Who We Are Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of Clinton Housing Development Company is made of nine experienced members who meet monthly to review the operations and work of CHDC.
Daniel Henkel President
Daniel Henkel is a licensed architect with his own practice, Design42 Architecture, in Hell’s Kitchen. He obtained his Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University and is licensed in NY, NJ, PA, MD, DE, VA, NC, and CT with twenty years of experience on a wide range of light commercial and residential projects.
Prior to moving his office and residence to the neighborhood in 2007, Dan, lived and worked in Hudson County, NJ. Dan served as the Board President of the Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation, a homeless shelter and soup kitchen in Union City, NJ as well as serving on a Committee for the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Jersey City chapter.
As a member of the Hell’s Kitchen community, Dan has actively participated in many CHDC community events as a volunteer in support of the good work that CHDC does in the Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood and beyond. In 2018, Dan was delighted to join the Board of Directors.
Carmen Matias Vice President
Carmen Matias is a Communications veteran with extensive experience in television production and public relations. She began her career right out of college as a Production Assistant on the WNEW-TV Show – Midday with Bill Boggs, now FOX-TV, and was promoted to Field Producer. She has done stints at WOR-TV as Senior Producer for Straight Talk, Field Producer for an independent production of Women in Non-Traditional Jobs, including working at WNET-THIRTEEN for Great Performances, Nureyev Tribute to Nijinsky. Carmen served on Manhattan Community Board 4, where she was co-chair of the Waterfront/Parks Committee and a member of the Chelsea Preservation Committee. Carmen is now an avid volunteer for FHL, tutors at PS 30 in Harlem, and works on the Theatre Desk at the Hudson Guild, securing tickets for seniors. Carmen completed her undergraduate studies at City University of New York, Hunter College, and graduate studies at Cornell University School of Labor Relations. Since 2005, Carmen and her husband live in Penn South. She formerly lived in Hell's Kitchen at Manhattan Plaza where she met her actor husband Hechter Ubarry.
Peter Hall Rider Secretary
Currently a stay-at-home dad to three kids in Brooklyn, Peter Rider began working with CHDC when he was the Community Board 4 Liaison – and later the Chief of Staff – for then Council Member Christine C. Quinn. He later led the David Rockefeller Fellows program at the Partnership for New York City before joining the New York region of Teach For America as first Vice President of Talent & Operations and then the Vice President of Alumni Affairs. He previously served as the City Council Speaker’s representative on the New York Public Library’s Board of Trustees and as a board member for the non-profit theater group Rising Circle. Peter is a summa cum laude graduate of Rice University, where he received a B.A. in Anthropology and English.
Joe Restuccia Member / Executive Director
Joe Restuccia has been involved in the preservation and creation of affordable housing in the Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea neighborhoods of Manhattan since 1980. He started as a tenant organizer at Housing Conservation Coordinators (HCC) before moving to Clinton Housing Development Company (CHDC) in 1983. He held various development and housing management positions until 1986 when he was appointed Executive Director. During his tenure as Executive Director, Mr. Restuccia has overseen organizational growth and the development of more than 1,200 units of affordable housing in 80 buildings on the west side of Manhattan. For full bio, please see Executive Director profile under CHDC Leadership.
Rachel Allen Lovett Member
Rachel Lovett is currently the founding Executive Director of Thriving in Place and has a strategy, communications and resource development consulting practice with domestic and international clients. Prior to joining Thriving in Place, Ms. Lovett was the Managing Director of War Child USA and managed the $64.5M capital campaign for Theatre for a New Audience to build its first home in the Downtown Brooklyn Cultural District. She has a wide range of experience in the for- and non-profit arenas. She is also on the Board of and a mentor for Infinite Family. Rachel holds Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Master of Public Administration from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.
Luz Monje Member
Luz Monje has been a resident of Hell's Kitchen since 1980. She originally moved into a city-owned building, helped organize the Tenant Association and participated in the Tenant Interim Lease (TIL) Program, which led to the purchase and set-up of a successful Housing Development Fund Corporation (HDFC) co-op. Luz is a long term CHDC board member, who has seen the evolution of the organization as it has anticipated the community’s needs.
Luz is currently employed at American Express Company as a Business Architect & Technical Project Manager, leading cross-functional teams in the delivery of web and enterprise software solutions.
Alexis Audette Member
Alexis Audette is a textile designer, and the founder of Mazy Path, a boutique line of wallpapers, fabrics, and fine art based on her own linocut prints and inspired by remarkable plants. Prior to launching Mazy Path in 2020, Audette served for eleven years as the Creative Director of Beacon Hill, the luxury brand of Robert Allen, a large textile firm. She earned her MFA in Textiles from the Rhode Island School of Design. Prior to taking a professional design path, Audette worked as a public school teacher. She began her career with Teach For America in Oakland, California, taught elementary school for four years, and went on to earn an MA in Art Education from the University of Texas at Austin. Audette and her family have lived in Hell’s Kitchen for twenty years; she serves on the board of her co-op, sent her children to 43rd Street Kids and Midtown West, and is proud to call Hell’s Kitchen home.
Alan H Green Member
Alan H Green is an award winning actor and singer who has performed on television, Broadway, at the White House and beyond. He has a degree in Vocal Performance from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. After living all over NYC he planted roots in Hell's Kitchen over 20 years ago and is now the President of his Co-op board. He is a Deacon at Metro Baptist Church, also in Hell's Kitchen, and is currently a Board member of Barrington Stage Company in the Berkshires.
Rachelle Pereira Member
Rachelle Pereira is the Co-Founder of EQUALibrium Group, a leadership consulting firm that provides executive coaching, facilitation, and management training to companies ranging from small start-ups to large global organizations. Her recent clients include the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, International Rescue Committee, Amazon, and Sony Music Entertainment. Rachelle specializes in working with CEOs, Executive Directors, and Leadership Teams. She works extensively with Boards and organizations to help them improve overall organizational effectiveness.
Rachelle is a graduate of Reed College and received a post graduate degree from Warwick University (UK) in Counselling, Advice and Guidance. Over her 20-year career, she has obtained many certifications and qualifications in brain-based coaching, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and communication styles. In 2017, Rachelle spoke at the TEDxBroadway Conference on the challenges of receiving feedback.
Rachelle moved with her husband to Hell’s Kitchen in 2008 and is doing her best to raise two daughters in the neighborhood.