November 10, 2021
The Hudson Square BID would like to give a warm welcome to our new President and CEO, Samara Karasyk.
Samara brings her passion for New York City and energy and enthusiasm for policy and planning to this role. She is excited about streetscapes, a vibrant retail environment, pedestrian safety and innovative traffic management. She will build upon the BID’s strong foundation through community engagement, private/public partnerships, and experimentation with new ideas and projects that elevate the neighborhood and showcase how to create dynamic, people-focused urban space. Samara will bring local stakeholders together through a shared vision for this unique and creative neighborhood to usher in a new phase of community-focused development.
Samara has more than two decades of experience in private/public partnerships, diverse team management, communications, public affairs, intergovernmental relations, policy-making, and project management.
In her previous role as the 5-Borough Chamber of Commerce Lead for the NYC Small Business Resource Network, Samara oversaw a $2.8 million private/public partnership funded by the Peter G Peterson Foundation in collaboration with all 5 borough Chambers of Commerce, the NYC Economic Development Corporation and the Partnership for New York City.
As Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Samara oversaw numerous staff and projects and was responsible for policy, intergovernmental and legislative affairs, marketing, and public relations.
Before her work at the Chamber, Samara worked for the government of New York City for many years. She began her public service career at the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, later moving to the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission and the NYC Department of Transportation.
Between 2011 and 2017, Samara was Assistant Commissioner of External Affairs at the NYC Department of Finance, managing all public affairs for the organization.
Samara has a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Hispanic Studies from Brown University and a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University.
She is eager to get to know Hudson Square’s people and businesses and embark on the new streetscape improvement plan. Please feel free to get in touch with her by sending her an email at skarasyk@hudsonsquarebid.org and share your thoughts!
