Green Group Hires New Leader

The Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC) is pleased to announce the hiring of Marcel Van Ooyen as its Executive Director. CENYC is an environmental group with an over 30 year history making New York City a more livable and environmentally sustainable place to live. CENYC has been an innovator in developing and supporting programs ranging from the Greenmarket Farmers Markets to Open Space Greening and Training Student Organizers environmental education.

An environmental lawyer from Seattle, Van Ooyen spent the last nine years at the New York City Council, most recently as Legislative Director for Speaker Gifford Miller. In that role, he developed the Council’s legislative agenda and ensured the adoption of over 300 local laws. Van Ooyen’s environmental accomplishments include laws requiring the city to follow green building guidelines, purchase hybrid electric vehicles and cabs, use low-sulfur fuel in construction projects, protect children from exposure to lead, and reduce noise pollution—to name just a few. These accomplishments have helped place New York City in the forefront of the environmental movement.

“Marcel has the leadership qualities, the passion for the environment, and the knowledge of city government to be an excellent Executive Director for CENYC, and we look forward to working with him in the months and years ahead,” said Forrest Church, CENYC’s Chairman. “My fellow Board Members and I are thrilled to have such a quality individual to move CENYC into the future.”

“I’m extremely pleased to be joining an organization with such an accomplished history,” said Van Ooyen. “The Bloomberg Administration deserves an immense amount of credit for improving the city’s environment and I look forward to working closely with the city, CENYC’s Board and staff to continue this progress.”

CENYC is a privately funded citizens’ organization in the Mayor’s Office. CENYC’s programs are Greenmarket, which runs farmers markets in 38 locations throughout NYC; the Open Space Greening Program, which helps groups turn vacant lots into gardens and parks; and the Training Student Organizers Program, which teaches students about environmental issues and leads them in environmental improvement projects. CENYC’s former Executive Director, Lys McLaughlin, recently retired after serving for over 30 years.