Who We Are

Allison Newman joined the Board of the Washington Park Conservancy in 2023. She and her partner David moved to State Street in the Washington Park Neighborhood in 2019.  They and their two dogs have grown to love the Park in all of its seasons. In her professional career, Allison has held senior leadership positions in strategic communications and external relations at the State University of New York and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is an active member of the board of the Approach & Beyond Foundation, and a past member of the board of the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, the Arts Center of the Capital Region, Unity House, Planned Parenthood and the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Heather Nowicki joined the Board of the Washington Park Conservancy in 2023. She has been a long-time volunteer and past Board member of Historic Albany Foundation. Professionally, she has served as an attorney for New York State and local government for over 30 years, working with various economic development and tax-advantaged programs. As an old house buff, she has renovated her childhood home near the Adirondack Foothills and restored an American Foursquare home in the Pine Hills Neighborhood, where she currently resides.

Tom Pfeiffer joined the Conservancy board in 2018 after his retirement as forester for the City of Albany.  While employed by the City, he served the board ex-officio for more than 20 years. As forester, Tom conducted routine work with park landscape vegetation, prepared and executed tree and shrub plantings throughout the grounds, in concert with the Conservancy. In 2001, he conducted a complete inventory of the park trees, and he has advocated for diversity of plantings in the spirit of historic landscape design.  Raised in Albany, Tom is intimately familiar with Washington Park grounds, currently living in the Town of Colonie. He is a member of the American Conifer Society, Pine Hollow Arboretum, and the ‘Albany Goes Green’ committee for conservation education with Albany schools.

Sarah Read joined the board of directors in 2018 after working with Conservancy to organize the 2nd Albany Lantern Parade in 2017. Professionally a special education teacher, she currently stays home with her two children, ages 2 and 4- they spend a lot of time enjoying all the Capital Region has to offer, including Washington Park. She is enthusiastic about building community partnerships to create opportunities that celebrate the diversity of Albany’s residents. Sarah grew up in Albany, and returned in 2016 after living in the Boston area for many years.  She and her family now live in the Buckingham Pond neighborhood.

Stacey Stump is an attorney for the State Department of Health. Originally from Westchester County she moved to Albany 16 years ago and has lived in walking distance to Washington Park ever since. Stacey lives with her husband, Rob, and two sons, Benjamin (5) and Ethan (3). Her family loves playing together in the park and attending community events. She enjoys reading fiction novels and crossword puzzles.