Celeste co-founded Public Works Partners out of a passion to help mission-driven organizations increase their positive impact on local communities. She’s spent over 20 years helping to cultivate healthy communities and organizations. Specializing in developing programs grounded in data analysis, management practices, and financial sustainability, she helps organizations identify ways to improve performance and measure impact and success. An urban planner by training, Celeste has led engagements developing community-driven goals through facilitating processes and bringing different stakeholders together. She has long-time expertise in labor market research and local hiring initiatives, leading efforts to generate good jobs for communities across New York and beyond. As a standout woman business owner, Celeste is also a public speaker in her areas of expertise of workforce development, urban planning, and entrepreneurship.

Experience

• At NYC Department of Small Business Services, she led the agency’s budget and human resources teams and launched large-scale business-based hiring and training initiatives
• Previously a Senior Analyst at NYC Office of Management and Budget
• MS in Urban Planning from Cornell University
• BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Graduate of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses
• Alumna of Coro Leadership New York
• Guest lecturer with Cornell College of Art, Architecture, and Planning

Outside of Public Works Partners

• Member of the Regional Plan Association’s Connecticut Committee
• Active school PTO president and Girl Scout leader
• Longtime member/leader of the alumni advisory board of the Coro New York Leadership Center
• Served as a US Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco and speaks Berber
• Loves to hike and explore new cities

Allison leads Public Works’ Client Services practice, designing solutions for complex programs and partnerships that sit at the intersection of urban planning and human service delivery. She has worked with public sector and nonprofit organizations across New York City, leading projects on program design, organizational assessments, performance improvement, and stakeholder engagement. Her goal is to always help clients fulfill their missions effectively and sustainably. An expert facilitator, Allison frequently leads advisory boards, focus groups, and working sessions with clients.

Experience

• Led facilitation for several City-affiliated task forces, helping build consensus and identify actionable solutions for new development efforts across elected officials, City agencies, community advocates, small business owners, service providers and more
• Directed improvement efforts for over a dozen New York City nonprofits, identifying strengths, challenges, and opportunities to align resources to organizational objectives in a more sustainable way
• Formerly served at the NYC Department of Small Business Services and NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development advancing Workforce1 Career Centers and affordable housing program evaluation respectively
• B.A. in Metropolitan Studies from New York University
• M.P.A. from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University

Outside of Public Works Partners

• Proud alum of Coro Leadership New York
• A pop culture addict, with a particular love of teen television and podcasts that comment on the intersection of entertainment, politics, and sports
• Extremely committed to her Sunday morning pilates class

Aurelia designs and implements formative evaluation studies to strengthen the organizational capacity of nonprofit organizations to meet the needs of their program participants. She supports improvements in service coordination, data capacity within and among nonprofits, identifying promising strategies to fund capacity-building initiatives, and managing initiative stakeholders. She brings experience working on issues related to community development, economic and workforce development, postsecondary education, the delivery of human services, health and public safety, and community partnerships.

Experience

• Previously a research associate with MDRC, where she primarily focused on comprehensive community initiatives that aimed at increasing the capacity of community-based organizations to meet the overlapping needs of low- to moderate-income residents in New York City and Chicago
• Supported the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness’ efforts to coordinate a response to homelessness across 19 federal agencies and execute its national communications strategy
• M.P.A. from the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at City University of New York-Baruch College
• M.A. in sociology from Arizona State University’s School of Social and Family Dynamics, where she researched the delivery of human services to men and women experiencing homelessness in Phoenix
• B.S. in sociology with a minor in ethnic studies from Santa Clara University

Outside Public Works

• Proud alum of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s Graduate Fellowship program, and current applicant reviewer
• Volunteer with New York Cares since 2013
• Youtube workout videos are now an integral part of my life

Kethia Joseph leads Public Works Partners’ Emergency Planning & Management work, designing systems to help communities plan and coordinate resources to prepare for future disaster. Kethia leads multi-stakeholder initiatives to develop strategies to build the economic and programmatic capacity of clients so that they can respond and adapt in the face of myriad challenges. She brings experience leading the New York City Department of Small Business Services’ Neighborhood Planning practice, where she coordinated strategy, developed data-driven processes, and spearheaded commercial revitalization initiatives for place-based projects and programs across the City.

Experience

• Previously worked in various roles, most recently as Executive Director, for Neighborhood Planning for the Neighborhood Development Division of the NYC Department of Small Business Services, where she focused on supporting neighborhoods by developing innovative and data-centric processes for economic development and resiliency.
• Worked with community partners and leaders to address issues of recovery, sustainability, and resilience in the face of climate change as Coordinator for Pratt RAMP (Resiliency Adaptation Mitigation & Planning)
• M.S. City & Regional Planning, Pratt Institute
• B.S. Environmental Design, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Outside Public Works

• Consultant for BlackSpace, a collective of Black urbanists who specialize in various fields of design, including architecture, urban design, art, planning, and activism.
• Enjoys rollerblading along the Hudson River Parkway.
• Spends time mastering various multicultural dishes, especially NYT Cooking recommendations.

Moe designs evidence-based strategies that are grounded in strong program management, rigorous performance monitoring, and public-private partnership. He specializes in scaling innovative solutions to tackle urban poverty, improve economic opportunity, and strengthen the delivery of public services. As the firm’s Head of Business Development, Moe works with civic leaders to conceptualize sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges facing mission-driven organizations and local communities by leveraging Public Works’ methods, tools, and expertise.

Experience

• Designed strategically aligned operating models for government and nonprofit institutions to strengthen their service delivery by clarifying organizational relationships, defining information flows, building an organization’s varying capabilities, and executing strategic priorities
• Advised civic leaders on capital planning, government navigation and procurement, grant acquisition, and performance improvement strategies
• Previously a Senior Advisor for Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity, where he launched innovative anti-poverty programs and designed its performance management operations
• Graduate of St. John’s University (BA), NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service (MPA), and Coro Leadership New York
• Certified in User Experience Design (UXD) by General Assembly

Outside Public Works

• When not at work, you can catch Moe surfing Rockaway Beach and coaching urban youth in surfing, snowboarding, and skateboarding with STOKED Mentoring
• He serves as the Youth Coordinator for the Surfrider NYC and on the board of Newtown Creek Alliance
• Moe is an Adjunct Professor of Public Service at NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service

Favio contributes his diverse experience in public organizations and nonprofit management to help Public Works’ clients grow their capacity and service strategies to strengthen the communities they serve. He specializes in performance measurement, program evaluation, data analysis, financial analysis, strategic management, and program design. Favio is also a skilled trainer and facilitator, having experience working with a diverse group of stakeholders in New York City and abroad.

Experience

• Created 4 tools to analyze the organizational health of nonprofit clients through evaluating administrative practices, board governance, programs portfolios, and financial practices
• Co-created tools to train 20 workforce development organizations in customer journey mapping
• Led a program evaluation of a coalition of 50 human service organizations
• Worked with local NYC nonprofits in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, program evaluation, and the implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems
• Served in the Peace Corps in Paraguay for three years, supporting community groups and trained incoming volunteers and government officials on community development strategies, community health, and project management
• B.A. in Politics, Economics and Law from SUNY Old Westbury
• M.P.A from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service
• Certified Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute

Outside Public Works

• CUP 2020 New York Fellow
• Co-founded AmpleSpace, an organization that seeks to create space for people of color to engage their mental health and social justice through media initiatives and educational programming
• Active member of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer network in NYC
• Avid bike rider and community organizer
• Promotes and enjoys discovering new things in his borough, The Bronx

Jordan leads complex multi-stakeholder urban planning engagements to support emergency management projects at Public Works. She brings together expertise in project management, public and nonprofit sector financial management, research, urban policy, and resilience planning in emergency situations. Jordan leverages systems mapping, community needs assessments, and existing conditions analysis to support mitigation planning and long-term vulnerability reduction. She also brings a commitment to building community and partnerships across stakeholder groups through clear and accessible communication strategies.

Experience

• Formerly worked as Program Administrator and Finance Officer with the Boy Scouts of America, where she spearheaded annual fundraising efforts; launched standardized finance initiatives to maximize efficiency, effectiveness, and revenue; and fostered ongoing relationships with key stakeholders
• Led technical research on advocacy and policy campaigns around climate, urbanization, and migration; executed data-driven communication strategies; and conducted quantitative and qualitative research analysis in her role as Data Analyst & Project Management Consultant for UNICEF
• Master of Urban Planning with a specialization in Sustainable Development Planning from NYU Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service
• B.A. Public Administration and Policy from California State University, Monterey Bay

Outside Public Works

• Volunteers with The Thinkubator, a nonprofit that connects Bronx youth to work-based learning experiences and employment opportunities
• When the passion strikes, she writes on Urban Rights Blog: where cities are for everyone
• Avid indoor cyclist with a penchant for endurance training
• Loves to recreate her favorite dishes from restaurants (next up: soup dumplings)

Joel supports the Client Services team by managing our clients’ infrastructure, workforce, and economic development planning needs. Joel comes to the Public Works having worked at legal aid organizations, nonprofit technical assistance providers, and public sector agencies. Joel has combined expertise in both New York City land use planning issues and nonprofit operations and governance. Joel’s specialties include strategic planning implementation, stakeholder engagement, GIS analysis, data analysis, and scenario planning.

Experience

• Conducted background research and stakeholder engagement at NYC Department of City Planning’s Housing, Economic, and Infrastructure Planning Division for a zoning text amendment proposal on small-scale manufacturing use regulations
• Provided land use planning scenarios for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) on behalf of communities experiencing sea level rise in coastal Massachusetts
• Created a nonprofit governance assessment tool at Lawyers Alliance for New York for organizations looking to evaluate core internal governance practices
• Coordinated outreach efforts to provide technical assistance to New York City nonprofits engaged in workforce development and community revitalization programming
• Master of Regional Planning from Cornell University
• B.A. in Government and Iberian Studies from Wesleyan University

Outside Public Works

• Attempts to teach himself German on Duolingo
• Loves to run the Prospect Park loop
• Stuffs himself with Dim Sum
• Catches up with colleagues and friends at Gay Urbanists NYC, a group of LGBTQ+ planners, architects, nonprofit professionals, and urban enthusiasts

Naomi plays a behind of the scene role at Public Works Partners. With her diverse background in organizational and program support, Naomi establishes systems and processes to ensure engagements are running smoothly. An outstanding communicator, she has a passion for building and maintaining long-term client relationships. Naomi enjoys partnering with fellow staff in a positive-minded, flexible manner to manifest the highest good for the organization. She is particularly adept at understanding the long‐term impact of decisions and implementing the systems, processes, teams and measurement tools to achieve goals.

Experience

• Oversaw operations and coordinated day-to-day logistics for a Stamford-based synagogue and for a general store
• Formerly the Executive Director of Hillel Foundation at the University of Rhode Island
• Served as Program Director working on youth programs with Jewish Community Centers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and New York City
• Earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania, and an undergraduate degree in Sociology from Columbia University

Outside of Public Works Partners

• Serves on the Board of Education of her synagogue
• Is a proud co-leader of a Girl Scouts troop
• Loves to bake with her kids

Daniel leads multi-stakeholder projects with the Client Services team, combining expertise in urban planning with extensive experience in operations, research, and project management. His unique skill set enables him to perform market assessments, translate detailed quantitative and qualitative data into easily digestible syntheses for a range of audiences, coordinate and conduct surveys, and develop solutions that meet the needs of a variety of stakeholders. Daniel has held positions with urban planning consulting firms, community development nonprofits, large philanthropies, and the hospitality sector. This has led him to appreciate the various strategies and approaches that a project manager must have in their toolkit, and the value of effective communication to ensure that client goals are realized.

Experience

• Performed market analyses and developed strategic action plans for government and nonprofit clients in his role with Larisa Ortiz Associates Commercial District Advisors
• Coordinated physical surveys, conducted zoning and building code analysis, and presented research findings to city agencies to build support for a pilot Basement Conversion Program in East New York
• Interviewed, recruited, and provided access to marketing resources to local NYC manufacturers as part of the Pratt Center’s Made in NYC initiative
• Master of City and Regional Planning from Pratt Institute
• B.A. in English from University of Florida
• Certificate of Urban Planning from George Washington University

Outside Public Works

• Member APA New York Metro Chapter Economic Development Committee
• Enjoys attending meetings for his local Brooklyn Community Board 8
• Can grow an orchid without killing it

Jennifer supports Client Services at Public Works Partners by supporting project management and conducting research to advance clients’ policy agendas. Jennifer has policy experience in housing and education gained while working at the NYC Mayor’s Office, the Urban Land Institute, and the NYC Department of Education. She is passionate about working at the intersections between economic development, building urban resilience, and climate adaptation.

Experience

• Supported the NYC Department of Education’s efforts to facilitate universal pre-K and Head Start enrollment in underserved communities of NYC
• Assisted affordable housing initiatives at the Urban Land Institute and NYC Mayor’s Office
• Evaluated the rate-setting practices of the National Flood Insurance Program against risk-based rates to determine whether flood risk was being subsidized
• Served as a Fulbright English Teaching Fellow in Brazil and taught mini-courses on urban resilience, water resource conservation, and NYC geography
• B.A. in Economics with a minor in Geography from Macalester College

Outside of Public Works Partners

• Member of Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Public Service (FELPS) program at NYU Wagner School of Public Service 2021
• Can be found at her favorite barre/pilates studio in Brooklyn
• Loves to try new restaurants and cuisines around the 5 boroughs
• Volunteers with Brazilian youths to help them apply to graduate programs in the U.S.

Bebe supports business development efforts at Public Works by developing creative content and strategies that advance our mission of increasing clients’ impact on their communities. She leverages her background in marketing to craft thoughtful materials that add to conversations around urban planning and social services. She supports the Client Services team by creating graphics and syntheses that clearly communicate findings from complex analyses. Her prior experience includes mission-driven public relations work for architectural firms and cultural institutions.

Experience

• Spearheaded marketing campaigns and provided administrative support at Susan T Rodriguez | Architecture • Design
• Supported research and outreach efforts at Cultural Counsel, a New York City based consulting firm
• Supported research and outreach efforts for the Museum of the City of New York’s “Activist New York” exhibition
• Researched and catalogued extensive historical collections at the Middlesex County Historical Society
• B.A. in History from Wesleyan University

Outside of Public Works Partners

• Supports local community efforts in Astoria, Queens
• Newcomer to UX Design
• Savors all time spent outside
• Is regularly shocked by how different NYC’s neighborhoods are, even though she’s an NYC native

Summer supports the Client Services team in managing multi-stakeholder projects by leveraging her previous academic training in urban studies and professional work with nonprofits like Project for Public Spaces and the Columbus Amsterdam Business Improvement District. As part of her role, Summer helps to design sustainable solutions drawn from best practice research, stakeholder feedback, and data analysis for our public and nonprofit clients and the diverse communities they support. Summer is passionate about facilitating the positive influence of the built environment to improve the lives of all New Yorkers.

Experience

• Studied historic neighborhood transition in Boston and developed findings on effective racial and cultural integration at the neighborhood level, as well as implications for larger-scale, ongoing patterns of spatial and social mobility
• Developed content for an international database of innovative public spaces
• Assisted in the activation of an underutilized Baltimore main street through a pop-up event featuring nonprofit, public, and private sector vendors
• Worked as a Writing Fellow where she supported student writers in the critical writing process and collaborated with professors of economics, Africana, and urban studies to develop and implement individualized fellowing plans
• B.A. in Urban Studies from Barnard College, Columbia University

Outside of Public Works Partners

• Proud New York Abortion Access Fund volunteer
• Live jazz enthusiast and boggle champion
• Visual artist, UX design newbie, and interior design junkie

Jasmine conducts business and financial analysis to find data-driven solutions to our clients’ challenges and the project management expertise to help implement those solutions. Leveraging nearly two years of project management experience and over three years of public finance experience in New York City government, she works with clients to identify cost saving initiatives to make public services efficient, economical and impactful. She previously worked on budget strategies for criminal justice agencies at NYC Office of Management & Budget and handled the management and implementation of OTPS budget at the NYC Department of Investigation.

Experience

• Regularly communicated with cross-divisional stakeholders, including coordinating, leading, and facilitating meetings.
• Supported development and eventual execution of project management, procurement, and hiring plans.
• Compiled and analyzed quantitative and qualitative data to develop actionable solutions for presentation to executive leadership.
• Identified and flagged project risks and potential solutions and mitigations.
• Supported development of multiple project charters, including a detailed large-scale IT project and higher-level charters for smaller projects.
• Performed analyses including cost/benefit, cash flow/funding availability, reconciliations, and year-end budget projections
• Reviewed contracts and produced memos on indigent defense, criminal justice, IT, social services, and other contracts
• Conducted a multi-agency/contractor salary parity analysis
• Worked as a research assistant researching and preparing lecture slides on state, local, gubernatorial, mayoral, and international elections
• Co-led an intern focus group to gain perspective on what Gen Y looks for in a career in order to help tailor marketing resources
• B.A. in Economics and Politics from New York University
• Certified Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute

Outside of Public Works Partners

• Volunteers as an ESL teacher once a week with students in Afghanistan via Skype through the Afghan Relief Organization
• Can make at least six types of eggs
• Takes great satisfaction in doing DIY home improvement projects
• Loves swimming and basketball (though she’s not very good at either)
• Certified pilates mat instructor

Emily supports the Business Development team at Public Works Partners by developing creative content and strategies. She also supports the team by drafting external communication and conducting research. Her past experience is primarily in digital marketing and social media management.

Experience

• A senior at NYU Stern School of Business, concentrating in Marketing and Global Business. This is supported by two minors in History & Entertainment, Media, and Technology.
• Multiple internships across a range of fields from campaign operations in programmatic advertising to internal marketing in financial services.
• Google AdWords Search & Display Certified, with The Trade Desk Certifications in Marketing Foundations & Data-Driven Planning

Outside Public Works

• Loves to travel, or more recently, to seek out the best foodie spots in the City
• Spends her weekends trying out new boxing classes or watching historical documentaries

Emma supports Client Services at Public Works Partners by supporting project management and finding meaning within data pools. She also supports the team by drafting external communication and highlighting relevant information from large reports. Emma has a background in health policy and political engagement.

Experience

• Delivered data-driven recommendations to the Brazos Valley Prenatal Clinic’s strategic planning committee to overcome financial and political barriers to healthcare for low income mothers
• Analyzed state-generated reports to CMS that summarized key changes to Medicaid and CHIP functioning to generate communication materials for state healthcare executors
• MPA – Health Policy and Management candidate at NYU Wagner, BS Public Health from Texas A&M University

Outside of Public Works Partners

• Can be found reading historical fiction with her dog in Prospect Park
• For someone that is not a “sports person,” she can tell you a lot about the most important college football game in history: the 2018 TAMU/LSU game

Mindy handles all of Public Works Partners financial transactions and record keeping. She is a trained accountant who prefers the bookkeeping aspect of her trade. She has over 15 years of experience in accounting/bookkeeping and has worked with over 30 small – mid sized firms with consulting and marketing firms being her specialty. Mindy is extremely detail oriented and financially minded which are key qualities needed in a good accounting manager.

Experience

• Is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor and has extensive knowledge of the program
• Specializes in Budgets and Financial Reporting
• B.A. in Accounting from Baruch College (CUNY)

Outside Public Works

• Is an avid reader with fantasy and historical fiction being her favorite genres
• Enjoys photography and learning how to use her cameras
• Spends her downtime chasing after her daughter

Mark, a co-founder of the firm, develops smart solutions for clients through strategic program design, policy analysis and the creation of compelling proposals on behalf of organizations seeking public or institutional funding. He facilitates discussions with diverse and complex groups of stakeholders in order to identify pathways to organizational strengthening and growth. Mark also regularly publishes studies for the Center for an Urban Future examining issues facing small business.

Experience

• BA in Geography and Urban Planning from Hunter College at the City University of New York
• M.P.A from the NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service

Outside Public Works

• Board Member of Citizens Union and Riders Alliance
• Board Member of Coro New York Leadership Center Alumni

Need management consulting for your nonprofit or government agency?

Let’s start a conversation.

99 Madison Avenue, Suite 403
New York, NY 10016
347.619.2892
info@publicworkspartners.com