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Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Picks New CEO from the Ranks
The Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone will be led by a longtime mainstay of the organization, effective July 1. Blair M. Duncan (pictured) will succeed Kenneth Knuckles as president and CEO of UMEZ upon Knuckles’ retirement, announced earlier this spring.
Duncan joined UMEZ in 2003 as general counsel, and currently serves as EVP and COO. He led the organization’s financing to redevelop the Victoria Theater in Harlem and the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal Redevelopment. He also played a key role in providing capital access to small businesses in the neighborhood, and structuring grants to cultural institutions to help attract visitors to the area.
Joseph J. Johnson III, UMEZ board chairman and SVP at Goldman Sachs, said the board was confident that under Duncan, “we will continue to expand upon the work that we’re doing as an organization to help revitalize the communities of Upper Manhattan.”
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