Martha Lewin former Executive Director of WomenRising, Inc., and Secretary of Fairmount Housing Corporation, the non-profit development subsidiary created by WomenRising in 1986. Martha Lewin retired from the Network Executive Board in 2006

Executive Board Biographies

(Year joined Executive Board in parentheses)

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 almost tripled from building an average of five homes per year to completing 15 homes during 2003.  Paterson Habitat seeks to complete the 200^th Habitat home by 2006. 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 30-plus years, including Paterson Habitat for Humanity, Planned Parenthood of Bergen County and the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. Ms. Dunn is active in the Paterson Alliance (a coalition of nonprofits in the City of Paterson) and served as president of that organization for two years.  She currently serves on the both the Passaic County and City of Paterson brownfields committees. 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.  Pilar Hogan Closkey was elected to the Executive Board in 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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Alan Mallach is Research Director of the National Housing Institute in Montclair, NJ. He is currently working on urban abandoned property issues, community-based planning and neighborhood revitalization strategies in many New Jersey communities. Until 1999, Mr. Mallach held the position of Director of the Department of Housing & Development for the city of Trenton. Mr. Mallach is currently serving as an Associate Member of the Network’s Executive Board. (1990)

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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Rhoda Miller is Vice President of The Metro Company, LLC, a Jersey City based planning, housing, finance and real estate consulting firm established in 1988. Ms. Miller has over 20 years of experience in the not-for-profit, governmental and business sectors, particularly in the area of affordable housing development. Prior to joining The Metro Company, Ms. Miller's work with the Jersey City Housing Authority provided her with excellent experience in the development of housing and the utilization of various funding sources, including federal programs, state programs and local funding agencies.  

Previously Ms. Miller was a Program Manager with New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs and maintained oversight for more than thirty affordable housing projects throughout New Jersey. Prior to working in the governmental sector, Ms. Miller was a Program Officer for a New Jersey-based private foundation addressing public policy issues in the state. Rhoda Miller holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kean College, having graduated summa cum laude. She attended Rutgers University Graduate School and also holds numerous certificates for professional continuing education. Ms. Miller served on various State and local advisory committees, and is the founding member of a housing development corporation.  Ms. Miller is an Associate Member of the Network’s Executive Board. (2007)

Raymond Ocasio is the Executive Director of La Casa de Don Pedro, Inc., a Newark community based development organization.  He is a board member of Leadership Newark and the Newark Community Development Network as well as a member of the Master Plan Working Group, and other Newark, state and national groups.  Before joining La Casa, Mr. Ocasio’s career spanned 30 years of service in housing and community development in Colombia, Jamaica, Bolivia, Peru, Honduras, Guatemala and the US.  Mr. Ocasio is the President of the Network’s Executive Board. (2002)

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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)

John Restrepo, Director of Real Estate Development for Jersey City Episcopal CDC has been involved in the development of affordable housing for 9 years with responsibility for over 120 units of affordable housing in various stages of development with Jersey City and Newark CDCs, securing over $16 million in financing.  Development experience includes affordable for sale, rental and special needs housing.  John was a 1999 NJDCA/Wachovia Housing Scholar and 2000 Kauffman Entrepreneur. John’s educational background includes a degree in Urban Planning from Rutgers University and the successful completion of a number of HCDNNJ’s Development Training Programs. In 4 years with JCECDC, John has spearheaded an increase in real estate activity and support for JCECDC establishing a new pipeline of 55 units of for sale and special needs housing and growing the Division by 2 full time positions.  John is currently the Vice President and Policy Chair for the Jersey City Affordable Housing Coalition and in this capacity is working for passage of a local growth share and abandoned properties ordinance.  John was named a 2006 hero by the Jersey Journal Religious Column for his affordable housing efforts in Jersey City. Mr. Restrepo is the Secretary of the Network’s Executive Board. (2007)

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Donna (Rose) Blaze is the CEO and founding director of the Affordable Housing Alliance, Inc.  A nonprofit housing development, management and certified housing counseling agency serving central NJ for 16 years.  She has 25 years experience in conceptualizing, developing, managing, financing and operating affordable and special needs housing.  The AHA has constructed 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 distributes a publication on affordable housing to 50,000 readers monthly.  Ms. Blaze is on the COAH planning committee in Eatontown, Millstone, Atlantic Highlands, Wall and Shrewsbury.  She was appointed by the Monmouth County Freeholders to the MC Human Services Advisory Council and also sits on the Sovereign Bank Community Advisory Committee.  She holds a masters degree from the University of South Florida where her thesis on de-institutionalizing Florida’s state hospitals was used to develop a continuum of supportive housing options for those with mental illness. Ms. Rose Blaze is an At-Large Member of the Network’s Executive Board. (2002)

John Schmidt is the Director of Housing for Tri-County Community Action Partnership.  Mr. Schmidt joined Tri-County in January 2004 as project manager.  As project manager he completed 35 new construction single-family affordable homes.  John was born and raised in Camden, NJ and earned a degree in Applied Science in Business Administration at Camden County Community College.  He is also certified by the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation in lending, homebuyer education & counseling, and leadership development.  He is also a 2003 graduate of the Cumberland County College Leadership Institute.  John is the owner of J. Schmidt Development Services, registered builder for single family homes in Cumberland, Gloucester, Atlantic and Salem Counties.  Prior to joining Tri-County, John worked for Rural Opportunities, Inc. as Deputy of Housing Development, Director of Housing, State Director and finally Executive Director.  Mr. Schmidt has served on the board of numerous non-profit federal, state and local organizations, including the Cumberland/Salem Workforce Development Board, Cumberland County College Leadership Advisory Board, several municipal planning board advisory committees, and bank advisory boards.  John Schmidt has served on the Network's Executive Board since 2009.

Donna W. Turner has worked in the affordable housing field for more than 20 years.  She was employed by the Philadelphia and Millville Housing Authorities and has served as Executive Director of Affordable Homes of Millville Ecumenical (AHOME), Inc. for the past 12 years.  AHOME is an affordable housing developer and HUD-certified housing counseling agency.  Ms. Turner is the Chairman of the Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland County Affordable Housing Advocacy Team, the Chairman of the Cumberland County Human Services Advisory Council, and an Executive Board Member of the Gloucester County YMCA.  She is a graduate of Temple University and served for 18 years in the US Naval Reserves as a Public Affairs Officer.  Ms. Turner is the Treasurer of the Network’s Executive Board. (2005)

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Anne Marie Uebbing has been Regional Director for the New Jersey Office of the Community Preservation Corporation since July 2003. Her focus in that role is the financing of low, moderate and middle-income multi-family housing throughout the state, with special emphasis on “Smart Growth Lending”. Recent projects include the construction of a 110-unit senior citizen tax credit project in Trenton, market rate condominiums in Paterson and the development of single-family homes in Lawnside.  She is currently President of the Jersey City Affordable Housing Coalition and co-chair of the Preservation Committee for the Housing Policy Task Force. Prior to her position at CPC, Ms. Uebbing worked for Heyer, Gruel & Associates as a community planning consultant developing Master Plans and Redevelopment Plans in Paterson, West Orange, North Arlington and Middletown. Most of her career was spent in Jersey City, where she held several positions including Director of the Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce; Director of Community Development and Director of Affordable Housing. Ms. Uebbing is a licensed professional planner and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. She is also a licensed Mortgage Banker. Ms. Uebbing has a bachelor degree in Urban Studies from SUNY Buffalo and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University. She was a Fannie Mae Fellow to the John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard in 1996. She is licensed as a Professional Planner and a Mortgage Banker and Vice President of Hudson Hospice Volunteers, Coordinator of the New Jersey Chapter of Women in Housing and Finance, Newsletter Editor for South Hudson Spiked Shoe Running Club, active with the St. Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen, and a School Board Member of Sacred Heart School, Jersey City.  Ms. Uebbing is an Associate Member of the Network’s Executive Board. (2007)

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