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NYCHA Now
Exceptional Colleagues May 2023 

Meet the Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy Participants

Nii Akrofi Smart-Abbey

In January 2023, NYCHA launched its first-ever Coaching and Mentoring Leadership Academy (CMLA). Participants in the 16-week program are receiving training and coaching in areas such as strategic communications and crisis management, and they get the opportunity to enhance their leadership and management skills through mentorship.   

Read on to learn more about a few of the mentors and mentees participating in the Leadership Academy.       

Property Manager Nickcole Rivera and Deputy Director of Compliance Integration Reporting and Evaluation Marlon Forbes 

Nickcole Rivera is the Property Manager at Tompkins Houses

 Nickcole Rivera has been with NYCHA for 17 years. She joined the Authority after a Housing Assistant encouraged her to take the Housing Assistant civil service exam, the position that launched her NYCHA career. She was later promoted to Assistant Property Manager and recently to Property Manager at Tompkins Houses.

Ms. Rivera joined the CMLA to gain insight and guidance on how to become a strong leader and better serve residents.    

“The CMLA has been an enriching and insightful experience,” said Ms. Rivera. “It has given me guidance and has built my confidence in being a leader. The Academy has taught me so much. My mentor, Mr. Forbes, has been very insightful and informative on many things. He has listened and directed me with his knowledge.” 

Marlon Forbes is the Deputy Director for Compliance Integration Reporting and Evaluation

Marlon Forbes will mark 17 years at NYCHA this December. He joined the Authority from the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice. He started his NYCHA career as a Deputy Director for Community Operations in Brooklyn. In 2013, he was promoted to Director of Community Operations for the Bronx, a position he held until 2016. He then worked with the Management Services Department until 2018, when he helped establish the Office of Mold Assessment and Remediation. He joined the Compliance Department in 2020 and currently serves as the Deputy Director for Compliance Integration Reporting and Evaluation.   

Mr. Forbes joined the CMLA because he wanted to support the growth of mentees in the Academy just as he has benefitted from the advice and guidance of his mentors and other colleagues.   

“I am participating in the CMLA because it represents an opportunity to both connect and network with colleagues who are interested in professional development and growth, and to share experiences and impart lessons learned and perspectives to all program participants – but especially my mentee – in hopes that I can play a part in enriching their overall work experience and help develop more leaders among the Authority’s workforce,” said Mr. Forbes. “It continues to be an honor to mentor Ms. Rivera. She’s at a unique point in her career where she is poised to take full advantage of the CMLA experience. I’m very happy to have the opportunity to support and guide her along the way.”