From left: Jonathan Schultz of Onyx Equities, Ferlanda Fox Nixon of the Newark Regional Business Partnership, Jennifer Mazawey of K&L Gates, Frank Ferruggia of McCarter & English LLP and Pedro Gomes of Gomes Group LLC were on hand Feb. 9 at the Newark Summit for Real Estate, Economic Development & Placemaking to announce the launch of NRBP’s Real Estate Council. — Courtesy: NRBP
By Joshua Burd
The Newark Regional Business Partnership, the longtime host of a signature commercial real estate event, is doubling down on its ties to the industry with a newly formed advisory group.
According to the organization, the Real Estate Council is meant to bring together a diverse group of NRBP members to create a trusted forum for candid, in-depth dialogue around real estate development in the greater Newark region. Members will share perspectives, address challenges and help create opportunities, while playing an instrumental role in shaping the group’s annual Real Estate Market Forum to ensure its relevance, impact and alignment with market realities.
“Real estate plays a critical role in shaping the future of Newark and our broader region,” said Ferlanda Fox Nixon, CEO and president of the Newark Regional Business Partnership. “By launching the Real Estate Council, we are creating a space for industry leaders to come together, exchange insights and help guide high impact programming. We’re excited to engage and learn directly from this community as we continue to build programs that support thoughtful growth and neighborhood transformation.”
Initiated by board members Frank Ferruggia, a partner with McCarter & English LLP and former NRBP board chair, and Carissa Borraggine, Realtor & Business Broker, the council includes the following NRBP member organizations, among many others:
- Audible
- Carissa Borraggine, Realtor & Business Broker
- CBRE
- CenterPoint Properties
- Clinton Hill Community Action
- Connell Foley
- CSG Law
- The Da Silva Team
- Edison Properties
- EqualSpace
- FBT Gibbons
- K&L Gates
- Makerhoods
- McCarter & English LLP
- MIG Real Estate
- Montclair State University
- New Community Corporation
- Newark Housing Authority
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Onyx Equities / Gateway Center
- OPEX CRE Management LLC
- PNC Bank
- Savills
- Turner Construction Co.
- Turning Point Community Services
- University Hospital
“The Newark business community and the Newark Regional Business Partnership have always been committed to the growth and development of our city and the greater region,” Ferruggia said. “The Real Estate Council will contribute to that mission by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas, education, and advocacy for those interested in the success of real estate development in greater Newark.”
The Real Estate Council is open to NRBP members whose work intersects with real estate, development, finance, design, construction and related fields, according to a news release. Through ongoing engagement, the council will help ensure that NRBP’s real estate programming continues to reflect the priorities and perspectives of those actively shaping the region.
NRBP’s growing slate of industry- and affinity-based councils also includes groups tied to transportation, nonprofits, entrepreneurs and women, which it said are designed to deepen member engagement and foster meaningful collaboration. Together, the councils expand opportunities for NRBP members to build relationships with like-minded, industry-focused peers while contributing to dialogue and programming that supports the continued growth of Newark and the surrounding region.
