FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brooklyn NY, November 16, 2016— IMPACCT Brooklyn today announced the appointment of Bernell K. Grier as its Executive Director effective December 5, 2016.
As Executive Director, Ms. Grier will lead a 52-year old community development corporation serving Central Brooklyn in furthering its mission of preserving affordable housing and promoting businesses development, job creation and resident leadership
Ms. Grier joins IMPACCT Brooklyn after serving as Director and Vice President of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Affordable Housing Program where she effectively oversaw the project management, operations and roll out of the $30 million grant program amongst FHLBNY members and project sponsors. For eleven years, she worked at Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City, Inc. (NHSNYC) holding the positions of CEO and COO where she provided centralized leadership and resources for eight service offices that work to assist residents buy, maintain and keep their homes.
Prior to joining NHSNYC, Ms. Grier launched her career in retail banking at Chase and was promoted into various roles in commercial lending and community development, rising to the ranks of Executive Vice President for Fleet Community Bank (acquired by Bank of America).
Ms. Grier currently serves as a board member on the New York Housing Conference and an advisory board member of the New York University’s Furman Center.
“I have supported and admired the work of IMPACCT having served on the Board in the late 1990s and being a long-time resident of Central Brooklyn,” states Ms. Grier. “I am truly honored and excited to join this organization committed to preserving affordable housing and building strong, vibrant neighborhoods in Central Brooklyn.”
Chairman David Hanzel states, “We are thrilled to welcome Bernell back to the IMPACCT family. She is a proven leader with 30 years of experience in community development and nonprofit management, bringing all the skills and vision our board was seeking. With her passion for creating affordable housing and economic opportunity for New Yorkers and track record for getting results, we are confident that she will be able to help us grow strategically and deliver results for the residents and communities we serve.”
Ms. Grier has an MBA in Sustainability from Bard College and a BA in Economics from City University of New York, City College. She is a NYC David Rockefeller Fellow and holds a certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School and Neighbor Works America’s ‘Achieving Excellence Program’. She is a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church and resides with her daughter Michelle in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
The selection of Bernell K. Grier by the Board of Directors followed a national search to find a successor to long-time Executive Director, Deb Howard, who will retire at the end of 2016.
About IMPACCT Brooklyn:
IMPACCT Brooklyn, also known as Pratt Area Community Council is a community development corporation founded in 1964 assisting residents build flourishing communities in Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bedford Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, and Prospect Heights. Services provided to Central Brooklyn residents consist of: a) the preservation and creation of affordable housing, b) the development of small businesses and vibrant commercial corridors that lead to the creation of jobs for community residents, and c) the development of resident leadership and community development services that strengthen families and build stronger neighborhoods. IMPACCT is governed by a 16-member Board of Directors, and currently operates in three locations. The organization has an annual operating budget of approximately $3.8M and a staff of 40 employees. To learn more about the work of IMPACCT visit our website at www.impacctbrooklyn.org.
