Thelma Adams Johnson

Strategic Partnerships for Sharing Financial Risk
Tuesday July 23 1:00 - 3:00 PM

President / Chief Executive Officer
ACT! Albany Community Together, Inc.

Thelma Adams Johnson has served as the President/CEO of Albany Community Together, Inc. (ACT!) since 2002. Under her leadership, ACT! has provided over $9 million in access to capital and leveraged over $32 million in private capital to over 200 businesses, assisted in creating and/or retaining 850 jobs, and provided over 20,000+ hours in business development training and technical assistance to over 1200 businesses. Prior to joining ACT!, Thelma served as a Regional Resource Coordinator for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs were she advocated for resources for small counties and municipalities. Thelma has spent over 30 years working to create an environment where small businesses can grow and thrive. She actively advocates for resources and opportunities for small business on the local, state, and federal level. Thelma is a certified Economic Development Finance Specialist through the National Development Council. Thelma has a BS in Accounting from Albany State University, an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and a DBA from Northcentral University. She is an adjunct professor at Albany State University in the College of Business, serves on the Board of Downtown Development Authority for the City of Albany, Albany/Dougherty Land Bank Authority, Advisory Board of Lakeview Community Capital, LLC, serves on the Truist Southern GA Region Community Development Advisory Board, and serves on the board of Georgia Micro Enterprise Network (GMEN). Thelma has been named a Southwest Georgia 40 under 40 honoree, named Georgia’s Small Business Administration Financial Champion of the Year (2008), 2017 Opportunity Finance Network Fellow, recipient of the W. Smith Advocacy Award from the Sapelo Foundation (2022). In 2018, SunTrust Foundation recognized Thelma with a “Lighting the Way” award, for tireless work and efforts that meet the needs of the community. Thelma is a member of the African-American Alliance of CDFIs CEOs.

Shaundretta Boykins

Building Borrower Finance-Readiness
Tuesday October 1 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Business Solutions Manager
Ohio Department of Development

Shaundretta Boykins is the Manager of Business Development and Entrepreneurship in the Minority Business Development Division at the Ohio Department of Development. Shaundretta manages the State of Ohio Minority Business Direct Loan Program, Women’s Business Enterprise Loan Program, Minority Micro Loan Program, the Minority Business Bonding Program, and has been charged to oversee the Ohio Capital Access and the Collateral Enhancement Loan Programs, as well. In her role, she assists minorities and women with the requisite education needed to startup, stand up and scale up their businesses. She also assists them with access to capital, technical assistance, education about certifications and procurement opportunities, to help with development, and growth.

Shaundretta has more than 20 years of experience in the banking industry, working for financial institutions such as Chase, US Bank and Firstmerit. Bank. She has 5 years of experience in the non-profit/ Community Development Financial Institution, lending, and social services industries. Shaundretta has held every position in the banking center and has experience in business consulting and development. She believes in equitable education for marginalized business owners, who experience delays or deficits due to the knowledge gaps of resources that exist for them. She is a resource of resources. Shaundretta has handled multimillion/multibillion dollar books of business and has worked with small businesses to establish back-office operations, to implement financial systems and controls, and to restructure their debt in order to improve cashflow, productivity and profitability.

Shaundretta has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology/Sociology and African and African American Studies from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

Shaundretta is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, beloved wife and mother!

Kerrington Eubanks

Strategic Partnerships for Sharing Financial Risk
Tuesday July 23 1:00 - 3:00 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.

Marquise Jackson

Building Borrower Finance-Readiness
Tuesday October 1 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Senior Director of Business Development and Partnerships
Mission Driven Finance

Linda MacFarlane

Strategic Partnerships for Sharing Financial Risk
Tuesday July 23 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Executive Director
Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region

Linda MacFarlane oversees the operations and management of this $26 million, non-profit, community development financial institution serving the Capital Region of New York State. The Community Loan Fund focuses on start-up and expansion capital for BIPOC, women, and low-income business owners; training and technical assistance for businesses and entrepreneurs; and sustainable community development projects. In addition, Linda is the Executive Director of the Albany Center for Economic Success, a BIPOC small business incubator and community development facility located in Albany, NY. Linda serves on the Capital Region Economic Development Council, is chair of the NYS CDFI Coalition, and serves on several community boards.

Joann Massey

Strategic Partnerships for Sharing Financial Risk
Tuesday July 23 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Vice President Operations
Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE)

Dr. Joann Massey is the Vice President of Operations for EDGE, the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County. She is a recognized community leader with accolades such as 2023 MBJ Power 100, Memphis Business Journal Top 40 Under 40, Leadership Memphis Executive Class 2014 and Top Performer Shelby County Government. She received the 2019 Blaze Award for Economic Justice and the 2021 Memphis Power 30. She was also recognized by the Tri-State Defender as a 2017 Woman of Excellence, a 3V Leading Lady of Shelby County and was also awarded the 2017 Partnership Award by WBEC. She is a 2017 Rose Center Fellow for Equitable Economic Development.

Dr. Massey has been featured in national publications such as Fast Company and Forbes. She has been a guest panelist for several prestigious national conferences such as City Summit by National League of Cities, The Funders Network (TFN) Annie Casey Foundation, Results for America, as well as guest speaker for The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Her speaking engagements have been based on her expertise in economic, workforce and community development, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Dr. Massey has certifications in Economic Development from Harvard University, Executive Education Program; Managing Economic Development Organizations from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC); and as a Certified Compliance Administrator from Morgan State University. She is also a graduate of Benedictine University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a Master degree in Business Administration (MBA) concentration in Finance. She holds a dual Bachelor of Business Administration and Finance degree from LeMoyne Owen College.

She currently resides in East Memphis with her loving husband of 30 years and their amazing three adult children.

Leopoldo Peña

Development Finance Data Collection and Measurement
Wednesday September 4 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Co-Founder
Presta

Leo’s previous experience has been centered around GovTech — most recently focused on expanding access to voting. He helped launch a mobile voting platform designed to securely cast votes in elections across the globe, allowing members of the US military to participate in general and midterm elections while serving abroad. Currently in Cleveland, Ohio, Leo holds a Bachelor’s of Science from Cornell University and is an alumnus of the Venture for America Fellowship.

Everett Sands

Development Finance Data Collection and Measurement
Wednesday September 4 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Building Borrower Finance-Readiness
Tuesday October 1 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Equitable Lending Assessment Tools & Spreadsheet Solutions
Tuesday December 10 1:00 - 3:00 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.

Tunua Thrash-Ntuk

Development Finance Data Collection and Measurement
Wednesday September 4 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Building Borrower Finance-Readiness
Tuesday October 1 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Equitable Lending Assessment Tools & Spreadsheet Solutions
Tuesday December 10 1:00 - 3:00 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

Peter Truog

Development Finance Data Collection and Measurement
Wednesday September 4 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Co-Founder
Presta

After working in management consulting, Peter moved to Northeast Ohio to work in community and economic development, and later launched The Opportunity Exchange. He has contributed to the US Impact Investing Alliance's OZ Impact Reporting Framework, co-authored a paper on green energy in Opportunity Zones, and written for the Brookings institution.

Eugenia Vivanco

Development Finance Data Collection and Measurement
Wednesday September 4 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Community Impact and Funding Director
Raza Development Fund, Inc.

Fawn Zimmerman

Strategic Partnerships for Sharing Financial Risk
Tuesday July 23 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Development Finance Data Collection and Measurement
Wednesday September 4 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Building Borrower Finance-Readiness
Tuesday October 1 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Equitable Lending Assessment Tools & Spreadsheet Solutions
Tuesday December 10 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Managing Director, CDFA Advisory Services
Council of Development Finance Agencies

Fawn Zimmerman is the Managing Director of CDFA Advisory Services with the Knowledge & Networks Division at the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), where she leads initiatives to enhance capital access for underserved communities. She oversees the CDFA Equitable Capital Loan Guarantee Program, aimed at increasing funding for underserved small businesses, and the CDFA–NASDA Foundation Socially Disadvantaged Farmers & Ranchers Access to Capital Program, which focuses on building a comprehensive agricultural resource database, offering hands-on technical assistance, and developing culturally relevant programs to boost investment in socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. In her role, Fawn also manages the advisory services team at CDFA, assisting development finance agencies with strategic planning, finance program development, and obtaining CDFI certification. Fawn holds a BA with honors in Communication from The Ohio State University and has pursued postgraduate studies at Ohio University. Her career is deeply intertwined with her philanthropic goals, and she is committed to leveraging her creative, academic, and professional experiences to drive positive changes in the development finance sector.