Caren Franzini, former CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and one of the founders of Greater Trenton
Join us on December 4, 2023 at 5 p.m. as we come together for an evening of cocktails and conversations to reflect on Trenton’s past, reimagine its future, and make connections with some of the most influential leaders impacting the Capital City.
The celebration honors Caren Franzini, former NJEDA CEO and one of the founders of Greater Trenton, by presenting the Caren Franzini Capital City Award to John Hatch, Principal at Clarke Caton Hintz, and David Henderson, Principal at Hx2 Development.
For information on how you can join the effort to memorialize Caren’s extraordinary leadership while helping Greater Trenton reboot, refresh, and reinvigorate our Capital City, please reach out to Bryan Evans at bevans@greatertrenton.org or call 609-473-2837 x102.
John D. S. Hatch, FAIA, LEED AP; Principal, Clarke Caton Hintz | David Henderson, Principal, Hx2 Development
Two long-time Trenton residents, David Henderson and John Hatch, have been involved in Trenton’s economic development and creative arts scene for decades. Henderson and his husband John Hatch, have been focused on both emerging and established artists, while working to preserve the history and culture of this vibrant community. As they say, “…when the arts thrive, cities thrive.”
As Principal of Hx2 Development, Trenton’s preeminent commercial developer, David has spent many years perfecting the art of getting projects done in Trenton. Over the years, the principals have acquired a deep understanding of the Trenton micro-market and established trust-based relationships with the community and key decision makers.
Building sustainable and vibrant communities is the passion that drives David Henderson’s real estate development career and informs the design of his projects. Roebling Center, a 385,000 SF mixed-use development in Trenton, comprises residential lofts, office, pharma lab/manufacturing and restaurant/hospitality, all arrayed around a central courtyard programmed with arts and festival events. The first phase of Roebling Center, Roebling Lofts, opened in 2017 and has become a diverse, vibrant residential community, followed by the opening of Building 110 in 2022, configured to provide post-pandemic, re-thought office space.
Previous projects include the conversion of the Adam Exton Cracker Factory into residential lofts, the adaptive re-use of commercial buildings opposite Cure Insurance Arena into the Trenton Makes arts center, and the restoration of 37 residential units in the Mill Hill and Trenton Ferry Historic Districts. Prior to real estate development, David specialized in urban K-12 school facility development and design, working extensively in several school districts, including Bridgeton and Elizabeth, NJ. David is a Registered Architect in NJ, NY and PA.
David received a Master of Architecture from the University of Virginia, including a semester abroad in Venice where he explored the workings of the pre-industrial, i.e. pre-auto, city. David received a Bachelor of Arts in Design of the Environment from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to his development work, David is a member of the Newtown Friends School Committee, Treasurer of Newtown Friends School, Clerk of the Newtown Friends School Buildings Grounds & Technology Committee, member of the George School Physical Plant Committee, and member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church Vestry. David and John are founding members of the Trenton Arts Fund, which provides grants to support Trenton-based arts, culture and history organizations. David is a past Chair, Treasurer and Secretary of Trenton Downtown Association where he served on the Board for 18 years, and a past President of the Trenton Film Society and the Old Mill Hill Society.
John Hatch is a partner with Clarke Caton Hintz, a Trenton-based Architecture and Planning firm, as well as with HX2 Development, a company which focuses on redevelopment projects in Trenton. In his 35 years with CCH, John has managed the design of an array of architecturally significant buildings across the state and region. In Trenton, these projects range from the Roebling Mansion at 222 West State Street to Pruitt Hall for Thomas Edison State University. His work with Hx2 Development includes Roebling Lofts, Roebling Center and Princeton Hydro’s new headquarters. All of John’s projects address issues of context, civic life, social justice and sustainability. He has won numerous design and historic preservation awards, and in 2014 he became a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
In addition to his design work, John has written and lectured about such topics as historic preservation, sustainability, structural racism and urban redevelopment. John received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University, a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Virginia, and a Certificate in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania. John is currently president of the board of the Capital Philharmonic of NJ, and he serves on the boards of the Trenton Historical Society and the Potteries of Trenton Society. In his 35 years living and working in Trenton, he has also served on the boards of the Old Mill Hill Society (including several years as president), the William Trent House, Passage Theatre (34 years on the board, twice as president) and the Princeton Area Community Foundation; and served for 34 years on the Trenton Landmarks Commission, including as Chair. Several years ago, he and his husband, David Henderson, created the Trenton Arts Fund, which provides grants to support Trenton-based arts, culture and history organizations.
John, along with David and two other partners (Mike and Debbie Raab), founded Atlantis Historic Properties, which restored 19 houses and the former Labor Lyceum in their neighborhood of Mill Hill; Trenton Makes (with David and Roland Pott), which redeveloped historic commercial buildings on South Broad Street (now Trenton Social and the other adjacent buildings); and HHG Development (with David and Michael Goldstein), which redeveloped the Adam Exton and Sons Cracker Factory and other historic properties in South Trenton. David and John are currently working on the next phases of Roebling Center in the Wirerope District.
Mitch Livingston has served as President & CEO of NJM Insurance Company since April 2018. Under Livingston’s leadership, NJM has expanded from its New Jersey roots to become a full service personal and commercial lines insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region, while maintaining its strong commitment to present and future policyholders. As evidence of that commitment, in 2021 the Company was named #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Auto Insurers in the Mid-Atlantic region by J.D. Power. Livingston has also continued the Company’s commitment to the communities it is privileged to serve through his participation in organizations promoting cultural and economic development. This includes serving on the Boards of Directors of Choose New Jersey and Greater Trenton, and acting as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Drumthwacket Foundation.
Livingston is also on the Board of Directors of the American Property Casualty Insurers Association, the mission of which is to promote and protect the viability of a competitive private insurance market for the benefit of consumers. Since beginning his service at NJM in 2006 as a Staff Attorney, Livingston gained experiences and responsibilities within and outside the legal department. In 2017, he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, before being named President & CEO in 2018. Immediately prior to joining NJM, Livingston was a partner at a Trenton-based law firm, where he practiced insurance regulatory and appellate law, after serving as a Deputy Attorney General representing the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. He earned a B.A. in economics from Rutgers University in 1987 and a J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law in 1990. Livingston and his wife, Heather, live in Yardley, Pa. They have two children.
Letícia Ferri,Event Committee Co-Chair
As the Executive Medical Director, Camzyos US Lead at Bristol Myers Squibb, Letícia brings a unique experience that spans from working as a physician in the pharmaceutical industry across different global markets such as Brazil, Canada, and the United States; as a physician scientist at the University of São Paulo and University of Toronto; and as a clinician specializing in Endocrinology and Internal Medicine.
Letícia’s research and academic training includes an MD, Master of Science from Maringá State University in Brazil; Master of Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Toronto in Canada; and a PhD from the University of São Paulo in Brazil. She most recently graduated in 2019 with her MBA from Cornell University.
Her career at Bristol Myers Squibb started in 2010 in Brazil. Later she was working in BMS Canada and since 2013 she has been in New Jersey working across various functions on medical affairs teams at BMS. She currently lives in Skillman, NJ with her husband, Mauricio, and daughter, Valentina. Leticia has been appointed as the full time lead for OLA at BMS in June 2019.
Event Committee Members
Mitch Livingston, NJM Insurance Group, Event Co-Chair Letícia Ferri, Bristol Myers Squibb, Event Co-Chair Elijah Dixon, Equity By Design John Goedecke, Citizens Bryan Evans, Greater Trenton Reggie Hallett, 1911 SmokeHouse Duncan Harrison, Princeton University Pat Hartpence, NJM Insurance Group Karen Klim, Rider University Jeannine Frisby LaRue, Kaufman Zita Group Shirley Michael, Greater Trenton Aquatia Owens, PNC Wealth Advisors John Rogers, NJM Insurance Group George Sowa, Greater Trenton Andy Zalescik, Columbia Bank
Greater Trenton is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit that uses private funding and a network of collaborative relationships to advance economic revitalization efforts in the state’s capital city.
Led by Chairman Kevin Cummings and CEO George Sowa, Greater Trenton’s Board of Directors is comprised of leaders from Bristol Myers Squibb, Capital Health, Investors Bank, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, NJM Insurance Group, Princeton Area Community Foundation, Princeton University, PSEG, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, St. Francis Medical Center, TD Bank, Thomas Edison State University, and Wells Fargo Bank. The organization’s Board of Directors has made a multi-year commitment to fund this important initiative.
Formed in the fall of 2015, Greater Trenton’s key objectives include coordinating downtown economic development projects; providing one-stop support and information for investors interested in taking on new projects; reaching out to potential residential, commercial and/or retail investors and tenants; supporting and promoting existing downtown initiatives; engaging downtown stakeholders in a strategic economic development plan; and developing investment marketing strategies.
