Who We Are

Katherine Stephens has been a resident of the Stockade since 2014, first as a renter and more recently as a homeowner. Katherine resides on North Ferry Street with her husband Drew Pearson and their cat Poppy. She brings many years of non-profit arts administration, grant writing, community leadership, and board stewardship experience to the Stockade Association Board of Directors. Katherine has served on the City of Schenectady Board of Education as Vice President as well as the New Leaders Council Capital District chapter board of directors and currently serves as a Vice President of the YWCA of Northeastern New York. You may have seen her on the Schenectady Civic Players or the SLOC Musical Theater stages as she loves to perform. Katherine is passionate about the community and city she calls home and looks forward to what we can all accomplish for our neighborhood together.

Suzanne Unger learned to love history living in the Stockade as a child. She majored in history and American Studies in college and worked in several history related careers. After teaching social studies in a Florida school district, she and her husband Richard retired to the Stockade, where they have been living happily for a number of years. Suzanne has served as secretary and president of the Stockade Association in the past and is looking forward to serving on the board once again.

Zakhar Berkovich has been a resident of Schenectady since 2011, starting in Stockade, then moving to the Historic GE Realty Plot with his partner John Samatulski and furry child, Rosie. Zakhar remains committed to the Stockade by maintaining several historic properties, including Stockade Inn, and participating in Stockade events. He is an active participant in the membership meetings. During the daytime, he is a Director of Undergraduate Student Services at Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy within the University at Albany. At night you may find him restoring one of the buildings. Zakhar is passionate about non-profit organizations and understands how a good and strong board can lead to success for the whole community. He looks forward to working together to preserve, protect, and improve the beautiful Stockade.

Susannah has called the Stockade home since 2011, and served on the board for two terms shortly after her arrival in the neighborhood. During her first stint as a director, she worked with then President Mary D’Alessandro on an oral history documentary called "Voices of the Stockade." Susannah has remained involved in the neighborhood over the years, helping with events from the Tree Lighting to the Villagers' Art Show, and is happy to be back on the board.

Christopher Marney resides in the Sanders-Ellice home on Union Street with his husband, Chris White, and their two dogs. When not working on their home restoration, he is an attorney and also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Schenectady Historical Society. You can follow the Chris’ home restoration on Instagram @schenectadyrestorationproject.

Jacob has been a resident of Schenectady Historic Stockade District since 2015, when he first moved to the area while attending college. During that time, he worked as a property manager for a local apartment complex, developing an early connection to the neighborhood and its unique character. Jacob is a Nanotech Engineer and holds a Doctorate in Business Administration with strong strategic and operational insight. He continued his involvement in the Stockade through property management and, in May 2025, purchased his first property in the neighborhood. Jacob appreciates historic architecture and is committed to preserving the Stockade's charm while supporting a vibrant, sustainable community as a long-term resident.

Isa has been a Stockade renter since 2023, and has been an avid enjoyer of the neighborhood’s architectural charm, history, and its people. He has a background in quantitative and qualitative research, and brings years of non-profit and management experience to the Board of Directors. He is excited to contribute to the planning and success of events organized by the Stockade Association—new and old—and to collaborate with other directors and Stockade Association members to reach and involve new neighbors. He is passionate about community engagement, and neighborhood preservation. When not sipping coffees and working out of Arthur’s Market, Isa spends his time petting cats, socializing with neighbors, and going on enjoyable neighborhood strolls.

Jennifer Bennett was raised in nearby Charlton and moved to Schenectady to attend Union College. She first fell in love with The Stockade when she lived here in 1992. Jenn has additionally lived in Germany, New York City, Philadelphia and Clifton Park. She purchased her current home on North Church Street in September 2021, and has greatly enjoyed opening her garden and serving on the Garden Tour committee. She is a teacher of German and English as a New Language, and the proud mom of her adult son, Max. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages and Literatures from Union College, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Union Graduate College.

It has been my great privilege to be editor of The Stockade Spy for 29 years, carrying the torch from the days when Jim Schmitt founded the paper in 1961 and Werner Feibes sketched the original Stockade Spy mast head, that we are still using today. I thank so many of our talented and generous neighbors who have contributed their writing, poetry, photos, drawings, financial, managerial and graphic skills over the years. And thank you’s go to all our many advertisers for their steadfast support.

This committee oversees the various gardens maintained by the Association and supports the volunteers who work in the gardens. Jac is a relatively new resident who has already contributed a lot to our neighborhood. His lovely evergreen garden, established by Peter Rumora, was on last year's garden tour. Jac also has some wonderful ideas about making our neighborhood even more beautiful, especially at the Gateway and other amenity areas. Jac served for thirty years in the Air Force and the Army as a flight nurse. He moved to the Stockade in 2019 from Ballston Spa and now lives on Front Street. We are delighted to welcome Jac and very grateful for his generosity!