Board & Staff
Our diverse Board of Directors is comprised of businesses, property owners and community residents. The longest serving member and the Board Chair, Mr. Joseph Laufer was appointed in 1980.
Executive Team & Board
As Executive Director, Jahaira Guerrero, a passionate advocate for economic and social justice, leads WHIDC’s corporate strategy and policy campaigns, advocates for regulatory and legislative change, works in partnership with local community organizations, and works with individual business owners to strengthen their businesses. Her work is focused on improving the opportunities for local entrepreneurs to be successful.
Before joining WHIDC, Jahaira led a local credit union for six years, which grew substantially in both in assets and lending. Prior to that she was a Loan Consultant at Accion, a national microlender. Jahaira, who is fully bilingual, was born in the South Bronx; she was raised and continues to reside in Inwood. Her BA is from Lehman College, CUNY and she is a Certified Credit Union Executive.
Depending on the season you will often find her sitting in the bleachers rooting for her local sports teams!!!
Board of Directors
Joseph Laufer, Chairperson
Community Resident
Proprietor, Mamaroneck
Window Cleaning (Retired)
Maria Luna, Board Member
Community Resident
Museum of Natural History (Retired)
Magda Souffront, Secretary
Community Resident
Manager at Savoy Bank
Elena Sisti, Treasurer
Real Estate Development
Riviera Development Corp.
Durell Partners,
Agem LLC,
Tonya Reeves, Board Member
Community Resident
Business Identity PR Inc.
Josefa Ruiz, Board Member
Community Resident
Manager at Spring Bank
Vivian Ducat, Board Member
Community Resident Riverside Oval Association Co-chair
Rosa Franco, Board Member
Director of Lending
Neighborhood Trust Federal Credit Union