Longtime Brooklynite Named Exec Director Of Sunset Park BID

SUNSET PARK, NY — The former chief of staff for Councilman Carlos Menchaca and a longtime Brooklynite David Estrada became the new executive director for the Sunset Park Business Improvement District last week.

Estrada started as head of the group on July 1 and replaces retired executive director Renee Giordano to head the group after a months-long search. The 30-year Brooklyn resident wrote in an email to Patch that he aims to focus on "property and merchant services, quality of life, place making, and economic development on one of Brooklyn's most vibrant and diverse commercial corridors" as he takes over the post.

A father of two, Estrada previously worked as Senior Vice President for Technology Integration for the HR firm Lee Hecht Harrison and volunteered as campaign treasurer for Menchaca's 2013 run for the council seat that represents Sunset Park and Red Hook.

After Menchaca's win, Estrada became communications director for the newly elected councilman then chief of staff with a focus on community relations in Sunset Park and Red Hook, where he worked until he joined the BID.

The BID was founded in 1995 and includes 539 businesses along Fifth Avenue from 64th to 39th streets. It aims to revitalize that stretch of Fifth Avenue, support shops along it and host community events throughout the year like their upcoming street festival on Sept. 16.

Estrada takes over for the long-serving executive director Giordano who retired from her post in December after 20 years with the group.

The BID started looking in November for Giordano's replacement and said they took their time to make sure they found someone who would be the perfect fit for the group on day one.

"We took our time," BID president Llamil Nuñez told the Brooklyn Reporter."We didn’t want to rush. We wanted to get someone in here who could hit the ground running, who would be good for the BID."

Image courtesy of Sunset Park BID