Henry Hudson Park

The Daily Plant : Tuesday, April 9, 2002

CONGRATULATIONS EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH

The following four individuals were also awarded Employee of the Month for March on Monday, April 1. The Daily Plant congratulates them on a job well done.

Felix B. LoIacono is Manhattan’s Employee of the Month for March. Felix graduated from Michigan State and joined Parks in 2000. He works as a Gardener for Riverside Park and Riverside South. Felix has assisted in special projects such as the 5x5 Clean-up along the Henry Hudson Parkway. Felix attended the New York State Turf-Grass Association Conference this fall and is working to revitalize District 14 fields, including the 72^nd Street Ballfield. Last winter, Felix also passed the DEC Pesticide exam. A gardener who never shies from picking up litter and cleaning the areas he works, Felix is a hard working and valuable addition to Parks. He was nominated by Riverside Park Administrator KC Sahl and SPMO Jeff Speich.

Joan Herrera is Queens’ Employee of the Month for March. Joan joined Parks in 1999 as a Summer City Seasonal Aide, and then spent a winter with Teens at Parks. In January of 2001, she became a Playground Associate at the ARROW Community Center in Queens. Joan was instrumental in coordinating last November’s transition of the facility from a center run by a community based organization to in-house run Parks recreation center. One of two on-site Parks staff, Joan worked with Telecommunications, Shops, MIS, and Recreation to maintain high levels of center service during the move. Joan takes on varied responsibilities at the center including outreach, administrative duties, maintenance and programming. Married to a Parkie - Bronx PACT Coordinator Rene Herrera – Joan has made a substantial contribution to Queens recreation. She was nominated by Chief of Recreation Laura Gili.

Michael Schmiedel is Staten Island’s Employee of the Month for March. Mike joined Parks in 1981 and currently works as a SPMO in District 1 which includes Clove Lakes Park and Silver Lake Park. Under Michael’s supervision, District 1 has become the most improved district in the borough, with exceptional ratings of 98.4% overall condition and 99.2% cleanliness. Mike helped develop Staten Island’s "Park in the Spotlight" program in which borough forces focus on improving and transforming specified park sites. Michael works well with Parkies of all levels, holding himself and his staff to high expectations of professionalism and performance. A reliable and conscientious leader, Mike was nominated by PRM Gary Zerilli.

Jill B. Weber is the Commissioner’s Employee of the Month for March. Jill joined Parks in 1980 as an analyst with the Deputy Commissioner for Operations. Shortly thereafter, Jill joined the Horticultural Intern Program at the newly formed Central Park Conservancy (CPC). She would go on to serve in many roles including CPC’s Assistant Director of Horticulture and Volunteers, Horticulturist and Director of Volunteers for Riverside Park, Supervisor of the Bronx Greenhouse, and then PRM. In 1993, Jill helped start the innovative Parks Career Training Program (PACT) and she serves as its director. PACT has placed nearly 2,000 Public Assistance participants in permanent jobs, most in the private sector. A committed, skilled and capable Parkie who is leading one of our most important initiatives, Jill was nominated by Deputy Commissioner Robert Garafola.

(Tuesday, April 18, 1989)

Deputy Commissioner for Management Robert L. Garafola recently announced the following promotion:

Alexander Brash has been appointed Director of Management Planning & Analysis (MPA). Brash joined Parks in 1987 as supervisor of the Policy and Planning Unit and has served as Deputy Director of MPA sine August 1988. MPA reviews the management and performance of other divisions in the agency, serves as an in-house management consultant, and helps plan the allocation of Parks resources.

Before joining Parks, Brash served as an executive assistant at the World Wildlife Fund. He received a B.A. in Zoology from Connecticut College in 1981 and a M.F.S. in Forestry and Environmental Studies from Yale University in 1985. He is currently working toward his Ph.D. in Ecology at Rutgers University.

"A frenzied passion for art is a canker that devours everything else."

(April 9, 1821–1867),