Making a Difference

Meet Elena Tenchikova, Senior Director of NYCHA’s Office of Mold Assessment and Remediation (OMAR).

Elena Tenchikova first stepped into a NYCHA office 10 years ago, as a NYC Civic Corps volunteer. She was assigned to be a liaison to the Authority’s resident green committees, which are organized groups of NYCHA residents volunteering to beautify their developments.

It was a busy period of her life: Ms. Tenchikova was volunteering at NYCHA by day, working on her master’s in the evenings, and driving a cab periodically. But after eight years of working as a taxi driver, Ms. Tenchikova decided it was time to help New York City’s residents in an entirely different way: by working for NYCHA. 

“I stopped driving a taxi after I was hired full-time at NYCHA,” said Ms. Tenchikova. “I started when I was 19, and it was a great experience. I don’t think there is any other job that exposes you to such diversity, the nature and the speed of the city, its dynamics, the people. I drove wealthy people, I drove homeless people. I drove people from various backgrounds and ethnicities. From that small window, you get a taste of their life when they talk to you.”

Ms. Tenchikova is now the Senior Director of NYCHA’s Office of Mold Assessment and Remediation, supervising a team of 70 employees engaged in a very critical area at NYCHA. She said her experience as a cab driver helped prepare her for the challenges of the job. 

“Driving a taxi taught me a lot about myself. I had to learn how to push myself, motivate myself, understand this city’s flow. Also, having exposure to a diverse group of people made it a little easier to establish relationships.” 

In the 10 years that Ms. Tenchikova has worked at the Authority, she has transitioned from a junior position to her current senior director level. The job is very demanding but rewarding at the same time, Ms. Tenchikova noted.  

“I get really excited when I realize we are working on things that are creating substantial and meaningful changes in people’s lives,” said Ms. Tenchikova. “And you see the outcome of it: for example, in our bathroom and kitchen vent-cleaning program, we’re seeing a 40 percent increase in airflow. That’s a game-changer for the people in that room and will have a long-term impact in preventing mold growth and helping people to live in a safe and healthy environment.”

In addition to overseeing mold prevention and remediation and cleaning air vents, OMAR is also involved with replacing roof fans across the portfolio.

“The most important quality for this role would be to approach things with compassion and understanding and not jump to conclusions quickly,” Ms. Tenchikova noted. “You have to look into the cause. That’s how we do mold inspections – we look at the root cause. It’s a good way of approaching everything in life.”

Looking back at her time at NYCHA so far, Ms. Tenchikova feels very fortunate. 

“I was given opportunities to grow. I started without having the skill sets that I have now. The Authority invested in me, allowed me to try new things and to grow professionally. I am extremely grateful.”