Executive Staff

James Mettham became the Flatiron NoMad Partnership’s President in 2019. He is a downtown management practitioner and leader with a proven track record in economic development, urban planning, and placemaking. James is responsible for strategically guiding the Partnership’s multi-year BID expansion process to completion. This effort has nearly doubled the size of the Partnership’s service and program footprint. James champions all things Flatiron and NoMad and is committed to making the Partnership the energetic, savvy, and visionary steward that the greater district deserves.

Before joining the Flatiron NoMad Partnership James held multiple leadership positions in local economic development, place management and real estate investments across New York City. At the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, James’s role as Managing Director of Finance & Operations included the day-to-day management of Downtown Brooklyn’s local development corporation and three BIDs. Prior to that, he served as Assistant Commissioner for the NYC Department of Small Business Services Neighborhood Development Division where he oversaw the nation’s largest network of BIDs and the deployment of multi-million dollars in commercial revitalization grants to neighborhoods across NYC. James holds a Master of Urban Planning from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh, and is an alumnus of the Coro New York Leadership Program.

Kurt Cavanaugh joined the Partnership in 2016. As Vice President of Planning, Streetscape & Capital Projects, he manages the daily operations of the Flatiron Public Plazas & seasonal Open Streets including the NoMad Piazza Pop-Up; various public art installations; and everything related to bike and pedestrian safety. Kurt also oversees the district-wide horticulture program and works closely with the Partnership’s Field Operations, Marketing, and Economic Development departments on strategic initiatives, advocacy, and planning.

He has a B.S. from Guilford College, an M.S. in Urban Design & Park Management from the University of North Carolina, and 15+ years NYC nonprofit and BID experience. Kurt lives in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and prefers to commute to Flatiron and NoMad on two wheels.

John joined the Flatiron NoMad Partnership team in April of 2024 and will be leading the Partnership’s Field Operations. He spent 22 years with the New York City Police Department with 19 of those years spent in the 13th Precinct. While at the 13th Precinct, he was the Community Affairs Officer responsible for maintaining relationships with local community groups and elected officials. His most recent role with the Police Department was with the Business Improvement District Unit, in which he dealt with quality-of-life issues in Manhattan South. John is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Partnership’s sanitation, public safety and the homeless outreach programs.

Greg Godfrey joined the Partnership in November 2023. As Vice President of Marketing & Communications, he manages the the external communications of the organization and collaborates with the team on public programming, business connection, and social media. He also helps to set the strategy of making Flatiron and NoMad the ultimate go-to destination in Manhattan.

Before joining the Flatiron NoMad Partnership, Greg worked within the district for years helping build the brand of SPIN, the original ping pong social club which redefined the entertainment space with ping pong, social connection and play. Greg holds a B.A. in Business from The George Washington University. His 2024 goal is to visit every bakery in the neighborhood as he has quite the sweet tooth from growing up in the Midwest.

Angelos Kontos joined the Partnership in October of 2022. As Director of Administration and Finance, Angelos directly supports the President and Vice Presidents to coordinate and enhance the operation and administration of the Partnership’s programming and services. Angelos oversees organizational budgeting and financial management, serves as a centralized manager of the BID’s contractual agreements, and facilitates strong functional relationships with vendors and government.

Angelos brings eight years of experience building the capacity and impact of New York City’s network of community-based development organizations at the NYC Department of Small Business Services, serving most recently as Director of Finance & Operations for the Neighborhood Development Division. In this role, he oversaw the agency’s grantmaking operations, which deployed local and federal funding to 60+ organizations annually across multiple programs, advancing place-based commercial revitalization initiatives to promote economic equity across the five boroughs. Angelos holds an M.A. in International Political Economy & Development from Fordham University.

Ali Begazo joined the Partnership in January 2024. As Director of Economic Development, she leads economic data analysis, reporting, and strategy; identifies workforce and real estate development trends; and engages with key stakeholders in the Flatiron and NoMad districts. She also works with Partnership staff to develop strategic planning initiatives and tenant attraction/retention programs.

She has a B.A. in History and Hispanic Studies from McGill University and a Masters in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois Chicago. She brings with her experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Prior to joining the Partnership, she worked in community affairs, data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and a wide range of planning initiatives across the Midwest.

Claudia Rincon became the Partnership’s Event & Program Manager in 2022. She most recently led marketing and events at the Myrtle Avenue Partership and made public programming more accessible to all people. She had previously worked with the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, where she distinguished herself as a team leader in planning and promoting events. Prior to her time with the Brooklyn bridge park Conservancy, Claudia worked with the DUMBO Improvement District in a Marketing and Events position. Now, she brings her knowledge and experience to the Flatiron NoMad Partnership to generate visibility through new events and programming throughout the district.

Peter joined the Flatiron NoMad Partnership team in September of 2024. He manages the districts field operations including the Partnership’s sanitation, public safety, and the homeless outreach programs, ensuring the highest standards of quality and efficiency. Peter brings experience in operations and public safety management having worked at the Department of Small Business Services, managing commercial properties in Brooklyn, and building data collection systems for the Northeast Organic Farming Association. He holds a B.A. in International Affairs and Spanish from the University of Wyoming.

Arianne Maliwanag joined as the Partnership’s Marketing & Content Manager in May 2022. Most recently, she managed programming and marketing development at the cultural non-profit organization, The Filipino School of NY & NJ. Prior to that, she worked for 5.5 years at The Children’s Place, where she led brand marketing, consumer insights, partnerships and public relations. This also included directly supporting the introduction of two additional brands: Gymboree and Sugar & Jade. In her spare time, she is involved with non-profit, civic engagement and advocacy work. Born and raised in Bergenfield, New Jersey and now a proud Brooklynite, she’s excited to continue empowering local communities, while bringing her brand marketing and community engagement experiences to the table.

Mikako Murphy began as a Program Intern at the Partnership in April 2020 and later became the Planning Associate in August 2022, and then Senior Planning Associate in October 2023. Passionate about pedestrian-oriented design and public space activation, she works to advance streetscape improvements and enhancements such as the Flatiron Public Plazas, NoMad Piazza pop-up, and Open Streets.

Mikako returns to the Partnership with experience in data analysis, community outreach, and policy research after working with the Center for an Urban Future, Undesign the Redline project, and Columbus Amsterdam BID.

Mikako graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University with a B.A. in Urban Studies and a minor in East Asian Studies. A lover of all cities, she spends her free time reading about different global destinations, practicing her hand at film photography, and learning about micro apartment interiors.

Melissa Benedek began as a Content Writer Intern at the Partnership in September 2021 and later became the Marketing & Content Coordinator in July 2022, and then Senior Marketing & Content Associate in July 2024.

She supports our Marketing efforts through managing our weekly email newsletter, The Latest, writing engaging articles for the website that highlight the vibrancy of the neighborhood and our local businesses, assisting with business outreach to coordinate marketing and content collaborations, and supporting our social channels. Originally from Miami, Florida, Melissa holds a B.A. in Literature from Bard College.

Sabrina McFarland began as a Partnership newsletter volunteer in August 2011 and was hired as a part-time staff writer in March 2012. For over 10 years now she’s been interviewing notable movers and shakers and digging into the storied history of Flatiron and NoMad for monthly features on our website. A native New Yorker and an award-winning digital and print content creator at leading media brands such as PEOPLE and Entertainment Weekly magazines, Sabrina earned a BA in psychology from The City College of New York (CUNY) and a Master of Science degree from Columbia University’s School of Journalism.