The board of directors in the governing body of the foundation, and is responsible the organization's oversight, as well as strategic direction.
James C. Jao, President
James Jao is CEO of J.A.O. Design International, a leading planning and architectural design firm with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, China. J.A.O. Design is one of the largest foreign-owned design firms headquartered in China, and is consistently recognized for its unique blend of Western and Eastern design and business philosophy. Prior to leading J.A.O. Design, Mr. Jao was a practicing architect in New York for several decades, and served as a Planning Commissioner for New York City from 1993-1994.
Albert Appleton, Acting CFO
Mr. Appleton is a Senior Fellow at the Regional Plan Association, an independent, not-for-profit regional planning organization that improves the quality of life and the economic competitiveness of Tri-State area. His work concentrates on developing and obtaining the implementation of public policies that innovatively integrate new infrastructure programs with environmental protection and innovative public investment in mutually supportive ways.
Prior to joining RPA, Mr. Appleton served as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Director of the New York City Water and Sewer system. Mr. Appleton has served as a volunteer officer or director of many conservation organizations, most notably as President of the New York City Audubon Society and as a member of the National Advisory Board of Trust for Public Land. He is also a former member of the National Academy of Sciences National Research Commission's Committee on Better Management of the World's Rapidly Growing Cities. Mr. Appleton is a graduate of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, with a double major in Mathematics and Political Science, and of Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut.
Bleeker Totten
Biography to be added.
The Board of Advisors assists the Board of Directors with development and fundraising.