CO-CHAIR

Katherine Kanaga retired from Marsh & McLennan some 10 years ago having spent her career primarily focused on International property clients. Since then she has served on a number of nonprofit boards. Currently she is President of the board for Perfect Ten, and now Co-Chair for Friends of the Public Square.

CO-CHAIR

Dorothy Heyl is a practicing lawyer who has worked in government and private practice since graduating from the University of Virginia Law School in 1983. She divides her time between Hudson and Scarsdale, where she serves as Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel of a registered investment advisor. Dorothy has a keen interest in saving historic landmarks and is writing a book on the saving of Olana in the 1960s.

BOARD MEMBER

I am a writer of historical fiction. My novel Woonsocket is set in 1920’s Rhode Island. The prequel to Woonsocket follows a chaplain with the French-Canadian forces in WWI.
I was born in Ottawa, Canada. My first career was as a filmmaker at the National Film Board in Montréal. In New York City, I was a journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. When I moved to Hudson, I was inspired by this small city’s many opportunities for civic engagement and volunteered on several political campaigns.

BOARD MEMBER

Growing up in New Orleans influenced my love for historic places. I have a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in landscape architecture as well as a Bachelor’s Fine Arts in stained glass. I have won awards in both landscape architecture and fine arts and am a nationally exhibited artist - currently showing at Carrie Haddad Gallery in Hudson.

As former Deputy Administrator of Riverside Park in Manhattan and project manager/landscape architect for the World Trade Center, I am well versed in the complexity and understanding of the urban landscape.

BOARD MEMBER

Walter Chatham is an architect and urban planner who lives and works in Hudson NY. Walter has been actively involved in both New Urbanism and the Environmental Design movements. He is committed to both preserving the historic city of Hudson and to helping Hudson to grow in the thoughtful, coherent way that the Founders intended.

BOARD MEMBER

Shelly brings a strong background in marketing and business administration to FOPS, having worked for organizations such as the National Geographic Society and The Economist. Most recently, she co-founded a marketing and operations consulting practice, which focuses on the wellness and beauty industries.

Outside of her professional work, Shelly strives to contribute to her community. She has previously served on the board of the North Shore Sheltering Program and currently volunteers with both Crisis Text Line and Hudson Reads. Shelly moved to Hudson from Long Island in 2019 and looks forward to contributing to the efforts to renovate the public square.

BOARD MEMBER

Sharon Javna is a lawyer and founder of ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum in Oregon. Sharon moved to Hudson in 2020 and brings fundraising experience and enthusiasm to Friends of the Public Square.

TREASURER & SECRETARY

Keith Kanaga is a retired banker and business executive living in Hudson, where he visits all the city’s parks while walking his dog, Peg. He previously resided in Ghent, where he served on the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals and Board of Assessment Review. Keith has served on several non-profit boards in Hudson, including one as Audit Chair. He recently completed a five-year term as the chair of a political party county committee.

ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER

Khary is a founding member of the Tenth Magazine and the Tenth Academy (10A) in Hudson NY. “10A is a school of thought and space for play for black and brown queer and trans youth to wonder, to challenge, to dream, and to learn”

BOARD MEMBER

Jonathan recently moved back to Hudson, where he was raised, after living and working in Europe, as well as the New York Metro area.

He has a BA, MA and MPA (Boston University, Northeastern University, NYU respectively) and 20+ years’ experience in corporate communications, corporate sustainability and public affairs. While living in Europe he was head of strategic planning & communications for IKEA Foundation. He now works @ home and manages ESG integration and sustainability reporting for a listed Norwegian ocean shipping company.

After moving back to Hudson, a walk through the 7th Street Park inspired Jonathan to find out more about the work at FOPS. He’s eager to give back while doing his part to help make Hudson a great place to live.

BOARD MEMBER

Joyce’s career , before moving to Columbia county 24 years ago, was managing a global teleconferencing network for a large bank. Since moving Columbia County she has sought to learn as much as possible about rural life and find ways to maintain its values while addressing challenges that require change. She served as a Town Board Member for twelve years and then two years as Deputy Supervisor in the Town of Taghkanic.

Joyce has always been an active member of her community, and with her recent move to Hudson she sought out FOPS to help make Seventh Street Park a place that could once again become a vibrant asset to the city.