Meet the people responsible for our success
William Loewenstein - Our Founder
CIDC’s Founder, Mr. Loewenstein had over three decades experience in the economic and housing development fields. His knowledge spanned full range of federal, state and local housing and economic development programs. Loewenstein specialized in the empowerment of public/private partnerships, working with non-profits and establishing self-sustaining local delivery systems.
Loewenstein spearheaded CIDC development efforts. CIDC developed several hundred housing units and more than $900 million in public benefit facilities owned by CIDC affiliates. He also directed CIDC, state and local contract delivery systems. Mr. Loewenstein’s legacy lives on in CIDC’s commitment to it’s government clients, offering consulting services by those with years of economic development experience and the development and management of its real estate properties.
Frances M. Brandt - President
Ms. Brandt is the President for Community Initiatives Development Corporation and daughter of founder William Loewenstein. Ms. Brandt has been with CIDC since 2013, starting out as the General Administrator. In 2022 she became the Director of Operations and in June of 2023 was appointed by the Board of Directors as President. Ms. Brandt works directly with all of CIDC’s clients and consultants, she manages all real estate entities, and continues to monitor administrative operations. Ms. Brandt remains the liaison to the Board of Directors; and overseas human resource management. There is day-to-day oversight of ongoing projects;, management of accounts receivable and accounts payable and Ms. Brandt works directly with accounting and legal.
Before working full-time, Ms. Brandt worked for CIDC as an independent contractor. She hasd put together loan applications, analyzed and developed financial worksheets and performed other administrative duties.
Mrs. Brandt has past experience in administration direct sales, management of sales team and participation in fundraisers. She also was the Secretary of R.E. Investment Solutions, Inc that owned and managed property in the Reading, Pennsylvania area. From 1996 to 2006 Mrs. Brandt worked at Boscov’s Department store starting out as a management trainee, quickly advancing to Sportswear buying positions. She was in charge of sales up to 10.4 million dollars.
Mrs. Brandt has been very active in the community by volunteering for the Reading Jewish Community Center, treasurer of Lakewood Ranch Gymnastics, fundraising for local projects and a Big Buddy for Comfort Zone Camp which helps those children who have lost a parent or guardian.
Nelson R. Bregón - Senior Vice President
Mr. Bregón has over four decades of hands-on experience in the housing, community, and economic development fields. He has worked in local city government, national not-for-profits and as a senior executive in the federal government for over 30 years. In his federal government participation, Mr. Bregón has been the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Chief Administration Officer (CAO), Associate Assistant Deputy Secretary in the Office of Field Policy and Management, General Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD), Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Block Grant Assistance, Senior Vice-President for Community-Based Securities in the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA), Director of the Office of Economic Development and Empowerment Services and Deputy Senior Director in the Office of Urban Development Action Grants (UDAG).
As the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) in the Office of Administration, it was Mr. Bregón’s mission to effectively delivered administrative support and customer service nationwide to assist HUD employees in its Headquarters facility and 65 Regional and Field Offices in fulfilling the Department’s mission to build a stronger HUD, to help secure quality housing, end homelessness, strengthen communities and to level the playing field for all Americans. As HUD’s CAO, he was responsible for the Office of Facilities Management Services, which mission is to develop, coordinate, and implement policies and procedures concerning the protection of HUD personnel and the security of property at all locations (field and satellite offices) under the charge and control of the Department.
Mr. Bregón received his Bachelors of Arts degree from Inter-American University of Puerto Rico (Polytechnic Institute) in 1976 and his Master of Arts degree in Urban Planning from Kent State University in Ohio in 1978. He is a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional and a Certified Housing Development Finance Professional by the National Development Council (NDC). He is also a licensed Master Project Manager from the American Academy of Project Management – PMRG#1328.
Hilda Kennedy- President AmPac Tri State
Hilda Kennedy is Founder/President of AmPac Tri State Certified Development Company (CDC) in Grand Terrace, California. AmPac CDC)is a non-profit certified lender of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) on a mission to finance the growth of small businesses through personalized services and advocacy in utilizing SBA resources. AmPac’s vision is to help small businesses to build wealth and create legacy by financing the purchase of commercial and industrial real estate and by providing working capital to assist small businesses to grow. As SBA’s first faith based CDC in the country, with a diverse Pastor’s Advisory Committee, AmPac seeks to lead SBA efforts to connect faith and business. AmPac maintains a commitment to walk hand-in-hand with business owners throughout the lending process and passionately seeks out faith based business owners, and minority,,women, veteran and disabled business owners. AmPac is a partner with SBA for its 504 Loan program helping businesses finance commercial and industrial real estate.
Prior to establishing the CDC, Kennedy worked in local government for the City of Inglewood, as Chief of Staff to the Mayor, Executive Assistant to the City Manager and Economic Development Director. As Economic Development Director, Kennedy established a $45 Million loan fund, leveraging HUD 108 funds with match bank funds, to provide financing to businesses in the community.
Hilda Kennedy served on the White House and SBA Council on Underserved Communities; one of 15 representatives chosen across the country. She is current President for the National Association of Women Business Owners-California; Past President of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Inland Empire Chapter, and Past President of the Risk Management Association – Inland Empire Chapter. Hilda Kennedy serves on the Board of Trustees for California Baptist University, Riverside and is also a Board Member of the National Association of Development Companies. Ampac Tristate CDC is a member of the Riverside Chamber of Commerce and the Black Chamber of Commerce. Hilda Kennedy is an active member of her church in Ontario, CA.
John C. Lamey, Jr - President, JLJR Consulting
Mr. Lamey brings a blend of managerial, administrative, supervisory, planning and communication skills and experience, coupled with education, and a cultivated network of contacts to consult with CIDC. With over 33 years of experience in the public sector, he has directed an agency, units and programs, and implemented a variety of activities to accomplish and expand the objectives of the organizations. John also has 9 years in the private sector and multiple years of service to volunteer organizations.
From 2004 to 2022, John was the Executive Director of the Atlantic County Improvement Authority in which he directed the activities of the organization which included Project Management, Economic and Community Development, and Public Financing. The Improvement Authority continues to manage several significant public sector construction projects; carry out county-wide Housing Rehabilitation and Homebuyer programs; administer nearly $2 million annually in Community Development Block Grants and issue various Tax-Exempt bonds for public and non-profit entities.
Under Mr. Lamey, the Authority expanded its activities to establish a County-wide low interest business loan program with a portfolio of over $3,000,000; operated two publicly owned golf courses; owned and operated a 68 unit Section 8 affordable housing project in Atlantic City; created and maintained a County-Wide foreclosure registry program; implemented a pooled financing program; issued $127,000,000 in bond financing for the Stockton Island Campus Project in Atlantic City; and advanced a large-scale Redevelopment project in Wildwood.
Under the authority of the Board of Commissioners and in accordance with established policies and procedures, Mr. Lamey duties included the following: Directing the overall operations, budget, and assets of the organization; Overseeing the implementation of the organization’s programs, projects and activities; Identifying, pursuing and advancing new, and expanding existing, revenue generating activities; Managing all permanent, part-time and contract staff; Developing and maintaining professional liaison with all levels of government and the community; and promoting the organization and its programs as appropriate in the media and to the general public.
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (2001 – 2004)
Established the Atlantic County Urban County, a consortium of municipalities formed to take advantage of nearly $2 million annually in Federal Community Development Block Grants. Oversee the creation of the 5-year Consolidated Plan and Annual Action Plan for the Consortium and its municipalities, and to implement projects that meet the objectives set forth in the plan. Responsibilities included program oversight and supervision of staff to assure execution in the following areas: grant administration, project management of over 20 capital improvement projects annually, the implementation of the affordable housing, housing rehabilitation and first-time homebuyers’ programs, budgeting and accounting, and compliance with requirements of the funding.
Debbie Petrell - Director, SBA 504 National Originations, The Bancorp
Ms. Petrell began her career as a mortgage loan processor in residential real estate. Later, she formed a commercial mortgage brokerage firm, working with local builders and developers to access construction funds. Her experience with commercial mortgages was Ms. Petrell’s segue into SBA lending, specifically the SBA 504 program. Ms. Petrell then joined a Certified Development Company, where she built her area to be the highest-performing region in Florida. With decades of lending experience behind her, she recently joined The Bancorp Commercial Lending business as the new Director of SBA 504 National Originations.
The Bancorp is a national lender that offers SBA 504 and SBA 7(a) loans to business owners and provides customized lending solutions. With over 20 years of experience, they help small business owners meet financing needs in a way many lenders cannot. With an SBA National Preferred Lender designation, The Bancorp provides small businesses with experience in SBA application and underwriting processes, which helps streamline the lending process
Triad Associates
Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Vineland, New Jersey with a regional office in Glenside, Pennsylvania, Triad Associates is a multi-discipline team of professionals, representing public, private, and nonprofit clients in securing federal, state, and regional resources for a wide range of community and economic development projects.
Since 1978, Triad Associates has represented over 200 public, private, and nonprofit development clients throughout the Northeastern U.S. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Triad concentrates their technical resources to their clients with their primary focus areas of eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware. For over four decades, Triad has successfully secured over $1.3 billion in funding on behalf of both public and private sector clients.
Triad’s team of 25 full-time, part-time, and on-call professionals has a diverse range of technical experience through their affiliations with key development agencies throughout the northeastern United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This team, comprising economists, business and industry market specialists, marketing professionals, planners, public administrators, and economic development practitioners, has developed successful public/private partnerships which have resulted in diverse and comprehensive economic development projects, and have the resources to assist clients in all facets of their development programs.
Triad excels in grant writing by understanding the methodology behind obtaining grants and by supporting their grant writers with the resources and diverse experience of the entire team mentioned above. The spectrum of Community and Economic Development is multi-faceted and Triad Associates’ success in this area is as diverse to include neighborhood revitalization, infrastructure, police and fire, recreation, main street, downtown revitalization, affordable housing, streetscape, transit, school accessibility, senior citizen facilities, workforce housing and a broad range of public services. Triad has secured grants for all the above community/county needs and provided the technical support to implement these approved projects.
Triad and CIDC have worked closely together in helping municipalities and local governments achieve their economic development goals.
Rick Genetti – The Brooke Group – Consultant
Rick Genetti and the Brook Group have a broad and practical knowledge of housing along with experience implementing this knowledge. Rick and his team have an extensive background in housing related matters and provide a wide range of consulting and advisory services. The Brooke Group assists with housing applications and redevelopment, preparation of policies and procedures, and assistance with developer agreements and relocation plans. The firm is also proficient in project budgeting, implementation, and management. Rick and the Brooke group work with CIDC as a consultant in housing authority matters. They work with CIDC clients in negotiating with developers.
Rick and The Brooke Group have extensive experience with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA), the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, and numerous Housing Authorities. The firm has worked with City, Town, Borough and County governments and resident groups. Their knowledge encompasses Public Housing, the Housing Choice Voucher Program, demolition and disposition application process, relocation plans, and homeownership programs. Adaptability and versatility are the outstanding qualities of Rick Genetti and The Brooke Group.