Board Member Bios - 2013
Jonathan Wharton - President |
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Jonathan has been a resident and homeowner in Paulus Hook since 2010. He has also lived in the Van Vorst Park neighborhood and Hoboken. Jonathan is an assistant professor of political science and history at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken. His teaching and research interests are in state and local politics and in particular urban development. Prior to Stevens, Jonathan worked as a policy analyst in the New Jersey state legislature and served as a congressional aide to three lawmakers on Capitol Hill. |
Stephanie Daniels - Vice President |
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Stephanie has been involved with local quality of life issues since she moved to Paulus Hook in 1991. She helped convince officials to remove Grand Street's truck route designation, spearheaded a Paulus Hook Open Space Survey for the Jersey City Recreation Master Plan, and is active in future plans of the Four (yes, Four) Corner Park. An independent TV/Film writer and director, Stephanie shares her life with her husband, director of photography Mark Smith, their daughter Zoë, and a menagerie of animals including red hounddog, Molly, black cats Tasha and Nüt, Maine Coon cat, Lola, and assorted unnamed fish. |
Gerry (Gary) Bakirtjy - Treasurer |
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Gerry has been active with the HPHA for over 20 years having served five previous terms as president and multiple terms as vice president. He has been the chairman of the HPHA Development Oversight Committee since its inception over fifteen years ago. He is an architect with his practice here in Paulus Hook where he has a home with his three children and lovely wife who also serves on the HPHA Board. |
Megan Smollik - Secretary and President Emeritus |
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Megan Smollik has been a Jersey City resident since 2003, and a homeowner in Paulus Hook since 2004. Her family joined the HPHA to contribute to preserving historic integrity and quality of life in Paulus Hook. She served as the HPHA President in 2011 and 2012, chairs the Police Liaison Committee, and is active on the Development Oversight Committee. Megan holds an undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and a Juris Doctor from Seton Hall School of Law. She is a licensed attorney, and has worked for several international law firms. Currently, Megan enjoys consulting work and being a mother. |
Peter D'Agati - Board Member |
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Peter has been a homeowner and resident of Paulus Hook since 2000. He is currently an active member of the Development Oversight Committee. Peter is Founder and President of Stembrook Asset Management, an investment management firm located in downtown Jersey City. Stembrook provides investment counsel and portfolio management to individuals and non-profits. Previously, Peter headed Portfolio Strategy Research at Brown Brothers Harriman. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Finance from Providence College and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Peter is also an avid sailor and regularly competes in local regattas. |
Riza Hunger - Board Member |
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| A resident of Paulus Hook since 2001, Riza has been active in her community. Her love for the pets in the neighborhood sparked the Annual Halloween Pet Parade in October 2008. With her passion for cooking, Riza organizes the annual Fall Feast for the HPHA. Her personal goal as a member of the Board is to assist in organizing events that will bring new and current residents together to continue to progress the quality of life in Paulus Hook. An entrepreneur and Contract Sales Representative, Riza shares her life with her husband Adam, and their aussiedoodle Jake. Weekends will often find her haunting Chinatown for elusive cooking ingredients. | |
Vincent Jacaruso - Board Member |
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| Vinnie joined the board in 2009. | |
Diane Kaese - Board Member |
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| Diane has lived in Jersey City since 1982 and in Paulus Hook since 1986. She has been President, Secretary, and Chair of the Parks Committee of the HPHA. She currently is on the HPHA board and is the chair of the Downtown Construction Committee. Diane has a BS in Architecture from the University of Nebraska and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. Weather permitting, Diane rollerblades early on weekend mornings in Liberty State Park. She is always happy to have a companion who can accompany and challenger her! | |
Breeze Sando - Board Member |
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Breeze joined the board in 2013. She has been a resident of Jersey City for three years, first in the Hamilton Park neighborhood and more recently, in Paulus Hook, where she can often be seen riding her bicycle along the waterfront. She works as an analyst for the New York State Comptroller and holds an MPA from New York University. Breeze is passionate about Jersey City... it's past, present and future! |
Dan Spadaro - Board Member |
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| Dan has been a homeowner and resident of Paulus Hook since 2002. Dan is a technology manager with over 25 years experience supporting complex information systems; working in Paulus Hook for the last 9 years supporting technology infrastructure and environmental sustainability at Goldman Sachs Jersey City office. He holds a Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering as well as a Masters in Environmental Science, both from the City of New York. Dan enjoys cooking, sailing, and travel in his spare time. | |
Fred Sullivan - Board Member |
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Fred joined the board in 2013 and is looking forward to working with fellow board members to enhance the quality of life in Paulus Hook, to learn more about it’s long and rich history and it’s vibrant and diverse community. Fred is originally from Iowa and graduated from the University of Iowa. He has lived in Paulus Hook since 2007. Fred plans to leverage his 20 years of experience in online technology as a member of the website committee. As an artist, he hopes to see you out dancing Argentine Tango with him to supporting the Parks committee as we work on the project to plan and restore it. |
Ariel Zaurov - Board Member |
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| Ariel joined the board in 2012. | |
