Building Opportunities: Doing Business with the NYCEDC

Featuring Johnny Celestin, Senior Vice President of the M/W/DBE team within the Equity and Community Impact Division at the NYC Economic Development Corporation (), the event will provide valuable guidance on navigating opportunities with the NYCEDC. Understand their procurement processes, partnerships they are seeking, and best practices for securing business with the agency.

Don’t miss this chance to gain insider knowledge and connect with industry professionals looking to expand their impact in New York City’s development landscape!

About Johnny Celestin, Senior Vice President of the M/W/DBE team within the Equity and Community Impact Division at the NYCEDC

Johnny Celestin is the Senior Vice President of the M/W/DBE team within the Equity and Community Impact Division. He oversees the Capacity Building and Compliance and Reporting teams.

With over 30 years of global experience spanning international development, public service, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector, Johnny brings deep governance and community development expertise to this role. Before joining EDC, Johnny was appointed and served as Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Nonprofit Services (MONS). Prior to MONS he served as Deputy Director of the Mayor's Office of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs), where he successfully championed equity initiatives and increase in M/WBE participation. Johnny’s dedication to economic mobility is also reflected in his leadership at the Center for Leadership and Excellence in Haiti, where he spearheaded programs empowering youth and women to drive sustainable entrepreneurship across Haiti’s ten departments.

Johnny holds a master's degree in International Affairs from The New School University, focusing on Governance and Human Rights, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Iona University. He is a CORO Leadership New York graduate and has completed executive programs at Yeungnam University in South Korea and the COADY International Institute in Canada. Johnny is an entrepreneur, bridge builder, and champion of social change and justice who actively serves on various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) boards in Haiti and the U.S. In his free time, Johnny enjoys reading, exploring global and social issues through podcasts, traveling, and people-watching at cafes. He is fluent in English, French, and Haitian Creole.

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