Meet the Board

  • ALLIE D'AMANDA SACKS | Interim Treasurer

    ESL Federal Credit Union

    Allie D’Amanda Sacks is Senior Commercial Real Estate Relationship Manager at ESL Federal Credit Union and has 17+ years’ experience in the banking industry. Allie is responsible for a portfolio of the most complex loan and deposit relationships with major commercial real estate business in the Greater Rochester Community.

    Allie was born and raised in Rochester and graduated from The Harley School before going on to earn her B.A from Bucknell University. As an employee of ESL at their Downtown Headquarters, she works in the heart of the Washington Square Community. In addition to her role on the Board of WSCA, she is on the Board of Trustees for The Harley School and the Rochester School for the Deaf, sitting on the Governance and Finance Committees, respectively. She is also an active volunteer of Meals on Wheels in the City of Rochester. Allie lives in Brighton with her family, including 2 young children and a rescue dog and cat.

  • Headshot of Cynthia

    CYNTHIA DANA

    Central Library

    Cynthia is the Patron Services Manager at Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County and a lifelong city resident.

    She brings experience in making the library a welcome place for all, including people who are homeless. She is excited about revitalizing the WSP community. Having spent her whole career at the Central Library, she has been witness to the many changes in the downtown area. With the influx of residents choosing to live in the heart of the city, library staff is pleased to be part of a community and providing services to a new patron base. Revitalizing the Washington Square Community will benefit all who live and work in the community. The library, as an organization, has a large interest in the revitalization of Washington Square.

  • Gene DePrez

    GENE DEPREZ

    Global Innovation Partners

    Gene DePrez is Managing Partner of Global Innovation Partners. He has over 35 years of corporate, consulting, association and government experience in strategy and transformation for international businesses, governments and public/private development organizations in North America and Europe. He has advised more than 400 Fortune company CEOs and other executives in executing global location strategy and site selection. Gene has also provided collaborative innovation-based economic development strategy to over 100 development organizations at the national/ state/provincial, and metro-regional levels.

    Currently he is on the Boards of the Rochester Economic Development Corp, The Community Design Center of Rochester, the Washington Square Community Association, and an Advisor to the Vignelli Center for Design Studies at RIT.

  • AMY HAHN

    Capron Street Lofts
    Amy grew up in Chili and now resides in the Capron Street Lofts in the Washington Square Neighborhood. She is a trademark attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in 2020. Prior to attending law school, she completed a year of AmeriCorps VISTA service with an education nonprofit in Boston and she graduated with a B.S. in public relations (with a minor in music performance) from Syracuse University.

    Outside of work, Amy is involved with the Gates-Chili Community Concert Band and the League of Women Voters of Rochester Metro Area. She is excited to be a part of the Washington Square community and hopes to contribute to the area’s continued growth and success.

  • NATHAN KAUFFMAN

    Specialist Marketing Group

    Nathan is the Founder and President of Specialist Marketing Group and a resident of The Nathaniel, both located in the Washington Square community.

    From early in his marketing career, Nathan has had a vision for changing the way businesses and marketers interact. His experience with Gannett, Hearst, the NYS Broadcasters Association, and consulting work with more than two dozen agencies has given him a wide understanding of how marketing works in the real world, beyond a glossy pitch deck.

  • ADAM SCHEFFLER

    Golden Supply & MFG. Co

    Adam is co-owner of Golden Supply, located in the Washington Square Community. Golden Supply makes men’s apparel, goods, pennants, t-shirts, sweaters, embroidered apparel, and custom work.

  • LEN SCHLOER

    Buckingham Properties

    Len Schloer is Director of Operations for Buckingham Properties. Buckingham owns and manages a significant amount of property within and around the Washington Square area. It is his goal to create a thriving downtown community for folks to live, work and play.

    Prior to Buckingham Properties, Len spent twenty-five years working for Thomson Reuters responsible for site operations across North America. He has served on other boards throughout his career and enjoys the collaboration of many to meet a common goal.

    Len holds a degree in Specialized Technology from Pittsburgh Technical College. He is a native of Pittsburgh PA, but has lived in Rochester for 35 years.

  • JASON SCHWINGLE | President

    Capron Street Lofts

    Jason grew up in the city’s 19th Ward and has resided at the Capron Street Lofts in downtown for the last 12 years. He initiated the Washington Square Park Neighborhood Association (WSPNA) in 2012 and led it to its incorporation as the non-profit Washington Square Community Association (WSCA) in 2017.

    Jason is looking to make more substantial, transformative changes in the years ahead to clean up, beautify, and continue to make the area one of the city’s best neighborhoods.

    Jason is co-Founder of MetroPops with his wife, Stefanie, and has worked for Jetblue Airways for the past 19 years.

  • STEFANIE SCHWINGLE | V.P.

    Capron Street Lofts

    Stefanie Schwingle is VP of the WSCA and former Executive Producer of the annual Movies with a Downtown View. She has resided at the Capron Street Lofts in the Washington Square Neighborhood with her husband, Jason, for over 11 years.

    Stefanie holds a degree in Communication and Media from Clarkson University and brings her background in communication, social media management, and event planning to the WSCA. She formerly worked for Wegmans corporate for 12+ years and most recently the Memorial Art Gallery as an Event Coordinator.

  • JUDSON TURNER

    Turner Black Car Service

    Judson Turner is an entrepreneur from Rochester, NY and a citizen of the world.

    Judson has provided a car service based in Rochester NY and looks to continue to serve the area by providing additional business offerings as well continuing to be engaged with the further development of Rochester. He has worked primarily in Logistics / Warehouse management since graduating from the University at Buffalo with a degree in industrial engineering.

  • NEW BOARD MEMBER

    Coming Soon!