Staff
Michael Wall (Executive Director)
Desiree Sealey (Executive Assistance / Loan Coordinator)
Dulce Perez (Technical Assistance Coordinator)
Tesha Kelley (Accountant)
Mitchell Greene (Loan Program Coordinator)
Joselito Gallardo (Loan Fund Manager)
Chike Uzoka (UEDI Program Manager)
Santiago Paniagua (Spanish Language Program Manager)
Alfredo Dante Rivera (Spanish Language Program Manager)
Board of Trustees
George E. Jones AIA. (Board Chair)
Mr. Jones is founder and principal at Johnson Jones Architects, a successful architectural firm that started as a microenterprise business more than 20 years ago. Mr. Jones is the principal of a business that has an office in a LIC in Newark, NJ. Also, a significant amount of his work is for project owners in LICs in New Jersey.
Chip Hallock (Treasurer)
Mr. Hallock is President of the Newark Regional Business Partnership, a business organization that provides its members with connections, information and advocacy that will enhance their business opportunities, strengthen the region’s business infrastructure and revitalize the City of Newark.
Anthony Santiago (Board Member)
Mr. Santiago is the Deputy Chief of Staff-Office of the Mayor for the City of Newark and former Chief Operating Officer of Newark Now, a community based social service agency in Newark that addresses wealth creation and family development of residents of low income communities.
Sandeep Kancherla (Board Member)
Mr. Kancherla is the founder and principal of GardenStateApartments.com, a real estate brokerage based in the LIC of Newark, NJ. Mr. Kancherla is an award-winning innovator and hands-on consultant combining technology and personal relationships to achieve client goals.
Tamara Mangum-Thomas (Board Member)
Mrs. Mangum-Thomas is President and CEO of Sharpened Image, Inc. a full service human resource management and human capital organization. Sharpened Image, Inc. (S.I., Inc.) provides a full range of Human Resource Management Solutions designed to enhance workplace and workforce productivity and ensure continuity of service across all levels.
Magdalena M. Czerniawski, CPA. (Board Member)
Ms. Czerniawski is an Experienced Tax Senior at J.H. Cohn LLP specializing in non-for-profit tax practices. Ms. Czerniawski belongs to both the New York and New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants and is the founder and Vice President of the charity organization, the Polish Club of Newark.
Dr. Michele C. Scott. (Board Member)
Ms. Scott is CEO of WeEmpower Partnerships, LLC and an adjunct professor at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Ms. Scott is an expert in organizational diversity issues and opportunities and looks to foster and manage collaborative relationships within and between Academia Administration through Academic and Industry advisory Boards.
Akinyemi T. Akiwowo, Esq. (Board Member)
Mr. Akiwowo is an Associate at Genova, Burns, & Giantomasi specializing in complex commercial litigation and white collar criminal defense, corporate internal investigations, and corporate ethics. Mr. Akiwowo is a member of the Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys and the Federal Bar Association, serves on the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on the Rules of Evidence and the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Jury Selection in Criminal and Civil trials. Mr. Akiwowo also serves on the Board of Directors for the Garden State Bar Association, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Newark Leadership Council and as an advisory board member of the New Jersey Law and Education.
Company Overview
Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation is a community development corporation, and Certified CDFI, established in 2005. The Organization is exempt from income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and similar provisions of the State code.
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GNEC provides financial assistance and training to small businesses in a variety of topical areas, including financial literacy for entrepreneurs, business planning and business management across a myriad of industries.
- ***We have provided approximately $1,092,945 in financing to small businesses.
- ***91 percent went to individuals classified as minorities.
- ***76 percent of the dollar amounts were made in areas designated as distressed.
- ***More than 300 jobs have been created in the Greater Newark area with these loans.
These loans continue to have a positive impact on the communities they serve. With a strong commitment and dedication to assisting small businesses, the loans make a remarkable contribution to the development of new small businesses and to the expansion of existing businesses by financing things like needed equipment, inventory, or adding working capital. These borrowers could not qualify under regular banking requirements, but because of the GNEC lending activities, small businesses are opening and expanding in and around Newark.
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GNEC has provided structured entrepreneurial training and technical assistance since 2007 under the Urban Entrepreneurs Development Institute (UEDI), averaging more than 200 entrepreneurs each year. Services are provided to low- and moderate-income individuals in general as well as to target populations such as young entrepreneurs (aged 18-30), women entrepreneurs, small contractors, and previously incarcerated individuals. In the past three years alone, GNEC has graduated more than 150 individuals from its entrepreneurial training curriculum.
GNEC has roots in the Central Ward of Newark, NJ and has become a major urban business resource due to its history of providing microloans and delivering effective training and technical assistance resources. The organization is adept at identifying challenges of entrepreneurs, bringing expertise that helps the entrepreneurs address their challenges, and when possible, providing capital to help entrepreneurs start and expand their business.
Mission Statement
Economic development is the primary purpose of The Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation, and the organization carries out that mission by financing small business growth and development, job creation, community facilities, and providing financial services for low-income families. GNEC is organized to encourage and assist commercial enterprises, including those owned by minority, women and low-income entrepreneurs possessing the capability to operate successful business concerns.