The 4th Annual Newark Summit for Economic Development, Placemaking & Innovation Returns on December 8th
The Californer/10362290

NEWARK, N.J. - Californer -- Newark's continued growth will take center stage on December 8, 2026, as the 4th Annual Newark Summit for Economic Development, Placemaking & Innovation returns. Organizers anticipate more than 1,250 regional principals will attend the annual leadership conference, with Newark Mayor Ras Baraka returning for a keynote fireside chat.

This year's gathering will take place on the 16th and 17th floors of Newark's 550 Broad Street, a venue offering sweeping views of the New York City skyline and Downtown Newark, courtesy of Venue Partner, The Fidelco Group. The summit is co-chaired by Newark Alliance and Prudential Financial, with Invest Newark serving as presenting partner.

The day-long forum will convene leading investors, anchor institutions, developers, occupiers, owners, non-profits and advisors from across the city, county, state and region to explore growth, innovation and placemaking. Discussions will spotlight the projects, initiatives and partnerships shaping Newark's next chapter and strengthening its position as one of the country's most exciting growth markets.

"Newark Alliance is proud to once again support the Newark Summit," said Solomon Steplight, CEO of Newark Alliance. "It's an opportunity to assess Newark's economic progress, identify emerging investment opportunities, and help shape the next chapter of our city's development."

"We are proud to once again host the Newark Summit at Fidelco's 550 Broad. The building speaks to one of the Newark Summit's central ideas: that Newark's continued progress is driven by the intersection of the private, public, and philanthropic sectors," said Kerri B. Levine, principal of The Fidelco Group. "Just as the Summit brings those leaders together to help build a shared vision for the city's future development, 550 Broad is a place where those same forces come together every day -- making it a fitting home for these important conversations."

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"The Newark Summit brings together the people committed to Newark's continued economic growth," said Marcus Randolph, President and CEO of Invest Newark. "Newark is experiencing significant momentum, and our responsibility is to ensure that we are deliberate about how we build upon it. This Summit creates an important forum for substantive dialogue, new partnerships, and investment opportunities that can strengthen Newark's economy and expand opportunity for the people and businesses that call this city home."

2026 Confirmed speakers for this year include:

• Ras J. Baraka, Mayor, City of Newark
• Kerri B. Levine, Managing Principal, The Fidelco Group
• Solomon Steplight, CEO, Newark Alliance
• Brian Anderson, Executive Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield
• Adenah Bayoh, Founder & Principal, Adenah Bayoh & Companies
• Ron Beit, CEO, RBH Group
• Wasseem Boraie, Managing Principal, Boraie Development
• Marc Brummer, Owner, Hobby's Delicatessen
• Shaun Callaghan, New Jersey Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company
• Andrew Camelotto, Partner, FBT Gibbons
• Jennifer M. Carrillo-Perez, Partner, Connell Foley LLP
• Petra Conte, Executive Vice President, Arch Street Capital
• Lauren LeBeaux Craig, Executive Director, Newark Arts
• Jose Cruz, Senior Managing Director, JLL
• Marcy DePina, Executive Director, Newark City Parks Foundation
• Drew Fletcher, President, Greystone
• Lisa Funderburke, Director & CEO, Newark Museum of Art
• Frank Giantomasi, Founding Partner & Executive Member, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC
• Pedro Gomes, CEO, Gomes Group
• Samra Haider, President & CEO, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
• Bernel Hall, President & CEO, New Jersey Community Capital
• Samer Hanini, Founder & Managing Partner, Hanini Group
• Amy Herbold, President & CEO, Choose New Jersey
• Tonya Smith-Jackson, Chancellor, Rutgers University–Newark
• Carole Johnson, CEO & President, University Hospital, Newark New Jersey
• Sarah Keh, Vice President, Inclusive Solutions, Prudential Financial
• Allison Ladd, Deputy Mayor, City of Newark
• Carlos Lejnieks, President & CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties
• Tim Lizura, Executive Vice President, Real Estate & Capital Projects, New Jersey Performing Arts Center
• Richard Martoglio, Chief Operating Officer, RPM Development Group
• Ashley Mays, Chief Marketing Officer, Newark Alliance & President, Newark Happening
• Brian Murray, Founder & CEO, SHIFT Capital
• Ferlanda Nixon, President & CEO, Newark Regional Business Partnership
• Marcus Randolph, President & CEO, Invest Newark
• Jorge Santos, Chief Real Estate and Investment Officer, Newark Alliance
• Susan J. Schofer, Ph.D., Partner & Chief Science Officer, SOSV / HAX
• John Schreiber, President and CEO, New Jersey Performing Arts Center
• Jonathan Schultz, Managing Principal, Onyx Equities
• Fayemi Shakur, Arts and Cultural Affairs Director, City of Newark
• Scott Shnay, Founder & Managing Principal, SK Development
• Calvin Souder, Founding Partner, Souder Law Group
• Leonard Spicer, Executive Director, Newark Housing Authority
• Melanie Walter, Executive Director, NJHMFA
• Elnardo J. Webster II, Partner, Connell Foley LLP
• Evan Weiss, Chief Executive Officer, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
• Melba Wilson, Founder & Chef, Melba's Restaurant
• David Wolfe, Managing Partner, Skoloff & Wolfe
• Talia Young, President & CEO, Newark Symphony Hall
• & others to come…

Topics & Firesides include:

• ARTS – INSTITUTIONS, ECONOMIC CATALYSTS & PARTNERSHIPS
• MIXED-USE + INNOVATIVE RETAIL & PLACEMAKING
• OFFICE & INNOVATION– GROWTH | CAPITAL | TALENT | PLACEMAKING
• AFFORDABLE HOUSING
• EMERGING MARKETS & REGION
• CAPITAL MARKETS, FINANCE, TAX & INCENTIVES
• LEADERSHIP INNOVATIONS IN NONPROFIT, PHILANTHROPY & PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
• MULTIFAMILY
• SPECIAL NJPAC / JOHN SCHREIBER FIRESIDE ON ARTSIDE, LIONSGATE, & COOPERMAN
• SEPARATE FIRESIDE CHAT WITH MAYOR BARAKA

This is a must-attend event for those aligned with Newark, and Tri-State growth.

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Media Partners include BINJE, ROI-NJ, NJBIZ, RE-NJ, Jersey Digs, and The Real Deal.

For the full list of speakers, event details, and registration visit The Newark Summit's website here.

Full speaker lineup and agenda: https://thenewarksummit.com/2026/2026-agenda/