HANDS, Inc.

HANDS Staff

Patrick Morrissy
Executive Director
Pat is the founder (in 1986) and Executive Director of HANDS, Inc., a neighborhood-change nonprofit working in Orange and East Orange, NJ. HANDS’ real estate strategy revolves around “high-impact development for long-term sustainable neighborhood change”. The strategy is built around clearing title to and redeveloping pivotal eyesore properties that are eroding the quality of neighborhood life. HANDS has redeveloped 106 problem properties in Orange and East Orange and purchased defaulted mortgages on 47 vacant properties from one Lender and is clearing title and redeveloping them as affordable homeownership along with four CDCs. In Orange HANDS has led a comprehensive planning process for two neighborhoods and is creating an Arts District in a former industrial area called the Valley. Morrissy is a founder of Shelterforce magazine and the National Housing Institute and was a Member of the NJ State Planning Commission. He is the national Chair of the Community Stabilization Committee for NeighborWorks America. Email: patrick@handsinc.org

 

Derrick Griggs
Real Estate Director
Derrick is the Real Estate Director at HANDS, Inc. Derrick is responsible for continuing the successful growth of HANDS’ real estate operations. Mr. Griggs has worked at Lucent Technologies, Suburban Propane, Travelport, as well as, starting a real estate investment company, Prospect Corner Realty. Derrick has 11 years corporate strategy and management experience, overlapped by 7 years real estate investing and rehab experience. Those roles have assisted him in gaining the required valuation and management experience to succeed in both bull and bear real estate markets. Derrick was a member of the City of Orange, NJ Zoning Board of Adjustments and has a real estate license in the state of NJ. Derrick has a B.S. Degree in Finance and a MBA in International Business from Rutgers University School of Business. Email:derrick@handsinc.org

 

Robin Gordon
Administrative Manager
Joining the HANDS’ staff in mid-2005, Robin continues to marvel at the impact and accomplishments of HANDS and its stature in the community development field. As the Administrative Manager, she is a generalist with responsibility for grant writing and management, personnel and oversight of office administration and public relations. Passionate about housing issues and their critical influence on the health of a family and a community, Robin has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity since 1994. She also volunteers at a community soup kitchen and homeless program. Interests include exploring new urban places and natural areas, experiencing historic architecture and hiking. She lives with her husband of 27 years and has two sons.
Email: robin@handsinc.org



Wayne Meyer
Managing Director of Operation Neighborhood Recovery
Wayne is the director of New Jersey Community Capital and works with HANDS as the Managing Director for Operation Neighborhood Recovery (ONR).  He led the formation of ONR, a concept that was created to address the recent housing foreclosure crisis (read more about ONR here).  Wayne is an attorney and CPA with 20+ years of private sector real estate experience.  He studied urban planning at the graduate level at NYU and completed the Achieving Excellence in Community Development fellowship program at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.  As a recognized leader in the community development industry, he has been privileged to serve on a number of committees and panels that focus on affordable housing and community stabilization.
Email: wayne@handsinc.org

 

Andrew Davlorous
Property Manager
Andrew manages the daily operations of HANDS' residential and commercial properties including leasing, property maintenance, and capital improvement projects. He is responsible for rent collections, Tenant relations and negotiations, and compliance with all City and State regulations. Andrew acts as HANDS representative for planned and ongoing construction projects of residential and mixed use properties, working as a liaison between HANDS, architect, General Contractor, and future Tenants. Email: andrew@handsinc.org

 

Russell Meyer
Project Developer
Russ joined HANDS staff 5 years ago as a Project Developer responsible for acquisition, construction and sales of HANDS scattered site housing projects.  More recently, he is managing  HANDS Operation Neighborhood Recovery Project which involved HANDS purchase of 47 defaulted mortgages from a major lender that were part of a real estate scam and subsequent bankruptcy.  Russ has a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from Catholic University and is also a licensed NJ Realtor.  Email: russ@handsinc.org



Molly Rose Kaufman
Community Organizer
Molly is the community organizer for HANDS. Molly earned her BA from Hampshire College and her M.S. from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. In 2009, Molly worked with a group of high school students to gather an oral history of Orange from residents as part of an international multimedia project called [murmur].  She is a founding member of the University of Orange and serves on the advisory board to ORNG Ink, a youth-led design studio based in the Valley Arts District.  Molly loves Orange because of the great food, buildings and people.  Email: molly@handsinc.org



Maulin Mehta
Americorps VISTA
Maulin is working for HANDS through the AmeriCorps VISTA program. He will be identifying problem properties in the community, helping to rehabilitate residential units, and supporting the development of mixed-use projects in the Valley Arts District. Maulin previously worked as an auditor to prevent waste and abuse of the federal E-Rate program. In graduate school, he worked as a consultant evaluating a water and sanitation program being implemented in Orissa, India as part of community development efforts. More recently, Maulin served as a policy analyst intern in the Office of Councilmember Brad Lander of New York City Council, helping to conduct a civic needs assessment in Brooklyn and providing supporting research for office initiatives. Maulin earned his B.A. in Economics from Rutgers University and his Masters in Urban Planning from New York University.Email: intern@handsinc.org

Patricia Rogers
Americorps VISTA
Patricia is working for HANDS through the Americorps VISTA program. Born and raised in New York City. She recently earned her BA in English Literature with a minor in journalism from Le Moyne College. An aspiring novelist, she also has extensive journalism, writing, mentoring and community organizing experience. She will mostly be helping develop the creative vision of the youth-led design studio, ORNG Ink this year. She loves working, creating and being inspired by the talent in the Valley Arts District.  
Email: handsvistas@gmail.com