About Genia C. Philip, J.D., BBA.
Genia C. Philip, J.D., BBA. is a passionate, driven, and resourceful leader who has committed herself professionally and personally to individual, community, and organizational asset building, fostering comprehensive approaches to community and economic development, and holistic strategies to eradicating barriers to economic stability. She firmly believes that everyone, despite their socioeconomic status, should have every opportunity to achieve their full potential and to be a positive contributor to society. Since her undergraduate studies, she has worked tirelessly to protect and advance the interests of the disenfranchised, urban communities, organizations, and businesses.
Genia is the Founder and CEO of the Synergy Strategy Group, a comprehensive Non-Profit, Business, Community, Economic, and Policy Development firm that provides cutting-edge Strategic Planning, Capacity building, and Consulting Services. Visit this site to learn more about the impressive expertise of Synergy’s consultants and strategists and Synergy’s array of services.
Throughout her professional career and her personal commitments, Genia C. Philip has earned the reputation of a highly effective leader and philanthropist with extensive experience in these fields. From President of the Baruch African Student Senate at Bernard M. Baruch College, City University of New York, to representing indigent urban residents in Pittsburgh as a legal intern at Neighborhood Legal Services while attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, to continuing such representation at Essex-Newark Legal Services, Genia began the exemplification of this commitment while acquiring valuable knowledge in community and economic development. Additionally, through her consulting business, non-profit and community and economic development consulting firm, the Synergy Strategy Group, Genia is making her expertise accessible to those seeking to enhance the operation of their business and organizations.
Through her evolution from a legal career to one in Community and Economic Development as Executive Director of the Newark Workforce Investment Board, Newark Emergency Services for Families and the Center of Empowerment and Social Justice and as Director of the Economic Development and Grants Oversight Genia Philip further developed leadership expertise and knowledge that she liberally shares with other people and organizations. This site is intended to be a vehicle to freely share leadership and philanthropic expertise with others!
Genia has participated in the following leadership development organization, Leadership New Jersey Fellow Class of 2008 and Leadership Newark Fellow, Class of 2004. She was also Founding President of the Caribbean Bar Association of New Jersey and the Grenadian American Organization of New Jersey; Vice Chairperson, Black Americans Lobbying for Leadership of Tomorrow; Past Chairperson, Leadership Newark, Recruitment & Selection Committees and Co-chair of Run Sister Run Campaign Training for Women Conference at the Center for American Women in Politics (CAWP).
Genia Philip’s work, leadership and philanthropic activities have not gone unnoticed as she has received numerous awards including: Business and Community Leadership Award, SHE Wins, Inc., Community Organizer Award from Former Assemblyman Craig A. Stanley; Shirley Chisholm Award from now Assembly Speaker Shelia Oliver; The Paul Flynn Alumni Award for Outstanding Service from Leadership Newark, Inc.; The Madeline L. Houston Outstanding Attorney Award from Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ) “in recognition and admiration for her Services); Certificate of Appreciation for Services to Student and Parents from Newark Vocational High School, 2005; The Friend of the People Award from the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, and The Dr. Robert Ailey Award for her “ability through leadership to successfully bring people together to achieve a common goal” from Baruch College.
Asa result of her work, Genia Philip also had the privilege of being appointed to the following organizations: Former Member of the National Alliance for Children and Families, Annual Executive Leadership Conference Planning Committee; Former Prudential Foundation and the Partnership in Philanthropy to participate in non-profit capacity building focus groups; Appointed by Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and the Board of Chosen Freeholders to serve on the Essex County Human Services Advisory Council; Appointed to the “Revitalizing and Investing in Communities” Transition Team Policy Group in January; Appointed by then Mayor-Elect Cory A. Booker’s Real Estate Policy Group Transition Team in June. Appointed to the City of Newark’s Workforce Investment Board and elected by the Board to serve as chair of the Youth Investment Council (“YIC”).
Genia Philip attended Bernard M. Baruch College; New York, NY where she earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration and majored in Computer Information Systems. She then earned her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, PA. Additionally, she has received a Certificate in Non-Profit Financial Management from Rutgers University, Center for Non-Profit Management, Newark, New Jersey as well as a Non-Profit Executive Leadership Certificate from Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey.
