2025 Board Members

—

Liza Meneades, SPNA President and Events Committee Co-Chair

Liza made her way to the Stuyvesant Park neighborhood in May 2008 from Boston to work for The New York Times Company in media sales. Through job changes, she started working from her home apartment on 17th Street, became better acquainted with Stuyvesant Square Park, and fell in love with this unique green space where she takes morning walks and often meditates. After inquiring about volunteering in 2018, Liza works daily on SPNA’s social media accounts, is a member of the Events Committee, and helps in any way she can to support the park. Professionally, Liza has been a successful and awarded media salesperson for the past 20 years across print, radio, experiential, digital, and podcast advertising, working for companies from CBS to the NY Times to Slate Magazine. She also teaches Restorative Yoga at Integral Yoga Institute of New York. She loves to travel, and enjoys birding in Central Park, hiking the Hudson Valley, and skiing New England mountains and beyond.

Photo credit: Francine Daveta

—

Jason Money, Vice President, Gala Committee Chair

Jason Money has resided in different neighborhoods throughout NYC since 2004. After moving to Stuyvesant Square in 2017, he quickly got involved with SPNA as a member of the fundraising gala committee, helping to create the 50th-anniversary celebration of SPNA. He has served on the SPNA board since 2019 and as president from 2020 through 2023. He is a registered architect in NY, CT, and NJ and the owner of his architecture studio, Jason Money Architect. He has over 20 years of experience creating custom residential homes for his clients throughout the Tri-state area. Jason has also volunteered for fundraising efforts at many nonprofit organizations, including Cycle for the Cause, Open House New York, and Understood.org.

—

David Turk, Secretary and Events Committee Co-Chair

David Turk’s company, Indiana, is a full-service caterer in New York City. Named Best Dinner Caterer in New York Magazine and a highest-rated caterer in the Zagat Guide NYC. He teaches at the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC. His love of New York has led him to lead history and food walking tours. David speaks around the country on customer service and the business of catering. He has served with the NYS Restaurant Association and the Fathering Forum and produced programs that benefit God’s Love We Deliver.

—

Janet Levinson, Fundraising Committee Co-Chair

Janet Levinson lives at 217 East 17th Street, a landmark building where she acted as construction manager during a complete renovation. Professionally, she is an insurance broker, handling difficult-to-place commercial clients such as contractors and nonprofits. Although most of her experience is in the insurance world, she was always interested in the arts and recently graduated from NYU with a BA in art history. Her other interests include cooking, gardening, yoga, dance, and renovating commercial and residential properties.

—

Stephen Uzzo, Fundraising Committee Co-Chair

Stephen Uzzo is the chief technology officer for the National Museum of Mathematics and former chief scientist for the New York Hall of Science. He works in museum planning and design and learning research initiatives to study the coupling of human and natural systems. Dr. Uzzo is concerned with providing opportunities for underserved learners to navigate a future in which AI and big data predominate and the risks of misuse of personal data expand. Having never lived far from the ocean in New York, California, and Massachusetts, he has also been a lifelong advocate for marine conservation.

—

Reynard Loki, Communications & Community Outreach Committee Chair

Reynard Loki is an artist, musician, editor, journalist, and wildlife rescuer. He is a co-founder of the Observatory, the Cat Museum of New York City (CMNYC), and the MomenTech Art Collective. He is also the founding editor of Earth | Food | Life and serves as a senior writing fellow at the Independent Media Institute. He is a wildlife rescuer with NYC Bird Alliance and New York City Pigeon Rescue Central. Reynard holds a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing from New York University.

—

Louis Timko, Horticulture Committee Chair

Louis Timko has been working with SPNA as a garden volunteer since moving to the Gramercy Park neighborhood in April 2023. He works as a product manager at Spotify, overseeing the building and management of advertising platform technology. Louis has been a proud New York City resident for over five years, and his spare time, he enjoys cooking, reading, and traveling.

—

Joy Newman, East End Temple, Community Institution Member

As vice president of the board of trustees of East End Temple, Joy Newman has proudly supported the organization’s mission to foster inclusivity and promote social justice for the past 6 years. In addition to her service at East End Temple, Joy was a Lincoln Center Young Patrons board member for many years. With faith and a commitment to the community at her core, Joy leads by example through her volunteer work at the Temple as well as at other educational and cultural institutions, where her philanthropic spirit is evident through her dedication to community service and advocacy and the power of collective action to create positive change. Joy has a diverse professional career. As the CEO of a pharmaceutical publishing company for over 25 years and successful founder and CEO of a successful promotions company, Joy’s businesses provided unmatched services to high-profile clients in the fashion, publishing, and pharmaceutical sectors. Underscoring Joy’s desire for spiritual wellness and aesthetic harmony, she recently became a licensed interior designer, graduating from Parsons School of Design, and has consulted on several residential projects. She is a certified yoga instructor, having taught at Core Power Yoga. Joy is a passionate collector of 20th-century art and an avid traveler. She is fluent in three languages and has an insatiable curiosity and zest for life that drive her desire for discovery and exploration. As a devoted mother, spouse, daughter, sister, and friend, Joy cherishes the bonds of family and friendship that are a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence, compassion, and service—a reflection of the vibrant spirit that defines her New York heritage.

 

—

Todd Drake, Arts Committee Chair

—

Alyson Evans, Friends Seminary, Community Institution Member

—

Father Ed Cimbala, St. Mary’s Church, Community Institution Member

—

Jennifer Allen, Jack & Jill School at St. George’s Church, Community Institution Member

—

Claire Brennan

—

Kim Isaly

—

Phyllis Mangels

—

Susan Schnelwar

—

Jorge Eduardo Ramirez Trejo