in special projects including galas, thought leadership events, and exclusive garden occasions. Contact us to learn more.

Learn More