Carmelo Garcia: Attitude is the Number One

Carmelo G. Garcia most recently was the Acting Deputy Mayor/Director of Economic and Housing Development for the City of Newark. The mission of the Department of Economic and Housing Development is to create economic opportunity for Newark residents and enhance the vibrancy of the city.

Previously, Carmelo served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Real Estate Officer of Newark Community Economic Development Corporation (Newark CEDC), which serves as the primary economic development agency for New Jersey’s largest city. 

Garcia received his Master of Science in Information Systems and Management from Stevens Institute of Technology and his Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Seton Hall University. He graduated from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government with an executive degree in Public Policy & Community Development, a Certification in Leadership and Management from Cornell University, and a Certification in Human Resources and Public Administration from Rutgers University.

Prior to joining Newark CEDC, Garcia served as Executive Director of the Hoboken Housing Authority where he developed hundreds of units of affordable housing in Hudson County and oversaw the management of more than 1,700 units, He also served, as the Director of Health, Human Services & Community development for the City of Hoboken. In addition to his work in various public, private, and non-profit organizations, Garcia has a long record of public service in his community and state being recognized by the who’s who of NJ. He served in the New Jersey General Assembly for the 33rd Legislative District in Hudson County and has also served as the President of the Hoboken Board of Education.

Garcia is a committed advocate of citizen rights and takes a collaborative approach to ensure all stakeholders are represented in the growth the state is seeing today. Living by the mantra “We Can, We Will, Watch Us” he brings a goal-oriented and outcome-driven attitude to his work and thrives on building relationships with partners across the redevelopment industry to get it done.