NJ LGBT Chamber appoints executive director
The NJ LGBT Chamber of Commerce’s (https://www.njlgbtchamber.org) recently announced that it has appointed Augusto Penaranda Jr., MS, as its new Executive Director. Penaranda is the former-Public Information Officer (PIO) for the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs in the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General.
This newly created position is the Chamber’s first dedicated paid staffer and is the kickoff to its 2022 Realignment Plan, where it will showcase its organizational improvements aimed at better serving the interests of its members’ businesses, aid in growing a stronger local economy, and directly contribute towards shaping the LGBTQ+ community’s quality of life in the greater-New Jersey region.
Penaranda’s main objective is to build an agenda that will help lead the organization in a new direction that will help revitalize Governor Phil Murphy’s commitments to the LGBTQ community.
In Penaranda’s previous role as the PIO to the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, he served directly under the former-Director Paul Rodríguez, who now serves as the U.S. Department of Health’s deputy general counsel in President Joseph Biden’s administration.
Prior to this role, Penaranda served as the Chief External Relations Officer for the American Red Cross (ARC) of the New Jersey region in Princeton, where he designed programming, oversaw the organization’s awareness campaign rollouts, and served as the Latino Media spokesperson.
LGBTBE certification provides for more equitable access to contracting opportunities through participating state and local government agencies as well as Fortune 500 companies who are looking to increase their spend within the LGBT community. The certification process is overseen by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC). In New Jersey, LGBTBEs are not yet acknowledged statewide, only two municipalities and one county currently participate: Jersey City, Hoboken, and Essex County.
Penaranda is a longtime member in the LGBT sports scene and is actively involved with the International Gay & Lesbian Football Association (IGFLA) and the New York Gay Flag Football League (NYGFL) since 2000. He also enjoys volunteering and championing support for advocating the importance of mental health and wellness issues that the LGBT community faces. He is a Paterson native and now resides in Jersey City.
Menendez appoints New Jersey State Director
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) announced on Jan. 12 the appointment of Rudy Rodas as his new, New Jersey State Director. Rodas, native of Union City, has been serving as an associate counsel and policy advisor in the administration of Gov. Phil Murphy. Beginning Jan. 31, Rodas will oversee Sen. Menendez’s offices in Jersey City and Barrington.
As Associate Counsel with the Murphy administration, Rodas was responsible for overseeing the operations of several state and bi-state authorities including the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority, amongst others.
Prior to working as a senior member within the Murphy administration, Rodas served for five years as a bilingual attorney-advisor at the U.S. Social Security Administration. He also ran his own private law practice based in Jersey City and handled legal work representing the Colombian Consulates in Newark and New York City. Rodas received a B.B.A. in International Business from the George Washington University and his law degree from Rutgers University School of Law. In 2021, Rodas was named a Top Attorney Under 40 by the Hispanic National Bar Association and was a 2017 Institute Fellow at the New Leaders Council.
Sen. Menendez also appointed Rebecca McNeil to serve as his new Outreach Specialist based in his Jersey City office. McNeil, who most recently served as Casework Manager for Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.-7), will handle an array of issue areas including health care, women’s issues, seniors, autism, agriculture and nutrition.
Chinese chain to open in Hoboken
The Whale Tea, a chain with over 300 stores in China, is planning to open its first New Jersey location in Hoboken according to a report from Jerseydigs.com. This will be the chains seventh location in the U.S.
The report was confirmed by RIPCO Real Estate. The Whale Tea will be found at the 460-square feet space at 303 First St., Hoboken. The business began in and around the city of Nanjing before branching out to Connecticut and Flushing in Queens, NY.
The Whale Tea is a bubble tea cafe with a menu that includes a cucumber fruit milk variety and a rose milk tea. The cafe will provide grab-and-go options.
Construction has yet to begun on the new location. No timetable has been made available yet.
Weichert names manager of its Bayonne office
Weichert, Realtors, announced that Jacqueline “Jacque” Greco has been named sales manager of Weichert’s Bayonne office. Greco has been a licensed real estate professional for eight years with Weichert and most recently was the Hudson County sales office recruiter for the company.
Born into a family of real estate agents, Greco joined Weichert, Realtors in 2014 as a sales associate with the Jersey City Exchange Place office. Two years later, Greco expanded her market reach into New York City through Weichert Properties. Her passion for real estate and belief in the Weichert Way made Greco a natural choice for her recent role as a Hudson County sales office recruiter for the company.
Weichert’s All Under One Roof SM offering of real estate, mortgage, insurance and closing settlement services helps deliver a streamlined customer experience. To harness the power of the All Under One Roof SM Team, customers registered in Weichert’s “We Do It All, Guaranteed!” incentive program may qualify to receive a $5,000 closing day guarantee, a $500 closing credit, a free one-year Weichert Home Warranty, and a $50 gift card for an insurance quote.
To learn about a career in real estate or the services offered by Weichert, Realtors, visit Greco at Weichert’s Bayonne office located at 151B Lefante Way or call (201) 339-8282.
M&T Bank expands financial access in New Jersey
M&T Bank is expanding the services it provides to communities with high concentrations of ethnic and racial diversity by newly designating 18 bank branches in New Jersey as multicultural banking centers.
The centers will offer banking and other financial services in customers’ preferred languages and employ bankers from the branch’s respective neighborhoods who understand the cultural nuances of the individuals and communities they serve. These branches are among the 118 multicultural banking centers the bank maintains throughout its Northeast and mid-Atlantic footprint.
The expansion of M&T’s multicultural banking centers is part of the company’s mission to be culturally fluent for all communities, especially as the region becomes more diverse. New Jersey’s Hispanic/Latino residents make up nearly 21% of the state population, while the Asian population increased almost a third between 2010 and 2020, now reaching 10% according to census data.
In New Jersey, M&T will be converting the following branch locations in Hudson County into new multicultural banking centers: Bayonne branch, 547 Broadway, Bayonne; Bayview branch, 532 Ocean Ave., Jersey City; Fifth Ward branch, 495 Manila Ave., Jersey City; Hoboken branch, 1018 Washington St., Hoboken; Jersey City branch, 2530 Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City.
At these multicultural banking centers, customers will be able to access banking services in multiple languages provided by bilingual employees and through M&T’s translation assistance platform. The centers will also create local opportunities for businesses, nonprofits and community members to attend networking events, financial literacy classes, collaborate on community projects and more.
Weichert recognizes associates with sales awards
Weichert, Realtors announced that the Bayonne office and two top-producing sales associates were recognized for exceptional sales achievement at the regional level in December.
The Bayonne office had the highest dollar volume from Weichert.com transactions in the Weichert sales region for the month. Individually, Erma Mathis-Small led the region in the same category. Fellow Bayonne sales associate Elham Soliman had the most sales in the Weichert sales region. They can be reached in Weichert’s Bayonne office at 151B Lefante Way, or by phone at (201) 339-8282.
Additionally, sales associate Shuang “Rebecca” Fu with the Jersey City Exchange Place office was recognized for outstanding industry achievement at the regional level in December. Fu had the most revenue units in the Weichert sales region. Fu can be reached in Weichert’s Jersey City Exchange Place office at 251 Washington St., or call (201) 860-4009.
Also, Weichert’s Jersey City Downtown office, a top-producing sales team, and an individual sales associate were recognized for outstanding performance at the regional level in December. The Jersey City Downtown office, which is managed by Robert Sanchez, had the highest dollar volume in the Weichert sales region, as well as the newest listings, revenue units and sales for the month.
Among teams in the region, the Nader Rezai Team led the Weichert sales region for dollar volume, listings, revenue units and sales in December. The team shared top honors for having the most listings in the entire company. Individually, Geza Gulas had the highest dollar volume in the company and the sales region for the month. They can be reached in Weichert’s Jersey City Downtown office at 273 Grove Street, or call (201) 333-4443.