Exceptional Colleagues - NYCHA Now

Richard Meyers has over 25 years of experience managing construction projects at college campuses, hotels, Universal Orlando rides, American Dream theme parks, and more – yet his most rewarding projects have been at NYCHA developments in service of NYCHA residents. Mr. Meyers joined NYCHA in summer 2019 as a project manager in Asset & Capital… Continue Reading Meet Richard Meyers, Project Manager in Asset & Capital Management

Exceptional Colleagues February 2023

February 1, 2023 Michael Corwin

January Work Anniversaries

Each month, NYCHANow recognizes the staff who’ve achieved more than five years of service, in multiples of five. Congratulations to the employees who reached these milestones in January! Continue Reading January Work Anniversaries

Exceptional Colleagues January 2023

January 24, 2023 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Meet Victoria Vasquez, The “Voice of NYCHA”

Her name, Victoria Vasquez, might not ring a bell, but her voice is familiar to NYCHA residents and just about anyone who has ever called NYCHA’s offices. For nearly a decade, the Vladeck Houses resident has been lending her voice to the interactive voice responses (IVR) for the robocalls NYCHA sends out to residents… Continue Reading Meet Victoria Vasquez, The “Voice of NYCHA”

Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted January 2023

January 16, 2023 Latoya Jordan

Meet Tischelle George, Director of Special Projects in Operations Support Services

While Tischelle George has held roles in different departments throughout her 16-year career at NYCHA, they have all furthered her passion for education, mentoring, and ensuring residents and employees have the information and resources necessary to be successful. Currently, Ms. George is the director of special projects for Operations Support Services (OSS), where she provides… Continue Reading Meet Tischelle George, Director of Special Projects in Operations Support Services

Exceptional Colleagues January 2023

January 3, 2023 Michael Corwin

December Work Anniversaries

Each month, NYCHANow recognizes the staff who’ve achieved more than five years of service, in multiples of five. Congratulations to the employees who reached these milestones in December! Continue Reading December Work Anniversaries

December 2022 Exceptional Colleagues

December 30, 2022 Michael Corwin

Digital Van Driver Will Be NYCHA’s First ‘Neighborhood Tech Supervisor’

Kim Maxwell, a senior driver with NYCHA’s Digital Van program, has been tapped to become NYCHA’s first Neighborhood Tech Supervisor. He will lead a new mobile team of IT technicians who will visit property management offices to help staff troubleshoot their computers and train them on new software. Mr. Maxwell has been a digital van… Continue Reading Digital Van Driver Will Be NYCHA’s First ‘Neighborhood Tech Supervisor’

December 2022 Exceptional Colleagues

December 22, 2022 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Meet Shetara Turner, Smoke-Free NYCHA Liaison for Manhattan

Shetara Turner has lived at Campos Plaza since she was 6 years old. Now this mother of two is not just a NYCHA resident but is also a NYCHA employee. The former retail store employee launched her NYCHA career thanks to the New York City Cleanup Corps program, which was created to help the… Continue Reading Meet Shetara Turner, Smoke-Free NYCHA Liaison for Manhattan

December 2022 Exceptional Colleagues NYCHA Leadership

December 15, 2022 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Meet Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of the Fund for Public Housing

Until September 11, 2001, Alex Zablocki was sure he wanted to work on Wall Street. At the time, he was a student at Baruch College studying for a degree in finance and investment. He had worked for a stockbroker while in high school and was on a path to obtaining the licenses required to work… Continue Reading Meet Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of the Fund for Public Housing

December 2022 Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted Milestones

December 8, 2022 Michael Corwin

NYCHA’s Language Services Unit Completes Its 10,000th Translation

The Spanish-language flier posted at the Bronx’s Butler Houses announcing a planning meeting for basketball court and playground upgrades is no ordinary flier: It is the 10,000th document translated into a foreign language for NYCHA residents in the 14 years the Language Services Unit (LSU) has been keeping track. “It’s a huge achievement that we… Continue Reading NYCHA’s Language Services Unit Completes Its 10,000th Translation

December 2022 Exceptional Colleagues

December 1, 2022 Michael Corwin

November Work Anniversaries

Each month, NYCHANow recognizes the staff who’ve achieved more than five years of service, in multiples of five. Congratulations to the employees who reached these milestones in November! Continue Reading November Work Anniversaries

Exceptional Colleagues November 2022 NYCHA Leadership

November 29, 2022 Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

Meet Joy Sinderbrand, Senior Vice President for Capital Programs

For nearly two decades, Joy Sinderbrand has been instrumental in the execution of several public-private partnership projects that have shaped the city of New York; she has a knack for ensuring project teams are on the same page so they can achieve ambitious goals. As NYCHA’s Senior Vice President for Capital Programs, streamlining the… Continue Reading Meet Joy Sinderbrand, Senior Vice President for Capital Programs

Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted November 2022

November 22, 2022 Michael Corwin

Recognizing NYCHA’s OMAR Staff

On June 9, NYCHA’s Office of Mold Assessment and Remediation (OMAR) held a ceremony to recognize more than 50 staff who worked on NYCHA’s ventilation programs. Notably, OMAR staff completed an Authority-wide roof fan project, which involved replacing 6,188 roof fans and confirming that an additional 2,248 fans are functional and can be kept in… Continue Reading Recognizing NYCHA’s OMAR Staff

Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted November 2022

November 10, 2022 Vincent Echavaria

Longtime Resident Dedicates Career to NYCHA, U.S. Army

When Edith Taylor-Campbell makes a commitment to serve, she turns it into a career. This can be said for both her work at NYCHA and service with the United States Army. The housing assistant joined the NYCHA workforce nearly three decades ago in 1994, while accumulating an equally impressive 26 years of military service with… Continue Reading Longtime Resident Dedicates Career to NYCHA, U.S. Army

Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted November 2022

November 1, 2022 Michael Corwin

Together, Two Fleet Drivers Rack up 62 Years

No one is more surprised than Motor Vehicle Operator Oren Boujo that his 33rd year as a NYCHA Fleet driver begins this November. “It’s amazing,” he said. “Who holds a job for 33 years?” Probably fellow Fleet Motor Vehicle Operator Kenneth Shindler: In January, he will begin his 31st year as a NYCHA Fleet driver.… Continue Reading Together, Two Fleet Drivers Rack up 62 Years

Exceptional Colleagues November 2022

November 1, 2022 Michael Corwin

October Work Anniversaries

Each month, NYCHANow recognizes the staff who’ve achieved more than five years of service, in multiples of five. Congratulations to the employees who reached these milestones in October! Continue Reading October Work Anniversaries

Exceptional Colleagues October 2022

October 3, 2022 Michael Corwin

September Work Anniversaries

Each month, NYCHANow recognizes the staff who’ve achieved more than five years of service, in multiples of five. Congratulations to the employees who reached these milestones in September! Continue Reading September Work Anniversaries

Exceptional Colleagues September 2022

September 28, 2022 Latoya Jordan

Hispanic Heritage Month: David Soto

National Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 to October 15, a time to recognize the contributions, achievements, and culture of Americans who descend from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. NYCHA employee David Soto lives, breathes, and sings his Puerto Rican culture and Lower East Side community, working to celebrate and showcase… Continue Reading Hispanic Heritage Month: David Soto

Exceptional Colleagues September 2022

September 27, 2022 Michael Corwin

Mayor Adams Honors NYCHA Employee for Supporting Resident Associations

It’s not every day that one gets singled out by the mayor of New York City for doing a great job. But earlier this month, Mayor Eric Adams honored Jacqueline Howard, a 32-year veteran NYCHA employee, for her work as project coordinator in the Resident Participation & Civic Engagement department. The ceremony took place at… Continue Reading Mayor Adams Honors NYCHA Employee for Supporting Resident Associations

Exceptional Colleagues September 2022

September 1, 2022 Michael Corwin

August Work Anniversaries

Kudos for Longtime Service to Residents and the City Each month, NYCHANow recognizes the staff who’ve achieved more than five years of service, in multiples of five. Congratulations to the employees who reached these milestones in August! 5 Years of Service 10 Years of Service 15 Years of Service 20 Years of Service 25… Continue Reading August Work Anniversaries

August 2022 Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted

August 30, 2022 Vincent Echavaria

Longtime NYCHA Law Employee Sam Mordi Lauded for Service Upon Retirement

Sam Mordi might be moving on from his longtime career at NYCHA, but not without taking with him a wealth of appreciation from his colleagues. After working for 30 years in the Law Department, Mr. Mordi is retiring from his position as Deputy General Counsel for housing litigation on August 31. In recognition of his… Continue Reading Longtime NYCHA Law Employee Sam Mordi Lauded for Service Upon Retirement

August 2022 Exceptional Colleagues

August 23, 2022 Michael Corwin

Making a Difference

Meet Lynn Spivey, Administrative Staff Analyst in the Heating Management Services Department Lynn Spivey is often mentioned and quoted in articles, not just as a long-time NYCHA employee but also for her involvement in various employee initiatives: she is an Administrative Staff Analyst in the Heating Management Services Department (HMSD) and the President of NYCHA’s… Continue Reading Making a Difference

August 2022 Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted

August 17, 2022 Latoya Jordan

Meet Shanna Castillo – Senior Director of NYCHA’s REES Office

For almost a decade, Shanna Castillo and her team have worked to continue to develop NYCHA’s Office of Resident Economic Empowerment & Sustainability (REES) — which connects residents to employment and career advancement, adult education and vocational training, financial empowerment, and business development — into a model of how partnership and access to opportunities can… Continue Reading Meet Shanna Castillo – Senior Director of NYCHA’s REES Office

August 2022 Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted

August 15, 2022 Vincent Echavaria

Meet Brian Honan, Senior Vice President of Intergovernmental Relations

Like many who have worked extensively in government, Brian Honan knows that building relationships is key to advancing legislation and solving complex problems for people in the community. As Senior Vice President of NYCHA’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations, the bonds he has formed with NYCHA residents, members of the public, and elected officials are… Continue Reading Meet Brian Honan, Senior Vice President of Intergovernmental Relations

August 2022 Exceptional Colleagues

August 1, 2022 Michael Corwin

July Work Anniversaries

Kudos for Longtime Service to Residents and the City Each month, NYCHANow recognizes the staff who’ve achieved more than five years of service, in multiples of five. Congratulations to the employees who reached these milestones in July! 5 Years of Service 10 Years of Service 15 Years of Service 20 Years of Service 25 Years… Continue Reading July Work Anniversaries

Employee Voices Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted July 2022

July 14, 2022 Michael Corwin

Making a Difference

Meet Ernesto Rodriguez, Administrative Training Coordinator at Learning & Development’s Maintenance Training Center Whenever Ernesto Rodriguez goes to a NYCHA development, he recognizes most of the property management and maintenance staff – because he trained them. Mr. Rodriguez is the Administrator of HR’s Maintenance Training Center, which equips assistant superintendents, superintendents, and field staff with… Continue Reading Making a Difference

Exceptional Colleagues July 2022

July 1, 2022 Michael Corwin

June Work Anniversaries

Kudos for Longtime Service to Residents and the City Each month, NYCHANow recognizes the staff who’ve achieved more than five years of service, in multiples of five. Congratulations to the employees who reached these milestones in June! 5 Years of Service 10 Years of Service 15 Years of Service 20 Years of Service 25 Years… Continue Reading June Work Anniversaries

Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted June 2022

June 30, 2022 Michael Corwin

Meet Antonia Zambrano, Assistant Director of LHD Central Office Operations

Twenty-three years ago, Antonia Zambrano submitted her resume at a job fair and shortly after became a NYCHA employee. Starting out as a Bilingual Housing Assistant for the Leased Housing Department, she is now the Assistant Director of the Leased Housing Department’s Central Office Operations. All of the positions Ms. Zambrano has held at the… Continue Reading Meet Antonia Zambrano, Assistant Director of LHD Central Office Operations

Exceptional Colleagues Featured June 2022

June 28, 2022 Vincent Echavaria

Veteran Caretakers Presented with John DeCarlo Award for Exemplary Service

NYCHA Caretaker Angel Martinez can often be seen wearing a smile as he works each day to maintain a safe and clean environment for residents and employees at Smith Houses in Manhattan. Fellow veteran Caretaker Rebecca Miranda is well regarded for her customer service, which has helped make hers a familiar name among the residents… Continue Reading Veteran Caretakers Presented with John DeCarlo Award for Exemplary Service

Exceptional Colleagues Highlighted June 2022

June 17, 2022 Vincent Echavaria

Meet Lisa Gladden, Housing Assistant at Breukelen Houses

A resident of Brooklyn’s Boulevard Houses, Lisa Gladden has worked at NYCHA for about 22 years. Most of that time was spent at Sumner Houses in Brooklyn, where she served as a secretary before accepting the housing assistant job at Breukelen Houses nearly two years ago. Ms. Gladden started her career at NYCHA through the… Continue Reading Meet Lisa Gladden, Housing Assistant at Breukelen Houses

Exceptional Colleagues June 2022

June 1, 2022 Michael Corwin

May Work Anniversaries

Kudos for Longtime Service to Residents and the City Each month, NYCHANow recognizes the staff who’ve achieved more than five years of service, in multiples of five. Congratulations to the employees who reached these milestones in May! 5 Years of Service 10 Years of Service 15 Years of Service 20 Years of Service 25 Years… Continue Reading May Work Anniversaries

GFOA Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting

Exceptional Colleagues May 2022

May 31, 2022 Michael Corwin

NYCHA Recognized for Excellence in Financial Reporting

Awarded for 18th Year in a Row On Thursday, May 12, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada awarded the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) with a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year that ended on December… Continue Reading NYCHA Recognized for Excellence in Financial Reporting

April 2022 Exceptional Colleagues

April 5, 2022 Michael Corwin

Meet Kimberly Taylor, Director of Public Housing Tenancy Operations

Kimberly Taylor, who grew up at Manhattan’s Johnson Houses, is now the Authority’s Director of Public Housing Tenancy Operations. But when her NYCHA career journey began nearly four decades ago, she was an Emergency Services Aide in the Emergency Services Department (ESD). Back then, in 1984, work tickets were written out by hand and then… Continue Reading Meet Kimberly Taylor, Director of Public Housing Tenancy Operations

April 2022 Exceptional Colleagues

April 4, 2022 Vincent Echavaria

Capital Projects Division Employees Honored for Exemplary Service

NYCHA’s Capital Projects Division (CPD) presented six staff members with its 2021 Employee Recognition Award to honor their exemplary efforts toward meeting the department’s mission. CPD is committed to preserving and modernizing public housing for NYCHA residents by providing professional design and construction services efficiently and with the highest degree of safety and quality. The… Continue Reading Capital Projects Division Employees Honored for Exemplary Service

Exceptional Colleagues March 2022

March 28, 2022 Michael Corwin

Women’s History Month: A Spotlight on Women at NYCHA

This year’s National Women’s History theme, “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” is both a tribute to the ceaseless and vital work of caregivers and front-line workers (especially during a pandemic) as well as a recognition of the countless ways that women have provided healing and hope throughout history. We’d like to honor the contributions to… Continue Reading Women’s History Month: A Spotlight on Women at NYCHA

Exceptional Colleagues March 2022 NYCHA Leadership

March 16, 2022 Michael Corwin

Meet Lisa Bova-Hiatt, Executive Vice President for Legal Affairs & General Counsel

Twenty-seven years ago, when Lisa Bova-Hiatt started her career at the New York City Law Department, Office of the Corporation Counsel, she didn’t know the turns her career would take over the years – but she knew for sure that she wanted to serve the city where she was born and grew up. Since then,… Continue Reading Meet Lisa Bova-Hiatt, Executive Vice President for Legal Affairs & General Counsel

photo of woman, Ukah Busgith and text: Women's History Month 2022 Promoting Healing, Providing Hope with a lotus flower image

Exceptional Colleagues March 2022

March 1, 2022 Latoya Jordan

Meet Ukah Busgith

Women’s History Month: Providing Healing, Promoting Hope For more than 30 years, Ukah Busgith has made it her mission to help improve the quality of life for NYCHA residents – whether through enrichment programs for young people, managing arts and garden programs, overseeing community centers, or connecting residents to the activities, programs, and social services… Continue Reading Meet Ukah Busgith

Exceptional Colleagues February 2022

February 23, 2022 Michael Corwin

Making a Difference

Meet Sue Ellen Doria, Senior Management Trainer If you’re a NYCHA employee, you’ve probably already met Sue Ellen Doria. She is the first person to meet and greet all NYCHA employees on their first day on the job. That’s because Ms. Doria is the lead trainer for new employee orientation training, imparting important tips about… Continue Reading Making a Difference

Exceptional Colleagues February 2022 Sustainability

February 9, 2022 Michael Corwin

Making a Difference

Meet Edwin Mendez, Acting Deputy Director of Energy & Sustainability Programs in the Capital Projects Division Since his very first day at NYCHA, Edwin Mendez has worked in various energy-efficiency programs in the Energy and Sustainability Programs Department. In fact, his first role at the Authority – an internship in 2006 – later became Mr.… Continue Reading Making a Difference

Employee Voices Exceptional Colleagues January 2022

January 31, 2022 Vincent Echavaria

Making a Difference for Residents

Meet Devon Boyd, Contract Specialist in Procurement Operations When handling priority assignments for NYCHA’s Procurement Operations, Contract Specialist Devon Boyd is prepared to put in the time to get the jobs done. A former NYCHA resident who lived in Cypress Hills Houses for most of his life, Mr. Boyd said he knows how important it is to address repairs… Continue Reading Making a Difference for Residents

Exceptional Colleagues January 2022

January 24, 2022 Michael Corwin

Making a Difference

Meet Jeffrey Sanders, Supervisor of Special Initiatives in the Pest Control Department Formerly a regional manager of a healthcare company’s marketing team, Jeffrey Sanders took a new direction in his career by joining NYCHA in 2019. Mr. Sanders was hired to supervise the work to install door sweeps across the portfolio. After all the necessary… Continue Reading Making a Difference

Exceptional Colleagues January 2022

January 6, 2022 Michael Corwin

Making a Difference

Meet Elena Tenchikova, Senior Director of NYCHA’s Office of Mold Assessment and Remediation (OMAR) Elena Tenchikova first stepped into a NYCHA office 10 years ago, as a NYC Civic Corps volunteer. She was assigned to be a liaison to the Authority’s resident green committees, which are organized groups of NYCHA residents volunteering to beautify their developments.… Continue Reading Making a Difference

December 2021 Exceptional Colleagues

December 27, 2021 Latoya Jordan

Making a Difference

Meet Katie Gordon, Deputy Director of Compliance Monitoring Meet Katie Gordon, Deputy Director of Compliance Monitoring in the Compliance Department. Katie has worked at NYCHA since 2017. She previously worked as a senior analyst in the Authority’s Office of Strategic Innovations before joining the Compliance team. Before coming to NYCHA, she worked at a nonprofit… Continue Reading Making a Difference

December 2021 Exceptional Colleagues

December 22, 2021 Vincent Echavaria

NYCHA Workers, Residents Help Teens Escaping Fire

Just after a fire was extinguished at Riis Houses, word soon spread about how a group of good Samaritans met tragedy with heroism: the NYCHA employees, residents, and construction contractors who sprang into action with a quick-thinking solution to keep two young residents out of harm’s way. The incident unfolded after a fire broke out on the fourth floor of the Manhattan development at about 7:15 a.m. on December 16. Resident Building… Continue Reading NYCHA Workers, Residents Help Teens Escaping Fire

December 2021 Exceptional Colleagues

December 1, 2021 Latoya Jordan

Meet Mildred Aviles, Housing Manager at Rutgers Houses

We’re periodically featuring the female property managers who help NYCHA carry out its mission to better serve residents and strengthen our partnership with them. NYCHA supports and encourages women in leadership positions in all departments, including property management. Currently, there are 260 women working as property managers at the Authority. In this installment, meet one… Continue Reading Meet Mildred Aviles, Housing Manager at Rutgers Houses

Exceptional Colleagues November 2021

November 15, 2021 Michael Corwin

Making a Difference

Meet Janine Rodriguez, Housing Manager in Manhattan Property Management We’re periodically featuring the female property managers who help NYCHA carry out its mission to better serve residents and strengthen our partnership with them. NYCHA supports and encourages women in leadership positions in all departments, including property management. Currently, there are about 260 women working as… Continue Reading Making a Difference

Exceptional Colleagues November 2021

November 10, 2021 Vincent Echavaria

NYCHA Veteran Recalls Time in the Service as Navy Journalist

When he was fresh out of high school, longtime NYCHA employee Juan Santiago found the U.S. Navy to be just the place to pursue his ambitions at the time. Having only left his home in the Bronx on a few occasions to visit extended family in the Dominican Republic, the young Mr. Santiago “really wanted to… Continue Reading NYCHA Veteran Recalls Time in the Service as Navy Journalist

Exceptional Colleagues November 2021

November 1, 2021 Michael Corwin

Making a Difference for Residents

Every month, we feature the hardworking staff members who are making a difference for residents. Learn more about how we’re becoming a better landlord through their efforts. In this installment, meet Marlon Forbes, Deputy Director of the Compliance Integration Reporting and Evaluation Unit. Marlon Forbes has been working at NYCHA for the last 15 years.… Continue Reading Making a Difference for Residents

Changemakers Exceptional Colleagues October 2021

October 19, 2021 Michael Corwin

Making a Difference for Residents

Meet Shekeiva King NYCHA is celebrating National Customer Service Week 2021 during the week of October 18-22. This year’s theme, “Power of Service,” reaffirms and celebrates our commitment to excellent customer service. As part of the celebrations, we are highlighting NYCHA Changemakers – employees who use our core values to create meaningful, sustainable change in… Continue Reading Making a Difference for Residents

Changemakers Exceptional Colleagues October 2021

October 15, 2021 Michael Corwin

Making a Difference for Residents

Meet Linda Padilla NYCHA is celebrating National Customer Service Week 2021 during the week of October 18-22. This year’s theme, “Power of Service,” reaffirms and celebrates our commitment to excellent customer service. As part of the celebrations, we are highlighting NYCHA Changemakers – employees who use our core values to create meaningful, sustainable change in… Continue Reading Making a Difference for Residents

Employee Voices Exceptional Colleagues October 2021

October 13, 2021 Vincent Echavaria

Making a Difference for Residents

Meet Sam Awelewa, Lead Oversight Team Specialist NYCHA is proud of our hardworking staff members who are making a difference for residents. Learn more about how we’re becoming a better landlord through their efforts. In this employee spotlight, meet Sam Awelewa, Lead Oversight Team Specialist in the Environmental Health and Safety Department. A resident of Brooklyn, Mr. Awelewa has worked… Continue Reading Making a Difference for Residents