Learn more about the duties of the Executive Committee positions
Caitlin Kawaguchi
President
Caitlin is an impact and communications strategist working with startups, nonprofits, and campaigns to drive change. She believes that politics should be accessible and inclusive, and she loves organizing with Rep Your Block to help everyday Brooklynites run for County Committee. She currently leads marketing and partnerships at Bird + Stone, and has also worked on digital communications for campaigns around youth justice reform and opportunity youth.
Pronouns: she/her
Tony Melone
Chief of Operations
Paige Havener
VP of Political Affairs
Brandon Smith
VP of Policy
Brandon is an attorney and Downtown Brooklyn resident since 2005. While he manages the Americas Sanctions program of an international financial institution by day, Brandon loves all things related to politics, Jazz, voting rights, and his local Brooklyn Community. He is Chair of Community Board 2's Health, Environment, and Social Services Committee and helps lead several other organizations. Brandon is excited to bring his experience with policy to NKD's Policy Committee and hopes you will get involved by joining one of the monthly meetings!
Pronouns: he/him
Kellan Calder
VP of Organizing
Kellan formerly served as NKD's Director of Social Action. She is a lifelong New Yorker and resident of Flatbush. She is a proud product of public schools, including a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Queens College, where she concentrated on Women’s Studies. Kellan was the 2022 Brooklyn Can’t Wait nominee for Female District Leader in the 43rd Assembly District and was the previous Vice President of Brooklyn Young Democrats. She is excited to organize and be in community with her neighbors.
Pronouns: he/him
Rebecca An
Director of Membership
Rebecca is an auntie, giant nerd, amateur chef, and recovering hipster who has called North Brooklyn home since 2007. As a multilingual daughter of immigrants, she is a fierce advocate of language access and organizing in communities with limited English proficiency. Rebecca has been an NKD member since 2017 and looks forward to producing inclusive and engaging events around the borough.
Pronouns: she/her
Jacob Goldfinger
Treasurer
Victor Ng
Director of Communications
Victor is a creative director, educator, and community organizer based in Brooklyn. He has led design and brand work for non-profits, news organizations, political campaigns, and technology startups. As of 2022, he is also a County Committee member. Victor lives with his partner and their one-eyed Pekingese in Crown Heights.
Pronouns: he/him
Chris Tan
Secretary
Chris lives in Bay Ridge and works in community development finance (think funding for affordable housing and local community projects like theaters and community health centers). He hopes his involvement in political organizations like NKD will advance progress toward a more equitable New York City and a more transparent local government and Democratic party. Outside of work and politics, Chris enjoys archery, trying new restaurants, going for walks with friends, and DnD.
Pronouns: he/him
Samantha Shiells
Events Manager
Bio coming soon
Mikael Haxby
Campaign Director
Mikael is a soccer analytics writer and stay-at-home dad, and he wrote a book about gender and political violence in ancient Christian apocalyptic literature. Those are all things that go together. He lives in Williamsburg and has been an NKD member for seven years, having helped lead the Rep Your Block campaign in North Brooklyn and recently helping to lead the Brooklyn Can't Wait campaign in 2022.
Pronouns: he/him
Beth Slade
Director of Social Action
Beth is an events producer who has worked with several nonprofits, including the National MS Society, Komen Foundation, and Transportation Alternatives. She got her start planning social action campaigns at the Center for Popular Democracy. A resident of Carroll Gardens since 2006, Beth joined NKD in 2018 and has been a member of the Brooklyn County Committee for AD52 since 2020. Her hobbies include biking around town, visiting her local bookstore, and searching the five boroughs for the perfect martini.
Pronouns: she/her
Matt Nisenoff
Director of Party Building
Matt has a longstanding involvement in politics and government that spans a number of different states. He also has a podcast that keeps him busy: SoundCloud.com/PolitiPod. Matt looks forward to interacting with County Committee members and District Leaders to expand democracy in Brooklyn.
Pronouns: he/him
Nicole Catá
Director of Voter Education
Nicole grew up in Flushing and Cortlandt, New York, and has lived in Brooklyn since 2015. She joined NKD in 2016 and has served as a member of the Kings County Democratic County Committee since 2020. She also co-chairs Brooklyn for Reproductive and Gender Equity (BKForge) and volunteers with the Friends of Brooklyn Public Library. Her interests include immigration policy, the New York Mets, and her tuxedo cats. She looks forward to promoting civic engagement and empowering Brooklyn voters through NKD’s voter guides.
Pronouns: she/her
Open positions
- Digital Director
- Data Director
- Fundraising Director
2023
President: Caitlin Kawaguchi
Chief of Operations: Tony Melone
VP Of Policy: Brandon Smith
VP Of Political Affairs: Paige Havener
VP Of Organizing: Mikael Haxby
Director of Membership: Vanessa Nutter
Director of Communications: Nicholas Kemp
Treasurer: Jacob Goldfinger
Secretary: Liz Stevenson
Data Director: Sara Hodges
2021
President: Mariana Alexander
Chief of Operations: Caitlin Kawaguchi
VP of Policy: Genevieve Vaida
VP of Political Affairs: Jessica Thurston
VP of Organizing: Akel Williams
Director of Membership: Morenike Lambert
Director of Communications: Tony Melone
Treasurer: Jacob Goldfinger
Secretary: Vanessa Nutter
Data Director: Mikael Haxby
2020
President: Mariana Alexander
Chief of Operations: Emily Hoffman
VP of Policy: Richard Semegram
VP of Political Affairs: Jessica Thurston
VP of Organizing: Sage Rockermann
Director of Membership: Morenike Lambert
Director of Communications: Caitlin Kawaguchi
Treasurer: Courtney Adrian
Secretary: Vanessa Nutter
Data Director: Mikael Haxby
2019
President: Brandon West
Chief of Operations: Jessica Baker Vodoor/Maria Barva
VP of Policy: Mariana Alexander
VP of Political Affairs: Emily Hoffman
VP of Organizing: Sage Rockermann
Director of Membership: Becky Steinberg
Director of Communications: Jessica Thurston
Treasurer: Fred LaPolla
Secretary: Maria Barva
2018
President: Brandon West
Chief of Operations: Jesse Pierce
VP of Policy: Mariana Alexander
VP of Political Affairs: Emily Hoffman
VP of Organizing: Angela LaScala-Gruenewald
Director of Membership: Becky Steinberg
Director of Communications: Jessica Thurston
Treasurer: Fred LaPolla
Secretary: Maria Barva
2017
President: Anusha Venkataraman (until November 2017)
Chief of Operations: Sara Shoener
VP of Policy: Brandon West
VP of Political Affairs: Matt Stern
VP of Organizing: Yaneth Lombana
Director of Membership: Jasmine Fernandez
Director of Communications: Ryan Shanley
Treasurer: Essence Franklin, Anna Scaife
Secretary: Cindy Tran
2016
President: Anusha Venkataraman
Chief of Operations: Sara Shoener
VP of Political Affairs & Policy: Brandon West
VP of Organizing: Theo Moore
Secretary: Rodrigo Camarena
Digital Director: Ryan Shanley
2015
President: Andrew Sloat
VP of Political Affairs & Policy: Anusha Venkataraman
VP of Organizing: Theo Moore
Secretary: Sara Shoener
Digital Director: Ryan Shanley
2014
President: Andrew Sloat
VP of Political Affairs & Policy: Esteban Duran
VP of Organizing: Theo Moore
Treasurer: Rachel Lauter
Secretary: Lacey Tauber
Digital Director: Annie Werner
2013
President: Alex Low
VP of Political Affairs: Esteban Duran
VP of Organizing: Theo Moore
Treasurer: Catherine Butler
Secretary: Andrew Sloat
Director of Communications: Greg Wasserstrom
2012
President: Alex Low
VP of Political Affairs: Morgan Pehme (partial term), Chris Barron (partial term)
VP of Organizing: Theo Moore
Treasurer: Catherine Butler
Secretary: Antonio Reynoso
Director of Communications: Andrew Sloat
2011
President: Matt Cowherd
VP of Political Affairs: Sarah Baker
VP of Organizing: Theo Moore
Treasurer: Alex Low
Corresponding Secretary: Connie Rourke
Recording Secretary: Maisha Morales
2009–10
President: Matt Cowherd
Vice President: Lincoln Restler
Corresponding Secretary: Chris Henderson
Recording Secretary: Will Florentino
Treasurer: Alex Low
Parliamentarian: Sarah Baker
2008–09
Co-Chair: Matt Cowherd
Co-Chair: Rachel Lauter
Treasurer: Andrew Stengel
Secretary: Laura Stein
Communications: Morgan Pehme