Mahako Etta is a Program Officer for CSIT. In her role, Mahako supports overall operations of the agency, grant management, business development, and communications. She supports companies in the areas of Technology, Life Sciences, Transportation & Logistics, Advance Manufacturing, non-retail Food & Beverage, Finance and Professional Services, Film and Digital Media. Mahako also works closely with federal and state agencies such as the Department of Energy, Department of Labor, and NJ Small Business Development Center, to link company to additional funds and business development resources. Prior to the Commission, Mahako worked as a Senior Research Associate at the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies at Rutgers University – Newark where she  managed a higher education advisory board and a research team that tracked the growth of postsecondary enrollment, retention, and attainment rates for the City of Newark, NJ. The research and projects were funded by Facebook, Kresge, Ford, and Lumina Foundation.   Mahako received a Bachelor’s in Journalism and MPA from Rutgers University and pursing her doctoral degree.