Tahda Ahtone
Year-End Topics for SSBCI
Thursday October 19 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Executive Director and Principal Attorney
Jack Rabbit Development, LLC
Tahda Ahtone has worked with the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and their incubator/accelerator programs (NABEDC & DreamBuilder) to do trainings for entrepreneurs to help educate them on different business structures, the importance of Operating Agreements and other internal documents, and business registration.
Tahda also has presented for other organizations such as Change Labs and San Xavier Allottees Association on matters related to entrepreneurship; I have assisted over 40 business owners in starting and structuring their businesses. I have organized Tribal Economic Development Directors and others to go to Winnebago and learn from Ho-Chunk Inc about their models; and most recently assisted multiple Tribes in structuring their State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Programs
Samantha Asker
Year-End Topics for SSBCI
Thursday October 19 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Outreach Manager
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Sam is a member of Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Outreach Team. As an Outreach Manager, Sam supports jurisdictions participating in the SSBCI to maximize the impact of the program. Previously, Sam served as Director of Small Business Policy for the Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In this role, she worked with equitable opportunity stakeholders and small business associations, and used data from other jurisdictions to develop small business policy and program recommendations to the EOHED Secretary and Governor Baker, including leading the design of the Commonwealth’s SSBCI strategy. Prior to her state service, Sam was on the development team at Accion East/Ascendus (a NY-based CDFI); completed a Masters in Public Policy & Management at King’s College London; and served on the investor relations team at Boston Community Capital/BlueHub Capital (a Boston-based CDFI).
Jennifer Cummings
Enhanced Efforts to Engage and Support SEDI-Owned Business
Thursday August 24 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Director of Business Programs
Finance Authority of Maine
As Director of Business Programs at the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME), Jennifer Cummings oversees a strong and experienced lending team that works with Maine lenders and businesses to help them get to “yes.” FAME has a unique role in Maine, tasked with taking on greater risk than traditional lenders for the benefit of the state. FAME does this primarily by offering Maine lenders commercial loan insurance and providing direct loans to Maine businesses through its FAME Direct Loan program, frequently facilitating deals that would not otherwise be possible.
At FAME success is measured by the number of jobs created and retained, as well as the amount of capital deployed: since 1983 when FAME opened its doors, over 100,000 jobs have been created or retained across all of Maine’s major industries and over $2 billion in loans and equity capital has been funneled into the Maine economy.
Jenn has over 15 years of experience as a commercial finance professional, both as a commercial loan officer and workout officer. She joined FAME in 2013 as Senior Workout Officer and now serves as Director of Business Programs. A Maine native, Jenn received her BS in International Business and Logistics from Maine Maritime Academy and earned her MBA from Thomas College. When not at work, she enjoys spending time outside hiking and skiing with her two daughters, Grace (9), and Eleanor (4). She can also be found competing at local Crossfit competitions and is a Crossfit Trainer.
William Cummins
Emerging Models and Best Practices for Delivering Technical Assistance
Thursday June 22 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Executive State Director
Alabama Small Business Development Center
In June 2011, Bill Cummins was named Executive State Director of the Alabama Small Business Development Center Network, a public sector service organization devoted to supporting Alabama small business. Bill is a thirty-year veteran of commercial banking and joined Bank One/New Orleans in 1998 as the Market Manager -- Trade Finance for Louisiana. In 2000, he was promoted to first vice president for Global Treasury & Trade (Southeastern Market Manager). In 2004, Bank One merged with JP Morgan Chase, and Bill served as Executive Director for Global Trade Services for JPMorgan Chase Bank.
From 1996-1998, Bill was Senior Vice President and Director of the AmTrade International Bank in Atlanta; from 1982 to 1995, he was group vice president for trade finance with South Trust Bank in Birmingham.
Bill is a former member of the Bankers’ Association on Foreign Trade and co-founded its Small Business Export Finance Committee. He has served as an expert witness regarding trade finance before several congressional committees and is a frequent lecturer for trade groups, financial institutions and universities. Bill is a published author on trade finance with articles appearing is such periodicals as The Exporter, RMA Guide to Commercial Lending, Export Today. He is a member and former Vice Chair of the Louisiana District Export Council – LADEC and former Chairman of the Alabama District Export Council, 1994-96 (and its Vice Chairman from 2014 to present). For many years, Bill served on the faculty of the LSU Graduate School of Banking; he is a former adjunct professor with Birmingham-Southern University. Bill served on the Board of Visitors for the College of Business at Loyola University and was the 2001-2002 Chair of the International Trade & Tourism Council of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI); in January of 2005, Bill was elected to the Board of Directors of LABI. In 2000, he was elected to the Board of the World Trade Center of New Orleans. From 2017 to 2020, Bill served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of District Export Councils and from 2019 to 2020, he served on the Advisory Committee of the Export-Import Bank, and from 2022 he has served on Ex-Im’s Council for Small Business. From 2018 to 2021, Bill served on the Board of Directors of the national association for Small Business Development Centers, America’s SBDC.
In 1994, Bill was voted in the top ten International Bankers in the USA by International Business magazine and, in 1993, he was recognized by Alabama’s SBA with an award for his contributions to small business exporting. In March of 2022, Bill was recognized as the recipient of the Governor’s Export Advocacy Award by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey.
A New Orleans native, Bill is a graduate of Tulane University and of the Masters of International Business Studies (MIBS) program of the University of South Carolina. Bill is married to Linda LeBlanc Cummins and has two grown daughters and five
grandchildren. He is a member of Jubilee Shores United Methodist Church (Fairhope, Alabama) and from 2020 to 2022 served on its Leadership Council.
Patrick Davis
Compliance: Program Reporting Requirements
Thursday February 16 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Senior Vice President of Strategy
Community Reinvestment Fund, Inc.
Patrick Davis is the Senior Vice President of Strategy at Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF), a national Community Development Financial Institution dedicated to empowering people and strengthening communities through innovative financial solutions. As Senior Vice President, Patrick oversees the development of technology solutions, programs, products, and funds that contribute to the advancement of CRF’s organizational mission and vision. Previously, Patrick served as Senior Strategy Officer at Calvert Social Investment Foundation where he worked with investors, financial advisors, and philanthropic institutions to incorporate social and environmental impact into investment portfolios. Prior to joining Calvert Foundation in 2008, Patrick held positions at the Center for Student Opportunity and the Meltzer Group. He is a StartingBloc Fellow, a graduate of the CIVICUS leadership program, and a technology and design enthusiast, having completed immersive programs in User Experience Design and Web Development at General Assembly. Patrick attended University of Maryland, College Park, where he received degrees in Economics, Political Science, and Latin American Studies.
Brett Doney
Enhanced Efforts to Engage and Support SEDI-Owned Business
Thursday August 24 2:00 - 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.
Thomas Eveland
Emerging Models and Best Practices for Delivering Technical Assistance
Thursday June 22 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Founder
SBC Small Business Consulting, LLC
Thomas J. Eveland, PhD, is an active entrepreneur, finance professor, and published researcher in the fields of entrepreneurship, finance, and equity in higher education. In addition to his faculty role, TJ is the founder of SBC Small Business Advising, LLC, a small business consulting firm dedicated to providing specialized consulting and technical assistance to augment general advising teams at SBDCs, ecosystem grants and projects, government grants, and CDFIs across the country.
Kaaren-Lyn Graves
Year-End Topics for SSBCI
Thursday October 19 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Executive Director
Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Kaaren-Lyn Graves is the Executive Director of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's Capital Readiness Program. In her role she oversees business development services designed specifically for business owners who are socially and economically disadvantaged located in Arizona, Nevada, the Navajo Nation, and Southern California. Ms. Graves has proudly served in the public and private sectors for more than twenty-six (26) years. She remains passionate about helping entrepreneurs and business owners alike grow their business through education, timely resources, and consulting services.
Ms. Graves is a natural and respected leader with a robust background working in political environments, including serving as the Project Manager and Data Content Manager on a Health & Human Services Initiative on a former Arizona Governor’s initiative. Ms. Graves also developed financial forecasting documents resulting in awarded grants, general funds, and monetary awards ranging from $935 thousand dollars to $4 million dollars per year.
Ms. Graves is also a business owner and has created documents consisting of grant proposals, resumes, capability statements, business plans, responses to solicitations, and marketing documents for her clients, including a political sub-division, chamber of commerce, students, business owners, and military servicepersons located in the United States, Afghanistan, Dubai, and Germany.
Ron Kelly
Emerging Models and Best Practices for Delivering Technical Assistance
Thursday June 22 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Outreach Lead, SSBCI
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Armeer Kenchen
Insights on SSBCI 2.0 Program Implementation
Thursday April 27 2:00 - 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.
John Kingery
Year-End Topics for SSBCI
Thursday October 19 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Program Consultant
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
John is the former Director of the Office of Credit Services in the Community Finance Division at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA). DCA is the financing arm for Georgia’s economic development programs. In SSBCI 1.0, I was responsible for preparing and submitting Georgia’s application. I retired in March 2022 from the State of Georgia with over 30 years of economic development experience. After two months, I came out of retirement to help with SSBCI 2.0 as an SSBCI Program Consultant.
Mary Louk
Enhanced Efforts to Engage and Support SEDI-Owned Business
Thursday August 24 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Programs Manager
Grow America
Mary Louk serves as Programs Manager for Grow America, overseeing Small Business Lending programs. Mary has helped launch various loan programs across the Grow America footprint that focus on serving the target markets of low-income and minority-owned businesses. She came to Grow America after spending 12+ years in various roles in the banking industry.
Leonard Murray
Enhanced Efforts to Engage and Support SEDI-Owned Business
Thursday August 24 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Managing Partner and Co-Founder
Zion Consulting Group
Leonard Murray is Managing Partner and co-founder of Zion Consulting Group, a real estate and business development advisory firm serving non-profits, faith-based institutions, government entities and corporations. Zion advises placed-based community development organizations on the development and execution of real estate strategies. Zion also advises and partners with faith-based institutions to maximize the value of their real estate assets. Leonard has over 30 years of real estate, consulting, global asset management and investment banking experience, including roles with Merrill Lynch & Co.
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s corporate finance/investment banking division and Alliance Capital Management International (Alliance Bernstein) business development division.
Leonard was the founding Board Chair of the Grove Park Foundation (GPF) which is helping to quarterback the transformation of the Bankhead community in Atlanta. GPF has assisted in building a KIPP managed school, 110 units of affordable housing, and currently controls over 40 properties to mitigate displacement in the neighborhood. Leonard currently serves as the Senior Real Estate Consultant for the Grove Park Foundation and the East Lake Foundation which are both Purpose Built Communities.
He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Youthbuild Newark a non-profit, which helps high school dropouts complete their education while providing training in the construction field; as well as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Healthcare Foundation of the Orange’s which was created to address the healthcare needs of East Orange and Newark, New Jersey after the sale of East Orange General Hospital, a 325-bed community hospital.
Mr. Murray has a B.A. from Morehouse College in Business Administration, with concentrations in finance and real estate. He also studied international finance and African / Middle Eastern studies at Columbia University’s Graduate School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA).
Olivia Nutter
Compliance: Program Reporting Requirements
Thursday February 16 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Advisor
Prism Group
Olivia Nutter is an economic and community development policy professional with diverse experience in the government, financial, and non-profit sectors. She is adept at in-depth policy analysis and creation and communicating across stakeholders in the economic/community development ecosystem. She has dedicated her career to economic equity and leverages her knowledge of policymaking and community engagement to further the goal of equitable economic growth.
Olivia worked as a credit analyst at one of the largest Community Development Financial Institutions in the country and on the Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee, where she created the diversity, equity, and inclusion portfolio for the Democratic staff.
A native of Philadelphia, Olivia graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies with a focus in Political Science.
Antonella Packard
Insights on SSBCI 2.0 Program Implementation
Thursday April 27 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Director of the Utah Small Business Credit Initiative (USBCI)
Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity
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Janet Perez Shensky
Enhanced Efforts to Engage and Support SEDI-Owned Business
Thursday August 24 2:00 - 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.
Rabia Piacentini
Compliance: Program Reporting Requirements
Thursday February 16 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder
MStreetX
Rabia Piacentini grew up in Mexico and the Caribbean where her father designed and built resorts. She became fascinated in the way everything operated and how technology naturally enhanced all functions. She has worked for major corporations like Disney ABC Television group where she helped create emotional recognition technology, and was able to accurately predict Nielsen ratings for TV pilots. She realized there was a massive gap in access to resources in the nonprofit and public sector and wanted to help solve real life problems with operations and technology when it comes to access for all. She has worked at several major and smaller nonprofits focusing on providing housing for the unhoused, bridging the major gaps in education for minority students, ending child labor, along with removing barriers to voter access across the United States. She co-founded MStreetX with her colleagues and is COO; MStreetX's main focus is to democratize access to capital and resources to underserved communities.
Lamont Price
Enhanced Efforts to Engage and Support SEDI-Owned Business
Thursday August 24 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Innovation Director
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
Lamont is the Innovation Director with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD). TNECD is the arm of state government charged with business retention and recruitment, assisting communities in being prepared for economic development opportunities, managing state and federal programs that provide development resources, and forming strategic partnerships inside and outside state government. His focus is entrepreneurship and innovation. He has experience with public-private venture capital programs, served on the entrepreneurship subcommittee of Tennessee’s Rural Task Force, and works on place based initiatives to assist small, rural, and distressed communities in economic and community growth. He is the liaison for LaunchTN, a public-private entity focused on entrepreneurship, SBIR/STTR, and access to capital. He also is working on Opportunity Zone related projects for the department and the Economic Gardening Pilot Program for small businesses.
Prior to joining TNECD, Lamont’s previous experience includes six years with the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury as a performance auditor. As an auditor, Lamont assessed state agency statutory mandates, the efficiency and effectiveness of management’s organization and use of resources, recommendations for managerial or legislative action, and provided relevant programmatic and financial data. He is a graduate of Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science in Healthcare Administration, with a minor in Business.
Steve Radley
Enhanced Efforts to Engage and Support SEDI-Owned Business
Thursday August 24 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Chief Executive Officer
NetWork Kansas
Steve Radley is Chief Executive Officer of NetWork Kansas. A resident of Wichita, Steve began his career in the private sector as the 28th employee of a business startup technology company, Brite Voice Systems in Wichita. The company grew from $6 million to more than $175 million during the nine years Steve worked for Kansas entrepreneur Stan Brannan. Since then, Steve has co-owned two businesses including a manufactured housing dealership that was sold to the largest manufacturer in the country, Champion Enterprises. Steve’s work experience centers on business development and taking products and businesses from startup to maturity. Steve has an MBA from the W. Frank Barton School of Business at Wichita State University, an MA in Christian Ministry from Friends University, and a BA in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma.
Rachel Reilly
Compliance: Program Reporting Requirements
Thursday February 16 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Insights on SSBCI 2.0 Program Implementation
Thursday April 27 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Emerging Models and Best Practices for Delivering Technical Assistance
Thursday June 22 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Enhanced Efforts to Engage and Support SEDI-Owned Business
Thursday August 24 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Year-End Topics for SSBCI
Thursday October 19 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Senior Advisor
Council of Development Finance Agencies
Rachel Reilly is the Founder of Aces & Archers, a strategic advisory and consulting firm focused on addressing socioeconomic inequality by reimagining traditional models for economic growth and private investing. Rachel previously served as the Director of Impact Strategy at the Economic Innovation Group (EIG) where she led the organization’s work to support communities, policymakers and investors catalyzing sustainable economic growth in Opportunity Zones across the nation. Prior to EIG, Rachel was the Director of Impact Investing at Enterprise Community Partners where she expanded community investment opportunities for people and businesses by leading Enterprise’s $100 million debt offering – the Impact Note – as well as policy and advocacy activities related to impact investing. She has a Master’s in Real Estate Development from the University of Maryland, and served two terms as an elected representative in Washington, D.C.
David Rixter
Compliance: Program Reporting Requirements
Thursday February 16 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Chief Executive Officer
MStreetX
David Rixter, CEO and Co-Founder of MStreetX, a placed-based FinTech Platform that aims to democratize access to capital resources to all communities. Prior to MStreetX, David created Once United Globe and HCR Consulting LLC and focused his efforts to impact marginalized communities by touting the value proposition of adopting emerging technologies to prepare them for the 4th Industrial Revolution. From 2011-2017, David worked at the federal government where he managed a $500MM+ national portfolio for the U.S. Department of Treasury's State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). In his role at Treasury, David led outreach and strategic planning efforts, fostered relationships with state and federal officials, and provided technical assistance to over a third of the United States. A few of David's key successes include developing the first ever Treasury supported Inclusive/Rural Entrepreneurship convenings and peer-to-peer strategy sessions for states to collaborate on successful deployment of federal funds and leading inter-agency discussions to support the efforts. David has 20 years of experience in Community and Economic development, having worked with state, quasi-governmental and the federal government to grow the nation's economy.
David led a team for Treasury's Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF) which created the methodology for evaluating financial institutions and during the Great Recession at Fannie Mae he implemented pricing for Home Affordable Refinance and Jumbo Conforming loans.
David is an Empower advisory board member for Network Kansas - where he actively contributes to the development and launching of programs that ensure minority entrepreneurs have the opportunity to access resources that meet their specific needs.
David lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and two young sons.
Selena Skorman
Emerging Models and Best Practices for Delivering Technical Assistance
Thursday June 22 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Director of Entrepreneurship Policy and Partnerships
gener8tor
Selena holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics at Sarah Lawrence College in New York. After graduating, she worked as a research assistant at the Urban Institute, where she evaluated nonprofits and conducted educational policy research. She then moved, she moved to Oklahoma City to take a position at Arts Council OKC as the Director of Development. After that, Selena spent three years as Executive Director of the Plaza District Association and the Plaza Business Alliance.
In August of 2021, she helped launch gBETA Oklahoma City, a gener8tor product that is an accelerator for early stage startups based in Oklahoma. Recently, Selena began as Director of Entrepreneurship Policy and Partnerships for gener8tor, where she works with local governments and national foundations to secure impactful programming for entrepreneurs throughout the country.
Selena also is a proud board member of Sunny Dayz and a graduate of LOYAL Class XII.
Mitchell Smith
Emerging Models and Best Practices for Delivering Technical Assistance
Thursday June 22 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Enhanced Efforts to Engage and Support SEDI-Owned Business
Thursday August 24 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Year-End Topics for SSBCI
Thursday October 19 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Senior Director, Government & External Affairs
Council of Development Finance Agencies
Mitchell Smith is the Senior Director of Government and External Affairs at the Council of Development Finance Agencies.
Previously, Mitchell worked for the Ohio Legislative Service Commission on the education research team and served as the committee staffer for the House of Representatives Primary and Secondary Education Committee. There, Mitchell drafted legislation and completed legal research on behalf of the Ohio General Assembly.
A native of Bentonville, Arkansas, Mitchell attended the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, where he received his B.A. in American Studies and Political Science in 2009 and was a punter for the Razorbacks. He went on to complete his M.A. in American History and then relocated to Ohio University to complete a Ph.D. in American History. His specialization is in American diplomatic history, politics, and culture.
Kelvin Taylor
Enhanced Efforts to Engage and Support SEDI-Owned Business
Thursday August 24 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Managing Partner
Rising Analytics
Kelvin launched Taylored Analytics in 2007. In that role and previous roles, Kelvin has brought his extensive marketing experience and industry knowledge to Fortune 500 clients in the retail, restaurant, financial services, utility, and telecommunications industries. He has been a frequently requested speaker and participant in marketing and trade conferences sponsored by The Direct Marketing Association, the National Center for Database Marketing, and the Institute for International Research among many others.
Kelvin has built & led business intelligence teams specializing in the systematic process of increasing customer lifetime value through database design, lifestyle/behavioral segmentation, and statistical modeling.
Kelvin's specific area of expertise centers on the application of statistical analysis to continually improve the quality and effectiveness of business related decisions. Kelvin has equal interests in the management and creation of analytics as well as in the management and creation of the business and organizational processes required to make analytic insights a continual and disciplined part of the decision making process. Ensuring that companies effectively translate their financial goals into well informed business strategies and tactics is what he is most passionate about.
Kelvin earned a B.S. in Mathematics & Economics from Morehouse College with an additional three years of Economics studies at University of Maryland College Park specializing in Econometrics and Game Theory. After graduate school, Kelvin worked as an Actuary for various consulting companies as well as the Department of Labor in Washington D.C.
Previously, Kelvin has held general management positions in the customer loyalty space serving as CEO & President of Maritz Loyalty Marketing and as President of Frequency Marketing, Inc. Most recently, Kelvin & Tammy (his better half, wife and business partner sold Taylored Analytics to Midwest Bankcentre where Kelvin will continue to run the analytics consultancy and serve as CIO for the bank
Sue Taylor
Emerging Models and Best Practices for Delivering Technical Assistance
Thursday June 22 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Development Director
Native American Development Corporation
Tom Weithman
Year-End Topics for SSBCI
Thursday October 19 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director
Virginia Venture Partners
Tom Weithman is Chief Investment Officer for CIT and Managing Director of CIT GAP Funds, a family of early stage investment funds with a 15-year+ track record generating both exceptional returns and socio-economic impact. Weithman is a proven operator, investor, director, executive and advisor with experience spanning federal, commercial and non-profit sectors. As architect and leader of CIT GAP Funds, Weithman has established himself as one of the nation's foremost experts on quasi-public fund formation, early stage investment, accelerator development and the contribution of "catalytic capital" to innovation, commercialization and economic development. Through his work at CIT GAP Funds and role as founder of the MACH37 Accelerator and Seed Fund,
Weithman has gained recognition as a leading capital provider for cybersecurity start-ups with direct investment experience in more than 75 such companies. Among the companies in which Weithman has been an investor or served as board observer are Normshield, Syncurity, Huntress Labs, Ostendio, Adlumin and Cavionix.In 2018, Weithman formed the Virginia Founder's Fund, an impact fund providing first-time capital to female and veteran founders, founder of color and start-ups in traditionally underserved geographies within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Under Weithman's leadership, CIT GAP Funds has placed more than 240 equity investments in emerging tech, life science and clean tech companies, leveraging more a billion of private capital onto CIT GAP Funds portfolio company balance sheets and propelling several companies to exit. CIT GAP Funds has been acknowledged by Entrepreneur Magazine, CB Insights and the Association for Corporate Growth as one of the nation's leading early stage venture funds. Weithman serves as Director of the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association (MAVA) and the Organizing Board of Mindshare and is a member of the Fairfax County Economic Advisory Commission.
Amber Westendorp
Insights on SSBCI 2.0 Program Implementation
Thursday April 27 2:00 - 4:00 PM
Capital Project & Portfolio Manager
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Amber Westendorp is a Capital Project and Portfolio Manager with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (“MEDC”). In her current role, Amber works very closely on the State Small Business Credit Initiative Program. She has assisted many small businesses with receiving lending that might not otherwise have been available to them and is responsible for structuring, negotiating and executing financing projects. Prior to working at the MEDC, Amber worked for Michigan Treasury where she assisted with general obligation bond debts.