By StreetWise Partners 

Our StreetWise Board of Directors is a dynamic group of exemplary professionals currently comprised of 23 members. The team comes from diverse backgrounds and industries, yet they all share our common values of Community, Customized Support, Diversity, Adaptability, Equity, and Empowerment. Furthermore, they deeply believe in our mission to advance economic equity by connecting underrepresented talent to mentorship and career opportunities.   

We are thrilled to announce that we recently added a new Director to our Board. The StreetWise CEO, Shari Krull, sat down with him for a conversation. Get to know Keith Banhazl,  Managing Director, Head of US Commercial Real Estate Finance at Moody’s Ratings.  

Shari: Keith, we’re so excited to have you join our Board this year. Tell the audience a little about your background and career.  

Keith: I grew up in the New York area and went to Brown University.  After graduating from Brown, I moved to New York City and started my career at Moody’s with a focus on Commercial Real Estate. I have held various managerial roles during my career there and currently am a Managing Director and Head of Commercial Real Estate Finance for the Americas within the Structured Finance Group at Moody’s Ratings.  I have always been keen on mentoring, having grown up with it as a focal point at home. My mom was a teacher who started a mentoring school-to-career program where she taught. Within Moody’s, I am a mentor within the Women’s BRG and the PAI BRG. I have also been a Corporate Social Responsibility chair in the past, within Moody’s Foundation. Outside of Moody’s, I am actively involved in other organizations, including serving as a Board Member at Brooklyn Community Services. Now, I’m very excited to join the Board of Directors at StreetWise Partners. 

Shari: Community and non-profit service is also part of your expertise and experience. Can you share with us a little about what impact means to you and the value of contributing to organizations outside your profession?  

Keith: It has been important to me to give back in some way to local communities, especially in and around the area where I grew up. For me, impact can come in the form of positive change or influence that we can create in the lives of others or their environments. Making a difference, whether a big or small difference, can have a tremendous impact. Over the last eight years I have also been a board member at Turning Point Brooklyn, which has now merged with Brooklyn Community Services. When professionals volunteer or support non-profits, they bring their expertise and fresh perspectives. Contributing to organizations outside of our profession or day-to-day occupation not only benefits the community but can also enrich our own lives. I look forward to being able to contribute to StreetWise Partners, your mission, and goals.  

Shari: Tell me a bit about how you can produce great achievements in your career in the business world while doing the same thing in the nonprofit world. 

Keith: I think developing skills that are transferable across sectors and facets of your life is important. Whether it be skills related to communication, leadership, project management, and problem-solving these tools are valuable everywhere. Using these skills in the non-profit world can be helpful in being able to drive positive change. Leveraging business acumen to nonprofit projects, such as collaborative events, fundraising campaigns or strategic planning can benefit the mission. Also, being able to balance achievements in both the business world and the nonprofit sector can be rewarding to all involved.  

Shari: How did you first hear about our organization?  

Keith: I fortunately was introduced to and have been friends with Tazia Smith, the StreetWise Board Chair, for over 15 years. We were at an outing last fall with Tazia and her husband and StreetWise came up in the conversation. Tazia knew of my interest and contributions to non-profits and asked if I would be interested in joining the board. I ran with it and here we are today thanks to Tazia. 

Shari: Why us? Why did you want to join the StreetWise Board? 

Keith: StreetWise resonated with me because it offered the opportunity to be able to give back with mentoring as a focal point to local underrepresented talent. Sometimes just giving someone a little guidance and being their advocate can give them the confidence and direction to succeed. 

StreetWise is purpose-driven and has proven repeatedly to be able to empower its mentees with the skills, resources, and access to secure and maintain employment. 

Shari: Lastly, what has been the most uplifting or inspiring moment you’ve experienced with StreetWise? 

Keith: Recently, a StreetWise board member graciously opened their home for an event and during the evening one of Street Wise's mentees spoke to the attendees. Hearing a mentee’s success story at this gathering was immensely up-lifting. They not only benefitted from mentorship via StreetWise, but they have also taken what they learned and leveraged the ongoing guidance into a highly successful career at a major corporation.