Transforming NYCHA: New Staff Appointments and New Departments

Dear Colleagues,

As part of our ongoing work to transform the structure and business operations of the Authority, we are pleased to announce new staff appointments in NYCHA’s Department of Operations. We are committed to improving NYCHA operations and services for our residents. Therefore, we have implemented three new departments reporting to the General Manager dedicated to Waste Management and Pest Control, Operational Analysis and Contract Management, and Public Housing Tenancy Administration.  In addition, we have a new Vice President of Operations. These appointments are the first step in our transformation towards a new operating model, one based on the geography of our developments. We will continue to align our organization as we proceed with the transformation planning work. 

Alfred Ferguson was appointed Vice President of Waste Management and Pest Control, effective July 13. Alfred previously held the Vice President of Operations position, overseeing public housing operations in Manhattan, the Bronx, and NGO1. He has spent his career at the NYC Department of Sanitation, rising through the ranks to hold positions such as Borough Chief of both Queens West and Staten Island, Director of the Operations Management Division, Chief of Regulatory Compliance and Career Development and Chief of Collection and Recycling Operations. Alfred earned associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees at St. John’s University.

Angela Gadson-Floyd was appointed Vice President of Operations, effective July 13. Angela will oversee public housing operations in Manhattan, the Bronx, and NGO1. She began her career with NYCHA over 30 years ago and has served in various roles, including Assistant Manager, Manager, Administrator, RAM, and, most recently, as the Borough Director for Brooklyn Property Management. She grew up in New York and lived at Gun Hill Houses in the Bronx. Angela earned her bachelor’s degree in economics from Boston University.

Calcedonio Bruno was appointed Vice President of Operational Analysis and Contract Management, effective July 6. Cal began his NYCHA career in 1986 as a part-time Seasonal Aide while he attended Queens College. Shortly afterwards, he accepted a full-time position as a Caretaker at Red Hook Houses. Throughout his time with NYCHA, he has served as a Heating Plant Technician, Maintenance Worker, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent. In 2000, he accepted became Assistant Coordinator in Central Office in the Department of Operations. Cal has overseen and implemented many large maintenance and renovation contracts and the transition of the agency’s Financial Management System (FMS) into the Oracle Financial System.

Sylvia Aude was appointed Vice President of Public Housing Tenancy Administration, effective March 2. In this role, Sylvia provides strategic guidance and oversight on public housing waitlist management and applications; operationalizing program policy; overseeing lease enforcement activities; and managing the implementation of key initiatives to improve service delivery and NYCHA’s effectiveness as a landlord. Sylvia has been with NYCHA in various capacities focused on business and policy improvement for over 10 years.

Vlada Kenniff was appointed Vice President for Energy and Sustainability, effective March 9. The VP for Energy and Sustainability plays a key role in implementing NYCHA’s comprehensive Sustainability Agenda to reduce NYCHA’s energy and resource consumption and carbon footprint, improve resident health and well-being, and create environmentally friendly developments for NYCHA’ s residents and the surrounding communities. Prior to this appointment, Vlada served as the Senior Director for the Office of Mold and Remediation. In that role, she diligently set the strategy for meeting the Baez mold-related commitments to operationalize systemic solutions that will reduce response time, address complex repairs, and reduce reoccurring conditions. In her last days in the position, she was able to successfully finalize the HUD Agreement Action Plan.

Elena Tenchikova is succeeding Vlada as the Senior Director for the Office of Mold and Remediation, effective March 9. She previously served as the Director of the Prevention and Intervention Strategies (PAIS) team, where she oversaw NYCHA’s pest control programs. Elena has been with NYCHA since 2011, serving as a Resident Green Committee Coordinator in the Office of the Chair, and later as an Operations Analyst for the Executive Vice President for Operations. She was promoted to an Implementation and Project Manager, where she oversaw the implementation of a NYCHA-wide recycling program, and then served as a Senior Advisor to the Vice President for Tenancy Administration and Management Services, where she led various process change and high-priority projects. Elena has a master’s in urban policy and administration, a bachelor’s in business management, and a bachelor’s in political science, all from Brooklyn College.

Kelly MacNeal was appointed Special Counsel to the General Manager, effective July 27. Kelly served in the NYCHA Law Department for nearly a decade in various positions, most recently as First Deputy General Counsel, working with the Executive Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel to supervise the Law Department staff and provide support for various business units within NYCHA. She joined NYCHA in 2010 as Deputy General Counsel of the Tort Division in the Law Department. While serving in that capacity, she streamlined processes while improving customer service. Earlier, Kelly held the position of Executive Agency Counsel for the New York City Transit Authority, where she tried cases in the Kings County Trial Unit. Kelly began her career as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the New York City Law Department in 1989. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia. She is licensed to practice law in New York State and the District of Columbia. Kelly currently serves on the New York City Housing Advisory Council and is a Board Member of the Housing and Development Law Institute.

Andrew Korbul was appointed Director of Pest Control, effective July 6. Andrew began his career with NYCHA over 24 years ago, working for various units such as the Technical Services Division Lead Unit and Leased Housing Fraud Unit before being elevated to Assistant Manager, Property Manager, Borough Administrator, and most recently serving as a Regional Asset Manager for NGO1. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University and his master’s degree in executive management from St. John’s University.

Please join us in congratulating our colleagues on their new appointments!

Sincerely,

Greg Russ 
Chair & Chief Executive Officer  

Vito Mustaciuolo
General Manager