Our Board of Trustees
Executive Board
President: Nick Lawrence
Nick loves Washington Park! He and his family moved to Jersey City Heights seven years ago and have never looked back. Before being elected president, Nick served on the WPA board for four years, the last three serving as treasurer on the executive board. He has collaborated with other community leaders to organize annual community forums for the Jersey City Board of Education elections, worked to revive a the summer movie series in the park (Washington Park Wednesdays!), and facilitated the reorganization of the WPA board under new leadership in the winter of 2019.
By day Nick works as an assistant principal in the Bronx, NY. He also volunteers extensively with the National Council for the Social Studies, serving as the Technology Community Chair.
Nick loves Washington Park! He and his family moved to Jersey City Heights seven years ago and have never looked back. Before being elected president, Nick served on the WPA board for four years, the last three serving as treasurer on the executive board. He has collaborated with other community leaders to organize annual community forums for the Jersey City Board of Education elections, worked to revive a the summer movie series in the park (Washington Park Wednesdays!), and facilitated the reorganization of the WPA board under new leadership in the winter of 2019.
By day Nick works as an assistant principal in the Bronx, NY. He also volunteers extensively with the National Council for the Social Studies, serving as the Technology Community Chair.
Vice President: Laura Healy-Santo
Treasurer: Mike Sihksnel
Originally from Long Island, New York, Mike moved to Jersey City in 2014. He currently serves as a Vice President of Regulatory Change at a major Japanese financial institution. In 2019, he moved to North Street just bordering the Park and began serving on the board in 2020. In his free time you will most likely find him tinkering with some piece of technology or lamenting his regrettably poor choices of fandom for sports teams.
Originally from Long Island, New York, Mike moved to Jersey City in 2014. He currently serves as a Vice President of Regulatory Change at a major Japanese financial institution. In 2019, he moved to North Street just bordering the Park and began serving on the board in 2020. In his free time you will most likely find him tinkering with some piece of technology or lamenting his regrettably poor choices of fandom for sports teams.
Secretary: Jennifer Birge
After growing up in Southern Indiana, Jennifer moved to New Jersey in 1995 to attend graduate school at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. After graduating, she moved to Orlando to work for Walt Disney World, but moved back to New Jersey...specifically Jersey City Heights...in 2001. Jennifer is a theatrical stage manager by trade, and worked many years on Broadway, off-Broadway, national and international tours for such esteemed companies as Walt Disney Entertainment, Lincoln Center Theatre, Tribeca Film Festival, the American Theatre Wing, and Cirque du Soleil. In 2013, Jennifer moved from the southern edge to the northern edge of the Jersey City Heights...just a couple of blocks from Washington Square Park.
Jennifer has worked for New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study as the Director of Production since 2008.
After growing up in Southern Indiana, Jennifer moved to New Jersey in 1995 to attend graduate school at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. After graduating, she moved to Orlando to work for Walt Disney World, but moved back to New Jersey...specifically Jersey City Heights...in 2001. Jennifer is a theatrical stage manager by trade, and worked many years on Broadway, off-Broadway, national and international tours for such esteemed companies as Walt Disney Entertainment, Lincoln Center Theatre, Tribeca Film Festival, the American Theatre Wing, and Cirque du Soleil. In 2013, Jennifer moved from the southern edge to the northern edge of the Jersey City Heights...just a couple of blocks from Washington Square Park.
Jennifer has worked for New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study as the Director of Production since 2008.
Our Trustees
We are always searching for other like-minded community leaders. If you're interested in being on the Board of Trustees, please visit the Get Involved page on our website.
John Hu
Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, John moved to New Jersey to study Chemical Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology. He’s stuck around the area ever since and works at a chemical plant for perfume/fragrance ingredients. Walks and jogs around Washington Park were part of his survival routine in 2020 and he happened to stumble upon a WPA garden maintenance session during one of his laps around the park. He still enjoys the occasional jog around Washington Park and finds garden maintenance quite therapeutic.
Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, John moved to New Jersey to study Chemical Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology. He’s stuck around the area ever since and works at a chemical plant for perfume/fragrance ingredients. Walks and jogs around Washington Park were part of his survival routine in 2020 and he happened to stumble upon a WPA garden maintenance session during one of his laps around the park. He still enjoys the occasional jog around Washington Park and finds garden maintenance quite therapeutic.
Kat Parker
Eric Fleming
Eric is the acting director of the Office of Innovation and an Assistant Business Administrator for the Department of Administration for the City of Jersey City. Some of his projects include the construction of Pop Up Jackson Hill, where shipping containers were repurposed as retail storefronts for aspiring local entrepreneurs, the renovation of Oak Street Park, and the beautification of the #29 Schoolyard.
When he isn't drafting an ordinance or building a retail site out of shipping containers, it's about lacrosse. Eric joined Jersey City Lacrosse, an all-volunteer 501c3 organization with a mission to grow the game of lacrosse for all children regardless of means, in 2012. Two years later, he took over the program when the founder moved away and left the program in limbo. Eric now serves as its President, overseeing a program for boys and girls ages kindergarten through eighth grade. The program now has more than 200 participants across 6 teams, from 30 in 2012. And with its partner BelovED Charter School, Fleming will help to field the first lacrosse team at a public high school in city history as early as next year.
Fleming is active in local politics, serving as the Treasurer for the Steve Fulop campaign. He has been elected to two consecutive terms as a Committee person of the Democratic party and was most recently elected Secretary of the Jersey City Democratic Committee.
As a volunteer, he has served his city on the Planning Board of Jersey City, and on the board of the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation. Eric also was elected as Treasurer of the Harsimus Cove Association and served 3 terms as its President.
Eric and his wife Jessica Isaacs opened Cocoa Bakery in downtown Jersey City in 2014 and opened a second location in the Heights in 2019. In his spare time, Eric enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding, and woodworking.
Eric graduated SUNY Buffalo with a Bachelors in Psychology and Anthropology. Eric is an Eagle Scout and a member of the Rotary.
Eric is the acting director of the Office of Innovation and an Assistant Business Administrator for the Department of Administration for the City of Jersey City. Some of his projects include the construction of Pop Up Jackson Hill, where shipping containers were repurposed as retail storefronts for aspiring local entrepreneurs, the renovation of Oak Street Park, and the beautification of the #29 Schoolyard.
When he isn't drafting an ordinance or building a retail site out of shipping containers, it's about lacrosse. Eric joined Jersey City Lacrosse, an all-volunteer 501c3 organization with a mission to grow the game of lacrosse for all children regardless of means, in 2012. Two years later, he took over the program when the founder moved away and left the program in limbo. Eric now serves as its President, overseeing a program for boys and girls ages kindergarten through eighth grade. The program now has more than 200 participants across 6 teams, from 30 in 2012. And with its partner BelovED Charter School, Fleming will help to field the first lacrosse team at a public high school in city history as early as next year.
Fleming is active in local politics, serving as the Treasurer for the Steve Fulop campaign. He has been elected to two consecutive terms as a Committee person of the Democratic party and was most recently elected Secretary of the Jersey City Democratic Committee.
As a volunteer, he has served his city on the Planning Board of Jersey City, and on the board of the Jersey City Economic Development Corporation. Eric also was elected as Treasurer of the Harsimus Cove Association and served 3 terms as its President.
Eric and his wife Jessica Isaacs opened Cocoa Bakery in downtown Jersey City in 2014 and opened a second location in the Heights in 2019. In his spare time, Eric enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding, and woodworking.
Eric graduated SUNY Buffalo with a Bachelors in Psychology and Anthropology. Eric is an Eagle Scout and a member of the Rotary.
Kate Lawrence, AICP, PP, Sustainability Director, City of Jersey City
Kate Lawrence is the Director of Jersey City’s Office of Sustainability, where she coordinates environmental efforts both within municipal operations and within the larger community. The Office recently completed the City’s first-ever Climate and Energy Action Plan. Other projects the Office of Sustainability is involved in include expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout the City, planting trees, addressing food waste, and making the region more resilient to storms and flooding through the Resilient Northeastern NJ project. Previous to her time in Jersey City, Katee worked as the Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Albany, NY, where she was instrumental to the creation of the City's Energy Plan and its participation in the New York Climate Smart Communities program. Kate can often be seen walking around the Heights seeking out coffee and pandebonos with her loyal pup, Ramona, or weeding in Washington Park.
Kate Lawrence is the Director of Jersey City’s Office of Sustainability, where she coordinates environmental efforts both within municipal operations and within the larger community. The Office recently completed the City’s first-ever Climate and Energy Action Plan. Other projects the Office of Sustainability is involved in include expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout the City, planting trees, addressing food waste, and making the region more resilient to storms and flooding through the Resilient Northeastern NJ project. Previous to her time in Jersey City, Katee worked as the Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Albany, NY, where she was instrumental to the creation of the City's Energy Plan and its participation in the New York Climate Smart Communities program. Kate can often be seen walking around the Heights seeking out coffee and pandebonos with her loyal pup, Ramona, or weeding in Washington Park.
Jennifer Lozada
Yvonne Dallam
Yvonne Dallam moved to Jersey City in 2011 and first came to Washington Park in 2014 after taking up residence a block away. She and her husband use the park with their young son on an almost daily basis. All three have come to love it as a locus for community, friendship, and nature to grow. Yvonne works as an actress, director, and arts educator in Jersey City and NYC. She believes strongly in the power of arts and story-telling to engage community and build partnership. She follows in the footsteps of her grandfather, Richard Teague, who served as a city parks commissioner in her native La Mesa, CA
Yvonne Dallam moved to Jersey City in 2011 and first came to Washington Park in 2014 after taking up residence a block away. She and her husband use the park with their young son on an almost daily basis. All three have come to love it as a locus for community, friendship, and nature to grow. Yvonne works as an actress, director, and arts educator in Jersey City and NYC. She believes strongly in the power of arts and story-telling to engage community and build partnership. She follows in the footsteps of her grandfather, Richard Teague, who served as a city parks commissioner in her native La Mesa, CA