WHO WE ARE

Darrell Sims recently retired as Deputy Director for the Bureau of Multifamily Design Review Services at
the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). In his role as Director-at-Large, he is a
conduit to the MEA, reporting any issues members might have and ensuring they receive all MEA member
benefits in an acceptable manner. Mr. Sims began his career working at HPD in 1980. At the time of
employment, Darrell simply thought of his job as a means of working his way out of living in a dormitory
at Columbia University and being able to afford an apartment. He had just completed graduate school
with a Master’s Degree in Architecture. Darrell became committed to the work he was performing. After
being awarded a fellowship, he was granted an educational leave of absence and returned to Columbia
University to attain a Master’s Degree in Real Estate Development where he gained invaluable knowledge
in real estate development. Mr. Sims is the first African American registered architect to be employed by
HPD and has been a member of the MEA since 1996.

Growing up globetrotting the world at an early age, with the appreciation the world is bigger and much more interesting, Alice moved to New York City, where she began a successful career in International Business. In her role as Executive Director of MEA, she will lead organizational operations, with responsibility for the expansion of MEA into the future. She intuitively sees the threads of opportunity within an organization to leverage her unique perspective into effective problem solving, improved financial oversight, and program success. Alice holds an E.MBA from Fordham University and a Graduate Certificate in communications from New York University. She resides in New York City and enjoys scuba diving, culinary adventures, and traveling.

Keyala Crawford is an accomplished Program Administrator at the NYC Department of Homeless Services with over 20 years of civil service experience spanning law enforcement and social services. A graduate of John Jay College with a Master of Public Administration in Inspection and Oversight, Keyala is deeply committed to public service. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and an integral part of the MEA Executive Team.

Peter Kontogiannis is a Manager with the Department of Environmental Protection in the Office of
Engineering Audits. He began his career with the City of New York in 2013 as a manager in the Build it
Back Program. Before working for the City, Peter was in the Aerospace Industry for nine years working on
Quality Assurance and Process Improvement Projects. He wants his colleagues in the City to know the
value of MEA membership and the resources & benefits (both through the MEA and as a City Manager)
that are available to them. Peter received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Management
Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is certified by the American Society of Quality as
a Six Sigma Black Belt and as a Quality Auditor. In addition, he is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the
State of New York.

Renell had a BS from Syracuse University, her MBA from the University of Bridgeport and several years’ experience as a Manager at Verizon Communications before she began her career in city government. In 2017, at the Office of the Inspector General at the New York City Police Department at the Department of Investigation Renell significantly contributed to several investigations and reports during her tenure. Renell discovered her interest in Labor Relations while at Verizon and she was finally able to transition to her new career in 2022 when she accepted a LR Analyst position with the NYC’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner. Renell learned a lot in a short amount of time due to the untimely passing of her Assistant Commissioner Nancy Romero and her Executive Director accepting a position at another agency. She was then promoted to Manager with the Department of Buildings in October 2023. Renell is very involved in her church, St. Charles Borromeo RC Church, as a lector and Parish Council President and her community as a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

The Retirees Chapter Assistant Director for Membership, Sam Borkow is a retired Deputy Commissioner
of the HRA Office of Investigation, Revenue and Enforcement Administration and has a longstanding
connection with the MEA. He joined MEA in 1990. Mr. Borkow works to innovate new ways to recruit
members into the MEA. “I’m very proud that I was an intergral part of the recruitment process” says Mr.
Borkow. His tenure in HRA spans 45 years – beginning as a caseworker at the St. Nicholas Income
Maintenance Center. In 2005, he was appointed to the position of Deputy Commissioner and served until
his retirement in 2013. As Director-At-Large, Mr. Borkow will endeavor to improve benefits for all
members and managers alike.

James Durrah’s career with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) spans over four decades, exemplifying his leadership, integrity, and unwavering dedication to public health. His key roles, from overseeing the DOHMH Central Office Building Facility to serving as Assistant Commissioner for Operations, Facilities & Police, demonstrate his expertise in managing large-scale operations and complex regulatory environments. As Facility Manager of an 800,000 sq. ft. building, he launched the first Agency Inmate Central Medical Record Facility Library and managed a $20M citywide pharmaceutical purchasing program for prisons. As Assistant Commissioner, he managed capital budgets for green-certified buildings and oversaw contracts and purchases totaling over $30-50M annually, ensuring regulatory compliance and operational excellence. Beyond his professional life, James has made an indelible mark on his community. He serves as Board Chair of Brooklyn Neighborhood Services, is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Bethany Baptist Church, Brooklyn Bedford Stuyvesant Lions Club, and Bike New York, and volunteers for the NYC Marathon. His public health experience has been instrumental in advocating for safer bike lanes, pest control, and promoting healthy habits throughout the city. James is also deeply committed to his family. He is married to Rev. Dr. Valerie Oliver Durrah, and together they have two children, William Oliver Durrah and Brooke Durrah. He also has a son, Jeffery Durrah. His dedication to service, both professionally and personally, reflects his character and commitment to uplifting those around him.

During Bill’s four terms as President, from 1994 to 2002, he championed and MEA won the Yourman v. Dinkins lawsuit, which resulted in payments of thousands and even tens of thousands of dollars. The MEA was placed on a transparent business basis with financial accountability to the membership while he was president. Bill successfully advocated for significant changes in payment for time and leave at retirement. This continues to result in thousands of dollars difference in separation pay. Bill has been a member of the MEA executive board for 30 years. He has served the membership as Human Resources Administration chapter director, NYC MEA executive vice president and chair of numerous committees. Bill served in increasingly more responsible positions in his thirty year career in HRA, including Income Support Center Director, and Director of Income Support: AIDS Services. Bill retired as Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Fair Hearings and Compliance. Bill and his wife Mary live with their two dogs in North Carolina, very close to their three grandchildren.

Stu Eber served as President from 2010 to 2017 and stepped down as President in December 2017. He joins William Dworkin as a President Emeritus on the MEA Executive Board. Stu was elected President of the NYC Managerial Employees Association (NYC MEA) in January 2010 and was reelected in 2012 and 2015. He worked in conjunction with the Executive Board and the MEA Executive Director to provide the leadership needed for continued organizational growth. The Membership Report from 2010-2017 shows that, with Stu’s leadership, MEA recruited over 3,000 new members. For more than 30 years, Stu developed and delivered income support services to thousands of New Yorkers in his capacity as a Human Resources Administration employee. He retired in 2004 after serving as a Deputy Commissioner and then became more active in the MEA. Prior to his election as MEA President, Stu functioned as Chapter Director of the MEA Retirees Chapter and Chair of the Technology and Publicity Committees. He was primarily responsible for the enhancements to the website, newsletter, and membership database. Stu is a graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook with a BA in Political Science. He is a long-time resident of the Bronx, New York. He has two sons, three grandsons, and one granddaughter.

Serving as both the previous President and Vice President of MEA, Shelly has been a member of MEA for over 3 decades.  Shelly became an employee in the New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation at Elmhurst Hospital Center in 1980 as a Hospital Care Investigator (a member of SSEU Local 371), then as a Senior Hospital Care Investigator. From 1990 until his retirement in 2017, Shelly held a series of managerial positions, mostly in the finance area. Shelly also served on the MEA’s Legislative, Strategic Planning, and Bylaws Committees. Shelly is a music aficionado. His method for relaxing and having a great time is to “jam” playing the guitar with fellow enthusiasts. He is also a “Deadhead” attending “too many to count” concerts by the Grateful Dead and similar groups. To keep in shape, he plays basketball. Shelly is married and has three sons in their twenties.