We are pleased to announce the appointment of Elena Conte as Interim Executive Director, following the official close of Maggie Greenfield’s tenure as Bronx River Administrator and Executive Director of the Alliance.
We are excited that Elena has agreed to serve in this capacity as the process for identifying a permanent Executive Director proceeds. As a longtime friend of BxRA with a twenty-year history of working in the Bronx and with Bronx partners, Elena brings a strong background in environmental justice and community-based efforts, as well as with governmental and non-profit partnerships. She also brings extensive management experience from her long tenure at the Pratt Center for Community Development, where she last served as its Deputy Director.
Michael Mendez will continue in his role as Conservation Manager, leading and supervising employees of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks) within BxRA. We celebrate Mike’s receipt of a Parks Supervisor level 2 Step-Up position from Parks, recognizing his dedicated service at River House and his exceptional leadership with BxRA.
Elena will serve in a part-time capacity until a permanent director has been selected, so please exercise additional patience for matters upon which you seek her assistance.
We are deeply grateful to Maggie for working with us to make this transition as smooth as possible and to make her expertise available to the Alliance through and beyond the transition. Over her eighteen years here, Maggie has strengthened the Alliance and advanced its mission in countless ways.
We also very much appreciate the work and thought that the staff – who make the organization what it is – have invested in the transition process, and their continuing willingness to step up when needed.
Thank you, Bronx River Alliance members, volunteers, and friends, for your support as we continue to serve as the coordinated voice of the Bronx River. We look forward to continuing to work with you in harmonious partnership to protect, improve and restore the Bronx River corridor to ensure it is a healthy ecological, recreational, educational, and economic resource for all communities through which the river flows.
