TONYA M.

SMITH
20 Madison Avenue
Jersey City, New Jersey 07304
(973) 970-0728 * tsa73b56@westpost.net

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Seasoned legal professional with background reflecting more than 20 years of leg
al expertise, leadership, team and administrative management.
___________________ PROFILE & SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS ____________________
Strategic Planner: Well versed in developing/defining the direction of an organi
zation and making decisions on the allocation of its resources to fulfill th
e overall mission.
Team Leader: Adept at providing guidance, instruction, direction, leadership an
d support to a group and/or its members to achieve a specific key result.
Results Producer: Proven ability to produce timely results individually or to ca
use results through other employees, coworkers and clients.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
LAW OFFICE OF TONYA M. SMITH, Newark, NJ April 2010 to Present
General private practice in the areas of real estate, municipal land use, corpor
ate and business consultation to small businesses and nonprofit organizations, e
state planning and administration
* Perform and deliver services to clients in all areas of practice
* Develop and expand practice; manage client relationships and satisfaction, and
the business of the practice
* Develop strategic partnerships to expand services into the areas of personal i
njury, workers' compensation and family law.
GIANTOMASI & OLIVEIRA, P.C., Newark, NJ Oct 2006 to April 2010
(General private practice involved in real estate transaction including municipa
l land use, litigation of matrimonial, landlord/tenant, collection, criminal and
municipal cases, tax appeals)
Partner
* Cultivated relationships with clients, staff members and witnesses to build tr
ust, obtain critical information and support.
* Prepared litigation from initial interview and/or investigation to trial plann
ing, pleadings, motions, memoranda, discovery, legal research and representation
at court proceedings.
* Assisted individual and corporate clients in the acquisition, sale and develop
ment of property including transactional closings, prepared and submitted munici
pal land use applications working with architect/engineer and clients, presented
to key government representatives, prepared witnesses for land use hearings an
d in some instances instituted Prerogative Writ litigation.
LAW OFFICE OF TONYA M. SMITH, Newark, NJ Oct 1998 t
o Oct 2006
General private practice of residential and commercial real estate including dev
elopment and land use practice, housing and economic development, corporate and
business consultation to small businesses and nonprofit organizations, estate pl
anning and administration.
GARDEN STATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INC., Newark, NJ June 1996 to July
1998
(A nonprofit affiliate of New Community Corporation of New Jersey)
Executive Director
* Managed a statewide tax credit equity pool totaling $16.5 million
* Provided underwriting services in determining the economic feasibility and lon
g term financial operating viability of low income housing tax credit developmen
ts serving family, senior or special needs populations
* Performed due diligence services and prepared and/or reviewed all documentatio
n for partnership closings
* Established financial and business procedures and policies
* Served as liaison to the board, advisory board and investors
* Developed marketing plan for project acquisition
* Sought and cultivated investors and developers of low-income housing for the f
und
NEW COMMUNITY CORPORATION, Newark, NJ Feb
1992 to Jan 1997
(A Multi-dimensional Nonprofit Community Development Corporation)
GENERAL COUNSEL
* Engaged in direct day to day operation of a large CDC with a portfolio consist
ing of 2500+ rental units, 6 childcare facilities, 180 bed nursing home, 102 uni
t transitional housing facility, 5 for profit businesses and over 1500 employees
* Provided legal counsel to the board of directors and executive management team
* Chaired the audit/finance committee, developed and chaired the risk-management
committee
* Managed litigation activities of outside counsel
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Sole Practitioner, Tonya M. Smith, Attorney at Law March 1990 to Feb
1992
Associate Counsel, Bross, Strickland, Cary & Grossman No
v 1987 to March 1990
Assistant Corporation Counsel, City of Newark June 1984 to Oct 1987
EDUCATION
Juris Doctorate Degree, 1983 University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Bachelor of Arts Degree, 1980, Honor's Thesis Smith College, Northampton, MA
BAR ADMISSIONS
New Jersey and Maryland 1984, Pennsylvania 2002
ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIP ACTIVITIES
* American Bar Association, New Jersey Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Associa
tion, Garden State Bar Association
* New Jersey Ethics Committee, District VA 2000-2004, Chair 2004
* Landmark Education, Graduate and Introduction Leader, Introduction Leader Prog
ram (Coach and Head Coach) 2005-Present
* Madison Avenue Block Association (Member and Pro Bono Counsel)
* Women in Housing and Finance (participant)
* Mt. Zion Community Development Corporation, 1999-2001. Vice-President 2000
* SGI-USA, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Mayoral Campaign Secretary, Yeadon, PA 19
97