Learn more about the duties of the Executive Committee positions
Tony Melone
President
Tony Melone is a musician, a Brooklyn resident since 2007, and an NKD member since 2016. He helped organize the 44th Assembly District Committee of the Brooklyn Democratic Party in 2019 and works in concert production for the American Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Lumos, and other groups. He hopes that someday soon, it will be safe for his kids – and all kids – to bike to school in Brooklyn.
Pronouns: he/him
Chris Tan
Chief of Operations
Chris lives in Bay Ridge and works in community development finance (think funding for affordable housing and local community projects like theaters and community health centers). He hopes his involvement in political organizations like NKD will advance progress toward a more equitable New York City and a more transparent local government and Democratic party. Outside of work and politics, Chris enjoys archery, trying new restaurants, going for walks with friends, and DnD.
Paige Havener
VP of Political Affairs
Brandon Smith
VP of Policy
Brandon is an attorney and Downtown Brooklyn resident since 2005. While he manages the Americas Sanctions program of an international financial institution by day, Brandon loves all things related to politics, Jazz, voting rights, and his local Brooklyn Community. He is Chair of Community Board 2's Health, Environment, and Social Services Committee and helps lead several other organizations. Brandon is excited to bring his experience with policy to NKD's Policy Committee and hopes you will get involved by joining one of the monthly meetings!
Pronouns: he/him
Beth Slade
VP of Organizing
Beth is an events producer who has worked with several nonprofits, including the National MS Society, Komen Foundation, and Transportation Alternatives. She got her start planning social action campaigns at the Center for Popular Democracy. A resident of Carroll Gardens since 2006, Beth joined NKD in 2018 and has been a member of the Brooklyn County Committee for AD52 since 2020. Her hobbies include biking around town, visiting her local bookstore, and searching the five boroughs for the perfect martini.
Pronouns: she/her
Jessi Highet
Director of Membership
Pronouns: she/her
Samantha Rijkers
Treasurer
Bryan Maygers
Director of Communications
Pronouns: he/him
Neema Rashidee
Secretary
Samantha Shiells
Events Manager
Bio coming soon
Amy Plattsmier
Campaign Director
Karla Herrera
Director of Social Action
Matt Nisenoff
Director of Party Building
Matt has a longstanding involvement in politics and government that spans a number of different states. He also has a podcast that keeps him busy: SoundCloud.com/PolitiPod. Matt looks forward to interacting with County Committee members and District Leaders to expand democracy in Brooklyn.
Pronouns: he/him
David Goldberg
Director of Voter Education
Jules Masson
Digital Director
Uma Bhandaram
Data Director
Open positions
- Fundraising Director
2024
President: Caitlin Kawaguchi
Chief of Operations: Tony Melone
VP Of Policy: Brandon Smith
VP Of Political Affairs: Paige Havener
VP Of Organizing: Kellan Calder
Director of Membership: Rebecca An
Director of Communications: Victor Ng
Treasurer: Jacob Goldfinger
Secretary: Chris Tan
Events Manager: Samantha Shiells
Campaign Director: Mikael Haxby
Director of Social Action: Beth Slade
Director of Party Building: Matt Nisenoff
Director of Voter Education: Nicole Catá
2023
President: Caitlin Kawaguchi
Chief of Operations: Tony Melone
VP Of Policy: Brandon Smith
VP Of Political Affairs: Paige Havener
VP Of Organizing: Mikael Haxby
Director of Membership: Vanessa Nutter
Director of Communications: Nicholas Kemp
Treasurer: Jacob Goldfinger
Secretary: Liz Stevenson
Data Director: Sara Hodges
2021
President: Mariana Alexander
Chief of Operations: Caitlin Kawaguchi
VP of Policy: Genevieve Vaida
VP of Political Affairs: Jessica Thurston
VP of Organizing: Akel Williams
Director of Membership: Morenike Lambert
Director of Communications: Tony Melone
Treasurer: Jacob Goldfinger
Secretary: Vanessa Nutter
Data Director: Mikael Haxby
2020
President: Mariana Alexander
Chief of Operations: Emily Hoffman
VP of Policy: Richard Semegram
VP of Political Affairs: Jessica Thurston
VP of Organizing: Sage Rockermann
Director of Membership: Morenike Lambert
Director of Communications: Caitlin Kawaguchi
Treasurer: Courtney Adrian
Secretary: Vanessa Nutter
Data Director: Mikael Haxby
2019
President: Brandon West
Chief of Operations: Jessica Baker Vodoor/Maria Barva
VP of Policy: Mariana Alexander
VP of Political Affairs: Emily Hoffman
VP of Organizing: Sage Rockermann
Director of Membership: Becky Steinberg
Director of Communications: Jessica Thurston
Treasurer: Fred LaPolla
Secretary: Maria Barva
2018
President: Brandon West
Chief of Operations: Jesse Pierce
VP of Policy: Mariana Alexander
VP of Political Affairs: Emily Hoffman
VP of Organizing: Angela LaScala-Gruenewald
Director of Membership: Becky Steinberg
Director of Communications: Jessica Thurston
Treasurer: Fred LaPolla
Secretary: Maria Barva
2017
President: Anusha Venkataraman (until November 2017)
Chief of Operations: Sara Shoener
VP of Policy: Brandon West
VP of Political Affairs: Matt Stern
VP of Organizing: Yaneth Lombana
Director of Membership: Jasmine Fernandez
Director of Communications: Ryan Shanley
Treasurer: Essence Franklin, Anna Scaife
Secretary: Cindy Tran
2016
President: Anusha Venkataraman
Chief of Operations: Sara Shoener
VP of Political Affairs & Policy: Brandon West
VP of Organizing: Theo Moore
Secretary: Rodrigo Camarena
Digital Director: Ryan Shanley
2015
President: Andrew Sloat
VP of Political Affairs & Policy: Anusha Venkataraman
VP of Organizing: Theo Moore
Secretary: Sara Shoener
Digital Director: Ryan Shanley
2014
President: Andrew Sloat
VP of Political Affairs & Policy: Esteban Duran
VP of Organizing: Theo Moore
Treasurer: Rachel Lauter
Secretary: Lacey Tauber
Digital Director: Annie Werner
2013
President: Alex Low
VP of Political Affairs: Esteban Duran
VP of Organizing: Theo Moore
Treasurer: Catherine Butler
Secretary: Andrew Sloat
Director of Communications: Greg Wasserstrom
2012
President: Alex Low
VP of Political Affairs: Morgan Pehme (partial term), Chris Barron (partial term)
VP of Organizing: Theo Moore
Treasurer: Catherine Butler
Secretary: Antonio Reynoso
Director of Communications: Andrew Sloat
2011
President: Matt Cowherd
VP of Political Affairs: Sarah Baker
VP of Organizing: Theo Moore
Treasurer: Alex Low
Corresponding Secretary: Connie Rourke
Recording Secretary: Maisha Morales
2009–10
President: Matt Cowherd
Vice President: Lincoln Restler
Corresponding Secretary: Chris Henderson
Recording Secretary: Will Florentino
Treasurer: Alex Low
Parliamentarian: Sarah Baker
2008–09
Co-Chair: Matt Cowherd
Co-Chair: Rachel Lauter
Treasurer: Andrew Stengel
Secretary: Laura Stein
Communications: Morgan Pehme