Jason Burak
Identifying Your Target Market
Tuesday September 26 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Manager - Small Business Unit
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Jason Burak works for the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED). DEED’s mission is to empower the growth of the Minnesota economy, for everyone.
Jason manages the Small Business Unit within the Office of Business Finance. His team primarily manages state-funded loan programs that target small businesses including businesses owned by socially disadvantaged persons. This work is accomplished largely through partnerships with nonprofit corporations and foundations.
Jason previously managed the loan program for a CDFI and enjoyed working directly with entrepreneurs. Prior to that he was in banking. He has served on two boards; one whose mission is to eliminate poverty and the other to advance music education and performance for youth. The board work inspired Jason to change careers from banking to the nonprofit sector which eventually led him to public service through DEED. His goal is to give Minnesota taxpayers a solid return on their investment.
He resides in St. Paul, Minnesota and enjoys music and “chicken TV” (watching the chickens).
Brett Doney
Fund Capitalization
Tuesday June 27 1:00 - 4:00 PM
President & Chief Executive Officer
Great Falls Development Authority
Brett Doney leads the Great Falls Development Authority, a public/private economic development partnership serving the 12-county Great Falls Montana trade area. Doney has over 30 years of experience in urban and rural community economic development. Prior positions include: President/CEO of Enterprise Maine, a family of community economic development organizations dedicated to creating economic opportunity and enhancing the quality of life in rural western Maine; Director of the Ft. Devens Reuse Center, a 9,600 acre army base redevelopment planning effort in Massachusetts; and, President of Doney Associates, a Boston-based consulting firm focused on urban revitalization, public/private real estate development, and innovative economic development.
Doney’s team efforts have won awards from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the American Economic Development Council, the International Economic Development Council, the National Association of Development Organizations, the Finance Authority of Maine, the Montana Economic Developers Association, and the National Brownfield Conference. His professional certifications include Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), Master of Corporate Real Estate (MCR), Senior Leader of Corporate Real Estate (SLCR), American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), RMA Credit Risk Certification, Federal Grants Management, and Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP). He is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute of the University of Oklahoma. Doney earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California at Santa Barbara and a Masters in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Doney has taught, given presentations, and served on technical advisory teams for a variety of state, national and international economic development and industry organizations. He currently serves on the boards of the Montana Economic Developers Association, the Great Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau (Chair), the Downtown Development Partnership of Great Falls (Chair), and the Upper Missouri River Heritage Area Planning Corporation. He serves on the International Economic Development Council’s Accreditation and Public Policy Advisory Committees, as the Montana Government Relations Chair for the International Council of Shopping Centers, and on the McLaughlin Research Institute’s National Development Council. He is an active Rotarian and past President of the Great Falls Rotary Club.
Tom Durkee
Identifying Your Target Market
Tuesday September 26 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Director of Tribal Business Development
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Tom Durkee is the current Director of Tribal Business Development for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation or MEDC. Mr. Durkee joined the MEDC in 2000 and has worked in several areas including, business development, community development, and business attraction. He has worked within the Tribal Business unit since 2011.
Tom grew up in Northwestern Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point with a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Social Science. He feels his rural upbringing and background has provided a good fit for working with the 12 Federally Recognized Tribes in Michigan. Prior to joining the MEDC Mr. Durkee gained experience working for a small rural hospital system and then a large national financial brokerage firm. He resides with his wife and daughter in a suburb of Lansing, Michigan.
Adriana Eiriz
Identifying Your Target Market
Tuesday September 26 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Vice President, Sales and Partnerships
Accion Opportunity Fund
Adriana is the driving force behind Accion Opportunity Funds (AOF) efforts to reach small business owners by leading the Partnership team responsible for forging deep alliances with existing partners and establishing relationships with new partners to further expand AOF’s small business lending.
For over 25 years, Adriana worked across the globe fighting for the underserved, using cutting-edge technology, interpreting data trends, and growing deep-rooted relationships with clients and partners. Over the course of her career, she has led multiple sales/business development and marketing teams and managed strategic partnerships at companies such as MoneyGram International, Nexxo Financial Corp., Vivar Advertising, LLC (part of Quigley-Simpson), and Lexicon Marketing.
Kerrington Eubanks
Fund Capitalization
Tuesday June 27 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Sr. Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships
Lendistry
With over 10 years of experience in banking, Kerrington Eubanks manages high-performing partnerships with financial institutions, philanthropic partners, and community organizations to deploy capital to underserved communities. Her background includes roles at Citizens Business Bank and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. where she was recognized for exceeding goals. Kerrington earned a bachelor’s degree in International Business & Language from the University of La Verne.
Lynn Fernandez
Evaluating Risk
Tuesday May 23 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Sr. Credit Administrator – Specialty Products
Lendistry
Lynn M. Fernandez serves in Lendistry’s Credit Executive Leadership Group. Her duties include overseeing credit policies, operations, products, and serving as Lendistry’s keeper of credit culture and credit risk management. Her past roles include Vice President at California United Bank, Vice President at City National Bank, former Officer of Comptroller of the Currency Safety and Soundness Bank Examiner, including Credit Officer and Credit Analyst. Ms. Fernandez received her B.S. Business Administration, Finance and Financial Management Services from the University of Denver.
Topiltzin Gomez
Identifying Your Target Market
Tuesday September 26 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Head of Capital Strategies
Honeycomb Credit
Topiltzin Gomez is the Head of Capital Strategies at Honeycomb Credit, a community capital platform where small businesses can issue investment offerings to raise capital from their fans, community, and the growing network of Honeycomb impact investors. With prior professional experience in technology, entrepreneurship, and community development, Topiltzin's professional passion is to create new markets that align financial success with social progress.
Topiltzin sits on the board of the Lake County Community Foundation, the Adelante Center for Entrepreneurship, and the National Coalition for Community Capital. Topiltzin is a graduate of Yale College where he studied Ethics, Politics, and Economics.
David Graber
Underwriting Strategies
Tuesday July 25 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Director, Green Affordable Housing
Solar and Energy Loan Fund
Hailing from Memphis, TN, David is committed to bringing about a fair and sustainable Southeast. David joins SELF with a wide range of experience, from labor union and renewable energy organizing, to writing, editing, and landscaping. He received his B.A. in economics and philosophy from Tulane University.
Joseph Gray
Fund Capitalization
Tuesday June 27 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Senior Director of Multicultural Community Investment
Grow America
Joseph Gray is an NDC Director serving the central region of the US. He has over 30 years’ experience in urban planning and community redevelopment. He is the former President of JEG Urban Planning Associates. He has served in leadership roles in public service and private development, including government, non-profit, and private sector senior management positions. He has expertise in NSP administration, monitoring, and record keeping. He also has extensive experience providing TA to HOME and CDBG PJs, CHDOs, and Housing Authorities on a wide range of housing and economic initiatives including home ownership and multi-family rental projects, Community Land Trusts and other shared equity programs, neighborhood and community redevelopment plans, and public facilities and infrastructure projects. He is a widely recognized national and international speaker on “participatory governance”, and is also a contributing author for two books and numerous national publications on the subject of community building.
Shelly Gross-Wade
Evaluating Risk
Tuesday May 23 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Principal Consultant
Bay Crossing Consulting
With a 40-year legacy in public-private management, Shelly is a thought leader in economic development, business, and mission-driven finance. Throughout her career as a public servant, advocate, and financial leader, Shelly opened doors to capital for aspiring small businesses, improving access to capital for small, women, minority, and socially-disadvantaged businesses throughout the State of Maryland. At Bay Crossing Consulting Services, Shelly offers her breadth of expertise to clients in the economic development, business, and nonprofit sectors. Shelly was the first African American and the first woman to serve as President and CEO of FSC First, which provides creative financing solutions to small businesses in Maryland. During her 24 years of leadership, FSC First managed more than 10 distinct loan programs to support unbanked and under-banked small, women, minority, and socially-disadvantaged businesses and rapid growth companies. Passionate about entrepreneurship, Shelly led FSC to close over $100 million in loans for small, women, minority, and socially-disadvantaged businesses and attracted over $1.4 billion in public/private funds. Before joining FSC First, Shelly served as the Incentive Fund Manager and facilitated industrial revenue bond transactions at Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation for over a decade. In this capacity, she helped local businesses locate, expand, and invest in their local communities. A proud Maryland native, Shelly is a graduate of the University of Maryland University College and Anne Arundel Community College. She is also a graduate of Leadership Anne Arundel and Leadership Maryland. A nationally-certified Economic Development Finance Professional,Shelly continually deepens her skill sets and connects her clients with the tools for prosperity. Rooted in faith, community, and family, Shelly spends down time with her son, daughter-in-law, bonus daughter, grandchildren, and husband of 30-plus years. She loves entertaining, live jazz, crab feasts, and power boating on the Chesapeake Bay.
Brenda Guess
Identifying Your Target Market
Tuesday September 26 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Assistant Secretary
Louisiana Economic Development
Brenda Clark Guess, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, serves as the Assistant Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development. Ms. Guess is chiefly responsible for guiding LED’s programs that grow Louisiana’s small business sector which builds capacity, increases opportunities and accelerates growth. They include Small and Emerging Business Development, Mentor-Protégé Recognition, Bonding Assistance and Louisiana Contractors Institute, Rural and Veterans Initiatives. In addition, Ms. Guess is currently directing the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) effort in Louisiana to partner with financial institutions, the venture and seed capital community, and other lenders and the communities that they serve.
Prior to this appointment, Ms. Guess served as the Director of Business Incentive Services for 10 years. In this position, she administered programs geared to give companies a competitive edge through tax incentives, and developed a variety of state programs for the retention, creation, and expansion of Louisiana businesses and industries.
Before joining LED, Brenda spent six years in municipal government and 6 years in private sector banking and business management. To enhance her growth in economic development and finance, she is a graduate of the Venture Capital Institute and has attended several classes towards certification as an Economic Development Finance Professional with the National Development Council (NDC).
Brenda received a Bachelor’s degree in marketing and a Master’s degree in public administration from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge.
Rachel Jimenez
Identifying Your Target Market
Tuesday September 26 1:00 - 4:00 PM
PR & Digital Content Strategist
Raza Development Fund, Inc.
Rachel Jimenez serves in the RDF’s Communications Department as PR & Digital Content Strategist. She proudly joined the RDF Familia in March of 2021 and works to enhance RDF’s social media platforms, website and other communications strategies. A first-generation college graduate, she earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communications at Arizona State University in 2011. Rachel has extensive experience supporting communication and content marketing efforts for national and state non-profits, as well as small businesses.
A native of Chicago, Rachel grew up in Arizona’s East Valley. She constantly strives to learn as much as she can while using her writing craft to share the stories of others – powerful tools to amplify the voices and needs of a community.
Nicole Johnson
Program Design
Tuesday December 5 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Community Development Champion
The Industrial Development Authority of the City of Tucson
I help Tucson IDA build and share a compelling brand of excellence in the community to onboard and support new businesses and founders. My expertise is in business strategy & growth, fundraising, small business mentoring, and marketing & communications.
Siena Kane
Evaluating Risk
Tuesday May 23 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Engagement & Operations Manager
Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh
Armeer Kenchen
Fund Capitalization
Tuesday June 27 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Executive Director
North Carolina Rural Center
Armeer Kenchen leads the North Carolina Rural Center’s small business credit initiatives, which includes Corner Square Community Capital. Prior to joining the Rural Center, he was a member of Self-Help’s executive team where he was responsible for developing strategic partnerships and leading implementation of strategic priorities that drove growth and expansion. He has significant experience working with CDFIs, having previously served as Executive Vice President at Self-Help, Chief Executive Officer of Generations Community Credit Union, and board chair at the Carolina Small Business Development Fund.
Armeer has more than twenty-five years of experience working with community development finance institutions, non-profit and community development organizations. Some additional highlights of his career include experience as a public school teacher, business consultant, child-care center operator, and affordable housing developer.
Armeer is active in the community, serving on several boards throughout North Carolina. He is currently Vice-Chair of the Durham City/County Planning Commission and treasurer of Durham Community Land Trustees.
Anna Mackley
Underwriting Strategies
Tuesday July 25 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Chief SSBCI Officer and Bond Program Manager
Virginia Small Business Financing Authority
Anna is Chief Credit Officer for the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA), a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia which provides economic development financing programs statewide. Anna has more thirty-nine years of commercial lending experience in both in the private and public sector and eight years of experience as chief credit officer.
During her career at the Authority, Anna has been responsible for the State Small Business Credit Initiative 1.0, in conjunction with the U.S. Treasury, the Economic Development Loan Fund Program, in conjunction with the Economic Development Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Export Financing Assistance Program, in conjunction with the U.S. Export-Import Bank City/State Program.
As VSBFA’s Chief Credit Officer, Anna currently has responsibility for management of the Authority’s credit administration and lending functions, including oversight of the Authority’s latest SSBCI 2.0 Initiative and for managing the Authority’s very successful private activity bond program. Anna also serves as the Authority’s liaison to the Virginia General Assembly.
Prior to joining VSBFA, Anna had a successful career in commercial lending at a regional Virginia bank and at a small entrepreneurial company which specialized in asset based lending to physicians. Anna was graduated from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia with a B.S. degree in Finance. She is also a graduate of the School of Commercial Lending at the University of Virginia’s Colgate Dalton Graduate School of Business. Anna has served on the board of directors and in various leadership capacities with several statewide professional organizations, including the Virginia Economic Developers Association and the Virginia District Export Council.
Joy Melton
Evaluating Risk
Tuesday May 23 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Loan Fund Manager
Northwest Regional Planning Commission
Ken Pearson is the Loan Fund Manager at Northwest Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission in Spooner, WI. Pearson has been involved with small business and economic development since 2013. His ability to help business owners and entrepreneurs map out a road to success though mission focused business planning, marketing strategy and strategic visioning has assisted hundreds of businesses to start up, expand or grow. During his first five years as a loan fund manager, he has closed over 100 loans within 15 different loan programs and helped turn program losses into annual net income’s for each fund. Specifical to EDA, he’s closed over two-dozen EDA loans; helped lead the decommissioning of two legacy EDA RLF programs; capitalized the new CARES ACT EDA RLF; and closed sixteen CARES ACT EDA RLF loans, exceeding the original $1,000,000 in EDA grant awarded funding.
Pearson earned his bachelor’s degree from University of Wisconsin-Superior and a Master of Public Administration degree from Texas A&M University. He brings a vast working knowledge of strategy and development for private and nonprofit organizations. Pearson has held a variety of positions including a volunteer and corporate recruiter, human resources representative, nonprofit board member, and a media advertising and sales representative. Pearson has a strong passion to see small business owners achieve success through strategic goal setting, appropriate fund management, and connecting the right resources to help strengthen the small business economy. He developed this passion at a young age where he learned a lot about small business ownership victories and challenges from his father who was a self-employed logger in the great Wisconsin Northwood’s.
Ariel Miller
Evaluating Risk
Tuesday May 23 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Fund Capitalization
Tuesday June 27 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Underwriting Strategies
Tuesday July 25 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Identifying Your Target Market
Tuesday September 26 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Program Design
Tuesday December 5 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Senior Director, Research & Technical Assistance
Council of Development Finance Agencies
Ariel Miller is the Senior Director of Research & Technical Assistance with the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). During her time at CDFA, she has conducted research and data collection, written numerous publications, and developed curriculum on topics including access to capital programs, equitable economic development, infrastructure finance, federal finance, tax credit programs, and food system finance. Ariel also leads technical assistance engagements with development finance agencies for strategic planning, finance program development, and CDFI certification. In this role, she contributes to the organization’s strategic planning, staff development, and day-to-day management, in addition to leading the Research & Technical Assistance team. Ariel received her Master of City and Regional Planning degree from The Ohio State University, where she also earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology.
Francisca Montoya
Identifying Your Target Market
Tuesday September 26 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Director, Innovative Economic Solutions
Raza Development Fund, Inc.
Francisca Montoya serves as the Director of Innovative and Economic Solutions at Raza Development Fund. Previously Ms. Montoya was employed with Friendly House, Inc., as Director of Strategic Development. Her recent experience includes working with MALDEF as Regional Director for the 2010 Census and Arizona Regional Director of the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation where she was responsible for community relations, corporate fundraising, and program and grants management. Her career has spanned 25 years of experience in non-profit executive management.
Francisca is a graduate of Arizona State University with a BS in Health Policy. She is currently doing graduate studies at Penn State World Campus pursuing a MA, having completed the Professional Graduate Certificate in Community and Economic Development. Francisca Montoya is a lifelong resident of Arizona and is the first in her family to attend college. She has been active in the community serving on various boards over the past three decades. Currently she serves on the Fowler Elementary School Governing Board, Maricopa County Planning & Zoning Commission; Marisol Federal Credit Union Board of Directors, Arizona Latino School Board Association; and recently Co-Chaired the 2021- Friendly House 100th Year Anniversary. In 2022 she was appointed by Mayor & Council to the City of Phoenix, South Mountain Village Planning Committee.
Joel Moyer
Evaluating Risk
Tuesday May 23 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Portfolio Manager - Fair Food Fund
Fair Food Network
Joel Moyer manages Fair Food Fund, the impact investing arm of the Fair Food Network that provides financing and business assistance to good food enterprises creating health and wealth in communities especially in those that have not traditionally had access to capital and/or healthy food options. As Acting Senior Director of Investments, Joel is responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund’s investment portfolio and leads the due diligence and investment process for potential investment opportunities.
Joel has an MBA in Sustainability from Antioch University New England, where he focused on impact investing, community capital, and leveraging the positive attributes of capitalism for good. Joel lives with his wife and young children in Contoocook, New Hampshire where he enjoys exploring the region’s trails, mountains, rivers, and lakes. He also plays recreational soccer and practices yoga.
Krysta Pate
Fund Capitalization
Tuesday June 27 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
The Ownership Initiative
Krysta is the founder and CEO of The Ownership Initiative, a consulting firm focused on creating impact through designing scaled community programs and strategies to help move millions into underserved communities across America. To date, her firm has launched programs resulting in the movement of $89,000,000 into communities in 5 different states. Krysta is a nationally recognized expert when it comes to the banking system. She’s a Development Finance Certified Professional with the Council of Development Finance Agencies and is serving her 2nd term as Vice Chair of the Michigan State Land Bank Authority. Krysta is a recipient of two awards from Crain’s Business Detroit and has been featured by CNBC, Zillow, NPR, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, FDIC, Fannie Mae, The Federal Reserve, and many other prestigious community-minded organizations across the US.
Janet Perez Shensky
Underwriting Strategies
Tuesday July 25 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Senior Managing Director, Strategic Partnerships
Lendistry
Janet Perez Shensky is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Lendistry. Mrs. Shensky manages Lendistry’s government partnerships as it relates to grant programs and small business lending programs. With over seven years of leadership in finance, Mrs. Shensky has facilitated deployment of over $1 billion dollars in state funding to small businesses across the country. Mrs. Shensky is a graduate of the University of Southern California in Business Leadership and California State University, Fullerton in Political Science. Mrs. Shensky currently resides in Austin, Texas with her family.
Marie Peters
Evaluating Risk
Tuesday May 23 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Fund Director
B: Side Capital & B: Side Fund
Marie Peters is passionate about implementing inclusive lending practices to address the wealth gap through entrepreneurship and small business ownership. As the Fund Director of B:Side Capital and B:Side Fund, she manages direct lending programs that are designed for under-resourced small businesses. Through the program’s 11 year history, it has helped hundreds of small businesses start, grow and expand, resulting in over $23 million lent. Previously, Marie served as the Associate State Director of the Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, a division of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). She has also spent time teaching health education in rural Tanzania and working at a research think tank in Washington, DC. Marie currently serves on the Habitat for Humanity Colorado Board of Directors and Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute’s Growth Loan Review Committee. Originally from New Jersey, Marie attended Villanova University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Bachelor of Administration in International Business. She also has an International MBA from the University of Denver, Daniels College of Business. She is a current member of the Inclusive Capital Collective, Rural Capital Collaborative and the Colorado Entrepreneurship Coalition.
Rosa Rios Valdez
Fund Capitalization
Tuesday June 27 1:00 - 4:00 PM
CEO
BCL of Texas
A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Rosa came to Texas when her father was hired as a Bracero to work the farm fields of Uvalde. She attended the University in the 1970s when minority enrollment was less than 4,000 students, and received her degree in three years, graduating Cum Laude. Rosa has worked for over 30 years in economic development. She began her career at AMEDC (Austin Minority Economic Development Corporation), where she helped to form the Minority Contractors’ Association, which is still in operation today to bring minority contractors together and help them advocate for their needs.Rosa also worked for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and served 10 years with the Lower Colorado River Authority community and economic development team. During this time, she worked with the City of Austin to create a $67 million plan to redevelop East 6th, 7th, and 11th Streets. During her career in economic development, Rosa has helped to build local economies and bring in jobs by working with businesses across the state in diverse sectors.
Rosa has expanded the scope and size of BCL of Texas from offering only one business loan product in central Texas to a statewide CDFI (Community Development Finance Institution) whose diverse product mix now includes business, consumer, mortgage, and community facility loans. BCL of Texas was recently self-certified as the most loan-product-diverse, statewide minority-led CDFI in Texas. Under Rosa’s leadership, BCL of Texas has launched innovative programs to address economic inequalities, including the Community Loan Centers of Dallas and Austin payday alternative programs; the Texas Small and Diverse Loan Fund for growing minority businesses, and NeighborhoodLIFT down payment assistance. BCL has added over $600 million to the local tax base and helped over 2,000 businesses with expansion support.
Rosa has grown the BCL of Texas assets 51-fold to over $30.5 Million. She currently serves as president of BCL’s wholly owned affiliates, Texas Community Builders, and health-focused social enterprise corporation Salud de Paloma.
Jose Luis Rojas
Underwriting Strategies
Tuesday July 25 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Chief Operating Officer
Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF)
José Luis has been with LEAF since 2019, focusing in managing the Mass Food Trust Program and lending to worker owned companies. Before that he was a Community Investment Lending Officer at Boston Private Bank and a Community Group Manager at Mass Growth Capital, providing credit to small businesses located in disadvantaged communities of Massachusetts. Prior to that José Luis was the head of lending at Root Capital that focused on financing small and growing rural businesses in Latin America and Africa.
He has a master’s degree in Economic Development and International Finance from Columbia University, and a BA in Economics and International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania. José Luis is bilingual in English and Spanish, is proficient in French, and has some knowledge of Portuguese.
Everett Sands
Evaluating Risk
Tuesday May 23 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Fund Capitalization
Tuesday June 27 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Underwriting Strategies
Tuesday July 25 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Identifying Your Target Market
Tuesday September 26 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Program Design
Tuesday December 5 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Chief Executive Officer
Lendistry
Everett K. Sands leverages his 20+ years of experience in banking to change the game for underserved small business owners who need access to responsible capital to reach the next level. Mr. Sands has shared his recommendations before Congressional committees and at conferences hosted by FORTUNE, the National Urban League, and several industry-related events. He has appeared as a subject matter expert on national business media, including CNBC, the Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg.
With past tenures at national and community banks including MDIs, Mr. Sands has closed more than $10 billion in finance transactions. His experience also includes structured finance transactions like New Markets Tax Credits, Opportunity Zones and secondary market transactions. Mr. Sands is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, an Advisory Board member of The Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR), and a Board member of The Center for Strategic Economic Studies and Institutional Development.
Ladylaura Simao
Fund Capitalization
Tuesday June 27 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Head of Lendistry Capital Partners and Public Private Partnerships
Lendistry
Laura is a seasoned impact investor with over 15 years of experience. Most recently, she served as a Vice President in the Urban Investment Group within Goldman Sachs Asset Management and the head of the access to capital component of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses. A recognized investor and thought leader, Laura has been tapped to advise many senior government officials at the federal, state, and local levels on creating strategies, policies and designing ecosystems that leverage public and private sector resources to create opportunities and equitable access to capital to entrepreneurs. She has led the design and execution of several public-private partnerships and investment funds to support minority entrepreneurs, most notably in New York City and Chicago, the latter of which has served as a model throughout the country.
Brett Simmons
Program Design
Tuesday December 5 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Managing Director and Principal
Revolve
Brett Simmons is the Managing Director and Principal with Revolve. He has more than a decade of program, planning, and entrepreneurial experience across industries. As Director of Programs and Policy, he was instrumental in Accion Chicago’s efforts to expand lending more than 150% during the aftermath of the financial crisis. Since that time, he has worked with several start-up engineered systems companies and in operations strategy and planning for Cummins Power Systems, a fortune 200 manufacturing firm. Brett earned a joint B.A. in Economics and History from Xavier University and has both a Master of Business Administration and Master of Philosophy of Religion from Yale University.
Roy Southerland
Identifying Your Target Market
Tuesday September 26 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Chief Investment Officer
Invest Newark
Roy Southerland is a true Social Impact Investment leader in the State of New Jersey. Before Invest Newark, he was with the Greater Newark Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) team as a Senior Program Officer for Lending. During his tenure he was generated over $20 Million in investments and assisted with the portfolio management of over $40 Million of loans.
Prior to joining Greater Newark LISC, Roy spent almost two decades at the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority (NJRA) as a Senior Loan Officer. As an integral part of the NJRA’s growth and development, he has been involved with community and economic development projects that totaled more than $50 Million, which ultimately leveraged over $2 Billion of urban development projects.
Mr. Southerland attained a Bachelor of Science in Communications Sciences from Howard University in Washington, DC, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, NJ and a Master of Arts in Public Strategic Leadership from St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, NY. He is also professionally certificated in Credit Risk Analysis and Community and Economic Development Financing from New York University.
Craig Teamer
Program Design
Tuesday December 5 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Director of Finance & Special Projects
Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority
Craig L. Teamer currently serves as the Director of Finance & Special Projects for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Craig is a 1994 alumnus of St. Francis DeSales High School. He received his BBA in Finance from The University of Toledo in 1998 and his Executive MBA from Bowling Green State University in 2004.
Craig has worked in the corporate finance/banking industry for over 20 years. Most recently, he worked as a Senior Treasury Analyst for The Andersons, Inc. Previously, he served as an Assistant Vice President at Huntington National Bank in the Special Assets Division. Prior to that, he served as a commercial lender at Fifth Third Bank and KeyBank. He has held various finance positions at Dana Corporation.
In his current role, Craig oversees the Port Authority’s Northwest Ohio Bond Fund (NWOBF) and Capital Lease programs, Northwest Ohio Revolving Loan Fund, and the Diversified Contractors Accelerator Program (DCAP). He also manages the Microenterprise Development Initiative, which is a partnership between the Port and the Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI) to provide access to capital and technical assistance to start-up and existing ventures finding it difficult to obtain traditional financing. Since joining the Port in 2017, Craig has been involved in the financing of approximately $330 million in projects.
Craig was a recipient of the Toledo 20 Under 40 Leadership Award in 2014. His involvement with the African-American Leadership Council of United Way of Greater Toledo (AALC) included serving as Co-Chair of AALC, Co-Chair of the Strategic Partnerships Committee, as a member of the Real Men READ-y Steering Committee, and as a liaison on the Community Impact Cabinet (CIC). His past volunteer activities include serving as a board member of INROADS Northwest Ohio, Leadership Toledo, The University of Toledo Joint Committee – Toledo EXCEL, Springfield Schools Foundation, and The University of Toledo Alumni Association. He has served as Director of Educational Affairs, Treasurer, and Vice President for the Alpha Xi Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He currently serves as Treasurer and Audit/Finance Chair for the United Way of Greater Toledo Board of Directors.
He is married to Stephanie Teamer and together they reside in Holland, Ohio with their three children, Justin, Jalen, and Kendall.
Tunua Thrash-Ntuk
Evaluating Risk
Tuesday May 23 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Fund Capitalization
Tuesday June 27 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Identifying Your Target Market
Tuesday September 26 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Program Design
Tuesday December 5 1:00 - 4:00 PM
President and CEO
The Center by Lendistry
Tunua Thrash-Ntuk is a community development professional whose public service career spans more than two decades leading racial equity initiatives and billion-dollar governmental programs with the goal of building better communities for those in greatest need. As President and CEO for The Center by Lendistry, Tunua centers diverse and ready to be served small businesses to ensure access to the resources, technical assistance, and economic opportunities needed for success. The Center’s work begins with small businesses but also encompasses the communities in which they do business by elevating affordable housing and other community development revitalization efforts
Larry Trujillo
Underwriting Strategies
Tuesday July 25 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Senior Advisor
American Lending Center
Mr. Trujillo is a thoughtful entrepreneur, advisor, and discreet problem solver with specialized domestic and international expertise in developing and cultivating collaborative relationships, providing intellectual capital and execution competence, and strengthening liquidity issues that hamper an organizations ability to capitalize on opportunities.
Mr. Trujillo works synergistically with a professional network of economic development and capital access subject matter experts throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America to meet business client’s needs. Mr. Trujillo has also served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of several international client companies. Additionally, he has held leadership and senior-level positions with Bank of America, Instituto Bancario San Paolo di Torino (Italy), First Los Angeles Bank, and California Federal Bank.
Throughout his career, Mr. Trujillo has been actively engaged in deal structuring, debt financing, corporate transactions, and small business lending across the globe in excess of $9 Billion. His actions and interests have touched on all aspects of funding including corporate, international, real estate, structured derivatives, investment banking, trade financing, microlending, and government guaranteed lending.
Mr. Trujillo’s extensive background serving on boards and commissions committed to business and economic development led him to serve the past decade with the US Small Business Administration (SBA) in various roles, including Director of Financial Oversight for the Office of Small Business Development Centers; Director of Lender Relations; and District International Trade Officer.
Mr. Trujillo has dedicated his career and personal engagement to building situations and environments where all communities are provided with an opportunity to thrive and where political polarization, race, religion, and/or geography are never a barrier to opportunity. He has fostered sustainable and profitable development in historically underserved communities, critical emerging ethnic markets, and designated economic development zones
Daniel Wallace
Underwriting Strategies
Tuesday July 25 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Chief Investment Officer
Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
Daniel Wallace is the Chief Investment Officer at Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), a Maine-based community development financial institution with a mission to build just, vibrant and climate-resilient futures for people and communities in Maine and rural regions by integrating finance, business expertise and policy solutions in ways that make the economy work more equitably. Daniel serves on the Steering Committee for Opportunity Appalachia and as a member of the NeighborWorks Capital Focus Group.
As CEI’s Chief Investment Officer, Daniel leads a team of 12 deploying capital to Maine’s small business community and oversees the management of CEI’s loan and investment portfolio, which has grown to a record $65MM under his leadership. Daniel spearheaded the creation of several new financing products designed to expand access to capital for low-income communities and build wealth for entrepreneurs underserved by traditional financial institutions. Daniel supports capital formation, is a member of CEI’s Senior Leadership Team and is the 2023 Maine Small Business Administration’s Financial Services Champion.
Daniel also serves as Chief Executive Officer of subsidiary company 30 Federal Street Investments, LLC., which delivers state historic tax credits as equity investments to help rehabilitate historic properties, revitalize downtowns and create affordable housing.
Daniel began his career at CEI in 2012 in the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Program, bringing with him experience managing and owning retail food businesses, building green homes and running a nonprofit arts organization. Once a professional baker, Daniel is always on the lookout for an excellent loaf of artisan bread.
Kazandra Zelaya
Identifying Your Target Market
Tuesday September 26 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Research & Data Analyst for Community Impact Assessment
Raza Development Fund, Inc.
Kazandra E. Zelaya serves as RDF’s Senior Data Analyst, Community Impact Assessment. She is an experienced data analyst with a demonstrated history of working in climate change, urban electric infrastructure and vehicles, and social impact. She joined RDF in 2021 and is instrumental in creating new ways for RDF to use data to show our impact in communities. A first-generation college graduate, she earned a bachelor’s degree in urban environmental analysis and classics from Claremont McKenna College. She enjoys using data visualizations to provide greater context and understanding to place-based issues.
Sophia Zisook
Program Design
Tuesday December 5 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Senior Director, Partner Management
Accion Opportunity Fund
Sophia is a licensed social worker and strategic leader in the social sector with partnerships, strategy, programs, and management experience spanning more than a decade. Her focus has been on equity and access to opportunity. Sophia serves as Senior Director of Partner Management for Accion Opportunity Fund, focusing her efforts on creating partnerships that reach more small business owners with capital and free resources. She's worked with companies such as Hello Alice and Kiva collaborating with governments and corporations to make a more inclusive economy for entrepreneurs. Sophia devotes all her energy and expertise to building a more equitable future for everyone.