CSWA announces its Board of Directors
CSWA is thrilled to assemble this group of accomplished residents and business leaders for the Association’s Board of Directors!
James DeFilippis is a Professor of Urban Planning at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. His research focuses on the politics and economics of cities and communities. He is particularly interested in the processes of social change, and questions of power and justice in cities. He has published work in academic journals in a variety of fields, both independently and in collaboration with other authors. He is the author or editor of six books and more than 50 articles and book chapters. Professor DeFilippis has also written applied monographs and reports, and his interests extend well beyond the academy and into the practice of concrete political work and policy analyses.
Lucy Di Rosa is the Executive Director of the Sargent Shriver Peace Institute (SSPI), a not-for-profit organization that creates programming related to leadership and service following the example of Peace Corps founder Sargent Shriver. With a background in communications and a deep knowledge of Sargent Shriver’s legacy, Lucy’s role is to bring Shriver’s compelling accomplishments in politics, peacebuilding, and poverty abolition to life for a contemporary, multi-generational audience. Lucy has previously worked in for-profit and not-for profit environments and has experience in multiple sectors, including finance, technology, and the performing arts. Lucy is also an experienced instructor and researcher who holds a Ph.D. in Italian Studies from the University of Toronto. She speaks several languages, including English, Italian, and French.
Randy Gordon has been a resident of Columbia Street Waterfront since 2005. He has worked in the financial industry for more than 25 years in risk management and data governance roles. He is a writer, tech critic, and a classically trained cellist. He and his wife Sharon met at music school and often perform together. They are grateful to have raised their now 25-year-old daughter Mollie in this wonderful neighborhood. Randy recently retired from the 1 Tiffany Place Board of Directors after 20 (!) years of service.
Eli Gottlieb is a long-time resident of Columbia Waterfront having moved to the neighborhood in 2003. He is a Structural Engineer and Managing Principal at ThorntonTomasetti, based in New York City. Eli also serves on the boards of the Concrete Industry Board of New York and the Architectural League of New York.
John Leyva has lived in the Columbia Street Waterfront District for over 30 years, bringing deep neighborhood experience to his community and housing-justice work. A graduate of St. Francis College, he spent 15 years at the NYC Department of Education and worked in marketing before completing a community organizing fellowship at CCNY. John’s tenant-advocacy journey began with his building’s fight to stay housed through Save63Tiffany.com and has since expanded to working alongside many housing-justice coalitions across New York City. He is a strong advocate for "real" deeply affordable housing, transparent decision-making, and the protection of public land. As a devoted father to a severely autistic son, John is committed to building a neighborhood rooted in care, accessibility, and genuine community power.
Greg O’Connell is the CEO and Principal of the O’Connell Organization, a Brooklyn-based, family-owned real estate company focused on long-term investment and stewardship. Greg oversees a 39-acre portfolio of Civil War-era waterfront warehouses and mixed-use buildings, housing 700 residents and over 100 businesses across Red Hook, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, and the Columbia Street Waterfront. His philosophy prioritizes sustained community value over quick profit. He advocates for slow growth to preserve local character, securing long-term tenancies, and building strong community partnerships through trust and authenticity. A lifelong Columbia Waterfront resident, Greg has been civically engaged having served on boards including the Red Hook Initiative, the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, and Community Board 6.
Debra Tackney is a born and raised resident of Brooklyn. Her two adult children, Justin and Megan, were raised in the Columbia Street Waterfront District and were surrounded by multiple generations of family in the surrounding neighborhoods. Debra holds Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Science degrees from Hunter College, City University of New York and a Supervisor License from Rutgers University. She has been a public school teacher and curriculum writer for over 30 years including many years at P.S. 29 and, subsequently, Clinton Township New Jersey. Debra spent ten years as a CTEA contract negotiator and an NJEA Government Relations Committee Member. She is presently Chair of the Columbia Terrace Condominium Waterfront Ad Hoc Committee. In prior years, she was Board President of the Second Columbia Terrace Condominium on President Street.
Lynette Wiley-Wood is the Executive Director of Living Traditions, Inc and a co-founder of the Jalopy Theatre with her husband Geoff Wood. She is also the owner of the Jalopy Tavern. Prior to working at the Jalopy Theatre, Lynette was the executive director of the Speh Foundation in Chicago, where she served as Vice President of the Donor’s Forum, was a fellow at Leadership Greater Chicago and director of Play for Peace. Lynette has bachelor's degrees in journalism and in anthropology from the University of Miami, and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington.
