In New York City, people of color, women, and immigrants are the majority of the population — and a small minority of its business owners.
Three circles, each larger than the last — a rising share of ownership.
M2M means Minor to Major. The three circles in our logo are that shift: a rising share of business ownership held by the people who already build this city. We are here to change that math one business at a time, until the businesses we serve have grown past the size where a designation is the only way in.
New York City has plenty of help starting a business, and plenty of capital for businesses at scale. Almost nothing exists in between. A contractor can have real crews, real jobs, and real revenue — and still be stopped at the paperwork.
The M2M Project was founded to close that gap. We are a nonprofit social enterprise that shows small contractors how to build, fix, and maintain the financial operating systems their businesses run on, and connects them to the lenders and contracting opportunities that open up once those systems work.
Cathy is the Founder of The M2M Project, a nonprofit that equips historically excluded skilled-trade contractors with the financial operating systems and procurement pathways required to build sustainable, competitive businesses. She launched M2M to address a structural gap in New York City's construction economy: contractors who have mastered their trade but lack the financial infrastructure needed to scale and access larger contracts.
With more than 20 years of experience in community economic development, Cathy has built and led initiatives across housing, workforce, and small business ecosystems, connecting underserved New Yorkers to economic opportunity. Through M2M, she applies that expertise directly inside contractor businesses, positioning them to convert technical skill into long-term economic security and generational mobility. As a woman founder operating in a male-dominated industry, she is particularly committed to expanding access and visibility for women contractors.
Cathy is a Fellow of the Sterling Network and serves as Board President of Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE).
Mike is the founder and Principal of Alpha Ledger LLC, a fractional CFO and advisory firm serving small and mid-sized businesses in the construction and real estate industries. He has more than 20 years of experience across the full real estate and construction value chain, including senior leadership roles with owner-developers, general contractors, engineering firms, and specialty subcontractors.
Previously, Mike served as Chief Financial Officer of The Vorea Group and Plaza Construction, and held senior finance roles at STV, Turner Construction, and The Louis Berger Group. He began his career as a structural engineer and is a licensed Professional Engineer in California. Mike is particularly passionate about helping small business owners strengthen financial performance and use technology, automation, and artificial intelligence to improve their operations.
He holds an MBA and a Master of Science in Engineering Systems from MIT, a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering, summa cum laude, from Cooper Union.
Kirk has more than 30 years of experience in community development, affordable housing finance, and real estate development. Much of his initial experience was gained during an almost 10-year tenure overseeing the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit syndication business for Enterprise Community Investment in the New York Region, during which 12,000 units were financed with approximately $1 billion invested.
He currently serves as President at Monadnock Development LLC. Over the last 14 years, Monadnock Development has acquired or developed 50 projects containing more than 10,000 units, with total development costs in excess of $3.5 billion. Kirk serves as co-host and co-executive producer of The Housing Problem Podcast and writes and speaks regularly on affordable housing policy and practice.
Kirk holds a B.S. in Consumer Economics and Housing from Cornell University, a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.
Hal is the former Co-Head of Private Equity Partnership Investments Americas at Partners Group. Based in New York, he served as a member of the Private Equity Partnership Investment Committee, the Private Equity Direct Co-Investments and Direct Lead Growth Investments Investment Committees, and as Chairman of the Private Equity Growth Investment Committee.
Hal was with Partners Group for over 15 years and has 21 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Partners Group, he was a Vice President in the Leveraged Finance group at Lehman Brothers, having previously worked on leveraged buyout transactions as a lawyer at Moses & Singer and White & Case LLP. He holds a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and is admitted to the New York state bar.
Bret is a Partner at HR&A Advisors, a national consulting firm dedicated to creating more equitable, resilient, and dynamic cities. Bret works with mission-driven clients to advance projects that revitalize neighborhoods, strengthen local economies, and broaden economic opportunity, with a focus on New York State and City.
Drawing on a background in economics, public policy, and communications, Bret works with clients to craft feasible plans for visionary projects and to convey the impact of those projects to various audiences. He supports public-private real estate developments, housing strategies, industry growth and workforce strategies, and cultural and open space investments.
Bret earned an MBA from Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management and is a proud Bronx native. Prior to HR&A, he worked for the New York City Council and was a community journalist in the Bronx.
Judi is a nonprofit leader and expert in community development, with nearly three decades of experience in New York City and nationwide. She serves on boards including the Leo Baeck Institute and Selfhelp Realty Group.
In her most recent role, Judi served as Chief Program Officer of Enterprise Community Partners, the largest organization in the country focused on making home and community places of pride, power, and belonging. In that role she oversaw 12 regional offices advancing three priorities: increasing the housing supply, advancing racial equity, and building resilience and upward mobility. Prior to Enterprise, Judi led the Low-Income Investment Fund's Eastern and Central region and served as Director of Nonprofit Finance in Citibank's Community Development Division.
Judi graduated valedictorian from Kenyon College with a bachelor's degree in psychology and received her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
The M2M Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise based in Brooklyn, New York.