Media Coverage

NJBIZ
Oct 1, 2007

Melody Federico, 33, Quiet Leader

New Jersey's real estate market is no picnic even when you have loads of cash to carry to the settlement table.

Melody Federico works to crack open the market for those who don't. Since 2001, Federico has worked in the field of affordable housing, creating opportunity for more people to become homeowners.

"I feel privileged to be able to serve in a job that allows me to help provide others with life's most fundamental necessities-housing, pride and independence," says Federico, housing development director for NewBridge Services, Inc.

Federico began her real estate career in the for-profit world as a commercial real estate manager in San Diego. In 2001, she came to New Jersey as an associate at Monarch Housing Associates, where she brought in more than $3 million in grants and helped to create more than 100 units of permanent affordable rental housing.

Federico joined NewBridge in 2006 and is hard at work making an impact.

The agency had created 100 housing units over two decades. Under Federico's guidance, the agency hopes to build 100 more by 2010.

Federico began giving back to the community while still in high school, having belonged to 22 organizations and pitching in at soup kitchens and for Special Olympics.