Newark Housing Authority
Executive Team

We are delighted to welcome Leonard J. Spicer as the new Executive Director of the Newark Housing Authority. Leonard brings extensive experience from both the public and private sectors, making him a valuable addition to our team.

Leonard's distinguished career includes his recent role as the Director of the Office of Public Housing at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In this capacity, he oversaw all 110 Public Housing Authorities and Agencies in New Jersey. Prior to this, he served as a Division Director in HUD’s New York City Office of Public Housing and as the Public Housing Recovery Administrator for the Irvington Housing Authority in Irvington, New Jersey. In Irvington, Leonard served as the Executive Director and Co-Chairman of the Board of Commissioners after the Housing Authority was placed into receivership in April 2022.

Additionally, Leonard has significant experience in Miami-Dade County, Florida, where he was the Assistant Division Director of Public Housing within the Public Housing and Community Development Department. Here, he managed a portfolio of over 11,000 Public Housing units and led a team of more than 200 personnel. His career spans over 15 years in the public and assisted housing industry at various levels.

Leonard is also a proud Veteran of the United States Army, having served 8 years, including a deployment with the 101st Airborne Division in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He holds a bachelor's degree in Public Policy from DePaul University, a master's degree in Construction Management from Fordham University, and numerous industry certifications.

Outside of his professional commitments, Leonard is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. He enjoys traveling, exploring culinary delights, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Please join us in welcoming Leonard J. Spicer to the Newark Housing Authority. His leadership and expertise will undoubtedly contribute to our continued success.

Mildred A. Motley brings over 30 years of experience in the public housing and affordable housing industry, as well as with municipal entities, in her roles as an attorney, administrator, and consultant. In her most recent position as Executive Director of The Housing Authority of the City of East St. Louis, she successfully transitioned the Agency out of HUD receivership into local control within two years through strategic planning and repositioning of the agency's priorities and policies.

Ms. Motley has conducted independent management assessments of public housing authorities as part of a team hired by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. She also participated in implementing recommendations to strengthen the management operations of the reviewed authorities. Additionally, Mildred has significant legal experience, having served as Staff Attorney and General Counsel at a large public housing authority.

Mildred holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in English from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Juris Doctorate from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and attending the theatre.

Please join us in welcoming Mildred A. Motley to our team. Her extensive expertise and dedication will be invaluable to our continued growth and success.

With an impressive 38-year tenure at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Luigi has been a steadfast leader in public service, working to improve housing opportunities and communities. Over the past 15 years, he has served as the Director of the New York Office of Public Housing, overseeing the largest inventory of Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) units in the country. His expertise in policy implementation and strategic oversight has contributed to the success and stability of public housing programs across New York.

Luigi holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan College and a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from Pace University, bringing a technical and analytical approach to housing administration and program development.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Luigi enjoys spending time outdoors, engaging in gardening, hunting, fishing, and bowling. He is also an avid baseball fan, frequently attending games to enjoy the excitement of the sport. Most importantly, he cherishes time with his family and friends, valuing the meaningful connections and experiences that shape his life.

Dashay Carter, a Newark native, has devoted her career and civil life to education, advocacy, and service. At 24, she became one of the youngest female school board members elected to the Newark Board of Education. Dashay has a distinguished 10-year service record in the United States Army, where she worked as an Aviation Operations Specialist and Human Resource Specialist.

In 2018, Dashay became the Chief Human Resources Officer at the Newark Housing Authority. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Emory University and a Master of Public Administration from Rutgers Newark. Her professional certifications include SHRM-SCP (Society For Human Resource Management-Senior Certified Professional), RAD PBV Specialist, Public Housing Management, and Supervision and Management. In 2022, she completed the Rutgers Labor and Employment Law Certificate Program, and she is currently a second-year law student at Rutgers Law Newark.

Dashay is actively involved in her community, serving as the Vice Chair on the Board of Trustees at Marion P. Thomas Charter School. She volunteers as a “Big Sister” for Big Brother, Big Sister of Essex, Hudson, and Union County, and is an active member of St. James AME Church in Newark. Additionally, she is an alum of Leadership Newark and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Please join us in recognizing Dashay Carter for her unwavering commitment to public service and her outstanding contributions to our community.

Matthew brings over 25 years of extensive experience in finance and accounting to his role as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He has demonstrated exceptional leadership in overseeing Corporate Accounting, Property Level Accounting, and Tax reporting responsibilities. Before joining the Newark Housing Authority, Matthew served in various high-level roles, including Vice President of Finance, Controller, and Director of Accounting.

Matthew holds an MBA in Finance and Economics from Alvernia University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Granite State University. These academic qualifications further enhance his strategic and analytical capabilities in financial management.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Matthew values spending his free time with family and friends. His dedication to both personal and professional excellence underscores his commitment to driving success and innovation in the realm of finance.

Please join us in welcoming Matthew to our team, where his expertise and leadership will be invaluable to our continued growth and success.

Ms. Taiwo is a highly regarded leader in the real property development industry with extensive experience in public service and private legal practice. She joins the Authority as Chief Development Officer after years of private practice at a premier law firm in New Jersey, where she counseled corporate real estate developers and public agencies on complex commercial redevelopment, land use, and regulatory matters.

Previously, Ms. Taiwo served as Chief of Staff and Assistant Director of the Department of Economic and Housing Development in the City of Newark. In this role, she guided the municipality through proper administration of land use and development entitlement procedures, managed the financing and development of affordable and market-rate housing, and supervised commercial and capital improvement projects in Newark valued in excess of $2 billion. She also developed numerous strategies to advance Mayor Ras Baraka’s equitable growth initiatives.

Ms. Taiwo brings a wealth of knowledge in public financing, public-private partnerships, and grassroots-led community growth initiatives. Her professional accomplishments have been widely recognized: she was designated “One to Watch” by CIANJ in 2023, featured on the ROI-NJ “Influencers” list in 2022, and named a New Jersey Law Journal “New Leader of the Bar” in 2019. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Invest Newark, a non-profit organization focused on local business growth, affordable housing, and community development in Newark.

Ms. Taiwo is a proud graduate of Weequahic High School in Newark. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Colgate University and a Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University School of Law. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, cooking, and traveling with family and friends.

Please join us in welcoming Ms. Taiwo to our team. Her expertise and leadership will be invaluable to our ongoing development and community initiatives.

Bio is coming soon. Stay tuned...

Emilia Perez is the General Counsel for the Newark Housing Authority (“NHA”). Ms. Perez is a seasoned attorney with extensive experience across a broad range of legal practice areas. Prior to joining the NHA, Ms. Perez served as the First Assistant Corporation Counsel and previously as the Chief of Litigation for the City of Newark Law Department. In these roles, she managed teams of attorneys and provided strategic legal counsel to City leadership, including the Mayor, the fire and police departments, and municipal employees.

Ms. Perez’s areas of expertise include civil litigation, municipal law, employment matters, civil rights, wrongful death, premises liability, contractual disputes, affirmative litigation against commercial property owners, litigation arising out of real estate transactions, among other. She has litigated cases before New Jersey state courts, including the New Jersey Supreme Court, the United States District Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Additionally, Ms. Perez served as an Assistant Municipal Prosecutor at the Newark Municipal Court. Ms. Perez has also served a Municipal Court Judge in Newark, Irvington, and throughout Essex County.

As an immigrant from the Dominican Republic from very humble beginnings who came to New Jersey at the age of eight, Ms. Perez has overcome many challenges in her journey and has remained deeply committed to community service. She is passionate about giving back, mentoring others, and inspiring future leaders, especially women, as well as individuals from diverse backgrounds. She has served on the boards of various organizations and participated in numerous community-centered initiatives locally, statewide, nationally, and even internationally.

Ms. Perez’s dedication to excellence and her impact on the community have earned her numerous awards and formal recognition throughout her career. She takes pride in being a trailblazer and breaking glass ceilings: Ms. Perez is the First Dominican immigrant appointed to the Newark Municipal Court, the first Latina to serve as Municipal Court Judge in the City of Irvington, the first Latina to hold the position of First Assistant Corporation Counsel in Newark, and now the first Latina General Counsel of the NHA.

She is committed to making a positive difference, firmly believing that with hard work and perseverance, any goal is achievable.