HANOVER TOWNSHIP — Newmark Associates has completed its third annual summer mentorship program for high school students in Newark Public Schools, offering hands-on exposure to the commercial real estate industry beyond the classroom.
The program was led by Newmark Associates CRE President and CEO Susanne Newmark, Vice Presidents Jeannette Melillo and Ebony Parham, and Sales Associate Jack Maier, in partnership with Ernest Pope, an English teacher at University High School. Organizers also credited Newark Public Schools Superintendent Roger León and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Maria Ortiz for supporting initiatives that create pathways for Newark students.
Throughout the program, the Newmark Associates team hosted weekly sessions built around this year’s theme, “Believe, Behave, Become,” challenging students to believe in their potential, behave with professional discipline, and become leaders in their communities.
The four-week program began in Newark, where students toured 915 Broad Street and had lunch at Cornbread with developer Adenah Bayoh, a Newark Public Schools graduate, who spoke about hard work, commitment, and gratitude for the mentors who guided her. The students then visited the Newmark Associates CRE office for a hands-on deal simulation, role-playing as buyers, sellers, brokers, attorneys, lenders, zoning officials and tradespeople to learn how a commercial transaction comes together.
Students also visited the New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Hillier College of Architecture and Design to learn about architecture, environmental impact and college pathways connected to commercial real estate. The final session featured guest speaker Spencer Pascal, an industrial commercial real estate leader, who shared his entrepreneurial journey and spoke about how drive, discipline and mentorship build lasting success.
“Our mission is to contribute to the communities around us,” said Susanne Newmark. “This program reflects our belief that real transformation happens when we provide young people with access, education and mentorship. We were excited to welcome Newark’s future leaders into our offices and help shape their paths forward.”
Newmark Associates CRE, located in Cedar Knolls, is certified as a woman-owned business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and is an affiliate of the Commercial Real Estate Supplier Diversity Alliance, servicing the supplier diversity requirements of Fortune 100 companies nationwide. Celebrating more than 35 years in the commercial real estate industry as one of the top brokerage companies in the state, Newmark Associates has been recognized repeatedly with awards from both NJBIZ magazine and the CoStar Commercial Real Estate organization. The firm specializes in lease and sales transactions of office, industrial, retail, land, healthcare and mixed-use properties.
