The new nonprofit entity created to continue the steady sanitization of Coney Island – and help America’s Playground recover from Hurricane Sandy – now has a director to oversee day-to-day operations.
Board members for the Alliance for Coney Island – a partnership created in November between city officials and the heaviest hitters in Coney Island’s business community – has hired Johanna Zaki for the Alliance’s first full-time staff position.
As director of operations, she will be asked to “lead the implementation of events and programs that increase Coney Island’s appeal as a destination while improving quality of life and strengthening cooperation among local businesses, community groups, and residents,” said the Alliance in a press release.
She will also help manage ongoing Sandy recovery efforts as part of the #ConeyRecovers initiative, as well as marketing, communications, fundraising, and community outreach efforts.
Zaki is no stranger to Coney Island as she previously worked out of Luna Park as a sales and marketing manager for Zamperla subsidiary Central Amusement International, which runs Luna Park, the Scream Zone and other attractions.
During her tenure with CAI, she also functioned as community liaison, coordinating all of CAI’s outreach with the Coney Island community.
“After reviewing all the candidates who applied for the position, the Board Directors agreed Johanna possesses the right background and skills and is a great fit for the position,” said Dennis Vourderis, co-owner of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park and Alliance chairperson. “She will be an asset to the Alliance as we ramp up our activities in 2013.”
Zaki said she is “very excited over the opportunity the Alliance for Coney Island has extended to me. Coney Island has been a part of my life since my childhood, and I hold a very dear place in my heart for this wonderful community. I promise to work diligently bringing attention to initiatives and platforms that will promote the success of Coney Island’s business and residential communities.”
The Alliance replaced the former Coney Island Development Corp. and inherited $630,000 in taxpayer funds earmarked for CIDC over the next two years. The new organization’s role is similar to that of the public-private Downtown Brooklyn Partnership that Mayor Bloomberg created in 2004. Business owners also fund the group’s new budget.