Michael Happel has over 30 years of experience investing in real estate, including acquisitions of office, retail, multifamily, industrial, and hotel properties. Including 25 Kent, Brooklyn’s first ground-up, speculative commercial and manufacturing building in 40 years. Offering unobstructed views of Bushwick Inlet Park, East River, and Manhattan skyline

Mr. Happel received a B.A. in economics from Duke University in 1985 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1988.

Originally from Alabama, Dr. Love completed her undergraduate education at the University of Alabama, where she graduated summa cum laude. She received her Doctor of Medicine from Emory University School of Medicine, after which she moved to New York to complete residency training at The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology. She served as chief of aesthetics during her final year.

Elyse is a fitness enthusiast that lives in Williamsburg and has completed the NYC marathon twice.

Kate Bernstein is a two-time Emmy Award-winning television producer and writer. Kate graduated Summa Cum Laude from Swarthmore College with a B.A. in Film and Cultural Studies. She received an M.A. in Cinema Studies at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Kate was born in Moscow, Russia, and raised in Southern Brooklyn. She’s been a proud resident of Williamsburg since 1999, and has raised her two children in the neighborhood.

Co-founded Grovehouse, a hospitality company in Brooklyn. Sean helped usher in Williamsburg’s foodie staples – Lilia & Misi- both of which received three stars from The New York Times.

Sean joined the NBK Parks board in 2022. He also sits on the board of the Food Education Fund, a nonprofit organization supporting NYC high school students through experiential learning in culinary arts, hospitality, and entrepreneurship. And is a co-founding member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC) & Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants (ROAR), both started in 2020 to help save the restaurant industry and protect those who work in it.

Sean grew up on the Jersey Shore and currently lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with his bride Maria and their 3 children

Jane Pool is a soccer mom who has resided in Greenpoint for more than 15 years. She is a co-owner of Excello Recording Studio in Williamsburg and as such, has organized several events (including a Patti Smith concert) for the Greenpoint Williamsburg Waterfront Task Force. In addition to serving on the NBK Parks board, Jane is on the board of the Firehouse, North Brooklyn Neighbors, and the PTA at PS 132 in Williamsburg.

Ward Dennis is a partner at Higgins Quasebarth & Partners, a preservation consulting firm based in New York City. In addition to serving on the NBK Parks board, Ward is a board member and former co-chair of North Brooklyn Neighbors, and a founding member of Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park and the Waterfront Preservation Alliance. From 2003 until 2012 he served on Community Board 1 in Brooklyn. Participating in the ad hoc task force for the 2005 waterfront zoning. A neighborhood resident since 1993, Ward lives in Williamsburg with his wife, Carol, and two children.

In addition to serving on the NBK Parks board, Spencer Baim is a chief strategic officer (CSO) of VICE Media and founder of Virtue, VICE’s creative agency. Baim is steering the company to become the most exciting and successful youth media company in the world. Prior to VICE, Baim was a brand strategist for advertising agencies Fallon and Mad Dogs and Englishmen. Holding a B.A. from the University of Kent (England), Spencer currently lives in Greenpoint.

Doug Steiner spearheaded the rehabilitation of the Navy Yard back in 1999. Converting his “little” corner of the former shipyard into an enormous, state-of-the-art film studio. Over a decade later, the studio shows no signs of slowing down, hosting blockbuster productions, creating educational partnerships with both Brooklyn College and Carnegie Mellon, and setting an aggressive goal of creating 6,000 jobs over the next decade.