GBC Names Nekoro Gomes and Nick Henninger-Ayoub to Two Strategy-Focused Positions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2023 MEDIA CONTACT: Amy Burke Friedman, PROFILES 410-243-3790 / afriedman@profilespr.com THE GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE CONTINUES TEAM EXPANSION WITH TWO STRATEGYFOCUSED POSITIONS: VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS NEKORO GOMES AND DIRECTOR OF POLICY & RESEARCH NICK HENNINGER-AYOUB (Baltimore, Md.) – The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) today announced two additional team appointments – Nekoro Gomes as Vice President of Communications and Nick Henninger-Ayoub as Director of Policy and Research for the region’s leading business advocacy organization.

“The GBC is committed to diving deep into the challenges our region faces, while amplifying a message of optimism and progress. Nekoro and Nick bring the expertise and the knowledge to help move the new GBC forward, fostering economic opportunities for the region and communicating our work more broadly,” said GBC President & CEO Mark Anthony Thomas.

Gomes, who will officially join GBC in mid-April, will lead the organization’s newly combined communications and events staff and will work with GBC’s board and leadership team to reposition the regional marketing and economic branding message. One of his first assignments will be to lead the new branding of GBC to more accurately reflect the organization following its merger with the Economic Alliance of Greater Baltimore (EAGB).

Gomes brings over a decade of experience developing and executing integrated marketing campaigns and shaping the narrative around pressing public policy challenges. Most recently, he served as Marketing Strategy Director for the New York City Housing Authority, where he helped positively position the largest public housing authority in North America through the strategic placement of stories across paid and earned media. Among many achievements while with the NYCHA, Gomes oversaw the communications strategy and media relations for the Authority’s multi-billion-dollar real estate development activities, messaged the agency’s sustainability and health initiatives, and fostered relationships with key stakeholders to achieve organizational goals and public relations objectives.

Prior to NYCHA, Gomes was a Creative Marketing Strategist with the New York City-based strategic communications and reputation management firm Rubenstein, where he produced and executed integrated media campaigns and publicity opportunities for clients across the real estate, government, nonprofit, legal and financial sectors. The formative start of his career began at City Limits, a 47-year-old nonprofit media organization that uses investigative journalism to identify urban problems, examine their causes, explore solutions and equip communities to take action. During his time there, Gomes

progressed from Community Engagement Manager to Director of Marketing and Audience Development. A highlight of his tenure at City Limits involved the development and launch of the Tackling Poverty Conversation & Networking Series, a panel series that brought together thought leaders to discuss pressing policy challenges.

“The arc of my career has been dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to the information they need to improve their lives and envision a future for their communities,” said Gomes. “The Greater Baltimore area offers a wealth of resources, institutions and passionate stakeholders, and I’m looking forward to highlighting this region’s tremendous potential in my role here at the GBC.” Gomes earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and a Master of Arts degree in Media Studies from The New School. In January 2019, Gomes enlisted in the New York Army National Guard and currently serves as a Sergeant for the 133rd Composite Supply Company based in Brooklyn, New York. In August 2021, Gomes was cited by his unit for his contributions helping to manage the COVID-19 response in New York State.

Henninger-Ayoub joins the GBC team on March 13 as Director of Policy & Research, a role in which he will shape and publish public policy, data-driven research and bold strategies to support the region’s vitality and economic growth. He will conduct economic impact analysis on competitive opportunities, proposals and public policies. Henninger-Ayoub’s appointment continues the investments of the GBC to build out the organization’s in-house research following last month’s hiring of its first-ever Public Safety Data Officer.

Henninger-Ayoub brings more than 10 years of experience in policy analysis, data analysis, community organizing, GIS mapping and marketing/branding. He previously served as Research and Data Analyst for EAGB from 2019 to 2021, prior to the organization’s merger with GBC, and throughout the merger has served in a consulting role.

Most recently, Henninger-Ayoub served as Homeownership Programs Coordinator at the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, where he assisted with the implementation of highly successful programs to support first-time homebuyers, especially homebuyers of color. He previously was the Vice President for Strategic Partnerships at international biotechnology start-up Folia Water. He has also done short-term economic development fieldwork in Guatemala, India, Morocco and South Africa, and worked in Washington, D.C. for The World Bank Group, FHI360 and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Additional roles focused on urban policy and economic development includes those with Sage Policy Group and Southeast Community Development Corporation.

Henninger-Ayoub is a current PhD candidate in political science at Boston University, where his research analyzes overlaps between economic and political inequalities in cities through the lens of landlordtenant dynamics in low-income areas. He received his master’s degree in Public Policy and bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Maryland.

Both Gomes and Henninger-Ayoub will be relocating to Baltimore to serve in their new roles.

ABOUT THE GREATER BALTIMORE COMMITTEE The Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) is a regional organization of business and civic leaders that includes businesses, nonprofit organizations and educational and civic institutions. It is the leading voice for the private sector in the Baltimore region on issues relating to equitable economic growth, racial

inclusion, job creation, workforce development, transportation, the business climate and quality of life.

The GBC markets the region’s economic assets and opportunities and promotes Greater Baltimore as a world-class market in which to do business, live, learn and invest. The GBC’s membership includes more than 500-member organizations, including large, mid-size and small companies, nonprofits, foundations, and educational and healthcare institutions in the Greater Baltimore region. For more information, visit gbc.org. ###