Bridget Phifer has guided the vision of Parkside Business & Community In Partnership for 20 years, building upon the organization’s founding tenet as a grass roots organization governed by residents from the community. Bridget has involved professional staff and consultants as the organization has grown while continuing to ensure that housing and commercial development, health & well-being initiatives and quality of life programming are conducted with the participation, leadership and blessing of strategic partners and the community. Bridget received her Master’s in Public Administration (with a concentration in Public Management) from Rutgers University. Since joining PBCIP, she has grown the organization’s budget twentyfold. Staff has increased (from one to 12+ members) as commercial development activity has expanded, affordable housing and homeownership education, marketing and neighborhood planning programs have been created. Strategic partnerships with foundations, other community development organizations, corporations and government agencies have been critical to this success. Bridget is also an adjunct faculty member in the Sociology & Anthropology Department at Rowan University.