CDFA is governed by a 32-member Board of Directors. Policy is developed by the Board of Directors based on committee recommendations and concerns of the membership. Click on the (More) links to learn even more about CDFA’s distinguished leaders.

CDFA is managed by a professional staff headquartered in Columbus, OH. The staff and various advisors carry out the day-to-day administration of the Council. To contact a member of the staff or an advisor, use the following information.

Council of Development Finance Agencies
100 E. Broad Street, Suite 1200
Columbus, OH 43215

Phone: 614-705-1300

	Toby Rittner President & CEO 614-705-1300 | Toby Rittner is the President & CEO of Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), a national association dedicated to the advancement of development finance concerns and interests. CDFA is comprised of the nation’s leading and most knowledgeable members of the development finance community representing hundreds of... public, private and non-profit development entities. Members are state, county and municipal development finance agencies and authorities that provide or otherwise support economic development financing programs. Mr. Rittner runs the day-to-day operations of the Council including the organization’s various educational, advocacy, research, resources and networking initiatives. Rittner is one of the most vocal and recognized leaders of the development finance industry nationwide and has advised state and federal government leaders, including President Biden and President Obama’s Administration Transition Teams, on economic development finance policy. Through his leadership and guidance, CDFA was successful in preserving private activity bonds and other critical development finance tools during the 2017 tax reform deliberations and has had numerous pieces of legislation introduced in the United States Congress. In 2021, Rittner successfully led a national effort to reauthorize and fund the $10B State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. Rittner focuses on sustainable finance with an emphasis on infrastructure, clean energy food systems, small business and innovations in the development finance industry to drive sustainable outcomes. He has written extensively about impact ready initiatives that leverage and engage capital in ways that drive local sustainability in both the environment and economy. Rittner is a frequent speaker at local, state and national conferences and events focused on economic development finance. He has been featured in The Bond Buyer, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, NPR and other national media publications concerning the advancement of development finance tools. He is the author of CDFA's highly acclaimed Practitioner's Guide to Economic Development Finance and co-author of CDFA's Unlocking Capital: A Handbook for Becoming a High Performing Development Finance Agency. Rittner is an adjunct faculty member at The Ohio State University and Carnegie Mellon University teaching planning and finance for sustainable economic development. He is also a Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) and has completed the prestigious Oxford University Sustainable Finance Foundation Course. Prior to joining CDFA, Mr. Rittner was the Director of Legislative Affairs for the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Mr. Rittner has also worked for the Franklin County, Ohio Board of Commissioners and the City of Gahanna, Ohio. Mr. Rittner previously served on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Financial Advisory Board and is a member of the Advisory Board for the National Community Fund I. Mr. Rittner holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master's of City and Regional Planning degree from The Ohio State University. Mr. Rittner was awarded the Ohio State University College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2016. (More)
	Katie Kramer Vice President 614-705-1318 | Katie Kramer is a Vice President at the Council of Development Finance Agencies and has been with CDFA since 2005. She is an accomplished non-profit executive with expertise in fundraising, grant writing, operations, and building organizational capacity. In her role at CDFA, she leads Government & External Affairs,... provides technical assistance to communities, and builds strategic partnerships with foundations, federal agencies, and other industry non-profits to grow the professional acumen of CDFA members and the development finance industry at-large. Ms. Kramer interacts with thousands of development finance practitioners each year, guiding them through their professional development and understanding of the diversity of development finance programs. She has developed numerous courses in the CDFA Training Institute, edited several CDFA publications, and designed marketing and communications collateral for the association. Her writing has been featured in publications and reports on development finance, including those commissioned by The Kresge Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, World Bank, U.S. Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, and U.S. Department of Agriculture. She regularly speaks about development finance at national and local conferences and is a guest lecturer at The Ohio State University. Previously, Ms. Kramer served as CDFA’s Director of Education & Programs and Development Director. Before joining CDFA, Ms. Kramer worked in the Assessment Division at Ballard & Tighe, Publishers as Project Coordinator where she managed projects involved with the development of standardized language tests. Prior to Ballard & Tighe, Ms. Kramer was employed by Scripps College as Assistant Director of the Annual Fund where she organized fundraising campaigns for alumnae, parents, and students. She studied art history at Scripps College and holds a BA in English with honors from Cleveland State University. Ms. Kramer is President of the Board for the Ohio Statewide Development Corporation and serves on the advisory board for Eldon & Elsie Ward Family YMCA. (More)
	Ariel Miller Senior Director, Research & Technical Assistance 614-705-1319 | Ariel Miller is a Senior Director of Research & Technical Assistance with the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). Her research topics include revolving loan funds, access to capital for underserved borrowers, infrastructure finance, and public-private partnerships. She has also contributed to CDFA's food... finance research, data collection, and publications demonstrating how development finance agencies can become more engaged in restoring local and regional food systems. Ms. Miller 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. (More)
	Noelle Sheets Senior Director, Development 614-705-1304 | Noelle Sheets is the Senior Director of Development for the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). In this role, Ms. Sheets is responsible for leading CDFA’s Development Division which is primarily responsible for meeting logistics, sponsorship, membership and partnership efforts. Noelle's main objective is to do... whatever it takes to ensure CDFA member organizations receive the highest level of customer service. Ms. Sheets joins CDFA with a broad range of experience within nonprofit associations including SSTI, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry of Central Ohio and the Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland. She is skilled at connecting with people in an authentic and impactful manner that leads to effective collaboration and shared success. Ms. Sheets holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations from Capital University. (More)
	Jerad Groves Senior Director, Programming 614-705-1307 | As the Senior Director of Programming, Jerad Groves oversees the development, quality, and execution of CDFA’s programming, including education and professional development courses, online and in-person workshops and lectures, and a variety of networking events. As part of CDFA’s senior staff, Jerad contributes to the... organization’s strategic planning, staff development and leadership, and day-to-day management needs. Prior to his current role, Jerad served as CDFA’s Director of Marketing and Communications, during which he was responsible for all external marketing strategies, overseeing day-to-day communications, and developing ongoing marketing plans. Before joining CDFA, Jerad spent 20+ years as a creative director and strategist in the marketing industry, working with clients ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500s across a variety of business sectors. A deep appreciation for non-profit, mission-based organizations led him to CDFA, where his design-thinking approach provides creative solutions and innovative ideas that help move the organization forward. (More)
	Mitchell Smith Director, Government & External Affairs 614-705-1308 | Mitchell Smith is the 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 legal research memos on behalf of the Ohio General Assembly. Prior to that, Mitchell worked in a myriad of industries, including as a forester for the City of Dublin, a student-athlete tutor at the Ohio State University, an Instructor at Ohio University, and a field agent for Environmental Testing Group in Bentonville, Arkansas. 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. Thereafter, he completed his M.A. in American History in 2013. He then relocated to Ohio University to complete a Ph.D. in American History. His specialization is in American diplomatic history, politics, and culture. He currently is completing his dissertation, tentatively entitled “The Politics of Assent: The Prowar War Movement in America’s Vietnam War, 1965-1975.” (More)
	Meghan Wentz Director, Operations 614-705-1301 | Meghan Wentz is the Director of Operations at the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). Mrs. Wentz responsible for working with fellow CDFA team members to deliver CDFA’s day-to-day organization administration and operational elements including vendor management and office administration. Her responsibilities... extend from Human Resources, IT, and Accounting to Payroll and New Employee Orientation. She also works with the staff to ensure proper procedures and standard practices are kept in place to ensure an efficient workplace environment. As a liaison between CDFA Staff and vendors, Meghan allows for more time to be spent on CDFA tasks and goals. Meghan has previously spent time building her professional skill set at several positions that range from professional sales to retirement investment administration, before joining CDFA in 2019. Meghan graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and French Languages. (More)
	Fawn Zimmerman Director, The CDFA Foundation 614-705-1305 | Fawn Zimmerman is a Director at the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) working to create, develop, and execute programming which will help minority small businesses gain more access to capital. She works closely with CDFA Vice President, Katie Kramer, on specific programs designed to empower communities by... helping the development finance industry to become more inclusive and equitable. Fawn studied film at Ohio University as a post graduate and holds a BA with honors in Communication from The Ohio State University. She also has extensive experience working within the real estate industry in sales, investing, marketing, and operations; and, she has provided leadership in a variety of settings including classrooms, training sessions, film sets, and creative writing projects. She has long united her career goals with her philanthropic ones, and looks forward to applying her creative, academic, and work experiences together to promote positive changes within the development finance landscape. (More)
	Rachel Reilly Senior Advisor 202-975-9143 | 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. (More)
	Eric Silva CDFA Legislative Representative 202-930-1437 | Eric Silva serves as CDFA's Legislative Representative in Washington, DC. Eric has been an instrumental part of CDFA's legislative success over the past two decades. Mr. Silva is a founding partner at NSGS. He began his career in Washington as a Fellow with the Congressional Hunger Center and the Corporation For Enterprise... Development before serving as an aide to Senator James Jeffords (I-VT) and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Prior to founding NSGS, Eric practiced law for more than eight years in the Government and Regulatory Affairs group of Winston & Strawn LLP, a major international law firm. Mr. Silva has significant experience in a number of policy areas, including tax, agriculture, financial services, health care, energy and the environment, and trade. Mr. Silva has successfully advocated for client interests on some of the most significant legislation of the past decade, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act, the Affordable Care Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the 2008 and 2012 Farm Bills. While practicing law, Mr. Silva served as legal counsel to clients on matters related to the Federal Election Campaign Act, the Lobbying Disclosure Act and congressional and executive branch ethics rules. He also served as in-house counsel to a major law firm Political Action Committee. Mr. Silva received a B.A. from Boston College and a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School. While at Boston College, he was a member of the University President’s Council on Student Formation and the recipient of the Congressman John Joseph Moakley Award for International Service. In law school, he competed on the Notre Dame International Moot Court Team and represented clients pro bono on a variety of matters through the Notre Dame Legal Aid Clinic. Eric proudly serves as a Board Director for the Congressional Hunger Center, Boston College Alumni Association, and the Belfast Beltway Boxing Project. (More)
	Genna Auteri Director, Programming 614-705-1303 | As the Director of Programming, Genna is responsible for overseeing all of the events, in-person and virtual, offered by CDFA and the day-to-day management of the Programming team. This includes virtual training courses, webinars, CDFA's Virtual Summer School, the Development Finance Certified Professional Program (DFCP),... and the National Development Finance Summit. She is responsible for the development and execution of the Infrastructure Finance Learning Series and the video production of the CDFA TV Finance Toolbox Series including a series on broadband financing and infrastructure financing. Previously, Genna served as a Director of Research & Technical Assistance, overseeing the projects and responsibilities of her team. She acted as a project manager for CDFA's SSBCI efforts supervising and executing all related publications, learning series, webinars, and communication strategy. Genna proudly serves as the President of CDFA's social committee and enjoys planning parties, staff retreats, and team building events for her coworkers. Genna is a graduate of Ohio University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies and a Master’s degree in Sociology with a focus on intersectionality and gender violence. Genna lives in Columbus, OH with her husband, daughter, and two rescue border collies. (More)
	Angela Blatt Director, Research & Technical Assistance 614-705-1306 | As Director of Research & Technical Assistance with the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA), Angela focuses on the W.K. Kellogg Foundation-funded initiative “Defining the Food System Asset Class,” whereby CDFA explores opportunities for the advancement of local and regional food systems using development finance... tools. Through this initiative, Angela collaborates with communities across the country providing technical assistance and producing strategic plans for development finance strategies that meet infrastructure, agriculture, and small business needs to support equitable, local food economies. Angela leads CDFA’s Food Systems Finance Advisory Council, joining both the food and finance industries, administers CDFA’s Food Systems Finance Webinar Series, connecting food-related businesses and projects with development finance agencies, and manages the Food and Agriculture Finance Update monthly newsletter. In 2021, she gained certification as a Development Finance Certified Professional (DFCP) through the CDFA Training Institute. A Navy Veteran, Angela holds two degrees from The Ohio State University: a Master of Public Administration with a focus on Food Policy from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs, and a Bachelor of Science from the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. (More)
	Ronita Jackson Manager, Membership 614-705-1300 | As the Membership Manager, Ronita is responsible for CDFA’s extensive database systems, as well as membership and sponsorship support helping to ensure CDFA member organizations receive the highest level of customer service. Prior to joining CDFA, Ms. Jackson was raising her four kids with her husband in Ohio. However, she... was excited to rejoin the workforce and become a valuable asset to CDFA. Ronita spent five years with Marion Technical College as the Diversity Outreach Coordinator where she founded the Diversity Club and taught "Dealing with Diversity" courses as an adjunct faculty member. She also performed public speaking in high schools to inform and educate the students about the advantages of exploring nontraditional courses as they navigated through school, college, and the workforce. Ms. Jackson also worked as an Insurance Agent where she honed her skills at cultivating relationships, delivering superb customer service, and developing prospect lists. Ronita is a graduate of The Ohio State University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in African American Studies. She is very proud to proclaim that as a mother of three (while pregnant with her fourth), she earned her Master’s degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Organizational Management. (More)
	Ikhlas Ahmed Coordinator, Programming 614-705-1309 | Ikhlas Ahmed is a Coordinator in the Programming Division at the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). Ikhlas is responsible for helping coordinate the day-to-day administration of various CDFA programming events. She contributes to the team by assisting the Director of Programming in building and executing... events, coordinating logistics, facilitating marketing, and providing pre-event/post-event management. These events include online webinars and in-person conferences that cover a variety of development finance tools and topics. Ikhlas received a Bachelor of Science in City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University. (More)
	Brendan Barry Coordinator, Research & Technical Assistance 614-705-1314 | Brendan Barry is a Coordinator in the Research & Technical Assistance Division at the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). Brendan is responsible for contributing to the CDFA Practitioner's Guide to Economic Development Finance 3rd Edition, the National Development Finance Summit, numerous policy papers, and... various other internal projects. Brendan’s areas of focus chiefly include cannabis finance, tax increment finance, tribal finance, federal finance programs, and volume cap. Brendan has assisted with several major projects, including updating the Federal Financing Clearinghouse, the Advocacy Center, and the SSBCI Resource Center. Brendan received a Bachelor of Science in City and Regional Planning from the Ohio State University. (More)
	Olivia Long Coordinator, Development 614-705-1300 | Olivia Long is a Coordinator in the Development Division at the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). Olivia is responsible for assisting in CDFA’s sponsorship, membership and partnership efforts. Her goal is to make sure that members of CDFA receive the best customer service possible. Olivia has 5+ years of... experience working in environments where she communicated with a broad range of people to solve problems and provide excellent client support. Olivia received a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Strategic Communications from The Ohio State University. . (More)
	Anneliese McClurg Coordinator, Research & Technical Assistance 614-705-1315 | Anneliese McClurg is a Coordinator of Research & Technical Assistance at the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). Anneliese is responsible for working on the Kellogg Foundation-funded food systems finance initiative and USDA Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training grant. This includes research for...  strategic plans, online resource centers, and webinars, writing for best practices documents, and providing support for technical assistance projects across the country. She also produces the CDFA Tax Credit and Rural Development Finance Update newsletter and is currently working on creating a Food Finance Best Practice Guidebook. Anneliese received a Bachelor of Science in City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University. (More)
	Zeyu Zhang Coordinator, Research & Technical Assistance 614-705-1302 | Zeyu Zhang is a Research & Technical Assistance Coordinator for the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA). She contributes to the team by conducting research on development finance-related topics, generating reports, and performing data analysis. Zeyu received her Ph.D. degree in Mass Communication at Ohio... University in 2021. She has expertise in media studies, research designs, and data analysis. Her dissertation examined media’s strategic use of appeals and cultural values in influencing consumer behavior and purchase intentions. She also has a Master’s degree in Digital Storytelling from Ball State University. Prior to joining CDFA, she worked as a researcher, instructor, research assistant, and program assistant. She is excited to advance her career by deepening her knowledge in the field of development finance. (More)

More Press Releases

The CDFA Lifetime Achievement Award is given to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the development finance industry throughout their professional career. Winners have made innovative and lasting contributions that have had a great impact on the way development finance programs are operated, managed, and administered. This award honors those individuals and the significant legislative contributions to the advancement of new development finance tools, strategies, and approaches.

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CDFA Legal & Financial Disclaimer
CDFA is not herein engaged in rendering legal, accounting, financial or other advisory services, nor does CDFA intend that the material included herein be relied upon to the exclusion of outside counsel or a municipal advisor. This publication, report or presentation is intended to provide accurate and authoritative general information and does not constitute advising on any municipal security or municipal financial product. CDFA is not a registered municipal advisor and does not provide advice, guidance or recommendations on the issuance of municipal securities or municipal financial products. Those seeking to conduct complex financial transactions using the best practices mentioned in this publication, report or presentation are encouraged to seek the advice of a skilled legal, financial and/or registered municipal advisor. Questions concerning this publication, report or presentation should be directed to info@cdfa.net.

CDFA Non-Discrimination Policy
The Council of Development Finance Agencies does not discriminate in any manner contrary to law or justice on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran's status or national origin in its programs or activities, including employment, membership, participation and sponsorship.

CDFA Cancellation Policy
Written cancellations received by email or mail on or before 10 business days prior to the start of the events you are registered for will receive a refund less a $75 administrative charge. No cancellations will be received or refunds issued after this date, however, a substitute may attend at no additional charge. No refunds are given for no-shows; however, the registrant may request that course materials be sent. CDFA is not responsible for cancellations that were sent but never received. Please call to confirm receipt of any such requests. A cancellation confirmation email will be sent within 10 days. Please contact CDFA if you do not receive a confirmation.