ABOUT US | STAFF BIOS
Robert Camoin
Over the past 27 years, Rob Camoin has developed a comprehensive understanding of the business investment decision making process and the important role that public and quasi-public sector organizations play in creating healthy business environments. In 1999, Rob formed Camoin Associates to assist businesses and developers in pursuing public financing and tax incentives for expansion and industrial development projects and to help economic development organizations and local governments foster private investment. Since then, Camoin Associates has assisted hundreds of private businesses in securing millions of dollars in financing and tax credits, and has guided more than 30 local communities through strategic planning processes with the goal of strengthening their competitiveness in an increasingly global economy.
With offices in New York City and the Albany area, Camoin Associates provides consulting services that include formulating economic development strategies that identify opportunities for commercial and industrial development, providing market and financial feasibility studies used in the investment decision process, identifying and pursuing financing and tax incentive packages necessary to induce private investment, and cost/benefit studies that measure the impact a public or private investment will have on a local economy and taxing jurisdiction.
Rob has spoken to numerous organizations on topics such as economic development planning, commercial market analysis, economic and fiscal impact analysis and managing economic development organizations. In addition, he currently serves on the Northeastern Economic Developers’Äô Association (NEDA) Board of Directors and Chairs the International Economic Development Council’Äôs (IEDC) Membership Advisory Committee. Rob has a B.B.A. in Finance and Economics from St. Bonaventure University, a Masters of Planning from the State University of New York @ Buffalo and is a certified economic development professional (CEcD) through the IEDC. Prior to establishing Camoin Associates, Rob worked in the equity and currency markets in New York City, becoming Series 7 and 63 licensed.
R. Michael N’Äôdolo
Michael’Äôs understanding of the relationship between development and municipal finance, as well as his experience leveraging the benefits of business expansion and commercial and industrial development incentives, has allowed the firm to expand its scope of services to private corporations and developers. Utilizing this expertise, Michael has been able to assist numerous large businesses with optimizing the public financing and tax incentives programs available.
In addition, Michael has developed a detailed understanding of economic forecasting models and has been involved in the firm’Äôs tax base assessment, and economic and fiscal impact assignments. This expertise has also contributed to the firm’Äôs economic development planning services, providing clients with a clear understanding of the fiscal costs and benefits of policy and public investment decisions.
Michael holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University.
Carmen Lorentz
Carmen leads many of Camoin Associates’Äô economic development strategic planning projects. Her international development experience complement her skills as a project manager to furnish the firm’Äôs clients with someone who builds community consensus while completing plans on time and within budget. Her ability to utilize economic data, identify feasible development opportunities, knowledge of the economic development tools and her project management capabilities make her an extremely effective revitalization strategist and practitioner. As a testament to her skills, Carmen recently secured over $4 million in grants for the implementation of a recent economic development strategy she led for a client community.
Carmen joined Camoin Associates after participating in New York State’Äôs prestigious Public Management Institute, which afforded her the opportunity to analyze state economic development policies and local government fiscal distress at the Division of the Budget.
Carmen holds a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Maryland, with a specialization in public sector financial management. She finished her undergraduate work in international affairs at The George Washington University and spent a number of years in Washington, DC, lobbying Congress on foreign policy issues and working for the Soros Foundation Network, where she managed a $5 million grant portfolio.
Ben Zimmerman
Ben provides a range of services for Camoin Associates, including economic and community development strategic planning, Empire Zone administration and technical assistance, revitalization program design, grant writing, market analysis, GIS services, and other related expertise. Ben’Äôs experience working with a wide variety of funding sources has made him an excellent resource for businesses looking for alternatives to traditional financing options during these unique economic times.
Ben specialized in land use planning and community development while earning a Master of Science in Planning from the University of Arizona. His training included participation in a variety of real-world planning projects related to economic and community development, as well as technical training with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). While earning his graduate degree, Ben worked for the Drachman Institute in Tucson, Arizona, where he focused on housing and community development needs in several Arizona communities. Ben also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Geography with a Biology Minor from the University of British Columbia.
Rachel Selsky
Rachel’Äôs experience at Camoin Associates has included the completion of community and economic development strategic plans, meeting facilitation and community consensus building, Empire Zone administration and technical assistance, grant writing, and economic and fiscal impact analysis for private development projects. Rachel’Äôs impact analysis work has assisted multiple companies in their application to local IDA’Äôs for tax incentives. In these tough economic times, this work has become critical for businesses and developers needing to clearly demonstrate the positive economic impact their proposals have on a local economy and public finances.
Rachel holds a Masters in Regional Planning from the University at Albany. As part of her training, she participated in a number of economic and community development strategic planning projects in the Albany, NY region. In addition to a Masters degree, Rachel is certified through the National Charrette Institute. Rachel’Äôs background also includes facilities planning for the New York State Department of Corrections, as well as work with the Planning Bureau of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Rachel also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies & Planning from the University at Albany.
Vilma Heramia, CEcD
With over two decades of experience and a career that spans three continents, Vilma has extensive knowledge of public, private and community-based development for economic, housing, and neighborhood revitalization initiatives. She brings a unique blend of skills that incorporates socioeconomic analytical tools with market research, policy, and spatial/design considerations.
Vilma has overseen projects sponsored by public, private, and not-for-profit entities that include market assessments, downtown development, mixed-used development, adaptive reuse, research and industrial park development, fiscal and economic impact studies, workforce development, economic modeling, grant writing and funding strategies, housing, and economic development strategies. As an accomplished researcher and regional analyst, Vilma has conducted a national study on community development and has published a book on housing policy and public-private partnerships in urban development.
Vilma holds a Masters degree in Regional Planning from the State University of New York at Albany, with specialization in regional analysis and housing and community development. She also has a Masters degree in Design Technology from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, a post-graduate diploma from the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies in the Netherlands, and a bachelors’Äô degree in Architecture from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines. As a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), Vilma has undergone rigorous training and competency testing under the International Economic Development Council.
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