When more than 1,250 people gather Dec. 8 to talk about what’s next for Newark, many of the people doing the talking will be the ones building it.
The 4th Annual Newark Summit for Economic Development, Placemaking & Innovation, held on the 16th and 17th floors of 550 Broad St., features a lineup heavy with leaders who work in the city every day. They include City Hall, the city’s economic development groups, its biggest cultural institutions, its anchor employers, its developers and at least one small business owner.
For more information and to register, click here.
Mayor Ras Baraka returns for a keynote fireside chat. And Amy Herbold, CEO of Choose New Jersey, will moderate one of the day’s conversations. She said Newark’s business community, anchor institutions and workforce give the city a strong pitch.
“As companies think about where to invest, expand, and attract talent, Newark has a compelling story to tell.”
Kerri Levine, Managing Principal of The Fidelco Group, which is hosting the summit at its 550 Broad building, said the venue reflects one of the summit’s central ideas.
“Newark’s continued progress is driven by the intersection of the private, public and philanthropic sectors,” she said.
Here’s a look at the Newark voices on the program.
City Hall and economic development
Marcus Randolph, CEO of Invest Newark, the summit’s Presenting Partner, said the city’s job now is to use its momentum well.
“Newark is experiencing significant momentum, and our responsibility is to ensure that we are deliberate about how we build upon it.”
Newark Alliance, which co-chairs the summit with Prudential Financial, will be well represented: CEO Solomon Steplight, Chief Real Estate and Investment Officer Jorge Santos and Chief
Marketing Officer Ashley Mays, who is also President of Newark Happening. Ferlanda Nixon, CEO of the Newark Regional Business Partnership, will also speak.
“It’s an opportunity to assess Newark’s economic progress, identify emerging investment opportunities, and help shape the next chapter of our city’s development”, Steplight said.
The arts
NJPAC CEO John Schreiber, who is retiring, will hold a special fireside chat on Artside, Lionsgate and Cooperman. Tim Lizura, NJPAC’s Executive Vice President of Real Estate & Capital Projects, is also on the program.
They’ll be joined by Lisa Funderburke, Director & CEO of the Newark Museum of Art; Talia Young, CEO of Newark Symphony Hall; Lauren LeBeaux Craig, Executive Director of Newark Arts; and Marcy DePina, Executive Director of the Newark City Parks Foundation. A full session is devoted to the arts as institutions, economic catalysts and partners.
Fayemi Shakur, the city’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Director, is also on the program.
Anchors and community
Carole Johnson, CEO of University Hospital; Leonard Spicer, Executive Director of the Newark Housing Authority; Carlos Lejnieks, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties; and Sarah Keh, Vice President of Inclusive Solutions at Prudential Financial, are among the speakers.
Here’s the full lineup of sessions and speakers:
• Fireside chat with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
• Special fireside chat with NJPAC CEO John Schreiber
• Arts: Institutions, Economic Catalysts and Partnerships
• Mixed-Use, Innovative Retail and Placemaking
• Office and Innovation: Growth, Capital, Talent and Placemaking
• Affordable Housing
• Multifamily
• Emerging Markets and the Region
• Capital Markets, Finance, Tax and Incentives
• Leadership Innovations in Nonprofit, Philanthropy and P3
Confirmed speakers include:
• Ras Baraka, Mayor, City of Newark
• Kerri Levine, Managing Principal, The Fidelco Group
• Solomon Steplight, CEO, Newark Alliance
• Brian Anderson, Executive Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield
• Adenah Bayoh, Founder & Principal, Adenah Bayoh & Companies
• Ron Beit, CEO, RBH Group
• Wasseem Boraie, Managing Principal, Boraie Development
• Marc Brummer, Owner, Hobby’s Delicatessen
• Shaun Callaghan, New Jersey Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company
• Andrew Camelotto, Partner, FBT Gibbons
• Jennifer Carrillo-Perez, Partner, Connell Foley
• Petra Conte, Executive Vice President, Arch Street Capital
• Lauren LeBeaux Craig, Executive Director, Newark Arts
• Jose Cruz, Senior Managing Director, JLL
• Marcy DePina, Executive Director, Newark City Parks Foundation
• Drew Fletcher, President, Greystone
• Lisa Funderburke, Director & CEO, Newark Museum of Art
• Frank Giantomasi, Founding Partner & Executive Member, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi
• Pedro Gomes, CEO, Gomes Group
• Samra Haider, CEO, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
• Bernel Hall, CEO, New Jersey Community Capital
• Samer Hanini, Founder & Managing Partner, Hanini Group
• Amy Herbold, CEO, Choose New Jersey
• Carole Johnson, CEO, University Hospital
• Sarah Keh, Vice President, Inclusive Solutions, Prudential Financial
• Carlos Lejnieks, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties
• Tim Lizura, Executive Vice President, Real Estate & Capital Projects, NJPAC
• Richard Martoglio, Chief Operating Officer, RPM Development Group
• Ashley Mays, Chief Marketing Officer, Newark Alliance, and President, Newark Happening
• Brian Murray, Founder & CEO, Shift Capital
• Ferlanda Nixon, CEO, Newark Regional Business Partnership
• Marcus Randolph, CEO, Invest Newark
• Jorge Santos, Chief Real Estate and Investment Officer, Newark Alliance
• Susan Schofer, Partner & Chief Science Officer, SOSV / HAX
• John Schreiber, CEO, NJPAC
• Jonathan Schultz, Managing Principal, Onyx Equities
• Fayemi Shakur, Arts and Cultural Affairs Director, City of Newark
• Scott Shnay, Principal, SK Development
• Calvin Souder, Founding Partner, Souder Law Group
• Leonard Spicer, Executive Director, Newark Housing Authority
• Melanie Walter, Executive Director, NJHMFA
• Elnardo Webster II, Partner, Connell Foley
• Evan Weiss, CEO, N.J. Economic Development Authority
• Melba Wilson, Founder & Chef, Melba’s Restaurant
• David Wolfe, Managing Partner, Skoloff & Wolfe
• Talia Young, CEO, Newark Symphony Hall
More speakers are expected to be announced.
