Emily Manz is an energetic, economic development professional specializing in creating downtown experiences by leveraging a community's existing assets - small businesses, history, and its people. EMI strategies that celebrate place – creating fun, informative walking tours, leveraging free online tools like social media, and using relationship-based marketing strategies like earned media for her clients. EMI also focuses on being inclusive – ensuring an accurate depiction of a place’s population is reflected in marketing strategies, and local business owners are engaged. Manz has served RBH Group, the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation, Bound Brook Revitalization Partnership, Bloomfield Center Alliance, Ironbound Business Improvement District, Downtown Millburn, Audible.com, Select Detroit, the NJ Historic Trust, and Invest Newcastle among others.
Manz is also co-founder of Have You Met Newark Tours, a tour company that has been in operation for 6+ years and taken approximately 3000 people on tours. The company also runs the successful food tour - Nom Nom Newark Food Tours and has been featured in the New York Times among other publications.
Manz has a Masters in City and Regional Planning specializing in economic development from Rutgers University and a Master’s in International Relations specializing in International Political Economy from Central European University. She is also a graduate of the University of Delaware where she studied Politics and Economics.
She is a member of Downtown NJ, a Board Member of the Northeastern Economic Developers Association (NEDA) and a frequent speaker at International Economic Development Council (IEDC).