We are
On June 18th, 2019, the SoHo Broadway community gathered for the 5th Annual Meeting of the SoHo Broadway Initiative. Generously hosted by Boxed at their headquarters at 28 Mercer Street, the meeting brought together over one hundred attendees to celebrate the Initiative’s accomplishments, enjoy the evening’s presentations, recognize community members, and elect new board members.
Once the audience settled in after enjoying refreshments (and Polaroid photo opportunities with Jean Andre Antoine), Council Member Margaret Chin opened the meeting with remarks congratulating the Initiative on its 5th anniversary, as well as highlighting recent and upcoming City efforts in policing, open space, and sanitation.
Board President Brian Steinwurtzel began the formal meeting business segment of the evening, followed by a financial report by Treasurer Richard Benenson, a report on the work of the Outreach and Communication Committee by Committee Chair James Cavello, and a Planning Committee Report and End of Year Report by Executive Director Mark Dicus. Finally, Secretary Paul Farr conducted Board elections; all slates were approved unanimously by membership. The Initiative congratulates Gaston Silva of Vornado Realty Trust (Class A1 – Commercial Property Owner) and Ed Somekh (Class A2 – Residential Property Owner) on their election to the Board, as well as Pete Davies, Jared Epstein, Warren Leshen, Brian Steinwurtzel, Katy Rice, Jeanette Rodriguez, Mary Rolland, Jason Vacker, Michele Varian, DJ Williams, and Ronnie Wolf on their re-election.
Following Annual Meeting Business, the Initiative presented this year’s Cast Iron Partner Awards to six individuals who contributed their time, genuine interest and partnership to the SoHo Broadway community in a significant way. The 2019 Cast Iron Partner Award recipients are: Eugene Cummings, Sergeant, NYPD 1st Precinct; John Holubowicz, Dirctor of Loss Prevention, Uniqlo; Jim Martin, Executive Director, ACE Programs for the Homeless; Marcos Ortiz, Executive Officer, DSNY District 2; Gwen Ossenfort, Operations Manager, Reclaimed Organics; and Donna Vogel, Senior Managing Director, GFP Real Estate.
The much-anticipated We Are SoHo Broadway: Living, Creating & Working presentations by community members closed out the meeting’s primary programming. Jordan Wisniewski, presenting on behalf of Hlynur V. Atlason, Managing Partner, ATLASON, shared the design studio’s work for local clients. David Briggs, AIA, LEED AP, Principal, Loci Architecture, told his journey across four decades of personal and professional life in SoHo, while Harry Bubbins, East Village and Special Projects Director for Village Preservation, charmed the crowd with a survey of historic fire fighting remnants on local buildings. Alyssa Bueno, Analyst, Carbon Credit Capital, gave an overview of climate change and environmental initiatives in the SoHo Broadway area and Rebecca Kelly, Artistic Director, Rebecca Kelly Ballet, shared her work in the field of dance. Finally, Lance Marsh, Clean Team Supervisor from ACE Programs for the Homeless, gave the audience a street-level view from Broadway.
Finally, Executive Director Mark Dicus conducted a raffle. Lucky winners received prizes from SoHo Broadway businesses Boxed, Converse, Dean & DeLuca, Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, International Culinary Center, Nike, and Sabon. All attendees also received a tote bag from Artists & Fleas. The Initiative would like to once again thank all of this year’s sponsors, and all those in the SoHo Broadway community who participated in our Annual Meeting as well as supported our activities throughout the past year.
Photos: Ethan Covey
