Strong Boards Don't Happen by Accident: Monique Lewis and Anna Banks Lead Forward
Jersey Desk/10332884

EAST ORANGE, N.J. - JerseyDesk -- Strong communities need strong organizations. Strong organizations need strong boards. And strong boards do not happen by accident.

Monique M. Lewis, MBA, MCP, President of the East Orange Chamber of Commerce and Principal of MML Consulting Group LLC, and Anna D. Banks, MAS, CPEC, CHBC, GCDF, GCDFI, Secretary of the Board of Directors of the East Orange Chamber of Commerce and Founder and Managing Director of Thrive Leadership Institute, Inc., completed Leadership Newark, Inc.'s Nonprofit Board Service Training Workshop on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the New Jersey Historical Society in Newark.

The seven-hour, in-person training prepared civic and community leaders to serve with greater clarity, confidence, and accountability. Topics included governance, fiduciary responsibility, fundraising, strategic oversight, mission alignment, board readiness, internal controls, ethical leadership, and community impact.

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For the East Orange Chamber of Commerce, this training was more than professional development. It was a strategic investment in the kind of leadership that protects the mission, strengthens decision-making, and positions the Chamber to serve businesses and the broader East Orange community with excellence.

"Strong chambers are built on strong boards," said Monique M. Lewis. "This training reinforced what effective leadership requires: accountability, financial responsibility, clear roles, and a deep commitment to the people and businesses we serve."

The workshop was facilitated by Celia M. King, MPS, and Dr. Uchenna Onyeani, DC. Through interactive learning and practical board readiness strategies, participants explored what it means to be more than a name on a board roster. They examined how board members serve as stewards of public trust, ambassadors for the mission, and strategic partners in organizational growth.

"Board service is both an honor and a responsibility," said Anna D. Banks. "When leaders understand governance, finances, fundraising, and oversight, they are better prepared to ask the right questions, protect the organization, and move the mission forward. You can start with what you have, but you must be willing to keep learning."

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Leadership Newark's program also serves as a pipeline connecting trained leaders with nonprofit organizations seeking skilled, committed, and mission-aligned board members.

The East Orange Chamber of Commerce's participation reflects its continued focus on strong governance, board development, ethical leadership, and a more vibrant, accountable, community-centered business ecosystem.

To learn more about the East Orange Chamber of Commerce, become a member, attend an upcoming event, or explore partnership opportunities, visit https://www.eastorangechamber.org/. Your business, your voice, and your leadership matter in East Orange.