Our Journey and Vision
Meet the Team
Get to know the passionate professionals behind the Livingston Legacy transformative project.
Shuji Bon Yagi
Visionary Leader
Mr. Bon Yagi moved to New York in the 1970s, searching for the opportunity to bring Japanese cuisine beyond the conversation of “sushi and noodles” to NYC. Since opening his first T.I.C. restaurant in 1984, T.I.C. Restaurant group has introduced culinary destinations for everyone to enjoy Japan without airfare, each one unique in its authentic tastes and traditions. Glistening glazes drizzled over takoyaki. Bubbling shabu shabu hot pot. Crispy panko breaded katsu curry. Smooth slices of fresh sashimi. Wavy bowls of fresh ramen. Cups overflowing with rare Japanese sakes. Flowered boards with handmade soba. The T.I.C. journey of Japanese cuisine and culture began around East Ninth and Tenth Streets, has expanded uptown, and now is expanding beyond New York City into Livingston Manor, NY. Now Mr. Bon Yagi is developing his most ambitious and exquisite Japanese cultural experience thus far.
Mr. Bon Yagi first expanded his residency beyond New York City into Sullivan County in 2001. Mr. Yagi treasured the local Livingston Manor area, where he found peace and community with the Dai Bosatsu Zendo Zen Temple. He became a donor and participant in the temple community programming, and became a frequent local patron to the many small business establishments of Livingston Manor. As expressed by the 20+ letters of support from small businesses, notable elected officials, educational institutions and cultural organizations, it is evident Mr Yagi is an authentic and good hearted person with an extraordinary vision to amplify the experience of being in Livingston Manor, with a unique legacy project that complements the existing culture and provides economic fortune to the town, the county and the Empire state.
Michael Tucker
General Manager
Michael Tucker is a downtown revitalization strategist specializing in grants, real estate development, and community engagement. He takes a comprehensive approach to economic revitalization by aligning public and private sector resources to drive sustainable growth and job creation.
As President of the NY Food Council, Michael leads initiatives supporting and scaling the food and beverage industry statewide. He currently spearheads a pilot program expanding the Micro Co-Packing ecosystem to support small food manufacturers and stimulate local economies through distributed production infrastructure.
Michael is also an Associate Real Estate Broker with DGNY Commercial, LLC, specializing in commercial real estate investments and tenant/landlord representation across industrial, retail, office, and multi-family properties. His analytical and relationship-based approach has earned him recognition including the Power Broker Award.
His additional leadership roles include an advisory board position with Empire State Development’s Long Island Regional Economic Development Council, the Natural Assets and Tourism Work Group and contributions to the Manufacturing and Technology Resource Consortium at Stony Brook University. With over 30 years of business experience and a Bachelor of Science from Skidmore College, Michael brings strategic cross-sector expertise to commercial real estate and economic development initiatives.
Mike Klein, URBAN Strategies
Government Affairs & Strategic Advisor
Mike Klein is founder of URBAN Strategies, a government affairs and strategic services firm specializing in navigating regulatory and political spheres to accomplish client goals. With over thirty years of experience across public, private, and non-profit sectors, Mike excels at identifying opportunities and mitigating risks for complex development projects.
His career includes trusted staff positions with prominent New York elected officials including Congressman Charles Rangel and Governor Mario Cuomo, as well as Deputy County Executive in Nassau County. Mike also served as a Principal at Dentons US LLP, where he led the Public Policy team and provided government affairs counsel for infrastructure, community development, and real estate projects.
Mike’s expertise in large-scale advocacy is demonstrated through his leadership of the Parks 2001 campaign, one of NYC’s largest advocacy efforts comprising over 1,000 business and community groups. He was named to City & State Magazine’s Power 100 New York City list in 2015 and 2016, recognizing his influence in government affairs and community development.
A graduate of Hunter College and the New York City Leadership Institute, Mike brings strategic expertise in regulatory navigation and stakeholder engagement essential for complex municipal projects like Livingston Legacy.
Sam Friedman
Project Manager
Sam excels in development projects, bringing specialized expertise in identifying opportunities and developing practical strategies for complex cultural and tourism destinations. His careful and thorough approach to sustainable growth-oriented planning makes him ideally suited for multi-faceted projects like Livingston Legacy, where food systems, hospitality, and community development intersect.
Sam’s collaborative management style ensures step-by-step implementation through frequent work sessions, guiding project stakeholders through challenges while maintaining focus on optimal outcomes. He leverages relationships with a vast network of subject matter experts across food and beverage, hospitality, agriculture, and real estate development, positioning him to address the unique requirements of the Livingston Legacy project.
Sam studied entrepreneurship at SUNY Albany scholar and is a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program alumnus. Sam brings over 15 years of versatile innovation experience spanning food systems, real estate, and international trade – directly relevant to Livingston Legacy’s sake distillery, restaurant operations, and cultural exchange components. As a Founder and Advisor, he has successfully scaled operations from the ground up and guided organizations through critical growth phases.
Sam’s experience navigating regulatory environments and building sustainable business models makes him a valuable strategic consultant for transforming the former Keiser Appliance campus into a thriving Japanese cultural destination that serves both local community needs, tourism goals, and economic development ambitions.
Steve Densmore, Choice Words
Grant Writing
Steve Densmore is the President and CEO of Choice Words LLC and Choice Words Ithaca LLC. Since launching the company in 2010, Choice Words has secured more than $195 million in grant awards on behalf of clients in virtually all sectors, including municipalities, nonprofits, colleges and for-profit firms. The firm boasts more than 20 accomplished grant writers with experience submitting successful applications for funding from numerous state and federal government grant programs as well as private charitable foundations. Choice Words’ research team identifies private and government funding sources that align with clients’ needs and location, providing a blueprint for a tailored client-focused grant program. The firm is a proud partner with the Livingston Legacy Project having secured more than $2.5 million in funding for the project from several sources including Restore NY, Empire State Development, Market NY, and the Excelsior Tax Credit program. For more information about Choice Words LLC please visit choicewordspr.com or call Steve at 845-234-8713.
Bade Stageberg Cox Architecture
Architect
Bade Stageberg Cox Architecture (BSC) is a Brooklyn- and Livingston Manor, NY-based architecture and design firm founded in 2006 by by Timothy Bade, Jane Stageberg and Martin Cox. BSC’s portfolio spans a variety of project types and scales, from large public, commercial, and institutional projects to the design of more intimate interiors, residences, and spaces for culture and the arts. BSC’s work creates architectural spaces that are imaginative, beautiful, and a source of pleasure in the lives of their inhabitants. Their process shapes a singular journey for each project through research, exploration, collaboration, and inventiveness.
BSC has developed an impressive portfolio of work in the Catskills, including the renovation of the Catskill Art Center , an important regional arts institution in Livingston Manor, as well as a number of private residences in the area. The firm is currently working on the design for a new Visitor Center in the historic Callicoon Train Depot, transforming the disused railway building into a vibrant community and cultural center. In tandem with this project, BSC is developing a master plan for the Depot site, located in the heart of Callicoon, to serve as a magnet for the local and regional community.
BSC is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) with a diverse staff who bring a variety of perspectives to their work. BSC has been widely published and honored with numerous awards for design excellence, including an American Architecture Award, an International Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, an award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and multiple awards from the American Institute of Architects.