Our team
Marlene Pantin
Executive Director
Marlene founded Red Hook Conservancy (RHC) in 2011 to support the Red Hook Recreation Center, and a few years later partnered with others to expand the organization’s work to include local parks. In 2018, she co-founded Brooklyn Parks and Open Spaces Coalition, a borough-wide parks organization advocating for greater investment in Brooklyn’s green spaces. Marlene brings many years of experience in behavioral health and applied research to the conservation effort and utilizes her public speaking skills to share strategies and insights on volunteer recruitment and management, capacity building, and partnership engagement. She has received several awards for leadership and parks stewardship.
Stephen Balinskas
Finance
As RHC’s treasurer, Stephen has more than 20 years of financial experience, having served and managed a number of financial concerns in a variety of roles. He maintains his FINRA Series 7, 24, 63, 86, and 87 licenses. Stephen obtained a joint MBA/MA from the University of Connecticut and the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Lyon (France). He has been a member of RHC’s team since its beginning.
Nathalie Delpeche
Strategic Planning
Nathalie is a former teacher with a passion for community service and civic engagement. She currently works at the Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice as Program Operations Associate. Nathalie regularly serves as a Team Leader with New York Cares and as a volunteer cook at Crossroads Community Services. She is also an active member of the New York City Black Women’s Political Club and the Brooklyn Branch of the NAACP. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in French and a Master of Science in Secondary Education.
Ahmad Martin
Member at Large
Ahmad is a finance professional with a diverse background in media, retail, and consumer products. He has held roles with L’Oréal, Macy's, and is currently an FP&A Manager with ABC News. Ahmad has been an active volunteer with organizations like New York Cares, contributing to projects focused on food distribution, supporting English Language Learners (ELL), and assisting with youth sports. He holds a BBA in Finance from The George Washington University.
Dan Quitério
Marketing, Volunteer Coordination
Originally from Western Massachusetts, Dan has called Brooklyn home since 2008. With 17+ years of professional marketing experience, he manages marketing and communications efforts for RHC, while also serving as its secretary. As a Team Leader with New York Cares, he coordinates volunteers for RHC’s various service projects. Professionally, he works as Senior Director of Social Media for AKA, an ad agency that specializes in Broadway theatre and cultural institutions. He holds an MA in Advertising from The University of Texas at Austin.
Gary Silber
Legal
Gary joined RHC in 2015. He was initially drawn to the organization as a way of volunteering with his kids in the neighborhood. Gary brings a passion for the environment and commitment to giving back to local communities, as well as his legal expertise to the team. Currently, he works as a corporate attorney with Global Atlantic Financial Group in New York, and previously held the same role at Goldman, Sachs and Co. Inc. Gary holds a BA (with distinction) from the University of Michigan and a JD (magna cum laude) from New York University School of Law.
Larry Armstrong
Member Emeritus
An original member of RHC, Larry’s been contributing his talents to the neighborhood for years. Whether assisting during our regular volunteer events or spreading the word about the Conservancy’s mission at local events, Larry’s a valued member of the team with a deep knowledge of Red Hook, gained over the nearly 30 years he’s called the area home. His enthusiasm for the work comes from the knowledge that when you do good, you feel good. As Larry says, “When you give back, you feel good about yourself.” When not working in our parks, you can often find Larry at the Red Hook Recreation Center playing a game of pool or dominoes.
Minnetta Brown
Member Emeritus
Minnetta is a lifelong resident of Red Hook. She joined Friends of Red Hook Recreation Center (precursor to RHC) in 2011, the first year of the organization’s founding. Minnetta’s excellent interpersonal skills, years of community event programming and planning, deep knowledge of the Red Hook neighborhood—and in particular the Red Hook Houses—made her an invaluable member of the team. As a longtime advocate for parks, she would often be found helping to manage unruly gardens, sprucing up green spaces, and putting volunteers at ease while fulfilling her duties as a RHC board member. As a member of the team, Minnetta was actively engaged in helping the organization design volunteer events. Although she is no longer involved in RHC’s day-to-day activities, she still takes time to share her wisdom and deep knowledge of the neighborhood with the organization’s members.
