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 and founder of Design42 Architecture LLC, a practice based in Hell’s Kitchen that specializes in the design of health and fitness clubs. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University and is licensed in 12 states, including New York. With more than twenty years of experience, Dan has worked on a wide range of residential and commercial projects.
Before relocating his office and home to the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in 2007, Dan lived and worked in Hudson County, NJ. He previously served as Board President of Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation, a homeless shelter and soup kitchen in Union City, and served on a committee for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Jersey City.
As a member of the Hell’s Kitchen community, Dan has actively participated in many Clinton Housing Development Company community events and volunteer efforts in support of the organization’s work throughout the Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood and beyond. He has also participated in the Hell's Kitchen South Coalition, the Hell’s Kitchen Farm Project, and is a member of Metro Baptist Church. After living in Hell’s Kitchen for the past 20 years, Dan and his family recently joined the Penn South community in Chelsea.
Alexis Audette Vice President
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.
Before joining the design industry, 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 has served on the board of her co-op, sent her children to PS 212 Midtown West, and is proud to call Hell’s Kitchen home.
Carmen Matias Treasurer
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.
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 has worked at American Express Company as a Business Architect & Technical Project Manager, leading cross-functional teams in the delivery of web and enterprise software solutions.
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.
Travis E. Rodgers Member
Travis E. Rodgers is an executive leader specializing in organizational transformation, workforce strategy, culture, and systems change across the nonprofit, education, and human services sectors.
Currently, Travis serves as Senior Vice President of Organizational Culture and Inclusion at Rising Ground, one of New York’s largest human services organizations, where he leads enterprise-wide initiatives focused on leadership alignment, employee engagement, organizational effectiveness, and culture across a workforce of more than 2,000 employees serving children, adults, and families throughout New York. Previously, he served as Chief Diversity, Equity, and Strategy Officer at Partnership with Children, where he led organizational strategy, talent initiatives, and data-driven efforts supporting student and family outcomes across New York City schools.
Prior to his executive leadership roles, Travis served as Director of Diversity and Equity at Educational Testing Service (ETS), where he advised policymakers, educational leaders, and institutions on strategies to strengthen educator pipelines, educational opportunity, and equitable systems. He began his career as an attorney with Brown Rudnick LLP, focusing on complex litigation and public-interest advocacy.
Throughout his career, Travis has been recognized for his leadership in advancing organizational excellence, workforce development, and inclusive leadership practices. His honors include recognition as a Power Player in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and as a Next Generation Leader by the American Constitution Society.
Travis holds a Juris Doctor from Northeastern University School of Law, a Master of Social Work in Community Organizing from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan. He serves on the Board of Directors of Clinton Housing Development Company and remains committed to expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and building institutions that help people thrive.
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.