New York Real Estate Developer James P. Stuckey Describes His Non-profit Relationships

 

James P. Stuckey is a well-known New York real estate developer who has been involved in many nonprofit projects throughout his three decades long career.

If you ask James P. Stuckey to name one crowning achievement during the last 30 years you might expect him to say his work in New York City’s redevelopment. One might wonder if James P. Stuckey would mention his oversight of the first Class A office building completed after 9/11. While he is proud of those contributions to the infrastructure of the city, James P. Stuckey believes his contributions to the nonprofit sector are the ones that have done the most good. In this interview, Interviewing Experts chats with this businessman about several of these projects and organizations.

Interviewing Experts: Thank you, James P. Stuckey, for joining us today. We’ve had several reader requests to interview you.

James P. Stuckey: You’re welcome. It’s my pleasure to be here.

Interviewing Experts: We understand that you currently own a real estate development company. Can you tell us a bit about it?

James P. Stuckey: My firm is Verdant Properties. It is a Limited Liability Corporation. I am the founder, CEO, and president. The mission of Verdant is the redefine “green” development through the next generation of development technologies and construction methodologies.

Interviewing Experts: Your main focus is on sustainable living and responsible building, right?

James P. Stuckey: Yes, that’s correct.

Interviewing Experts: Can you tell us about some of the nonprofits that you’re involved in personally?

James P. Stuckey: I am a former trustee at St. John’s University, which is where I received my Bachelors and my first Masters degree.

Interviewing Experts: Please tell us a little about the school.

James P. Stuckey: St. John’s University is a private Catholic college with one of the world’s best global studies program.

Interviewing Experts: Where is it located?

James P. Stuckey: The school has three campuses, actually: Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.

Interviewing Experts: You were also involved in the Center against Domestic Violence too, correct?

James P. Stuckey: Yes, I was its Chairman.

Interviewing Experts: They definitely provide an invaluable service to the women and children of New York City.

James P. Stuckey: Yes. The Center Against Domestic Violence offers support, shelter, and education through counseling, safe houses, and school programs for teens. The facility currently houses over 1000 women and children annually. These people are victims of abusive relationships and have nowhere else to turn.

Interviewing Experts: This organization has been around since the 70s. We know that the Center pioneered a teen outreach program. What is that about?

James P. Stuckey: As we all know, adult women are not the only ones facing abusive situations. Often times, teenage girls find themselves entangled in a relationship with an abuser. Many of these girls are too embarrassed, or are unable to talk to their parents about their situation.

Interviewing Experts: So what can the Center do?

James P. Stuckey: It offers an abuse outreach program that counsels teens on the signs of abuse, both verbal and physical.

Interviewing Experts: That’s absolutely fantastic. We know that you have daughters yourself so we’re sure that is a program near and dear to your heart.

James P. Stuckey: That is an understatement.

Interviewing Experts: You were involved with the Caron’s Drug Recovery Group, so we hear. Can you give our readers some insight into this program?

James P. Stuckey: Caron’s offers treatment services for substance abuse. The group has been around for nearly 60 years.

Interviewing Experts: Sorry to switch gears on you so quickly, but our time is almost up. Are there any groups that you are more active in than others?

James P. Stuckey: Recently I have had to narrow my field of interest somewhat but I am still actively involved in Architecture for Humanity as a community builder.

Interviewing Experts: Why this organization?

James P. Stuckey: As you may or may not know, post-catastrophe work is something I’ve taken a keen interest in since the terrorist attacks in 2001. Architecture for Humanity is a group that also shares this interest. They currently have several projects in Haiti, focusing on rebuilding the country’s infrastructure after the earthquake that shook its foundation in January 2010.

Interviewing Experts: It’s critical for a country to get back to normalcy and rebuild after a disaster. We appreciate your sharing this vision with our readers.

That’s all the time we have today, but thank you so much for visiting with us. We look forward to speaking with you again.

James P. Stuckey: The pleasure was mine. Please call me anytime.