Who We Are

Richard Conti is a former longtime member of the Albany Common Council representing the 6 th Ward, which includes Washington Park. During his time on the Common Council, he was an advocate for neighborhood quality of life issues including investments in our city park system. In addition, he also served on the Board of Directors of the Lark Street Neighborhood District Management Association and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Albany Gay Men’s Chorus and is an appointed member of the City of Albany Commission on Human Rights. Prior to his retirement from state government, Richard worked in a senior capacity for the Chair of the NYS Assembly Committee on Health with responsibility for a wide range of health policy issues. Originally from Staten Island, Richard has been a resident of the Hudson/Park and Center Square neighborhoods for over 35 years. He and his partner Steve currently reside on Chestnut Street in the Center Square neighborhood.

Matthew Hamm was born and raised in Greene County, New York and has lived in downtown Albany since 2009. He is a graduate of Plattsburgh State (’08) where he received his BA in Geography (with a focus on Historical Geography).  His final paper focused on the Dutch Colonization of the Hudson Valley.  He has done graduate work at SUNY Albany in Geography and Planning. He has a strong passion for all things New York State History and Nature. In the past, Matt interned with Historic Albany Foundation (’09) and the NYS Preservation League of New York (’12).  He helped restore the Jesse Buel House (The Albany Nursery) on Western Avenue in Albany with the owners.  The house received a preservation award from Historic Albany.  Currently, Matt is a Tour Guide at the NYS Capitol Building and Executive Mansion. One of his favorite outdoor activities is chanterelle mushroom hunting in the Catskills during the month of June with his father. 

Marcia Kees has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University at Albany SUNY since 2011, teaching planning law, park and historic preservation planning, and planning studio courses. She serves as a member of the Community Advisory Board for the Masters in Regional Planning Program at UAlbany. Marcia completed thirty-five years of public service employment, retiring from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. She is past president of the New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association and the Capital District Planners Association and has served as a board member or advisor for several non-profit organizations. She and her husband own and operate Mister Sew-N-Sew Custom Canvas in Halfmoon, NY.

Daniel McEneny is a lifelong resident of the city of Albany.  His appreciation of Washington Park was instilled by his mother Barbara, who grew up in the Park South neighborhood and considered the park to be her childhood playground.  Daniel is employed with the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation; specifically, in the Division for Historic Preservation, where he oversees multiple functions that include federal advocacy, preservation grants administration, and working with colleague organizations, municipalities, and developers from across the state on preservation planning initiatives and economic development opportunities.  He and his partner Jon live on Spring Street in the Washington Park neighborhood.

Ta-Sean Murdock joined the Conservancy board in 2022.  He has been active on the Conservancy’s playground committee for the last several years, playing a key role in our community engagement efforts.

Ta-Sean is currently Executive Director of Grand Street Community Arts, located in Albany’s Mansion District.  A proven leader in Youth Program Development and Youth Advocacy, he has worked with youth and teens for the majority of his professional career. He is the author of the children’s book titled “I Can and I Will” created to show youth that they can be anything they want to be if they put their mind to it. This book shows the youth that they are “powerful even when others tell them that they are powerless.” that they are powerless.”

Ta-Sean lives in Albany with his wife Sumiko and son Zephaniah. He grew up on Madison Ave and attended Giffen Elementary, Hackett Middle and Albany High Schools.