Downtown Express is thrilled to present our inaugural class of Downtown Block Stars. From innovators in education to pioneers in arts and culture, our thirty honorees prove that lower Manhattan is the crown jewel of our beautiful city. We are eager to lift up the dynamic landscape that lives beneath Canal Street, including Chinatown, Tribeca, Battery Park, South Street Seaport, Governors Island, One World Trade Center, and so much more.
Jonathan Boulware
President and CEO, South Street Seaport Museum
An educator and ship captain, Jonathan Boulware has steered the South Street Seaport Museum’s operations since 2013. Boulware leads fundraising for and restoration of the historic buildings and ships in the Museum’s collection and oversees a new $40 million stability fund secured through an air rights transfer in 2021. Recently, he’s seen the Seaport Museum through three consecutive years of doubled visitor attendance and programming growth, with further plans to expand the galleries and offerings for New York City students and the general public. He’s also engaged in resiliency planning for Lower Manhattan, having endured Hurricane Sandy’s floodwaters.
Michael Cayre
Co-Founder, Mercer Labs Museum of Art and Technology
A renowned developer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Michael Cayre serves as co-founder of Mercer Labs. In addition, he is co-founder of Midtown Equities, Casa Cipriani, and Chez Margaux. He has played a pivotal role in transforming experiential landscapes and revitalizing communities around the world.
Wellington Chen
Principal, Chinatown BID/Partnership
Wellington Chen is a first-generation Asian American with a lifelong devotion to and interest in community revival. He is a highly respected public servant and is leading the Chinatown BID/ Partnership. Mr. Chen was deeply involved in many community initiatives, including the Downtown Flushing revitalization efforts. Wellington is the first Chinese American to serve on a CB and LDC in Queens. An architect by training, Wellington worked for I.M. Pei Architects and Planners. He is currently on the boards of the Bowne House Historical Society; Coro NY Leadership Center; DASNY; Governor’s Island Community Advisory Board; GrowNYC: The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission; the Lower Manhattan Historical Association; the Metropolitan Museum of Art; the NYC Regional Economic Development Council; YMCA of Greater NY and more.
Ric Clark
Chairman, The Alliance for Downtown New York
Ric Clark is co-founder and managing partner of WatermanClark, a real estate investment and operating company. Prior to WatermanClark, Mr. Clark had been with Brookfield Asset Management and its affiliates since 1984 in various senior roles – including chairman and chief executive officer of Brookfield Property Group, Brookfield Property Partners and Brookfield Office Properties. Mr. Clark is chairman of the Alliance for Downtown New York and the Downtown-Lower Manhattan Association. He serves on the executive committees of the Real Estate Board of New York and the Real Estate Roundtable, on the Board of Trustees of the National September 11 Memorial and the Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center.
Richard Corman
President, Downtown Independent Democrats
A lifelong New Yorker and a longtime resident of Lower Manhattan, Richard Corman has an extensive history of involvement with community initiatives. He was a founding member and chair of the Tribeca Organization, which focused on recovery of the community after 9/11. More recently, he has devoted his time to the community as a member of Community Board 1, where he works on community issues of land use, the environment, and waterfront and parks. While executive director of The River Project, a marine science and education nonprofit in Hudson River Park, he spearheaded the merger of the organization into the Hudson River Park Trust as a continuation and enhancement of its mission. He is also president of Downtown Independent Democrats, driven by the belief that local action brings national change.
Noreen Doyle
President and CEO, Hudson River Park Trust
Noreen Doyle is president and CEO of the Hudson River Park Trust, which oversees the design, management, development and programming of the four-mile-long park and its 400-acre estuarine sanctuary. Under Noreen’s leadership, the Trust has completed construction of new public open spaces like the Science Playground, delivered high impact environmental educational programming to 30,000 people each year, and completed two large habitat enhancement projects. Noreen has also championed direct access to the Hudson River through local partnerships and environmental research. Previously, Noreen was a vice president at AKRF Inc., a leading environmental and planning consultant, where she helped manage projects like the Second Avenue Subway. Noreen has a B.A. from Smith College and completed coursework towards a doctorate in comparative literature from New York University.
Charles Fall
Assembly Member and Assistant Majority Leader, New York State Assembly
Charles D. Fall is a member of the New York State Assembly and serves as assistant majority leader. He proudly represents New York’s 61st Assembly District, covering the North Shore of Staten Island, Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. Fall is the first Muslim and African American Assembly Member elected from Staten Island and Lower Manhattan. He comes from a working-class family of six. His parents immigrated to New York from Guinea, West Africa, and displayed a commitment to improving the lives of those around them. In the six years he has been in office, Fall has secured over $100 million dollars for his community and has 20 bills he authored signed into law. Fall’s priorities include public safety, education and providing economic opportunities.
Deborah Glick
Assembly Member, New York State Assembly
Representing Lower Manhattan for over 30 years, Deborah Glick has strongly advocated for civil rights, reproductive freedom, animals/environmental preservation, and tenants’ rights. Assembly Member Glick’s successful legislation includes the Reproductive Health Act, codifying Roe v. Wade in New York State law; banning the harmful practice of conversion therapy; providing hospital visitation rights for domestic partners; requiring divorce courts to consider the interest of a companion animal when determining custody; renewing the Loft Law – which brings formerly-commercial buildings to residential code and protects tenants from eviction; and authorizing NYC to expand a life-saving speed safety camera program. A long-standing advocate for the environment, Glick was appointed as chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee in 2023. She also serves on the Ways and Means, Rules, and Government Operations committees.
Anita Gundanna
Co-Executive Director, Coalition for Asian American Children and Families
Anita Gundanna (she/her) joined Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) as co-executive director in April 2017. She has worked throughout her career to prevent and address violence against women and children, and to promote healthy families, primarily in minority and immigrant communities of New York City. Prior to her return to CACF, Anita worked as a consultant with a number of small and growing community-based nonprofit organizations mostly serving Asian American and immigrant communities. Anita holds a Ph.D from Columbia University School of Social Work.
Callie Haines
Executive Vice President, Brookfield Properties
Callie Haines is executive vice president, Northeast region head for Brookfield Properties. In this role, she is responsible for the strategic positioning, leasing, and operating performance of 28+ million square feet of office properties across New York City. Chief among the current projects in Callie’s portfolio are Manhattan West and Brookfield Place, two defining mixed-use campuses, as well as iconic towers Lever House, 660 Fifth Avenue, and the Grace Building. Callie joined Brookfield Properties in 2005 as director of design and construction. Prior to Brookfield, Callie spent five years at Turner Construction Company as a project engineer. Callie received her Master of Business Administration from London Business School and her Bachelor of Science from Princeton University, majoring in civil engineering and architecture.
Rebecca Harshbarger
Special Projects Manager, NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission
As special projects manager with NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), Rebecca Harshbarger is a key contributor to TLC’s Vision Zero, driver education, and accessibility programs. Serving on the TLC’s Vision Zero task force, Rebecca coordinates agency efforts to prevent traffic crashes. She recently led the development launching an enhanced TLC driver license renewal course that features an interactive curriculum with AI scenarios relating to Vision Zero, accessibility, and anti-discrimination training. To serve the public as a TLC-licensed driver, applicants must take an in-person 24-hour TLC driver education course, a customer service course for passengers with disabilities, and a three-year renewal course. These education programs are also an important area of Rebecca’s work. The NYC TLC is located in Lower Manhattan on Beaver Street.
Robert Hartmann
Founder, Quest Lifelong Learning
During the summer of 1995, Bob Hartmann joined with a group of seniors, most in their 60s and 70s, to form a new peer learning organization to study and learn together. Thus, Quest was formed with about 90 members and was welcomed as part of the Center For Worker Education (CWE), a division of CCNY located at 25 Broadway in downtown Manhattan. Study topics ranged from Shakespeare to Sondheim musicals, from famous women spies to the history of the Middle East. Quest now boasts 240 members. Hartmann has served twice as Quest president and as board member for four years. He has established a perpetually-endowed scholarship for the tuition of a CWE undergrad student, which has enabled many graduates to move up the economic ladder while contributing to a more productive society.
Brian Kavanagh
Senator, New York State Senate
Senator Brian Kavanagh represents more than 330,000 residents in New York’s Senate District 27, covering neighborhoods across lower Manhattan from the Battery to 14th Street. As chair of the Senate Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development, Brian has built on his decades of advocating for access to high quality, safe, affordable housing for all New Yorkers. Brian has also been a leader in promoting environmental sustainability. He introduced the All-Electric Building Act, which would ban construction of new buildings that require fossil fuels. He is also a proud co-sponsor of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the most comprehensive and ambitious climate change law in the United States.
Hanne Larsen
Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Downtown Dance Factory
Hanne Larsen moved to New York City from Sydney, Australia in 2005. She is artistic director and co-founder of Downtown Dance Factory (DDF). She holds a degree in theater and music, and diplomas in ballet teaching, jazz teaching and studio management, recently adding certifications in acrobatic arts and Giordano jazz technique. Hanne lives in Tribeca where she has raised her four children, all of whom have danced at DDF. Her daughter India is now a DDF teacher and freelance dancer and her son Atticus dances with Gauthier Dance in Germany. Hanne counts DDF’s greatest successes as not only its national awards and its dancers’ admissions into the city’s top performing arts high schools and the country’s top college dance programs, but also its creation of a wonderful downtown dance community.
Grace Lee
Assembly Member, New York State Assembly
Assembly Member Grace Lee is a longtime resident of Lower Manhattan, a mother of three, and a dedicated advocate for working New Yorkers. She made history in 2023 as the first Korean-American woman to serve in the state legislature. In her first term in the Assembly, she secured $391 million for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to support public and subsidized housing residents. Additionally, she won a record $30 million for nonprofits serving the Asian community for two consecutive years. Recently, she passed the Hate Crimes Modernization Act to strengthen New York’s laws against hate crimes. Assembly Member Lee has used her position to elevate women’s issues – advocating for support for working mothers, seeking justice for victims of sexual abuse, and fighting for reproductive justice.
Vanessa Leung
Co-Executive Director, Coalition for Asian American Children and Families
Vanessa Leung (she/her) joined Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) as co-executive director in April 2017. She has served the education community through her career, advocating on behalf of Asian Pacific American students and English language learners in New York City public schools. She was appointed by Mayor Bill de Blasio to the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) and served as chair of PEP for eight years from January 2014 to December 2021. She currently also sits on the Advisory Panel for the Brooke Astor Fund for New York City Education.
Darren Levine
Rabbi, Tamid: The Downtown Synagogue
Darren Levine is the founding rabbi of Tamid: The Downtown Synagogue and has been serving the Jewish community downtown for twenty years. He is the author of “Positive Judaism: For a Lifetime of Well-Being and Happiness,” and believes that the purpose of religion and faith communities in the 21st century is to give hope and inspiration for life. Darren loves the vitality and artistic spirit of Lower Manhattan and his vision for New York City is a place where all people feel safe and supported and live with hope in their hearts. His congregation is a dynamic blend of people of all ages and backgrounds who love to celebrate Jewish life and to make a positive impact on our city and the world.
Mark Levine
Manhattan Borough President, Manhattan Borough President’s Office
Since taking office in 2022, Borough President Mark Levine has focused on equity, resilience, and the wellbeing of Manhattanites. His key initiatives include building more housing in the borough, pushing for AI policies in municipal government, expanding the urban canopy, and advocating for better traffic management and cycling infrastructure. Previously, Levine served as a city council member, where he led on tenants’ rights, public health, and park investment. He passed landmark legislation guaranteeing legal counsel for tenants facing eviction and rose to national prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic. Mark’s background as a public school teacher and community organizer shapes his commitment to diverse, inclusive leadership.
Terry Li
Hospital Administrator, Battery Park Veterinary Hospital
As a native New Yorker, Terry has been interested in veterinary medicine since learning about veterinarians in elementary school. Her experience in the veterinary field started in 1999 in Buffalo, NY. After finishing her bachelor’s at the State University of New York at Buffalo, she spent time working as a veterinary assistant and hospital manager for a small animal hospital in New York City. She became a member of the Downtown Veterinary Medical Hospital’s management team in 2006 and received her Master of Business Administration in 2012. In this time, she has helped the hospital group expand and grow into four successful locations. Today, she is the hospital administrator for Battery Park Veterinary Hospital, where she oversees the day-to-day care provided by her amazing team.
Raju Mann
President and CEO, Battery Park City Authority
As Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) president and CEO, Raju Mann drives the organization’s $2 billion portfolio of projects to protect western portions of lower Manhattan’s coastline and inland areas from the threats of storm surge, sea level rise, and extreme rain events. Prior to BPCA, he worked at design and engineering firm Arup, leading transportation, housing policy, and climate adaptation projects. Earlier, he served the director of land use and deputy chief of staff for the New York City Council, where he led a team of planners and lawyers working with council members, city agencies, and communities to develop planning strategies for neighborhoods citywide. Raju earned his B.A. in philosophy from Columbia University and his M.A. in urban planning from the University of Michigan.
Christopher Marte
Council Member, New York City Council
Born and raised on the Lower East Side, Council Member Christopher Marte has been representing Lower Manhattan in the City Council since 2022. In that time, he has provided service to thousands of constituents, passed bills to reshape our city, and fought for those whose voices are typically excluded from City Hall. Marte has allocated his budget to plant hundreds of new street trees, purchase better trash bins, open two new parks, while ensuring every public school has afterschool programs. Marte has focused his legislative priorities on issues that cross all income levels. His No More 24 Act bans the 24-hour workday for homecare workers, ensuring that the immigrant women working these shifts have reasonable conditions and patients receive the critical round-the-clock care they need.
Curtis Murphy
Assistant Marketing Director, Kofinas Fertility Group
Curtis Murphy is the dynamic assistant marketing director and visual designer for Kofinas Fertility Group, headquartered in Lower Manhattan. With expertise in integrated marketing and social media management, Curtis is passionate about elevating Kofinas’ brand awareness through innovative strategies. His leadership and collaborative skills make him a key contributor to the marketing team. Curtis is dedicated to staying ahead of trends and driving engagement across platforms, making him a valuable asset for enhancing Kofinas’ digital presence. One of his greatest joys in fertility branding is transforming a sensitive topic into something approachable, empowering women to take that first step toward fertility treatment without fear.
Roy Nachum
Co-Founder, Mercer Labs Museum of Art and Technology
Roy Nachum, born in 1979, is an experimental artist known for his comprehensive artistic practice which spans across various mediums, including sculpture, painting, architecture, installation and technology. His works utilize conceptualism, interactivity, and elements of art history to explore complex psych-visual factors like sensory substitution, internal representations, transhistorical paradigms, and mental rotation. The experimental institution of Mercer Labs challenges conventions and defies expectations, bringing culture and innovation together with the intention to humanize technology. Nachum received his education at The Cooper Union in New York, and his work can be found in significant public and private art collections. He gained recognition with a Grammy nomination for the 59th annual Grammy Awards for his contributions to Rihanna’s acclaimed album, “Anti.”
Clare Newman
President and CEO, The Trust for Governors Island
Clare Newman serves as the president and CEO of the Trust for Governors Island (TGI), which is charged with the planning, redevelopment, and operations of 150 acres of Governors Island. Clare comes to TGI from the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) where as chief of staff and executive vice president she implemented projects to create jobs and foster development. Before BNYDC, Clare was a senior leader at Bloomberg Philanthropies, heading an international competition for solutions to urban challenges. Previously, Clare was a vice president at NYCEDC, executing projects such as the restoration of Kings Theatre, the city’s bike share program, and the Applied Sciences initiative. Clare received a Master of Urban Planning from Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at Columbia University and a B.A. with honors in political economy from Williams College.
Anton Nikodemus
CEO, President and Chairman of the Board, Seaport Entertainment Group
Anton D. Nikodemus is the chief executive officer of Seaport Entertainment Group (SEG). Mr. Nikodemus has spent over 30 years in entertainment and hospitality leading the development and operations of industry premier destination brands. Prior to joining SEG, he served as president and chief operating officer of CityCenter for MGM Resorts International from December 2020 to November 2023, where he oversaw operations for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Vdara Hotel & Spa and ARIA Resort & Casino. He also served as portfolio president of Las Vegas Properties; president and chief operating officer, Bellagio and Park MGM from April 2020 to December 2020 and president and chief operating officer luxury portfolio at MGM Resorts International from February 2019 to March 2020.
Khady Kamara Nunez
Executive Director, Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC)
Khady Kamara Nunez is the executive director of the Perelman Performing Arts Center. As an arts manager for over 20 years, she has a proven record of significantly increasing earned and contributed revenue. In addition to managing strategic planning, her core focus is strengthening community relations and developing new audiences with an attention to diversity and inclusion.
Previously, Khady was executive director of Second Stage Theater (Tony Award® winner, “Take Me Out”). Her past experience also includes leadership roles at Washington DC’s Arena Stage, where she doubled the subscription base, increased 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 management at George Mason University.
Alex Reznik
Founder, Complete Playground Inc.
Alex Reznik, founder of Complete Playground, developed and implemented the idea for an inclusive family center and indoor playground after he faced difficulties finding spaces in New York City that accommodated all three of his children, one of whom is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. His son’s therapy appointments were often frustrating due to their clinical nature and distant locations, leaving the family reluctant to attend. During trips to Europe, Alex discovered indoor playgrounds that provided more engaging and supportive environments. Realizing that nothing similar existed in New York City, Alex set out to create Complete Playground — the first Manhattan nonprofit inclusive space that caters to the diverse needs of all children. Previously, Alex had successfully founded CompleteBody, Manhattan’s only privately-owned gym chain, in 1995.
Marie-Laure Romney
Senior Vice President and COO, NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital
Marie-Laure S. Romney M.D., MBA, senior vice president and chief operating officer at NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital manages the day-to-day operations and the operating and capital budgets, and also implements clinical strategy. She most recently served as vice president of operations at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, where she directed the administration of clinical departments and served as vice chair of quality and patient safety at Columbia University Department of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Romney previously served as director of quality, continuous improvement and patient safety in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Kings County Hospital Center. She holds an undergraduate degree from Cornell University, a medical degree from Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Scott Thornton
COO, Ferries & Transportation, Hornblower Group
Scott Thornton is the chief operating officer of Hornblower Group’s Ferries and Transportation Division where he leads Hornblower’s operations of NYC Ferry as well as the global operations of HMS Ferries, Seaward Services, Inc., HMS Ferries Puerto Rico, Hornblower Marine, and Hornblower Wind. In his more than three decades with Hornblower, Scott has served at every level of the organization. Scott exemplifies the leadership and creativity that drives Hornblower’s continued growth and success, helping to lead numerous legacy and start-up operations and ensuring the highest level of operational standards and focus on safety, quality, and crew development.
Melanie Zrihen
Co-Founder and Business Director, Downtown Dance Factory
Originally from Montreal, Melanie moved to New York City from Canada in 2000. She and her husband, Phil, quickly realized that downtown NYC was their new home, and they raised their three children in Tribeca. With a Bachelor of Commerce from Mcgill University, an MBA from the University of Toronto, and prior work experience in both finance and consulting, Melanie, along with business partner Hanne, launched Downtown Dance Factory (DDF) in 2009 to cater to the growing community of families looking for dance for their children. In fact, Melanie’s own children grew up dancing at DDF. While she has happily watched DDF grow significantly over the past 15+ years, her greatest joy is seeing the tight-knit community that DDF has built, with dance at its core.
