Newark Made

Anthony Frasier is the founder of ABF Creative and a pioneer in audio storytelling for kids of color. He shares how his team replaced school bells with motivational podcast clips—and why Newark is the perfect home for innovation. Special thanks to The Prudential Foundation and the business owners of Newark, NJ. Special acknowledgements: Emily Manz, Chief Business Development Officer and Director of Marketing at Invest Newark, and Anari Ormond, Assistant Vice President for Business Development at Invest Newark.

Gail Friedberg runs ZAGO Manufacturing—a Newark-based screw factory with global clients like GE, Bose, and NASA. In this episode, she explains how advanced manufacturing and community investment can go hand in hand. Special thanks to The Prudential Foundation and the business owners of Newark, NJ. Special acknowledgements: Emily Manz, Chief Business Development Officer and Director of Marketing at Invest Newark, and Anari Ormond, Assistant Vice President for Business Development at Invest Newark.

Suffiyah Webb is a board-certified pediatric dentist who built a practice that feels more like an art installation than a clinic. Known for her creativity and care, families travel from across the region just to get a spot in her chair. Special thanks to The Prudential Foundation and the business owners of Newark, NJ. Special acknowledgements: Emily Manz, Chief Business Development Officer and Director of Marketing at Invest Newark, and Anari Ormond, Assistant Vice President for Business Development at Invest Newark.

Long before Bad Bunny became a global star, he performed inside Natalia Villanueva’s family restaurant. Now she’s building Cafecitos Bakery and reimagining what a modern Latin food business can look like in Newark’s North Ward. Special thanks to The Prudential Foundation and the business owners of Newark, NJ. Special acknowledgements: Emily Manz, Chief Business Development Officer and Director of Marketing at Invest Newark, and Anari Ormond, Assistant Vice President for Business Development at Invest Newark.

Francis Fatade is an architect and designer building kitchens that grow food. In this episode, he explains how his sustainable designs merge beauty and functionality—and how he’s helping Newark residents reconnect with food, space, and self-reliance. Special thanks to The Prudential Foundation and the business owners of Newark, NJ. Special acknowledgements: Emily Manz, Chief Business Development Officer and Director of Marketing at Invest Newark, and Anari Ormond, Assistant Vice President for Business Development at Invest Newark.

Rashena Burroughs turned a single storefront in Newark’s West Ward into a community anchor—starting with plant-based meals and evolving into an entire wellness corridor. She shares how every venture—from vegan desserts to alkaline water—was rooted in a clear vision for healing and growth. Special thanks to The Prudential Foundation and the business owners of Newark, NJ. Special acknowledgements: Emily Manz, Chief Business Development Officer and Director of Marketing at Invest Newark, and Anari Ormond, Assistant Vice President for Business Development at Invest Newark.

Garth Naar is helping transform Newark’s digital infrastructure—laying fiber optic cable, building municipal broadband, and training locals for high-paying tech jobs. In this episode, he explains how Newark became one of the fastest-connected cities in America. Special thanks to The Prudential Foundation and the business owners of Newark, NJ. Special acknowledgements: Emily Manz, Chief Business Development Officer and Director of Marketing at Invest Newark, and Anari Ormond, Assistant Vice President for Business Development at Invest Newark.

Leilan Singh moved from Brazil to Newark and built a luxury med spa brand that now spans multiple locations. As the founder of HL Med Spa, she shares her journey from salon work to national trainer status, and why she believes Newark is one of the best cities in America to build a business. Special thanks to The Prudential Foundation and the business owners of Newark, NJ. Special acknowledgements: Emily Manz, Chief Business Development Officer and Director of Marketing at Invest Newark, and Anari Ormond, Assistant Vice President for Business Development at Invest Newark.

For decades, Mario Puorro has been a fixture behind the counter at LIS Pharmacy—one of Newark’s oldest family-run businesses. In this episode, Mario shares what it means to serve the same community for generations and the stories that have walked through the door. Special thanks to The Prudential Foundation and the business owners of Newark, NJ. Special acknowledgements: Emily Manz, Chief Business Development Officer and Director of Marketing at Invest Newark, and Anari Ormond, Assistant Vice President for Business Development at Invest Newark.

When the world shut down, Ayana Morris built something no one expected—a Black-owned drive-in theater in the heart of Newark. As a filmmaker and cultural producer, Ayana launched Moonlight Cinema to safely bring people together through film, community, and joy. Special thanks to The Prudential Foundation and the business owners of Newark, NJ. Special acknowledgements: Emily Manz, Chief Business Development Officer and Director of Marketing at Invest Newark, and Anari Ormond, Assistant Vice President for Business Development at Invest Newark.

Abdul Roberson, owner of Abby’s Deli, shares how he’s turned a local corner store into a beloved Newark brand—through food, merch, and deep-rooted community pride. From wearing branded gear everywhere to his business philosophy, Abdul’s story is one of hustle and identity. Special thanks to The Prudential Foundation and the business owners of Newark, NJ. Special acknowledgements: Emily Manz, Chief Business Development Officer and Director of Marketing at Invest Newark, and Anari Ormond, Assistant Vice President for Business Development at Invest Newark.

Justin Williams, comedian and co-founder of the Newark Culture Club, shares how he’s building a nightlife space unlike any other—one that celebrates comedy, music, and community. From producing Brick City Comedy Review for over a decade to curating a bar stocked with Black-owned wine labels, Justin is on a mission to keep dollars in Newark and bring world-class talent to the heart of the city. Special thanks to The Prudential Foundation and the business owners of Newark, NJ. Special acknowledgements: Emily Manz, Chief Business Development Officer and Director of Marketing at Invest Newark, and Anari Ormond, Assistant Vice President for Business Development at Invest Newark.

Newark Made is a podcast that celebrates the bold, brilliant, and resilient entrepreneurs shaping the future of Newark, New Jersey. Hosted by Emily Manz and Marcus Randolph, each episode spotlights a local business leader rewriting the rules—from launching Black-owned drive-ins during lockdown to building luxury brands from scratch. Whether it's comedy clubs, corner delis, fiber-optic broadband, or kid-friendly dental clinics, these stories reveal how purpose, pride, and hustle power a city on the rise. Made possible by The Prudential Foundation and Invest Newark, this series is a love letter to the innovators driving inclusive growth, proving that if you can build it in Newark, you can build it anywhere.