Ocean Wind Pro-NJ Grantor Trust, an independent fund established by Ocean Wind 1, announced two new trustees have joined the volunteer board responsible for its oversight.
Brian Jackson, of Egg Harbor City, chief operating officer for Stockton University’s Atlantic City campus, and Philip Brilliant, of Toms River, founder/owner of Brilliant Environmental Services LLC, will join the trust’s board chair, attorney Beverly McCall, of Ocean City, in furthering the trust’s goals of supporting diverse businesses entering the offshore wind industry and funding coastal resiliency projects in Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties.
Jackson and Brilliant will replace outgoing Trustees Belinda Manning, a retired organizational development professional and community volunteer/activist, and Lori Pepenella, the CEO of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce.
Jackson and Brilliant will have active roles in the review and selection of recipients for the trust’s second round of funding for New Jersey-based small, women-owned and minority-owned businesses, as well as future rounds of funding for diverse businesses and coastal resiliency projects.
“Belinda and Lori were instrumental in the effort to launch the Ocean Wind Pro-NJ Grantor Trust in 2020. We are deeply appreciative for the time, talent and energy they provided to establish the trust and successfully award our first two rounds of grant funding,” McCall said. “Brian and Philip bring with them equally impressive backgrounds, experience and expertise, including time as small business owners. Brian’s intimate knowledge of the local community and Phil’s technical knowledge will undoubtedly benefit the trust as well as our previous and future grant recipients.”
To date, the Ocean Wind Pro-NJ Grantor Trust has awarded nearly $450,000 to six New Jersey-based small, women-owned and minority-owned business, allowing them to diversify their services and offerings and invest in new equipment, training and technology to participate in the growing offshore wind industry.
Additionally, the trust has provided $2.8 million to five communities in Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties, supporting efforts to complete critical coastal infrastructure projects that help keep communities resilient, safe and thriving.
