Board & Staff

Eric is the Chief Investment Officer of Congress Park Capital, an Investment Management Firm he founded in 2009. Eric has worked as a Financial Advisor at both Merrill Lynch and UBS Wealth Management.  Prior to these positions Eric worked for an investment banking boutique in NYC concentrating on Mergers and Acquisitions and at a Leveraged Buyout firm in Greenwich, CT.  He was instrumental in creating one of the fastest 50 growing companies in CT from 1998 to 2000.  An entrepreneur at heart, Eric started Saratoga Horse and Carriage Company with his father after graduating from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Economics degree.  At the age of three, Eric began studying violin with the Suzuki Method.  He was one of the youngest members of the Empire State Youth Orchestra.  He is committed to helping to preserve the tradition and excellence of Caffè Lena.

A true lover of music David has performed in bands locally and in Northern California. After spending several years at a concert resort in the Bay Area, David returned to Northern Vermont to Jay Peak Resort where he helped establish a small amphitheater and a concert series that included acts such as Bruce Hornsby, Son Volt, Widespread Panic, Warren Haynes, and many others.

Tom is Vice President and General Counsel of Stat Staff Professionals, Inc., a Joint Commission certified health care staffing and technology organization headquartered in Saratoga Springs, New York that offers contingent workforce solutions to hospitals located throughout New York State. In this capacity, Tom collaborates with the Company’s CEO on strategic planning initiatives and oversees all of the Company’s legal and regulatory affairs. Prior to joining Stat Staff, Tom was engaged full-time in the private practice of law for ten years, representing business and individual clients in a wide array of transactional and litigated matters. Before entering private practice, Tom completed a two-year clerkship on the Central Legal Research and Writing Staff of the New York Court of Appeals, the State’s highest appellate court. Tom received his J.D., summa cum laude, from Albany Law School in 2003 and his B.A. from Bard College in 2000, majoring in Psychology. Tom resides in Malta, New York with his wife, Renee, and two school age sons. Tom appreciates Caffè Lena’s rich history and culture and is committed to safeguarding its legacy and advancing its mission.

Kira is the CFO/COO of Newport Festivals Foundation, which produces Newport Folk Festival, Newport Jazz Festival and music education programs throughout the year around the country. In 2015, Albany Business Review named Kira one of their “40 Under 40” business leaders in the Capital Region. In the same year, SmartCEO Magazine awarded her an Executive Management Award as CFO for Fingerpaint. Kira is a graduate of Boston University’s School of Management. She is an avid equestrian and lover of folk music.

Peter currently serves as Commissioner of Public Safety of Saratoga Springs. Previously he served as a Supervisor for Saratoga Springs on the County Board of Supervisors and as Saratoga County Clerk.  For 25 years he worked for the Ayco Company LP, a Goldman Sachs Company, where he was Senior Vice President and General Counsel.  Peter also serves on the boards of directors of the Arthritis Foundation’s Northeast United States Region (where he is immediate past chairman) and the national Arthritis Foundation, Inc.  Peter and his wife, Chris, have enjoyed the music of Caffè Lena since moving to the capital district over 30 years ago.

Jarith first discovered his love of music at a young age- first through the bittersweet vocal harmonies of Simon and Garfunkel on his mother’s cassette tapes, and later through learning to play the guitar that sat patiently in the corner of his childhood home. A native of Lake George, Jarith grew up spending his summers working in local kitchens and cafes, while spending his winters writing music. After graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2015, Jarith found a home for himself as a volunteer in Caffe Lena’s kitchen where he was able to engage his passion for both food and music. Now a regular staff member, Jarith works his dream job managing both kitchen and volunteer operations. 

Carol started the Caffè Lena poetry reading series in the summer of 2003. The first night brought a deluge of poets and poetry fans from all over the Capital District and the series has been going strong ever since. The series has featured poets from around the country as well as our own talented local writers. Carol’s poetry has been published in many literary journals and she has performed her work at readings, rallies, fundraisers and weddings. A collection of her poetry, The Wild Twist of Their Stems, was published by Foothills Publishing in 2007. She cannot believe her good luck at being able to welcome poets to this legendary stage every month and to be a part of the wild and wonderful Caffè Lena community.