Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy elects two new board members

One is entrepreneur-women’s advocate, the other is Citigroup managing director

March 23, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

Dee Poku-Spalding. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy

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The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s board of directors, at its meeting on March 17, elected two new board members: Dee Poku-Spalding and Jay Mann.

Dee Poku-Spalding is an entrepreneur, women’s advocate and community builder born in the UK and raised between London and Accra; while Jay Mann is a longtime resident of New York City who has spent his last eight years at Citigroup and the 12 previous years at Goldman Sachs. Both live in the borough, and both frequently visit Brooklyn Bridge Park and have been longtime supporters of the park.

Dee Poku-Spalding is the founder and CEO of The WIE Suite, a private membership community and platform for women leaders, innovators and creators. Its primary goal is to foster business alliances between women and drive action oriented support in the form of introductions, referrals, hiring, investment and more. She has been named one of Marie Claire Magazine’s 50 women changing the world, a CUP Catalyst Changemaker, a Harlem Fashion Week Cultural Icon and one of TRUE Africa’s 100 Top Innovators.

She is a frequent speaker on women’s workplace advancement, and culture and community building, and has shared her insights at the UN, the New York Times New Rules Summit, Forbes 30 Under 30, the Women’s March summit, the Black Girls Rock Summit, Girlboss Rally and more.

Poku-Spalding serves on the board of directors of the British Academy of Film & Television (BAFTA) and was previously on the Credit Suisse New Markets Women’s Advisory Board. She is also an advisor to Girl Gaze, Paint Box, The Female Founders Collective and The Wonder. She holds a bachelor of science degree in math and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and her son.

Jay Mann. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy

Jay Mann is a managing director at Citigroup working as the co-head of Beta Electronic and Algorithmic trading with responsibility for electronic market making strategies in the Global Spread products division.

He previously co-headed the credit derivatives trading business at Citi and North American Credit Derivatives Index Trading at Goldman Sachs. He is a graduate of Connecticut College with a degree in International Relations and a minor in Chinese Studies.

Jay and his wife moved to Cobble Hill in 2013, and welcomed twins in 2018. They spend many weekends in the park enjoying the lawns, piers and pathways from Cobble Hill to DUMBO.

Poku-Spalding said, “Brooklyn Bridge Park has been a lifesaver for me and my family, particularly so during this pandemic. I truly love seeing communities across the city enjoying all the Park has to offer. Having safe spaces to play, connect and learn is an essential right, and I can’t wait to play an active role in supporting the wonderful work the Conservancy does.”

Mann said, “Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy is an incredible organization; committed to providing residents of greater Brooklyn with educational, athletic, and social opportunities. As a fourth-generation resident of Brooklyn, I couldn’t be more excited at the opportunity to join the talented staff and board members of the Conservancy in serving our community.”

Chris Coffey, Conservancy board chairman, said, “Jay and Dee come with excitement and experience that we look forward to tapping in the days to come. Both have been dedicated supporters of Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy and their contribution will only elevate our mission to bring dynamic, vibrant programming to Brooklyn Bridge Park.”