Who’s Who

Eliane Abou-Assi Regional Program Manager, New York CareerSpring

eabouassi@careerspring.org

Eliane Abou-Assi (she/her) leads business development in New York and the surrounding Tri-State area for CareerSpring, serving as an ongoing liaison for Partners and Advisees to ensure optimal career access outcomes for local stakeholders. Eliane has over a decade of experience with nonprofit organizations, specifically with causes related to mental health, child development, and social equity. Originally from California, Eliane moved to NYC for her education. She holds a BA in Psychology from St. John’s University, and an EdM and MA in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University. Eliane’s passion for helping others remains outside the workplace, where she actively works with the autism community.

Marquis Barron

Senior Parole Officer

New Jersey State Parole Board marquis.barron@spb.nj.gov

I am a Senior Parole Officer with the New Jersey State Parole Board. I started 9 years ago. I am currently assigned to the Training and Recruitment Unit. Prior to this unit I worked in SOG (Special Operations Group Gang Unit for approximately 3 years, before that I was in the CPU Community Programs Unit, and started my career in the SOMU Sex Offender Management Unit). I love my job and believe that is the best kept secret career in law enforcement. You have the opportunity to work with individuals who are given a second chance and have the authority to put criminals away. You wear multiple hats as a Parole Officer and I hope you decide to start and enjoy a career at this agency as I did.

Vivian Bonilla Outreach

NJ TRANSIT vbonilla@njtransit.com

The third-largest transportation agency in North America and fully committed to delivering safe and reliable services. This tactic has driven our success in developing real-world solutions that affect many individuals lives every day. We are looking for talented students to hire for our Internship Program who can help initiate our solutionbased business model to the next level. As an intern at NJ TRANSIT, you will oversee projects from concepts to completion. Our interns step away from the regular sitting at the desk to having the opportunity at hands-on experience with several business units within NJ TRANSIT. Our ideal candidate is passionate about learning and using creative solutions to make an impact on the lives of others every day. The Annual NJ TRANSIT Internship Program is a 10-Week paid program geared towards college students enrolled in an accredited degree program.

Natalie Brathwaite

Vice President, Government

Relations and Public Affairs

Fidelity Investments natalie.brathwaite@fmr.com

Peter Cafone Workforce Development Specialist Carefinders Total Care

Pcafone@carefinders.org

Natalie Brathwaite is the Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs for Fidelity Investments, one of the world’s largest financial services providers. In this role, she is responsible for Fidelity’s government relations, community investing and civic efforts for New Jersey and New York and leads the firm’s advocacy and engagement efforts on a wide range of state-level issues related to investment advice.

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Divia Cajero

Campus Recruiter PwC divia.c.cajero@pwc.com

Alejandra Carbajal

Campus Recruiter for Operations and Corporate Services Division Morgan Stanley alejandra.carbajal@ morganstanely.com

Jill

Cepero Health SolutionsVice President Aon

jill.cepero@aon.com

Keven Friedman Asylum Officer

U.S. Citizenship Immigration Services (USCIS) Newark Asylum Office

Keven.h.friedman@uscis.dhs.gov

Here, you’ll learn with purpose, lead with heart and put your skills to work to make a meaningful difference in the world.

Alejandra has 4 years of experience working in career readiness programs. As a first gen graduate, she is passionate about helping students be strong candidates for the workforce. At Alejandra’s current role she recruits for Morgan Stanley’s Operations and Corporate Services internships.

Samantha Easton

Senior Regulatory & Scientific Affairs Specialist Gerber samantha.easton@ us.nestle.com

Keven H. Friedman has been serving as an asylum officer at the Newark Asylum Office since November 2019. Prior to that, Keven did some pro bono immigration for Kids In Need of Defense (KIND) representing a minor in immigration court and asylum office. Earlier in his career, he was a Staff Attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, in Atlanta, Georgia and at the Legal Aid Society in New York. Keven received a Juris Doctor from Hofstra University, a bachelor’s degree in Radio, TV and Film from Northwestern University (Go Cats!), and most recently was ordained as a rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS). He also has served communities in various settings, including synagogues, assisted living facilities, and as an all-faith chaplain. Keven enjoys playing adult ice hockey, whale watching, skiing/snowboarding, and mussar character development.

I am a Senior Regulatory Affairs specialist at Gerber (Nestle Nutrition). I studied nutrition at Penn State University and received my master’s in nutrition and food science at Montclair State University. I’ve been with Nestle for 7 years, starting out in sales and making my way into regulatory.

Yanivis Hage Chief Talent Officer iLearn Schools yanivishage@gmail.com

Mikal James Assistant Administrative Director Winsor Elite Care

Mikalj@winsorelitecare.com

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Lauren Johnson

Sports Management Assistant Professor New Jersey City University ljohnson14@njcu.edu

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Sean Keating Partner, Rosso Financial Group Founder, Patriot Financial Advisors sean@patriotfa.com

Jennifer Kinsey

Regulatory Affairs Manager Gerber Products Co jennifer.kinsey@us.nestle.com

Victoria Loehwing

Employee Relations Brand Manager

Hudson Milestones

Hmmarketing@ hudsonmilestones.org

Dr. Lauren M. Johnson is an assistant professor in the Management department (Sport Management) at New Jersey City University. She recently obtained a PhD in Sport Management and Policy at the University of Georgia. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing and Master’s Degree in Sport Administration from Hampton University. Her research interests include strategic leadership, consumer behavior in sport, and the globalization of the business of sport. She has disseminated her research in academic and sport business conferences around the world. Prior to academia, she has worked as a program director for professional sport organizations. She is a former professional basketball athlete and native of Metro Atlanta.

30+ years in the Financial Industry. Worked as a Market Maker at Goldman Sachs and Director of Risk and Head of US Operations for Financial Planning US at UBS before starting my own tax practice, Patriot Financial Advisors in 2010 and becoming partner in Rosso Financial Group in 2016 where is in charge of Wealth Planning and tax strategies for wealth planning clients. I have my MS in Personal Financial Planning, and I am a CFP and IRS Enrolled Agent.

My name is Jennifer Kinsey and I work in regulatory affairs for Nestle Nutrition/Gerber Products Company. I graduated from Rutgers with a BS in Nutritional Science in 2012, worked at a food distribution company for 2 years in quality assurance, and then started at Nestle in 2015. I have been with Nestle for a little over 7 years, and moved with the company from New Jersey to Arlington, VA in 2018.

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Cristy Lugo

Recruiter

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts cristy.lugo@wyndham.com

Malcom Mackenzie

Regional Vice President

EQUITABLE ADVISORS malcolm.mackenzie@ equitable.com

Eldonie S. Mason, Esq.

Founding Member, Attorney, Legal And Business Affairs Mason Firm, LLC eldonie@masonfirmllc.com

Ridge McKnight

Brand Marketing Lead

Sling TV ridge.mcknight@sling.com

Anainya Mishra

Data Analyst

New Jersey City University amishra@njcu.edu

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Erin Moss Director

The Orchard School erinmoss@orchard-center.com

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Eldonie Mason, a native of the Caribbean island of Antigua, is an entrepreneur and experienced entertainment, business and fashion attorney with Mason Firm, LLC. She is also a former arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association where she presided over cases involving entertainment disputes and FINRA where she heard disputes involving brokers and investors. Additionally, Eldonie is a professor and taught Music Publishing, Licensing and Copyright at York College of Pennsylvania. She graduated magna cum laude from New Jersey City University and cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law and is licensed to practice in NY, NJ and FL. In 2020, she founded Predestined Media, LLC to create and distribute diverse content. Her first project from Predestined Media is a children’s book, “The Adventures of Princess Anyah of Antibarba” about a Black 6-year-old princess who goes on different adventures.

Eager to connect and share more with you.

Eager to connect and share more with you.

Eager to connect and share more with you.

Cheislyn Mujica HR Manager Hudson Partnership CMO

cmujica@hudsoncmo.org

Sietse Nabben

General Manager

Canopy by Hilton Jersey City

Arts District snabben@canopyjerseycity.com

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Danielle Natoli Recruiter Practice Lead Aston Carter dnatoli@astoncarter.com

Sietse Nabben comes to Canopy by Hilton Jersey City with over twenty years of professional hotel and hospitality experience. He has held a variety of managerial and directorial roles at several of the world’s most highly regarded and unique hospitality companies, most recently serving as Managing Director at Highgate’s Royalton Park Avenue Hotel, as well as playing a crucial role in the opening of Hotel Hendricks in Manhattan’s Bryant Park neighborhood. Before his arrival in NYC, Sietse spent time in leadership roles in SF Bay area, Chicago and Munich, Germany in a variety of executive roles. Born in the Netherlands, Nabben has both visited, lived and worked in some of the world’s most exciting destinations, always finding himself immersed in each community and discovering its unique sense of hospitality. He prides himself on being highly competitive and encourages his employees to explore and obtain a new world view that they may bring back to their careers with Canopy.

Accounting and Finance Recruiter for Northern, NJ.

Michelle Narvaez Talent Acquisition

Oishii.com michelle@oishii.com

Amelia Palmer

Human Resources Specialist

Corporate Recruiter

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

USCIS

HROC-STAR@uscis.dhs.gov

Vanessa Peralta-Mitchell

Owner vanessa@vcpm.com

VCPM, Inc.

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Human Resources Specialist (Corporate Recruiter) at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In this role, my mission is to identify, attract, and inspire exceptional individuals toward a career of service in fulfillment of the USCIS mission. I am proud to be a part of USCIS, where we change lives every day.

Vanessa C. Peralta-Mitchell is owner of VCPM, Inc. a business dedicated to using the power of the pavement to empower women to live a life without limits. She’s taken her passion for running and turned it into her purpose with her Game Changers program. This program provides resources and funds for Women of Color to become Certified Run Coaches thus redefining who is seen as the experts and leaders in the run industry. As a Run Coach, a Founder and an advocate for women in the running space, she is redefining the run industry and bringing in a wave of much needed change to run leadership.

Shaka Pope CEO

Prime $ Prim Studio of the Arts

Info@primeprim2013.com

Valerie Rawls CEO

TeamUP Counseling vrawls@teamupcounseling.com

Keely Respass

Partner Renewals Rep GoTo Technologies

Keely.Respass@goto.com

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Charles Ricciardi

Operations & Creative Director NJ Motion Picture & Television Commission

Charles.Ricciardi@sos.nj.gov

Jennifer Rizzi

Sales Enablement Manager Squarespace jrizzi@squarespace.com

TeamUP Counseling provides clinical, supportive, and respite services to young people with intellectual disabilities. Services are offered within the youth’s home and/or at our community center. Employment opportunities range from full-time, part-time, and hourly.

Professionally has more than 26 years’ experience in Event Management Planning & Program Development, Marketing & Promotions, at a variety of renowned companies; most specifically Madison Square Garden, Court Television, and presently GoTo Technology, where she is a Renewals Partner Representative. In addition, she is Co-Founder and Creative Producer of Wenches Behind the Wheel LLC, and at present in story development of documentary film “Daughters of the High Seas”. Keely is a native of Brooklyn, NY but currently a resident in Jersey City, NJ and very active in community relations & volunteer services. She was a 2018/2019 Board member of the Rotary Club of Jersey City and Lead Planner on several signature fundraising and service events (the Food Truck & Music Festival 2016, Warm Coat Project 2018, and Power of One Human Trafficking Awareness 2019 ), 2018/2020 she was Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer in Hudson County for children in foster care. Presently Keely is a Board Member for the Secaucus Rotary Club, volunteer Film Festival Judge for Signal-to-Noise Film Festival, and “Mission Possible” Global Service Officer at GoTo Technology. Keely is an honored recipient of “Rotarian of the Year” 2018/2019 on behalf of the Rotary Club of Jersey City.

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Jennifer Rizzi leads enterprise content strategy for Squarespace as Sales Enablement Manager, where she manages the online Enterprise Resource Hub and produces customer-facing sales materials. Formerly a director and spokesperson for Videolicious Inc., she has trained Fortune 500 clients around the world on mobile video strategy, script writing and on-camera performance. She was the first mobile-only video journalist for the New York Daily News and has worked as an on-air TV reporter in two state capitals (Harrisburg, PA and Charleston, WV.)

David Schoner

Associate Director New Jersey Motion Picture and TV Commission

DSchonerJr@aol.com

For over 38 years David W. Schoner Jr. has been Associate Director for the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission. David has coordinated thousands of Hollywood productions, including The Sopranos, the Warner Bros. smash hit Joker, Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, the HBO miniseries The Plot Against America and 2 seasons of the Hulu TV series Wu-Tang: An American Saga. David serves his community as being a member of the Cedar Grove Board of Education, where he’s involved in various educational and charitable endeavors, and also is on the Board of Trustees of the Garden State Film Festival, Women in Media – Newark Women’s History Month Film Festival, Westfield International Film Festival, and the Monmouth International Film Festival.

Julie Schwab

Supervising Manager and Recruiter American Income Life - Giglione Ackerman Agency jschwab@ailnj.com

Anthony Smith President Blacks In Law Enforcement Servicing the Community (BLESC) blesc2017@gmail.com

Erin Stanton Global Head of Analytics Client Support Virtu Financial estanton@virtu.com

Jonathan Cox Managing Director CoxPHIT, LLC jcox@coxphit.com

Desiree Wayne

Asylum Officer | DHS | USCIS| Newark Asylum Office desiree.w.wayne@uscis.dhs.gov

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B.L.E.S.C is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, that focuses on connecting the community to law enforcement. We understand the strains often associated with dealing with community and law enforcement relations. As community members who work in law enforcement we aim to bridge that gap where needed.

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Desiree Wayne is looking forward to sharing more about themselves with you!