José Francisco Ávila is an author, publisher, social justice activist, and author of the books Garifuna Ancestry: and Pan-Garifuna Afro-Latino Power of Pride. He is the chairman of the Board of the Garifuna Coalition USA, Inc. He is the founder of the Garifuna Experience in NYC website, a NYC Garifuna tourism destination brand. His walking tour Exploring The Significance of The Happy Land Memorial, explores the historical and cultural significance of the Happy Land Social Club Fire to both New York City and the Garifuna community. His organization was recognized as one of the Historic District Council’s 2023 Six to Celebrate awardees. This recognition highlights the importance in preserving and promoting the history of the Garifuna people in New York City. José Francisco earned a B.S. in Accounting from Bentley University. He holds a Certificate in Afro-Latin American Studies from the Afro-Latin American Research Institute (ALARI), Harvard University and Certification in World Music Pedagogy, from Indiana University. He is a Certified Nonprofit Accountant. He is a Fellow of the 2011 New York Coro’s Immigrant Civic Leadership Program. He is a Member of the Bronx Music Heritage Center Advisory Board and was appointed by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to the first New York City Nightlife Advisory Board.
Joan Berkowitz, FAPT is a recognized materials conservation expert with 35 plus years of project experience on both local & National landmarks. Joan is the Principal of Joan Berkowitz Architectural Conservation (JBAC) a small sole proprietor run architectural conservation firm established in March 2022. JBAC specializes in the preservation of historic buildings, monuments, & other cultural resources. Joan studied Historic Preservation at Columbia’s GSAPP where she focused on Materials Conservation. An Assistant Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s GSAPP for 14 years, Joan taught the courses “Concrete, Cast Stone and Mortar,” and “The Conservation Workshop.” An active volunteer, Joan is a past President and past Board Member of the Association for Preservation International, and has served on the Boards of the APT Northeast Chapter, the Metropolitan Chapter of the Victorian Society and the NYC Fine Arts Federation. Currently Joan is an advisory committee member of the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project. Joan lives on the Upper West Side with her Boston Terrier mutt Rocky and hopes to have a new kitten soon.
Thomas J. Campanella is a Brooklyn native, Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of City and Regional Planning at Cornell University, and Historian-in-Residence of the New York City Parks Department. A recipient of Guggenheim, Fulbright, Rome Prize, MacDowell and James Marston Fitch fellowships, he is a frequent contributor to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal and the author of several award-winning books—most recently Brooklyn: The Once and Future City (2019), a Brendan Gill Prize finalist. Campanella splits his time between Ithaca and New York City.
Michael Kramer is the President of the South Street Seaport Coalition which is currently in litigation with the LPC (250 Water Street) for flouting its charter mandated role by finding a 340′ Tower to be ‘appropriate’ for the Seaport Historic District. He was a long-term member of Manhattan CB4 (where he was the first Chair of the Hudson River Park Conservancy Advisory Board) and is currently a public member of CB1’s Land Use, Zoning and Economic Development Committee.
Jeremy Lechtzin writes about the history of New York City’s built environment, especially the development of Brooklyn Heights and surrounding neighborhoods. Jeremy is the current president of the Brooklyn Heights Association’s board of governors, and chairs the BHA’s Landmarks Preservation Committee. Jeremy is also a technology lawyer, and advises several start-ups as general counsel.
Tiera Mack, the Executive Director of the Pitkin Avenue Business Improvement District (BID). I execute initiatives and programming to make Brownsville a better place to live, play, shop, and work. I possess a Master’s in Urban Planning and an Advanced GIS Certificate from the City University of New York-Hunter College. Before joining the BID, I was a cross-divisional advisor in the Workforce Development Division at the Department of Small Business Services (SBS), supporting the Fiscal, Training, and Workforce1 teams. I have a background in real estate development, data and legal research, and community organizing. I completed the Worker Cooperative Fellowship with the Urban Design Forum. In addition, I’m a former Neighborhood 360° Fellow in the Neighborhood Development Division at SBS and a resident of Community Board 16.
Matthew Rosenberg is a resident of Woodlawn Heights and local historian dedicated to bringing light to the experiences of Jews and others in the Bronx. With a love for music, ethnic history, and all things Bronx, Matthew seeks to preserve the historic treasures of the Jewish Bronx. Matthew currently works for The Woodlawn Cemetery & Conservancy, a National Historic Landmark, where he plays a crucial role in Bronx historic preservation and innovative research. Matthew is especially proud of his Woodlawn’s Jewish American Heritage Tour, the first of its kind for Woodlawn.
Corey Spitzer is a Project Manager of Facilities and Construction at the Bronx Zoo with the Wildlife Conservation Society and the President of the Association for Preservation Technology Northeast Chapter and has an MS in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. She has spent time in the field doing hands on construction, conservation, and management of historic preservation projects, including a large number of exterior masonry restoration projects, scientific and hands-on investigation of existing structure conditions, field sketches and quick decisions based on unknown field conditions, and project management that respects the historic fabric of an existing building while allowing and the structure to remain relevant. She has experience working in and on both City and National Landmarks and Sites and with cast iron and terra cotta façade restoration, incorporating mechanical systems into historic spaces with minimal impact (HVAC, lighting, fire alarm, fire suppression), roofing replacement, structural sealant replacement, and FISP inspections.
Liz Waytkus is the Executive Director of Docomomo US. In her fifteen years at Docomomo US, Ms. Waytkus is responsible for the development of new programming including the annual Docomomo US National Symposium and the Modernism in America Awards. Ms. Waytkus manages Docomomo US’ advocacy efforts throughout the vast US network and spear-headed efforts to Landmark the Ambassador Grill and the AT&T Building in New York City. She lives in West Harlem and is the co-chair of the Housing Land Use and Zoning committee of Community Board 9 Manhattan. Ms. Waytkus received her Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Pratt Institute and previously worked in the non-profit cultural and educational fields for more than a decade.
Neela K. Wickremesinghe is the Director of Restoration and Preservation at The Green-Wood Cemetery. She began work at Green-Wood in 2016. Neela and her team are responsible for all repairs at the cemetery from small monument resets to large vault and mausoleum restorations. Before her time at Green-Wood Neela worked as a conservation technician and site foreman for EverGreene Architectural Arts during which she had the privilege of working on some of New York’s most iconic buildings such as the New York Public Library, Park Avenue Armory. She is a Professional Associate of the American Institute of Conservation and a Recognized Professional by the Association for Preservation Technology.