Marc Collazzo is the Executive Director of the Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District (BID), a position he has held since January 2020. The Fishtown and Kensington areas has been an internationally recognized hamlet and called the model of urban development. The Department of Tourism for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania designated the Fishtown Kensington Area BID as a “Destination Marketing Organization”, alerting visitors from far and wide to visit the commercial corridor. Prior this role, Marc was the Executive Director of the Mayfair Business Improvement District and Mayfair Community Development Corporation, where he strove to bring this iconic, Northeast Philadelphia corridor back into acclaim. Under his leadership the organization was twice nominated for “Non-Profit of the Year” for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence Awards , as well as being honored as “2019 Business of the Year” by the Police District Service Area (PDAC). Marc is a lifelong Pennsylvanian. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Temple University, as well as earned a degree of Juris Doctor from the Widener University School of Law in 1993. After serving a judicial clerkship with United States Magistrate Judge Thomas J. Rueter, Marc worked in private practice until 2009, where I handled complex civil and matrimonial matters. Marc re-entered public service in 2009/2010 when he became the Policy Analyst for former City Councilman At Large, Frank Rizzo, then served from 2011 to 2017, as the Chief of Staff for Pennsylvania State Representative, John J. Taylor (177th Legislative District; Chairman, House Transportation Committee).

Lauren Smith is the Manager of Economic Development at Center City District in Philadelphia. She supports CCD’s efforts to strengthen the commercial office sector, retain and attract high-quality tenants, and support property owners, brokers, and developers in the economic growth of Center City. Prior to her current role, Lauren worked at Center City District as a Research Analysis where she was responsible for demographics, housing, commercial development, and employment data. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography & Urban Studies and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration at Temple University.

Jacob Cooper is a Partner and Managing Director of MSC. He currently oversees all management and strategic business initiatives for the Philadelphia operations of the firm. His work includes tenant and landlord representation, investment sales, development advisory, and consulting services throughout Center City, Philadelphia, University City and the greater Philadelphia region. Jacob currently serves as the exclusive agent for both prolific Philadelphia developers as well as nationally recognized investment groups, including American Campus Communities, American Real Estate Partners, Hightop Real Estate & Development, Dranoff Properties, U.S. Construction, Wexford Science & Technology, Parkway Corporation, LaSalle Investment Management, and Greene Court Partners. He also currently serves as the exclusive leasing agent for the University of Pennsylvania, overseeing the leasing and planning for its 350,000 SF retail portfolio in West Philadelphia. He has been specifically instrumental in the recent retail revitalization in the University City District, completing over 100 lease transactions over the past 10 years in the district alone.