Rosa “Rose” Farias is a seasoned public-sector executive with more than 18 years of experience advancing urban policy, community revitalization, and government operations across New Jersey. As Chief Executive Officer, she leads with a forward-looking vision focused on aligning strategic investment, public policy, and cross-sector partnerships to strengthen communities, expand economic opportunities, and drive equitable growth.
Prior to her appointment as CEO, Ms. Farias served as Deputy Executive Director and Senior Policy Advisor to Senate Leadership for the New Jersey Senate Majority Office, where she oversaw operations and led strategic policy coordination across key issue areas impacting urban communities, including housing, education, workforce development, and economic mobility.
She previously served as Deputy Executive Director of the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), advancing major redevelopment, community and economic investment initiatives in Atlantic City. In this role, she worked closely with executive leadership, board members, municipal and private sector partners to implement public-private projects focused on housing, neighborhood revitalization, and community development investments in underserved communities.
Earlier, Ms. Farias served as Deputy Executive Director and Director of Policy for the Atlantic City Initiatives Project Office, helping guide the city’s fiscal recovery and redevelopment strategy by aligning governance reforms with long-term investment priorities. She also served as Director of Urban Policy for the New Jersey Senate, advising on housing, municipal governance, and higher education. Ms. Farias began her career in the City of Newark’s Department of Law and later served as an adjunct faculty member at Rutgers University – School of Public Affairs and Administration in Newark, New Jersey.
Ms. Farias has been widely recognized for her leadership and impact in public service, including being named to ROI-NJ’s Influencers lists for Women in Business and People of Color and the New Jersey Women’s Power List. She has also received honors from Latinas United for Political Empowerment (LUPE), Volunteers of America, and Stockton University. She is a Fellow for LeadNJ, Leadership Newark and EmergeNJ and is a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha, National Honor Society for Public Administration.
She holds a Master of Public Administration from Rutgers University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership at Thomas Edison State University. A lifelong New Jersey resident, Ms. Farias brings both professional expertise and personal perspective to her work, advancing redevelopment strategies that drive economic vitality and expanding opportunity across communities.
