Elizabeth W. Smith

Elizabeth W. Smith is the President and CEO of the Central Park Conservancy, the New York City nonprofit that raises 75 percent of Central Park's annual budget and is responsible for management of the 843-acre park.

Smith previously served as NYC Parks Assistant Commissioner under Mayor Michael Bloomberg following a 25-year career in finance.

Early life

Smith grew up in Rye, New York, and graduated from Rye Country Day School[1] and Scripps College, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.[2]

Career

Smith assumed the role of President and CEO of the Central Park Conservancy on March 1, 2018. Prior to her appointment, she served on the Board of the Conservancy since 2014 and on the Advisory Board of the Institute for Urban Parks, the Conservancy’s educational arm.

Smith previously served as NYC Parks Assistant Commissioner during the Bloomberg Administration,[3] with responsibility for the agency’s concession portfolio as well as its annual roster of all major special events on city parkland. In addition, she managed relationships with an expanding portfolio of conservancies and other public-private partnerships, serving as principal liaison with the agency. During her tenure, she also oversaw the marketing and corporate sponsorship departments as well as numerous special projects focused on strategic planning, staffing models, and branding. On March 30, 2011, she was presented with NYC Parks’ Commissioner's Award for her outstanding leadership.[4]

After leaving NYC Parks at the end of the Bloomberg Administration in 2013, Smith remained an active supporter of urban parks and open spaces. Until March 1, 2018, she served as a board member of Friends of the High Line and the Open Space Institute, and as Vice Chair of New Yorkers for Parks, in addition to her role on the Central Park Conservancy’s Board of Trustees.

Prior to joining NYC Parks, Smith had a 25-year career in finance.[2][3] She started her professional career in commercial banking at JP Morgan before transitioning to venture capital and private equity management at Prospect Group Inc. and at the family offices of Harry F. Oppenheimer and the Rockefeller Financial Group. She later ran client services and finance at Sotheby’s before joining the Bloomberg Administration in 2002.

In addition to her involvement in parks and open spaces, Smith is Chair of the Board of the Library of America, a nonprofit publisher of significant American writing. She previously was a longtime board member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Scripps College.

References

  1. ↑ "Elizabeth Weinberg Fiancee Of Peter B. Smith, a Banker". New York Times. 16 March 1980. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Elizabeth Smith, Richard Berlin Jr". New York Times. 20 December 1998. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  3. 1 2 Barron, James (12 December 2017). "A New Leader for Central Park". New York Times. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "Betsy Smith Receives The Commissioner's Award". The Daily Plant: NYC Parks. May 2, 2011.
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