Annual Shareholder Meeting - Elections

Tomorrow, July 7th is our annual shareholder meeting. See hyperlink for official notice.

Please convene in the lobby of 59 Pineapple Street at 6pm.

If you are not able to attend please send your proxy form to our building manager JohnH@Argo.com or our board president Margaret at fiftyninepineapple@gmail.com ahead of time, today or tomorrow before 5pm.

We need the proxy forms to help establish a quorum for the meeting to proceed if there is limited in person attendance. We will be presenting with our new Management Company, Argo, along with our audited financials by our Certified Public Accountant and updates from the Board of Directors.

Board of Directors - Elections

Any shareholder can run for the board of directors. If you have an interest, please feel free to volunteer at the annual meeting tomorrow! Below is the list of candidates that include some of our current board members or those interested in volunteering.

Current candidates for the Board of Directors 2026-2027: (alphabetical by last name)

David Drake 1EF

My wife Maki and I are the owners of 1EF in our building and have lived here since July 2005.  I am interested in continuing to serve on our co-op's board of directors and believe I bring a valuable skill set that is particularly needed at this time in the life of our cooperative.  For most of my career I advised corporate boards, management teams and institutional shareholders on governance, transparency and shareholder relations.  These are issues that have clearly become front and center in recent years in our co-op.  I have been involved in important neighborhood issues that affect the value of our building.  In recent years I participated in developing communications and seeking the support of NYC residents in a successful campaign to prevent the closing of the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.  I am currently retired and have the time to commit to serving.  

Evan Gleason 4H

I’m Evan Gleason, the owner of 4H. I’ve been a local resident since 2002 and a member of the co-op since January 2014. I joined the board in 2025 with aspirations to help renew, manage and improve the infrastructure of 59 Pineapple.  After contributing to the board in years prior to plan, source, and project manage elements of unique projects such as the renovation of our lighting, paint selections, and roof elements, I came to realize joining the board in 2025 felt like a natural fit.  Most recently I led the sourcing and purchase of a new suite of roof furniture which will be installed this July.  In the year ahead, I hope to contribute to the remediations of the mail and package units and further building improvements.

My professional career is directing design and production in retail apparel, textile, and lifestyle product segments. Additionally, I’ve spent years consulting as a designer for well-known home, hospitality, and interior design firms here in New York and abroad.  My aspiration is to continue to serve and improve our community here in the building.

John Graham 1N

My name is John Graham, and I joined the community in June 2025 when I purchased Unit 1N, downstairs next to Granit’s office. Before moving here, I lived in DUMBO for four years and spent a great deal of time in Brooklyn Heights, where I came to truly enjoy the neighborhood and community.

I am originally from Indiana, where I grew up and attended Ball State University, earning a B.S. in History and an M.S. in Information and Communication Science. During college, I managed a successful small business on campus with more than $1 million in revenue and 15–20 employees.

Following graduate school, I worked at AT&T for 23 years, leading projects and teams in areas ranging from network support to data science. Since 2022, I have worked at Neo4j as a Solutions Engineer, helping customers make the best use of graph database technology and integrate it into their environments.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading, music, art, and local history. I have spent countless hours researching the neighborhood through old photographs and maps and have developed many meaningful connections within the community. I would be honored to serve on the co-op board and help continue making 59 Pineapple a wonderful place to live.

Aaron Lanou 5EF

My name is Aaron and I’ve lived at 59 Pineapple since 2009, with my husband, Rex. I just finished my first year on the Coop Board, and I learned a lot and hope I contributed just as much as Secretary in this busy year of transition. I care a lot about our building community, and I want to help build on efforts for considerate and clear communication for all residents. 

My work focuses on inclusive education and accessibility. I do consulting and professional development to help schools support students with disabilities in inclusive settings mostly in NYC public schools. I did similar work at NYU as the Executive Director of the Nest program, an inclusive program for autistic students, and I was a special education teacher prior to that. I’m also on the Delta Air Lines Advisory Board on Disability and Accessibility. (I’m sorry I’m missing the Annual Meeting—I’m presenting at an education conference in Australia.) I also jump rope, I make a mean pancake, mediocre embroidery, and I’m trying to learn ASL. 

Despina Legakis 2BC

I’m Despina and am running for re-election to the 59 Pineapple Street board. I moved into the building in 2018 and have served on the board since 2019. I have lived in Brooklyn Heights since 1995, and there’s no better neighborhood around! I’ve been told by colleagues and friends that my superpower is building strong relationships based on trust and loyalty. These attributes have served me well in both my career and my personal life and certainly extend to my 59 Pineapple Board responsibilities. I recently ended an 18-year career at CBS where I was SVP, Branded Entertainment. In that role, I worked on many shows, including Survivor, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Ghosts and The Amazing Race to name a few. I’m currently on a short sabbatical in Fiji with my boyfriend Clark as I develop my consulting business while keeping Clark company as he works producing Season 50 of Survivor. 

Zachary Rubin 1KL

Zac lives in apartment 1KL with his Wife Aubrie who together own and operate Vineapple on Pineapple Street. Zac has worked in Retail and Hospitality for the past 15 years, initially starting a company called Upper 90 which was acquired by Soccer Post in 2023 and now operating three restaurants in New York City: Vineapple, Mile End Deli, and Crossbar. Zac has experience in financial management, operations, and construction management having completed over 10 commercial renovations and a number of residential renovations as well. It was Zac’s grandfather LeRoy Rubin who spearheaded the initial conversion at 59 Pineapple to a Cooperative in the 70s and a partnership that includes members of the Rubin family still own the remaining sponsor units in the building. Zac enjoys playing, coaching, and watching soccer as well as watching the New York Rangers.

Michael Wayasamin 5G

My name is Michael Wayasamin and I am running for the 59 Pineapple Board. I have lived in this building for 23 years and have been a Board Member for ~16 of those holding several roles. I’ve done everything from replacing the canopy out front (and poles) and hallway light fixtures to negotiating exterminating services to refinancing the building’s mortgage. I work in finance. I was a market maker for Goldman Sachs on the NYSE and presently work for a 60 Billion dollar RIA/ fiduciary providing money management, financial planning, estate planning, and tax filings for our high net worth clients. I enjoy weekends in beautiful Livingston Manor, NY with my wife Evelyn and cat, Chester.

We hope you had a wonderful July 4th weekend! Proxy forms attached here if needed.

See you soon at 59 Pineapple Street!

59 Pineapple - Proxy.pdf

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