Brooklyn Org Welcomes Three New Members to Board of Directors

Brooklyn Org today announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors: Adrian Techeira, Janel Callon, and Deroy Peraza. The new directors bring extensive experience across finance, education, philanthropy, and nonprofit leadership, further strengthening the Board’s capacity to advance Brooklyn Org’s mission in partnership with communities across the borough.

“Brooklyn’s progress is powered by people who combine expertise with a commitment to equity,” said Jocelynne Rainey, President & CEO of Brooklyn Org. “Adrian, Janel, and Deroy embody that spirit. Their insights will help us galvanize resources and invest in high-impact nonprofits so that every Brooklynite can thrive.”

“On behalf of the Board, I’m thrilled to welcome our newest colleagues,” said Nicole Gueron, Board Co-Chair. “Their diverse backgrounds—in finance, philanthropy, education, and creative leadership—will be invaluable as we continue to pursue a bold vision for a more just and vibrant Brooklyn.”

“Our Board’s strength comes from the breadth of experience around the table,” added Michael Gillespie, Board Co-Chair. “Adrian, Janel, and Deroy bring precisely the strategic acumen and values-driven perspective that will help guide Brooklyn Org’s next phase of impact.”

About the New Board Members

Adrian Techeira is an AVP, Legal and Credit Analysis, at Moody’s. His career includes roles at Standard & Poor’s Global and at New York Community Bancorp, where he provided legal and governance support across risk management, compliance, and policy development. He also served as a Bank Examiner in the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s Large Bank Supervision division. Adrian began his career as a Fiscal Policy Analyst in the Office of the New York State Comptroller, analyzing the MTA and the City’s education budget. He has also worked as a securitization attorney and regulatory consultant. He holds a J.D. and an MBA in Finance from Hofstra University and a B.A. in Economics from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Janel Callon is the co-founder and CEO of the Ichigo Foundation, a Brooklyn-based foundation that focuses on college access and success for people from under-resourced communities. She lived in Japan for 26 years and moved to Brooklyn in 2020 to begin running the foundation. While in Japan she received a master’s degree in school counseling and worked as a counselor at an international high school as well as a part-time college advisor at several Japanese high schools. Janel has four adult children and lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Deroy Peraza is a founding partner of Hyperakt, a Brooklyn-based branding studio that works with nonprofits and foundations. He has more than two decades of experience leading major rebrands for organizations including the Ford Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the New York Community Trust. Deroy writes and speaks regularly about the challenges facing nonprofits and the power of branding to unlock opportunity. He has been an invited speaker at Adobe Max, Brand New Conference, AIGA, Type Directors Club, and the UN Refugee Agency. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, Deroy was born in Cuba and raised in Miami, and now lives in Brooklyn with his wife and three children.