Board of Directors

Brian M. Keenan
Build with Purpose, Inc.
www.bwpurpose.org
Brian Keenan is the founder and president of Build with Purpose.  Prior to Build with Purpose Mr. Keenan served as the Vice President of Financial Products and Services at New Jersey Community Capital where he was instrumental in expanding the organization’s financial activities, including committing the organization’s first Charter School loan, first Social Enterprise equity investment and expanding the organization’s financial capital basis.

Mr. Keenan has more than 15 years of experience in the field of Community Economic Development. While serving as Project Manager for Common Ground Community, a recognized leader in the Supportive Housing Industry, Mr. Keenan oversaw the development of 1,300 units of housing. As Project Manager for The Community Builders, one of the nation’s larger non-profit affordable housing developers, Mr. Keenan oversaw the development of the Jersey City YMCA, New Jersey’s largest Supportive Housing project. In addition, Mr. Keenan worked on the New Brunswick HOPE VI Project, the comprehensive revitalization of the lower George Street neighborhood of New Brunswick, NJ.  Mr. Keenan has a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Social Work from Molloy College, a Certificate in Community Economic Development from Pratt Institute and a Masters of Business Administration from St. Peter’s College.

Jason E. Kirin
Port Authority of NY and NJ
www.panynj.gov
Jason Kirin serves as the Manager of Leasing and Property Development in the Port Commerce Department for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.  In this role Mr. Kirin oversees and manages all real estate leasing activity for the 3rd largest seaport in the country.  Mr. Kirin negotiates commercial real estate leases for seaport container terminals, auto terminals, bulk facilities and industrial warehouses. Prior to this position Mr. Kirin served as the Manager of Government and Community Relations for the Port Commerce Department. In this role he worked with government agencies to ensure proper delivery of projects, developed and executed the department’s federal legislative agenda and oversaw outreach to key business and community groups.   Before joining the Port Authority, Mr. Kirin was the Chief of Staff for the New Jersey Commerce Commission overseeing the state economic development agency’s daily operations.  Mr. Kirin earned a B.A. degree from Drew University in Madison, NJ.  He went on to complete a Masters in Public Administration from Rutgers University School of Public Policy and Administration. He is also a licensed New Jersey real estate salesperson.

Michael J. Lubben, Esq.
Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione
www.gibbonslaw.com
Michael Lubben is an attorney and a Director at Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione, P.C., one of the largest law firms in New Jersey. Mr. Lubben is based in Gibbons’ Newark office and he is a member of their Corporate Department. At Gibbons, Mr. Lubben focuses on transactional work, specializing in commercial lending and real estate finance transactions. He has represented investment funds, banks and other financial institutions, governmental authorities, and businesses in, among other matters, commercial financings, bond indenture financings, low income housing tax credits, real estate loans and letters of credit. Prior to joining the law profession, Mr. Lubben had a career in the banking field, working for United Jersey Bank, First Fidelity Bank and First Union National Bank.

Mr. Lubben received his Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School, where he was a Notes and Comments Editor of the NYLS Journal of Human Rights. He also graduated, magna cum laude, from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey, where he obtained a Bachelor of Sciences degree with a double major in Economics and Finance and a concentration in Information Systems. Following is a link to the Gibbons’ website and a more detailed biography for Mr. Lubben: http://www.gibbonslaw.com/biographies/attorney_biography.php?attorney_id=114

Lori Matheus
New Jersey Economic Development Authority
www.njeda.com
Lori Matheus is Vice President of Regional Business Development for the NJ Economic Development Authority.  In this position she is responsible for developing and executing the strategic plan for business development and manages key statewide initiatives.  Prior to joining EDA in 2006, she served as Chief Operating Officer for New Jersey Community Capital, a nonprofit corporation and certified community development financial institution that provides capital and consulting services supporting community and economic development. She began her financial career in 1990 as a financial analyst with Chemical Bank New Jersey and through a merger, joined PNC Bank as a Vice President in 1996.  She is a graduate of Rider University, where she earned a B.S. degree in finance.

David M. Scheck
E + Co
www.eandco.dwellcreative.com
David Scheck is Chief Investment Officer at E+Co where he manages and oversees their portfolio of global investments. E+Co makes high impact investments in clean energy businesses in developing countries. Mr. Scheck previously served as the chief executive of New Jersey Community Capital, a socially responsible financial intermediary facilitating the flow of money and knowledge to create wealth and well-being in New Jersey’s communities, where he grew their capital management and broadened their product offerings Prior to NJCC, Mr. Scheck was hired as the inaugural Director of Finance of the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority. Prior to his position with the NJRA, Mr. Scheck spent three years with PNC Bank as lead lender in an entrepreneurial unit responsible for economic development loans and investments for the New Jersey market. Following four years of progressive training as a credit management trainee and commercial lender with a commercial bank headquartered in New Jersey and as a research analyst with an investment bank on Wall Street, Mr. Scheck spent one year as a VISTA volunteer providing consulting services to affordable housing developers and community development corporations serving the urban and rural neighborhoods of North Carolina.

Mr. Scheck is an adjunct professor at Rutgers University’s Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Mr. Scheck was a fellow in Leadership New Jersey’s Class of 1999; has been nominated to serve on the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance’s Community Financial Services Advisory Board; is a member of the Boards of Directors of CityWorks, University Ventures, and Build with Purpose; and is a member of the Wall Street Without Walls, JPMorgan Chase, Merrill Lynch CDC NMTC, PNC Community Partners NMTC, TRF NMTC, and Rutgers University Community Development Institute Advisory Boards. He holds an MBA from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Delaware. .

Catherine Syslo
Smolin, Lupin & Co.
www.smolin.com
Catherine Syslo is a Certified Public Accountant with a total of 24 years experience in both public accounting and internal audit.  She has been working with Smolin, Lupin & Co. since 2005 as the Chairperson of Accounting and Auditing Department and Chairperson of CPE/Training Department.  She is a member of the firm-wide employee benefit plan audit team and participates in the firm’s Leadership University, focusing on management techniques, staff mentoring, time management and business development.

Prior to joining Somlin, Lupin & Co., she worked as an independent consultant for 3 years, Internal Audit Manager for Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Audit Senior for Price Waterhouse.  She has a B.S. degree in Accounting from St. John’s University..

Andrew B. Zezas
Real Estate Strategies Corporation
www.realstrat.com
Andrew B. Zezas, SIOR, a long recognized authority in the corporate real estate industry, leads the diverse team at Real Estate Strategies Corporation, a New Jersey based advisory firm that helps companies create and execute Business Driven Real Estate Solutions. Mr. Zezas is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Company, and for implementing its vision of creating profitability for its clients through the effective planning and implementation of real estate solutions. He combines his more than 19 years experience in corporate real estate with his extensive technical understanding of strategic planning, financial engineering, creative transaction structures, leasing and sales, to provide clients with robust business-oriented real estate services. Following is a link to the Real Estate Strategies Corporation website and a more detailed biography for Mr. Zezas: http://www.realstrat.com/profileazezas.htm

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