Brooklyn Org Spark Prize Committee
We can’t accomplish our Brooklyn Org Spark Prize without the dedication of Brooklynites who shared their time and expertise as members of the Spark Prize Committee. This diverse group of civic leaders, philanthropists, activists, entrepreneurs, and artists reviews hundreds of applications, interviews the 20 finalists, and ultimately selects five $100,000 winners. Not only do Committee members bring their unique talents to the process—they also discover a side of Brooklyn they never knew, and in turn help spotlight incredible, yet often overlooked, local nonprofits.
2024-25 COMMITTEE
Ashima Aggarwal
Corporate VP and Associate General Counsel, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Daisy Auger-Domínguez
President, Auger-Dominguez Ventures
Julia Bator
Executive Director, J.M. Kaplan Fund
Martin Bell
Partner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Tom Bettridge
Board Chair, NY Congregational Community Services Congregational Home Legacy Fund
Lisa C. Cohen
Founding Partner, Schindler Cohen & Hochman LLP
Brooke Safford Cohen
Owner + Founder, BES Dwellings
Isabel Cristo
Writer and Journalist
Kenneth Ebie
Executive Director & Chief Development Officer, Black Entrepreneurs NYC (BE NYC)
Adina Erwin
EVP, Business Operations/General Manager, Barclays Center
Janeisha Farquharson
Financial Services Professional, New York Life Insurance Company
Sophie Ferrer
Program Officer, PCLB Foundation
Marcella Gay
Founding Principal, The Brooklyn Green Magnet School for Eco-Activism
Teresa Gonzalez
Partner, Bolton-St.Johns
Erica Hamilton
CEO & Founder, The Memo I Never Got (MING)
Gary P. Jenkins
Managing Director, Oaktree Solutions
Lori Luis
CEO & President, LoriLu Consulting
Deitra Mara
Strategy & Operations Consultant
Alison Maschmeyer
Managing Director, Americas Pinnacle Investment Management
Tamika Matheson
Founding Principal, Frederick Douglass Academy VII High School
Gregorio Mayers
Professor, Medgar Evers College
Lindsay McCann
Nonprofit Consultant
Morgan Monaco
President & Park Administrator, Prospect Park Alliance
Audrey Moore
Community Member
Salvador Muñoz
Artist
Robyne Walker Murphy
Arts and Cultural Strategist
JP Napleton
Account Supervisor, Mother New York
Angela Outlaw-Matheny
Director of Diverse Manager Equity, Crewcial Partners LLC
Lindsay Pizzi
Community Member
Melissa J. Prober
Nonprofit & Small Business Attorney
Arcola Robinson
Community Member
Esmeralda Simmons
Civil and Human Rights Attorney
Cary Stathopoulos
Principal, Warburg Pincus
Alexa Suskin
Executive Director, The Robert & Mercedes Eichholz Foundation
Laurie Tamis
Nonprofit Consultant
André Taylor
Professor, New York University Tandon School of Engineering
Nancy Webster
Executive Director, Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy
Jackie Wilson
Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, BSE
Jessica Yager
Project Director, Red Hook Community Justice Center
Selin Zalma
Managing Director and Partner, BCG