Board of DirectorsOFFICERS
At Large Members Susanne Byrne, Chief Executive Officer, York Street Project 
Cierra Hart is the Director of Housing and Economic Justice for the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence and a national consultant for the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s Housing Consortium. Her role sees her providing advocacy, training, technical assistance, public awareness, and support for advocates and survivors. She has been involved in various federal, state, and local housing and economic justice advocacy and policy initiatives to help survivors heal, restore, and renew their lives. Ms. Hart’s work has been instrumental in expanding survivors’ access to housing statewide, as well as in in creating a hotel aggregator program in March of 2020 to house survivors and children fleeing from domestic violence during the global pandemic. She has worked with many communities in the areas of homelessness prevention, emergency and transitional housing, domestic violence program development, community development, eviction prevention, and rental assistance programs.  Taiisa Kelly, CEO, Monarch Housing AssociatesTaiisa joined Monarch Housing Associates in March of 2006. She has experience in housing development working with federal, state and local funding sources to secure financing for special needs housing projects. In October of 2007, Ms. Kelly joined the Ending Homelessness Team where she works with local governments, nonprofits and community stakeholders to develop coordinated strategies to end homelessness. On January 1, 2019, she was appointed as CEO. She has extensive experience in working with community stakeholders on homeless planning activities. As a member of the Ending Homelessness Team Ms. Kelly guides communities through the process of developing 10 year plans to end homelessness and has completed 3 community plans in the past 2 years. Ms. Kelly received her B.A. in psychology and anthropology from Rutgers University.
Scott Millard is the Chief Executive Officer for Passaic County Habitat for Humanity. His career in the nonprofit sector began in 2008 as President of Connor’s House, an organization he co-founded to aid families of children with severe health needs. During this time, he was also working as a pastor and, eventually, the Director of Global Program Development and Operations with the Bethlehem Evangelical Free Church of Randolph, where he worked with several local nonprofits to address housing, education, and health on a local and international scale. He became CEO of Passaic County’s Habitat for Humanity in 2019, aiming to promote home ownership with new housing developments and help underhoused residents. 
Randi Moore joined the Affordable Housing Alliance (AHA) as Chief Operating Officer in 2020 before becoming Chief Executive Officer in 2021. Since earning her B.A. in Sociology from Drew University in 2005, her commitment to improving living conditions for New Jersey residents led her to several leadership roles in both the state government and multiple nonprofits. Her career began with leading the Ending Homelessness Team at Monarch Housing Associates, where she worked with various municipalities to develop plans to end homelessness, before managing permanent supportive housing projects as the Director of Real Estate Development for the New Jersey Community Development Corporation.Ms. Moore then spent 10 years with Hudson County Division of Housing and Community Development — first as the Program Director for housing assistance, then as Division Chief, and briefly as the Division Director in 2020 — introducing new housing initiatives and managing federal grants for community development and homeless programs.  Jaymie Santiago has been working for the progress of New Brunswick’s residents since 2004. He began his work with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension and was instrumental in creating a citywide network of Food Hubs consisting of farmers markets and community gardens. In 2009, he served on the initial planning committee that developed the New Brunswick Community Food Alliance. And in 2011, he was the Co-Director of Rutgers Against Hunger, a university-wide initiative offering temporary relief to families faced with hunger across New Jersey. Mr. Santiago joined New Brunswick Tomorrow as Director of Operations in 2012, becoming President in 2016. He managed the Healthier New Brunswick initiative; designed to improve the overall health of city residents. Khaatim Sherrer El is the Executive Director of Clinton Hill Community Action (CHCA), a nonprofit community development corporation working to revitalize Newark’s Clinton Hill neighborhood. He brings more than twenty years of experience leading place-based initiatives, managing strategic partnerships, and building organizational capacity. Since its founding in 2019, he has grown the organization to 23 full-time staff members with an annual budget of $4.5M -- 95% of the organization's staff lives in the neighborhood, representing $2.5M of economic development being reinvested into the community. CHCA's priorities include Housing & Environmental Justice, Food Security & Economic Justice, Arts & Creative Placemaking, Community Building, and Citizen Journalism & Advocacy. To-date, CHCA has assisted nearly 700 residents with securing emergency rental assistance to prevent evictions, cleaned up and added decorative murals on 62 abandoned properties, secured $700,000 in housing subsidy to build 10 new units of affordable housing, and collaborated with 8 local food pantries to serve 1,000 neighborhood residents in need each month.
Anthony Smith took on the role of Executive Director at Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District in 2014, leading the organization as it aims to improve stability, ensure housing, and build community in the Newark neighborhood through increased cultural and artistic opportunities. His current position headlines his 30 years of dedication to place-based economic and community development. He has experience as a Project Manager at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and as a Project Manager for various community and cultural initiatives on the Newark Municipal Council. Mr. Smith also serves in leading positions at the Newark Museum of Art, the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation, the New Jersey Nature Conservancy, Newark-based real estate and community investment nonprofit corporation Landbank, and as the Commissioner of Landmarks and Historical Preservation for the City of Newark.
 Sarah Steward is the Chief Executive Officer at HomeFront, a non-profit agency dedicated to ending family homelessness and breaking the cycle of poverty for families in Central New Jersey. At HomeFront, Ms. Steward offers forward-looking strategic leadership to HomeFront, ensuring the organization continues to adapt and innovate to best meet the current and future needs of the community and achieve HomeFront’s ambitious mission. In her capacity as CEO, Ms. Steward directs all aspects of the organization including operations of over 35 programs, management over 120 staff, financial oversight, resource development and external relations. Ms. Steward also currently serves as a Councilwoman in the Township of Ewing.
Associate Members
 Barbara George Johnson is the Vice President of External Affairs and Urban Policy and Executive Director, John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research, Kean University and has been nominated by President Joe Biden as a member of the board of trustees of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. With more than 30 years of experience as a public policy professional, Johnson has shaped economic, health and social policy in the Garden State. At the John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy, she oversees the work and mission of the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association, a unique organization of 32 urban mayors engaged in collective policymaking. The Institute focuses on urban environmental policy, public health policy, early childhood policy, and instruction in leadership development and civic engagement. Johnson has an extensive background in health care, public health and public policy. Early in her career, she spearheaded the development of the Newark Kids Initiative for the Newark Health Department, which focused on healthcare and social services for children impacted by domestic violence. She also served on the CDC-funded Newark Prevention Marketing Initiative and other task forces on HIV/AIDS.  John Keller, Director of Education and Outreach, coLAB ArtsJohn was born and raised in the City of New Brunswick and works in NYC and internationally as a freelance actor. Through his work at coLAB Arts, he is committed to creating projects that use the arts as a lens to examine complex issues that affect community. While serving as Director of Education for coLAB Arts, he has produced main-stage productions and initiated educational residencies in several central New Jersey schools. Mr. Keller curates and directs coLAB Arts’ Trueselves oral history and theater project in partnership with the Pride Center of New Jersey and Rutgers Oral History Archive. He is also the Board Chair for New Brunswick’s Town Clock Community Development Corporation. John earned his undergraduate degree at Holy Cross and holds a Masters in Fine Arts in Acting from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts. He has taught theater at all grade levels in a variety of residency programs as well as at Rider University, Westminster Choir College and is currently teaching Theater for Social Development at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, and Acting at Fairleigh Dickinson University. .
 Alle Ries is the Regional Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Officer for M&T Bank. In this role, she serves as a liason between the bank and community-based organizations throughout NJ to develop and administer creative initiatives that meet the needs of low- to moderate-income individuals and their families. Prior to joining the bank, she served as the Director of Community & Economic Development and Director of Program and Fund Development at La Casa de Don Pedro. She joined the Network's Board of Directors in 2018.
Board Member Emeritus
 Joseph Della Fave, is the former Executive Director of the Ironbound Community Corporation, retiring from the position in 2019. During his tenure the multi-service nonprofit agency was recognized by local, state and national organizations for the impactful and innovative work they were doing in the Ironbound community. The Network is very appreciative that although retired Mr. Della Fave continues to be an active and valued member of our Board.
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Chair - Edward Bethea serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Gateway Community Action Partnership. He oversees all financial, managerial and revenue-generating departments and activities within the agency. He is the chief negotiator of all contracts and leases and serves as chief developer on all construction projects. He is responsible for the Operations, Finance and Human Resources Departments as well as, Head Start, Health Services, Economic Development, Social Services, Information Technology, Weatherization, Property Management and Facility Maintenance. He brings years of experience in tax consulting, financial planning, cash flow projection and asset management to Gateway, and maintains approval authority on all agency spending. He is also directly responsible for the interactions between Gateway and financial institutions and governmental entities. Mr. Bethea currently serves as President of the Bridgeton City Municipal Council and joined the Network Board of Directors in 2020. 
Vice Chair - Pilar Hogan Closkey, 
Treasurer - Daniel Antonellis has served as President of Region Nine Housing Corporation (RNHC) since 2012, developing high-quality affordable housing and providing services to families, seniors and disabled individuals. Prior to becoming RNHC President, he served as a Staff Representative for the Communications Workers of America, Local 1038 and spent nearly 25 years at the New Jersey Department of Labor prior to that. He is a former Vice President and Board President of the ARC Mercer and a founding member of the Board of Orphan Sponsorship International (OSI). Mr. Antonellis joined the Network Board of Directors in 2018.
Mark Valli is the CEO for Norwescap, a well-established community action agency, providing a wide variety of programs and services to over 30,000 low-income individuals and families in the 5 Northwest counties of the State. Previously, Mr. Valli served as CEO for the Community Charter School of Paterson (CCSP). Prior to his service with CCSP, Mr. Valli was the founding President & CEO of New Jersey After 3 (NJA3) which was the nation’s first statewide public/private partnership created to expand evidence-based afterschool opportunities. NJA3 served over 75,000 students in over 120 schools across the State. Previously Mr. Valli served as Vice President of New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC) where he was responsible for corporate and foundation outreach, fundraising, program development, and external relations. Before joining NJCDC, Mark served six years as one of two founding staff people with the New Jersey Commission on National & Community Service and served for 2 years in the Governor’s Office under Governor Jim Florio. Mark spent 2 years working for a management consulting firm that specialized in facilities and energy management. Mr. Valli has served as Board Chair of the New Jersey Center for Nonprofit Corporations and Vice-Chair of Leadership New Jersey Graduate Organization.
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