LYNEIR RICHARDSON

Lyneir Richardson, CEO, is business developer and deal maker. He provides strategic oversight and subject matter expertise on client engagement and investment decisions.

Lyneir Richardson is a Professional Practice Instructor in the Department of Management and Global Business at Rutgers Business School in Newark, NJ.  He is also the Executive Director of The Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, a research and practitioner oriented center at Rutgers.  He is leading new programs focused on helping minority scientists, engineers and technology entrepreneurs get capital from public sources and private investors.

Lyneir is also CEO of The Chicago TREND Corporation, a social enterprise aiming to stimulate retail development that will strengthen city neighborhoods.  This startup recently received over $7 million of seed capital to launch operations and invest in catalytic real estate projects.

In 2009, Lyneir was recruited by former Mayor Cory Booker, and served as Chief Executive Officer of the economic development corporation in Newark, NJ.   Previously, he was Vice President of Urban Development at General Growth Properties, Inc. where he led the national initiative to bring quality shopping centers to ethnic neighborhoods in large U.S. cities.  In his 20’s, he founded Lakeshore Development & Construction Company and was recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration a “Young Entrepreneur of the Year”.  Lyneir started his career as a corporate attorney at the First National Bank of Chicago.

He graduated from Bradley University and the University of Chicago Law School.  Lyneir is a member of Urban Land Institute, International Council of Shopping Centers and International Economic Development Council. He has served on numerous non-profit boards and been appointed to government agency boards, committees and commissions.