Meet the Team

Tim Laughlin has served as President of the Lower East Side Partnership (LESP) since 2015. With extensive experience in public space management, municipal operations, and capital projects, Tim is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and economic vitality of the Lower East Side.

During his tenure, Tim has spearheaded numerous initiatives to improve and activate the neighborhood's public realm. These include the innovative 100 Gates Project, the dynamic Open Streets program, and expanded Outdoor Dining opportunities. He has also overseen significant investments in supplemental services to keep the area clean, safe, and welcoming.

A key focus of Tim's leadership has been community engagement, particularly in the new Essex Market and the broader Essex Crossing mixed-use development. His collaborative approach ensured that local voices were heard and considered in these transformative projects.

Before joining LESP, Tim gained valuable experience working for New York City Councilman Dan Garodnick, who now serves as the City Planning Chair. This background in city government informs Tim's strategic approach to advocating for the Lower East Side's needs and opportunities.

Nina LoSchiavo began at LESP in 2015, where she was the organization’s first in-house creative and evolved her work overtime to include the full spectrum of LESP’s service delivery. Nina is responsible for executing key initiatives for programming provision and guiding workplace strategy and operations in the fields of marketing, creative, community engagement, and public space management. She manages LESP’s community partner contract with Essex Market that deploys more than 400 public programs annually.

She holds a Master Degree in Public Administration from CUNY Baruch College and a BFA in Graphic Design from the School of Visual Arts, reflecting her unique experience in communications, marketing, city governance, and placemaking.

Brady is the Economic & Community Development Director at the Lower East Side Partnership (LESP), where he leads the implementation of initiatives that enhance quality of life, support local businesses, and activate public spaces across the district. With a focus on sanitation, public realm improvements, and economic development, Brady manages cross-functional projects and vendor relationships to keep the neighborhood clean, vibrant, and welcoming.

Whether overseeing large-scale projects like Open Streets or managing beautification efforts, Brady brings a hands-on, community-first approach to improving the Lower East Side.

Starting as a graphic designer in June of 2018, Nick has grown into the role of Creative Lead, managing marketing strategies, design, and print production for the Lower East Side Partnership and Essex Market. His goal is to deliver innovative creative solutions that enhance the story of the neighborhood.

Outside of work hours, he coaches wrestling at the middle school and youth levels.

Josefina Modeste designs marketing materials for the Lower East Side Partnership and Essex Market, handling design and production for the organization’s events, initiatives, and local vendors. She is committed to meeting the diverse needs of the community, creating connections with the passionate and unique individuals in the Lower East Side.

Andres’s mission is to dynamically capture the emblematic visual identity and energy of the Lower East Side. As a Filmmaker, he intends to bring out the stories deeply ingrained in every fiber of the neighborhood.

Outside of work hours, you may find Andres filming short films or music videos around the city.

Lily Chin is the Kitchen and Programming Manager of the Essex Kitchen where she hosts types of programs catered to all ages from 5 to 95. Some of these include motor skills building workshops for children, cooking essentials for adolescents and nutrition based cooking demonstrations for the elderly.

Outside of work, Lily moonlights as a private chef and holiday cookie baker.

Alex brings over 15 years of culinary industry experience to his work, using his in-depth knowledge of small business operations and management to support the LES business community. For two years, he served as Essex Market's Vendor & Community Coordinator, developing several successful cultural programs such as the Talk & Taste series, in partnership with MOFAD and Edible Manhattan. Alex has expanded his programming and community engagement work to the wider Lower East Side BID district as the Programs & Administrative Manager.

Alex is currently pursuing a BA in History and Political Theory at Columbia University.

Outside of work, you can find Alex reading about medieval history, visiting art museums, cooking his way through his ever-expanding cookbook collection, or participating in volunteer events with his local Community Board in Queens, where he serves as a Board Member.