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Donna Blaze is the Chief Executive Officer and founding director of the Affordable Housing Alliance, Inc. A nonprofit housing development, management and certified housing counseling agency serving Central New Jersey for 23 years. She has 30 years experience in conceptualizing, developing, managing financing and operating affordable and/or special needs housing. The AHA has construction or renovated over four hundred units under her administration including single family, multifamily, SRO and manufactured housing options. The agency provides housing counseling and education, administrative agency services to municipalities, advocacy and technical assistance to other nonprofits throughout the region and develops new or rehabs existing units. Ms. Blaze is on the COAH planning committee in Eatontown, Millstone, Atlantic Highlands, Wall Township and Shrewsbury. She was appointed by the Monmouth County Freeholds to the MC Human Services Advisory Council and also sits on the Wells Fargo Community Advisory Committee. She holds a masters degree from the University of South Florida where her thesis on deinstitutionalizing Florida’s state hospitals was used to develop a continuum of supportive housing options for those with mental illness. (2013)
Paige Carlson-Heim is the Community Development Group Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Region (NY/NJ/PA/DE) for TD Bank. In this role she helps the bank create and deliver products and services that meet the banking, lending and investment needs of communities in all three states. She serves on the Greater Newark LISC Corporate Advisory Board, the Philadelphia LISC Loan Review Committee, the Community Economic Development Committee of Philadelphia’s Urban Affairs Coalition, and is co-chair of the UAC’s Financial Education Committee. Prior to coming to TD Bank, Paige was the Managing Director of the Housing & Community Development Network of NJ, a statewide association of more than 250 affordable housing and community development corporations, individuals and other organizations that support the creation of housing and economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income New Jerseyans. Paige spent 8 years with the Network, serving initially as the Organizational Development Specialist and Associate Director before becoming the Managing Director in 2007. From March 2006 through February 2007 she served as Acting Executive Director during the founding Executive Director’s sabbatical. Prior to coming to the Network, Paige worked in international community development for 15 years. Paige graduated from Georgetown University and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zaire. She has spent time living and working in Madagascar and Mali, and consulted with programs in Kenya, Zambia, Botswana, Ethiopia and Brazil. Ms. Carlson-Heim is an Associate Member of the Network’s Executive Board. (2012)
Thomas M. Clark is the Executive Director of CityWorks, Inc., founding Chairman of Elijah’s Promise Soup Kitchen, New Brunswick, NJ, of Vote, New Brunswick, and founding Board Member and former Vice President of Downtown New Jersey. His other affiliations include: 1) The First full-time Director of the Red Bank River Center (Special Improvement District); 2) Founding Chairman of New Brunswick City Market (Special Improvement District); 3) Former Chairman of New Brunswick Housing Authority. In 2005, the CityWorks of Trenton, NJ with Tom as Executive Director, was designated by the Township of Neptune to head the redevelopment of the West Lake Ave Corridor from Route 35 east to the Asbury Park border. As a result of the completion of the first Phase in Neptune, CityWorks received two Merit Awards at the 57th Annual Monmouth County Planning Board Awards Dinner. The project was also awarded a 2010 Smart Growth Award from NJ Futures. CityWorks is also very active in the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program. CityWorks is the Administrative Agent and economic development partner for both programs and works with collaborative members HomeFront, Isles, Better Community Housing of Trenton and Habitat for Humanity. The group known as the East Trenton Collaborative (ETC) provides educational, cultural and social service programs in the neighborhood. Lastly CityWorks is the development partner with the City of Trenton for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP 1) focusing on Carteret Ave. in Trenton. Mr. Clarke is an At-Large Member of the Network’s Executive Board. (2012)
Rhonda Coe is the Sole Managing Member of R. B. Coe Consulting, LLC, a housing, finance and development consulting firm which was founded in 2005 and serves non and for-profit organizations and governmental entities in New Jersey. Ms. Coe has more than eighteen years of experience in the real estate development industry. Prior to launching her consulting company, she worked as the Director of Housing Development for Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey, where she led the housing development effort. Prior to this position, Ms. Coe was employed by the City of Trenton as the Director of Housing Production and Interim Director of the Department of Housing and Economic Development where she oversaw the development of both housing and economic development activity. Her career spans employment with two major State agencies including the NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency where she worked as a Senior Development Officer in the Division of Multi-Family, and Project Manager in the Division of Housing for the NJ Department of Community Affairs. Ms. Coe’s broad-based experience includes strategic planning, site and financial feasibility analysis, financial packaging and project management. Ms. Coe is an Associate Member of the Network’s Executive Board. (2007)
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Etta Rudolf Denk, is Market Development Manager for Bank of America in New Jersey. She is active in numerous organizations including The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, The Center for Non-Profit Corporations, Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey, the Bergen County Workforce Investment Board and Paterson Restoration Corporation. In 2004, she was appointed by former Governor Jim McGreevey to the Faith Based Advisory Commission. Etta has worked in the banking / insurance industry for nearly 25 years and was most recently the New Jersey Community Relations Manager with JPMorgan Chase. She is a graduate of Rutgers University, the Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy. Etta also holds a Certificate in Corporate Community Relations from Boston College and is a trained facilitator in the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Non-Profit Management Self-Assessment Process. Ms. Denk is an Associate Member of the Network’s Executive Board. (2006)
Barbara Dunn is the Executive Director of Paterson Habitat for Humanity. During her tenure at Paterson Habitat, home construction production has more than doubled production from an average of five homes per year in 1993 to an average of 12 homes built or renovated annually this past decade. Since its founding in 1984, Paterson Habitat has provided homeownership to 240 families in Paterson, 1 family in Bay St. Louis, MS (Katrina re-building) and another estimated 500 families in Kenya as well as other overseas locations through its Global Building “tithing” donations – with a close to 750 families served in the past 26 years. Ms. Dunn graduated from Wells College, with a major in History and Philosophy of Religion. She has worked for non-profit organizations in the Bergen/Passaic area for the past 35 years, including Paterson Habitat for Humanity, Planned Parenthood of Bergen County, and the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. Ms. Dunn has served as the Vice President of the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ’s Executive Board since 2005 and locally is a member of the Network’s Passaic County A-Team which works on public policy advocacy issues in the area of housing and community development. Ms. Dunn is also active in and served as an officer of the Paterson Alliance (a coalition of nonprofits in the City of Paterson) since its inception. She is a commissioner on the Passaic County Brownfields Commission and serves as the Chair of the City of Paterson’s Environmental Revitalization Committee (PERC) which manages the NJDEP Brownfields Development Area grant for the Great Falls/Historic district in Paterson. Ms. Dunn is the Vice President of the Network’s Executive Board. (2005)
Dr. Elizabeth S. Hall (Betsey) is the President and CEO of Homeless Solutions, Inc. (HSI), the largest provider of homeless services in Morris County. Under Betsey’s leadership, HSI expanded its mission to include the development of affordable housing for working poor people. In 2004, HSI opened the Jean Street Apartments, fifteen units of affordable, energy efficient, supportive housing - the first of its kind for families in the state. HSI presently serves nearly 200 women, children and men per night: 85 in emergency shelter, 30 in Transitional Housing Program apartments and the rest in permanent supportive housing units. HSI has 21 affordable apartments under management with 28 new apartments currently under contract, construction or redevelopment. Betsey graduated from Drew University Theological School with a Master of Divinity degree. She received her Doctor in Ministry degree from Columbia Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia and served as a pastor of Presbyterian Churches in NY. She serves on the Board of Trustees of PHS Senior Living, Inc., Morris Tomorrow. Dr. Hall is an At-Large Member of the Network’s Executive Board. (2005)
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Pilar Hogan Closkey joined the Carpenter Society in 1998 as the Operations Manager and, in 2004, was named the Executive Director. Saint Joseph's Carpenter Society has developed over 800 units of housing including partnering on the Baldwin's Run development and is now actively working to improve other Camden neighborhoods outside of East Camden. Ms. Closkey graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and received her Master Degree in Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois and New Jersey, a licensed Professional Planner in New Jersey, and is nationally certified with the American Institute of Certified Planners. (2009)
Curtis H. Johnson, Jr. is the Executive Director of the Diocesan Housing Services Corporation of the Diocese of Camden(NJ), Inc. He has over two decades of affordable housing experience with community development corporations, housing authorities and governmental agencies. Accomplishments include: more than $40M in construction financing; over 400 affordable units developed, management of more than 700 units; and administration of a loan program that produced over 600 first time homeowners. Johnson is a Philadelphia native, with graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Delaware and Tufts University respectively. Mr. Johnson is an At-Large Member of the Network’s Executive Board. (2007)
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Connie Mercer is the Founder and Executive Director of HomeFront, a non-profit social service agency that helps homeless families secure permanent housing and become - and remain - independent, while ameliorating the immediate pain and stress of homelessness for parents and children. She has also founded The Mercer Group, a firm for social service consulting and executive recruiting; established large out-patient treatment center for abused children at Mt. Sinai Medical Center; developed and evaluated training programs for child welfare staff in three states; worked with NJ DYFS to devise new rate-setting structure for residential care program; and developed a computer-based referral system. Connie served as the Deputy Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services from 1984 to 1988 in which she was responsible for Program Operations and Policy planning.
Connie also served as the executive director of the Interstate Consortium on Residential Child Care and the Director of Group Home Program for the Canadian Mental Health Association. Connie earned her M.A. in Psychology from York University, Toronto, Ontario, a B.A. from the University of Chicago and is a graduate of the Leadership New Jersey Training, class of 1995. She has also been recognized with many awards from various organizations. Her most recent award was the Community Service Award from the Friendly Sons and Daughters of St. Patrick. Ms. Mercer is an At-Large Member of the Network’s Executive Board. (2009)
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Raymond Ocasio is the Executive Director of La Casa de Don Pedro, Inc., a Newark community based social services and development organization. In addition to serving on the Network Board he is a board member the Newark Community Development Network as well as a member of Newark’s Master Plan Working Group. He also serves on other Newark, state and national groups governing or advisory boards. Before joining La Casa, Mr. Ocasio’s career spanned 30 years of service in housing and community development groups both domestically and internationally, with the non-for profit and different governmental sectors. Mr. Ocasio is the President of the Network’s Executive Board. (2002)
Meyer Pincelli is currently the Director of Governmental Affairs with the Jewish Renaissance Foundation. He is responsible for the coordination of outreach with Federal, State, County and Municipal governments for the Jewish Renaissance Foundation, the Jewish Renaissance Medical Center and the Boys and Girls Club of Perth Amboy and Carteret. He is also the CEO of the Jewish Renaissance Community Development Corporation, the housing and economic development arm of the Jewish Renaissance Family of Organizations. Previously Meyer served under the Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing & community Resources for 24 overseeing several programs which included, New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund (formerly Neighborhood Preservation Balanced Housing Program) (State); HOME Program (Federal HUD); Housing Affordability Service (State); Office of Housing Advocacy (State); Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) (Federal HUD); Governor’s Faith Based Initiative (State) Weatherization Assistance Program (Federal DOE); Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (Federal DHSS); Community Services Block Grant Program (Federal DHSS); Office of Recreation (State); Individual Development Account Program (Federal DHHS and State); Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation Program (Federal HUD). Meyer also previously served as the Commissioner’s representative on the Department of Banking and Insurance’s Community Financial Services Advisory Board and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Multi-City and Jersey City Advisory Boards. Other affiliations: Former Vice-Chairman, City of Perth Amboy Re-Development Agency; Former member and President, Perth Amboy Board of Education; Former Vestry member and Senior Warden, St Peter’s Episcopal Church; Perth Amboy High School Hall of Fame-Class of 2010. Education: Graduate of Rider College (nee University), September 1972 with a Bachelor in Science in Commerce degree, major in Personnel Management/Industrial Relations. Completion of all four levels, State of New Jersey Certified Public Manager Program (CPM) (2013)
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Bridget Phifer has worked as Executive Director of PBCIP since 1999. Major responsibilities include staff management, organizational planning, resource development, fiscal management and program development. She received her Masters in Public Management from Rutgers University and is experienced in establishing and managing non-profit organizations. Since joining PBCIP, she has grown the organization’s budget tenfold. Staff has increased from one (Bridget) to half a dozen as the housing effort has expanded, and homeownership education, marketing and neighborhood planning programs have been created. Strategic partnerships with foundations, other community development organizations, corporations and government agencies have been critical to this success. Previously, Bridget founded a non-profit cultural arts education agency, Portraits of Color. She has also worked as chief administrator for the City of Newark Municipal Council and as Director of a church-based youth & summer program. Ms. Phifer is an At-Large Member of the Network’s Executive Board. (2006)
Fatimah S. Raymond is the Director of Neighborhood Revitalization for the Elizabeth Development Company. Responsible for coordinating and marketing the various EDC programs to the City’s low income residents and small businesses, a role she has exercised since 1991 when she joined the EDC as a loan officer. Ms. Raymond serves as the lead on the administration of a Wells Fargo Regional Foundation Grant for $1Million as well as two Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit designations for both E’port and Historic Midtown overseeing $7Million in projects. Ms. Raymond oversees and coordinates the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program funding projects totaling $28Million. Collectively, these programs provide millions of dollars in critical administrative, programmatic, and project funding for EDC and its many community development partners.
John Restrepo is Director of Housing and Community Development for Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corp. (JCECDC) and Principal of Restrepo Consulting & Development Group (RCDG). In 12 years John has been involved with the planning & development of over 360 scattered site units of housing and 35,000 square feet of commercial space in inner city areas with a total development cost of $109M. In 7 years with JCECDC, he has established a 250 unit $72M pipeline that will be completed by 2015. John is also responsible for the asset management of 116 LIHTC units. John has grown his Division by 4 full time staff and increased the operating budget 5-fold, implemented a housing education and counseling program to create a home ownership market in low income areas, is active in policy advocacy and recently embarked on a neighborhood planning effort to secure a tax credit designation for Hudson County's most distressed community. John was 1 of 5 “2006 Heroes” for the Jersey Journal and in 2008, John was 1 of 3 honorees at Jersey City’s Mayoral State of the City Address. In 2009, John’s leadership resulted in several award recognitions including the Neighborhood Impact Award from LISC and the Developer of the Year Award from the Corporation for Supportive Housing. In 2010, John was selected as Young Professional of the year by the YCDPA at the Governor's Housing Conference. John served as VP & Policy Chair of the Jersey City Affordable Housing Coalition from 2005-2007 and President from 2008-2011. In his tenure, John expanded the coalition to a county wide organization. John has served on the Executive Board of the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ since 2005. John was a panelist at the 2007 Governor’s Housing and Conference and is asked to speak to the St. Peter’s College Public Policy Program on a regular basis. In 2010, John was nominated by Governor Corzine and approved by the New Jersey Senate to serve on the State Housing Commission. Mr. Restrepo is the Secretary of the Network’s Executive Board. (2007)
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Matthew A. Reilly is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Moorestown Ecumenical Neighborhood Development, Inc. (MEND). He joined the organization in November 2001. MEND is a nonprofit organization that develops, owns and manages affordable housing for low and moderate-income individuals and families in the Burlington County region of southern New Jersey. Prior to joining MEND, Mr. Reilly worked for thirteen years for First Fidelity/First Union/Wachovia/ now Wells Fargo Bank. He held various sales and credit management positions within the Bank including Sales Leader for Community Development Lending in the New Jersey, New York and Connecticut markets. He also served as the Senior Real Estate Credit Officer for Community Development Lending for the entire bank franchise. He was the Commercial Real Estate Underwriting Head for Pennsylvania and Delaware and the Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Management Head for the Bank’s $3 billion loan portfolio in the Northeast. He was also the Regional Manager for the Bank’s Commercial Real Estate group in southern New Jersey. Immediately before joining the Bank, Mr. Reilly served for two years as the Director of Health Care and Senior Housing Finance for Larson Financial Resources, a mortgage banking firm located in Princeton, New Jersey. Prior to beginning his career in banking and real estate finance, Mr. Reilly served for twelve years as the Director of Real Estate Development for the New Community Corporation of Newark, New Jersey. New Community is a nationally prominent, non-profit community development corporation, which was founded in 1968 and continues to be a major contributor to the revitalization of Newark. Mr. Reilly received a Master of Business Administration degree from Rutgers University. He also holds a Master of Arts degree in Sociology from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Peter’s College. Mr. Reilly currently serves as a member of the Housing Loan Committee of The Reinvestment Fund (TRF) of Philadelphia, PA. and as an At-Large Member of the Network's Executive Board. (2010)
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