Her Story
About Tammy
Tammy Hollaway, CIGI, has built a career centered on service, leadership, and community impact across public service, nonprofit engagement, and civic leadership. She is widely recognized for her commitment to neighborhood development, collaboration, and expanding economic opportunity. Her professional journey reflects a consistent dedication to helping people, organizations, and communities work together to create positive, sustainable change. She currently serves as Senior Membership and Program Specialist for the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, where she works with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and community stakeholders to strengthen membership engagement and develop programs that support economic growth. In this role, she connects individuals and businesses to opportunities, resources, and networks that help foster long-term success and community prosperity.
Her professional foundation spans both government and corporate sectors, where she has steadily advanced in responsibility since 2006. Her experience includes service as a Special Agent with the United States Department of Defense, as well as Senior Investigator roles with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General and the New Jersey Department of the Treasury. She also spent nearly a decade with Prudential Financial as a Disability Case Manager. Across each role, she has developed deep expertise in analysis, investigations, compliance, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving within complex systems, all of which continue to inform her leadership in the business and community development space.
In addition to her professional work, Tammy is deeply committed to civic engagement and grassroots leadership. She serves as President of her neighborhood association and as a District Leader with the Essex County Democratic Committee, where she actively connects residents with elected officials, candidates, and civic resources while ensuring communities remain informed and engaged in the democratic process. She is known as a hands-on connector who helps residents access support, navigate systems, and find solutions to local challenges. Looking ahead, she is focused on advancing initiatives such as a community endowment fund, a community benefit agreement, and a window replacement program to preserve historic homes while improving neighborhood sustainability. Guided by mentors Marilyn Davis and Reverend Dr. Steffi Bartley, along with the foundational values instilled by her parents, Tammy leads with integrity, service, and a commitment to empowering others through meaningful connection and collective progress.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tammy
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to staying grounded in my community and building strong relationships with a diverse group of people. One mistake I made early on was just building relationships with political or high-ranking individuals, and you can lose touch of your community that way. What I do now is absolutely make sure that I balance out community, staying grounded, and then also cultivating those relationships that you need to get things done. I'm proud that although I'm not an elected official, people in the community depend on me. They call out to me, they reach out when there is a problem, when they need help, when they don't understand something. Being that connector that can help them connect to resources or help find solutions for what may be occurring is what drives me. I surround myself with well-rounded people, not just professionals, and I make sure to stay connected to the people I serve.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is rooted in the example and guidance of my mentors, Marilyn Davis and Reverend Dr. Steffi Bartley, as well as the lifelong values instilled in me by my parents. They taught me that true leadership is grounded in service, integrity, and a commitment to uplifting others, and that meaningful success comes from staying connected to community and purpose. Their influence has shaped how I approach every role I’ve held, reminding me to lead with compassion, remain accountable to the people I serve, and consistently use my skills and opportunities to make a positive and lasting impact.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell them to, for number one, make sure you surround yourself with a diverse group of professionals and well-rounded people, not just professionals. One of the mistakes that I made is kind of just building relationships early on just with political or high-ranking individuals, and you can lose touch of your community that way. So what I do now is I absolutely make sure that I balance out community, staying grounded, and then also cultivating those relationships that you need to get things done. You want to stay connected to your community and the people you serve, while also building the professional relationships that help you accomplish your goals.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Tammy believes one of the biggest challenges facing communities today is ensuring equitable development while preserving neighborhood identity and creating sustainable opportunities for residents. However, she also sees tremendous opportunities through community partnerships, civic engagement, economic development initiatives, and collaborative problem-solving.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Community service and staying grounded in the people I serve are my most important values. My father really got me engaged in community work - he actually started the neighborhood association that I now lead as president, and he pulled me into it with him. My mother was a stay-at-home mom who was the true epitome of a nurturer, and everyone in the neighborhood knows her for her flowers. Both my parents shaped my commitment to community. I'm passionate about being a connector, helping people access resources and find solutions. I believe in balancing relationships with both community members and professionals who can help get things done. As a mother, I'm proud that my son will be studying abroad in Berlin, Germany this summer, which is an example of how collectively we are improving quality of life and changing outcomes for our young people from Newark. Family, community service, and creating opportunities for the next generation drive everything I do.
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