HPHA - Board Biographies

Board Member Biographies Meet the 2009 Board Members below
Jennifer Wagner - President
	Jennifer has been a homeowner and resident of Paulus Hook since 2003 and served four terms as Treasurer of the HPHA. She holds an MBA from the University of Michigan, a BA from Albion College and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. She currently works for an investment advisory firm in New York. Jennifer is an avid equestrian and dedicates much of her free time to training and showing her horse, Saimora.
Gerry (Gary) Bakirtjy - Vice President
	Gerry has been active with the HPHA for over 20 years having served five previous terms as president and multiple terms as vice president. He has been the chairman of the HPHA Development Oversight Committee since its inception over fifteen years ago. He is an architect with his practice here in Paulus Hook where he has a home with his three children (13, 15, and 17) and lovely wife who also serves on the HPHA Board.
Peter D'Agati - Treasurer
	Peter has been a homeowner and resident of Paulus Hook since 2000. He is currently Treasurer of the HPHA and an active member of the Development Oversight Committee. Peter is Founder and President of Stembrook Asset Management, an investment management firm located in downtown Jersey City. Stembrook provides investment counsel and portfolio management to individuals and non-profits. Previously, Peter headed Portfolio Strategy Research at Brown Brothers Harriman. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Finance from Providence College and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Peter is also an avid sailor and regularly competes in local regattas.
Andrée Bourgon - Secretary
	Andrée and her family have lived in Jersey City since 2003 and in Paulus Hook since 2004. In May 2008 she joined the HPHA and became an enthusiastic member supporting the group as the HPHA Secretary, and member of the PS16 and Parks Committees. Born and raised in French Canada, Andrée is excited to live in Paulus Hook and benefit from the historical and cultural variety it has to offer. Andrée holds a degree in Math and Statistics from the University of Western Ontario and Business Administration & Accounting from Sir. Wilfrid Laurier University. For the past 10 years she has worked for various companies within the AXA umbrella and currently works for AXA Liabilities Managers, Inc. as the Head of Finance, Planning and Analysis and the Head of Treasury.
Gretchen Scheiman - President Emeritus
	Gretchen has been a homeowner and resident in Paulus Hook since 2002 and joined the HPHA board in 2006. Her first major contribution to the association has been building the website you see here, and she most recently served as president last year. Gretchen currently works for OgilvyConsulting's email consulting practice and enjoys sailing the Hudson River with her husband and their two little boys.
Stephanie Daniels - Board Member
	Stephanie has been involved with local quality of life issues since she moved to Paulus Hook in 1991. She helped convince officials to remove Grand Street's truck route designation, spearheaded a Paulus Hook Open Space Survey for the Jersey City Recreation Master Plan, and is active in future plans of the Four (yes, Four) Corner Park. An independent TV/Film writer and director, Stephanie shares her life with her husband, director of photography Mark Smith, their daughter Zoë, and a menagerie of animals including red hounddog, Molly, black cats Tasha and Nüt, Maine Coon cat, Lola, and assorted unnamed fish.
Vincent Jacaruso - Board Member
Vinnie joined the board in 2009.
Diane Kaese - Board Member
Diane has lived in Jersey City since 1982 and in Paulus Hook since 1986. She has been President, Secretary, and Chair of the Parks Committee of the HPHA. She currently is on the HPHA board and is the chair of the Downtown Construction Committee. Diane has a BS in Architecture from the University of Nebraska and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. Weather permitting, Diane rollerblades early on weekend mornings in Liberty State Park. She is always happy to have a companion who can accompany and challenger her!
Mike Maurer - Board Member
	Mike has lived in Paulus Hook since 2004 and has been an active member of the HPHA since his arrival in town. He has served on the Parks Committee and has been active with voter registration and the website. Mike Is an internal corporate consultant working in the Learning and Development field. In his free time Mike enjoys sailing during the summer and downhill skiing in the winter, volunteers with the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, and in general greatly enjoys living in this great neighborhood!
Scott Mittman - Board Member
Scott is also serving on the historical preservation committee for Jersey City.
Phil Petruzelli - Board Member
Phil joined the board in 2009.
Steve Sanders - Board Member
	Steve has been a homeowner and resident in Paulus Hook for nearly 20 years and has previously served as HPHA President as well as a member of the Board. As a founding member of the Downtown Construction Coordinating Committee he wrote the "Construction Principles" which have formed the "rules of engagement" for relationships with area construction interests. He also works on the HPHA Development Oversight Committee and would like to see our membership substantially increased this year. Steve holds a Master of Science Degree in Technology Management from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and a 50 Ton Master's License from the U.S. Merchant Marine.