VIRGINIA CDFI SUMMIT 2026:

Collective Power, Bold Action

Breakout Sessions

View Program

BREAKOUT SESSIONS | 1:45 PM 

From Outreach to Impact: Building Strategies to Reach Startup Entrepreneurs for CDFIs & ESOs

Room: 200D

Many organizations struggle not with delivering services, but with consistently reaching the pre-venture and early-stage entrepreneurs who need them most. This session equips CDFI and Entrepreneur Support Organization practitioners with practical strategies for identifying and engaging startup business segments, building referral networks, and creating proactive outreach systems that lead to measurable impact, including in rural and underserved communities.

Session Speaker

  • Christina Snell is a business advisor and Partnerships & Outreach Lead for Capital Pathways, and founder of 11innovation, a business consulting firm focused on strategy, analytics, and operational excellence. In her role with Capital Pathways, Christina works directly with entrepreneurs as a business advisor while also building partnerships with lenders, CDFIs, and economic development organizations across Virginia to improve capital readiness and expand access to financing for small businesses. With nearly 20 years of experience in revenue operations, business intelligence, digital transformation, and financial readiness, she brings a practical, on-the-ground perspective on how technical assistance, partnerships, and outreach can help more entrepreneurs become finance-ready and position communities for long-term economic growth.

Artificial Intelligence in CDFIs: Navigating Promise, Pitfalls and Policy

Room: 200A

A roundtable discussion on identifying AI risks, mitigating algorithmic bias, establishing governance frameworks, and leveraging artificial intelligence to strengthen and not compromise the mission of community development financial institutions.

Session Speakers

  • Azish is an accomplished executive, lawyer, board member, researcher, and speaker focusing on corporate governance, financial regulation, responsible AI policy, and business ethics and compliance. She is the Managing Director of The American College Maguire Center for Ethics in Financial Services, and the Charles Lamont Post Chair and Associate Professor of Business Ethics.
    After practicing corporate law and serving as counsel and A.V.P. at the NY Fed, she transitioned to executive roles in industry and academia. She writes about responsible AI, ethical culture and leadership strategies in business, and financial regulation and ethics, including environmental, social and governance considerations in investing. She has spoken at the United Nations (UNCITRAL), the OECD, and the U.S. Department of Energy, various companies and conferences, and in 2013 she conducted training on financial regulation to central bankers in Nairobi, Kenya.
    Her leadership extends into the community, having served on 12 trustee and advisory boards—including a ’40 Act Fund board, multiple non-profit boards, and advisory committees—with active participation on nominating and governance committees. She is currently the Co-Chair of the NY City Bar Association Presidential Task Force on AI Subcommittee on AI in Commerce and Finance. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Investment Collaborative, a Charlottesville-based CDFI. 

    She is a double ‘Hoo (UVA Echols; UVA Law) and currently lives in Charlottesville, VA.

  • Aleks Whitchurch is the proud Co-Founder of Doodle Enterprises, a consultancy supporting mission-driven organizations during innovative new product launches, critical scaling or pivots, and transformational cultural change curves. Having honed her strategic analytics skills at Capital One, Aleks is a seasoned Financial Services leader and GTM (Go-To-Market) expert with almost two decades of experience across product, finance, marketing, and technology. Her work has impacted resource-strapped startups, complex Fortune 500 organizations, and program-focused nonprofits seeking growth and revenue generation. Currently, Aleks is passionately supporting community development organizations exploring and adopting leading-edge technologies such as AI.
    A proud resident of Richmond, Virginia, Aleks loves reading (especially Agatha Christie novels), relaxing along the James River or on the Chesapeake Bay, and exploring the world with her family. Aleks holds a degree in Economics from Harvard University.

  • Dave Silverstein is the CEO of Ned, a lending platform powered by live bank data. Lenders use Ned's end-to-end enablement suite to streamline origination and underwriting, automate repayments, and manage portfolio risk across the full credit lifecycle. Ned serves banks, credit unions, and CDFIs across the country and has powered over $100 million in loans.

    Prior to Ned, Dave worked across public and private sectors. He served as Press Secretary to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and spent the following decade building and operating growth-stage digital businesses across the technology sector. Most recently, he served as Chief of Staff to Michael Kassan, Chairman and CEO of MediaLink.

  • Lolita founded FUND Consulting in 2000 and is a recognized leader in the CDFI industry. With a background in public service management and urban planning, she has guided the firm’s growth and strategic direction. Her expertise includes strategic planning, nonprofit business development, and CDFI banking. Lolita has worked in the CDFI industry since the passage of the Riegle Act of 1994 and served on the first BEA help desk. She was also an author of the first Native American Lending Study. She has presented at numerous industry conferences and webinars, taught strategic planning at the graduate level, and published work on Tax Increment Financing and CDFI deployment strategies. She has also been quoted on topics including fundraising ethics and consumer adoption of technology in banking. Lolita holds a BA in Slavic Languages and Literature from Indiana University and an MS in Public Service Management from DePaul University, where she was a Chaddick Graduate Scholar in Metropolitan Planning through the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Planning.

Catalyzing Growth: How the Virginia State Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0 (SSBCI) Loan to CDFIs Program Supports Virginia’s CDFI Community

Room: 200E

Anna Mackley, Chief SSBCI Officer and Bond Program Manager for the VSBFA, will provide an overview of Virginia’s SSBCI 2.0 Capital Programs and Technical Assistance Program. Her presentation will spotlight the Loan‑to‑CDFI (LCDFI) Program, which expands CDFI lending capacity to underserved small businesses.

She will also highlight additional SSBCI 2.0 tools, including the Cash Collateral Program, Capital Connect, and the Direct and Indirect Venture Capital Programs, which collectively strengthen access to capital and support business growth across the Commonwealth.

Presented In Partnership With The

Session Speaker

  • Anna Mackley is the Chief SSBCI Officer and Bond Program Manager for the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA). With more than thirty-nine years of commercial lending experience, she has contributed to nearly every major VSBFA program initiative, including the State Small Business Credit Initiative, the Economic Development Loan Fund program, and the Export Financing Assistance program.

    In her current role, Anna oversees the implementation of Virginia’s SSBCI program and manages the Authority’s successful private activity bond program. She also serves as VSBFA’s liaison to the Virginia General Assembly, guiding key legislative and economic development discussions.

    Before joining VSBFA, Anna built a strong career in commercial lending at a regional Virginia bank and an entrepreneurial firm specializing in financing for physicians. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce and the School of Commercial Lending at UVA’s Colgate Darden Graduate School of Business. She has also served in leadership roles with statewide organizations, including the Virginia Economic Developers Association and the Virginia District Export Council.

    Anna is widely recognized for her expertise, leadership, and long-standing commitment to strengthening economic opportunities across the Commonwealth.

Quantifying Equity: How CDFIs Measure Community Transformation

Room: 201B

How do Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) measure success beyond loans and investments? This panel explores the data, metrics, and evaluation strategies CDFIs use to assess community impact, from job creation and affordable housing to wealth-building and economic mobility. Learn how organizations are leveraging evidence-based insights to demonstrate outcomes, strengthen accountability, and advance equitable community development.

Session Speakers

  • Dr. Darlene Deberry serves as the Senior Economic Development Manager for NCGrowth, a national center at UNC Chapel Hill’s Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, where she works to advance inclusive economic opportunity. Her career includes working with Community Development Financial Institutions such as Self-Help and the NC Rural Center, focusing on expanding access to capital for underserved businesses. As a former Edible Arrangements franchisee, she gained valuable insight into the complexities of small business ownership. Dr. Deberry earned her Doctor of Business Administration from UNC Charlotte’s Belk College of Business, and has research interests in entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence in small businesses, and succession planning. A skilled conference presenter on topics related to economic development, she is passionate about advancing wealth-building strategies in economically distressed communities.

  • Peter Klemz is the Director of Impact for Locus, a $430 million Virginia-based financial services holding company and nonprofit serving as the parent organization for Locus Bank and Locus Impact Fund both certified Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). Through lending, credit enhancement, and capital ecosystem coordination, Locus drives transformative investment across affordable housing, clean energy, food systems, and community health. As Director of Impact, Peter leads Locus’ impact measurement and management practices, overseeing the development of frameworks, data systems, and reporting strategies that quantify outcomes, inform decision-making, and ensure accountability to investors, partners, and the communities Locus serves.

  • Roberta McCullough currently serves as Senior Vice President and COO of Institute Capital (ICAP), a community development financial institution (CDFI) and lending affiliate of the National Institute of Minority Economic Development. She leads her team in providing investment capital for small businesses, affordable housing developers, and community-based organizations across ICAP’s multistate service region. McCullough has thirty years of experience in community and economic development; financing affordable housing developers and community development corporations, in predevelopment funding and providing permanent capital on completed housing projects.

    McCullough holds a BS in Mathematics from Shaw University and MBA from Southern New Hampshire University.

Building Opportunities on Main Street

Room: 200B

In 2025, the Appalachian Regional Commission sponsored a series of 10 real estate analyses based on Main Street America's Building Opportunities on Main Street (BOOMS) tracker and community site visits. This session will describe how Virginia Main Street convenes experts and funders in rural areas to 1) build geospatial databases of their real estate opportunities, 2) focus on high potential redevelopment projects, and 3) engage community stakeholders and property owners to identify realistic redevelopment scenarios in market reality. Attendees will also hear the impact of BOOMS data on a participating community and how it has catalyzed commercial real estate development in the historic main street district.

Session Speakers

  • Courtney Mailey is the Program Manager of Virginia’s Main Street America Coordinating Program. In addition to leading the VMS team, Courtney is a passionate small-scale real estate developer, and she has been working in community and economic development for 20+ years. She loves old buildings, fresh ideas and more.

Inter-Block Session | 2:00 PM |

State CDFI Coalitions: Organizing New Opportunities

Room: 200C

"State CDFI Coalitions: Organizing New Opportunities" will serve as the first in-person and livestreamed episode of "The Future of CDFIs", a series of webinars hosted by CDFI Friendly America. Moderated by CDFI Friendly America's President and industry veteran Mark Pinsky, this session will explore the work happening at the growing number of state CDFI Coalitions across the country. Panelists will discuss: The policy, funding, and organizing issues they are tackling, The benefits of cross-CDFI collaboration and collective advocacy at the state level, and, Practical strategies for organizing new opportunities in your own state

Session Speakers

  • Mark Pinsky is a pioneering leader in community development finance, dedicated to aligning capital with justice and expanding economic opportunity for under-invested communities. As the Founding Partner and President of CDFI Friendly America, he works nationally to connect the $450 billion Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) industry with under-resourced people and places.

    With a 35-year career in the CDFI world offering strategic consulting, financial innovation, and advocacy leadership, his impact includes leading the CDFI industry effort to create The CDFI Fund, The Equity Equivalent (EQ2) investment product, The NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance, and the AERIS Ratings System—all instrumental in shaping the modern CDFI landscape.

    From 1995 to 2016, Mark served as President & CEO of Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), where he was the leading national voice for purpose-driven finance. He is also an author and thought leader, including Organized Money: How Progressives Can Leverage the Financial System to Work for Them, Not Against Them and Opportunity. For All: The Story of CDFIs.

    Mark continues to champion innovative financial solutions that drive social impact and economic justice. He serves on the Board and as the Treasurer of Reconstructing Judaism, where he leads the Finance Committee.

  • A DMV Native, Bria is a dynamic professional with a rich background in entrepreneurship, entertainment, and community development. Armed with a Bachelors of Arts in Media Business and Entrepreneurship from Temple University, Bria's leadership journey spans various industries, including music, creative leadership, child development, and community development.

    At 25, Bria founded and successfully operated a network of dance fitness studios in Philadelphia, managing all aspects from business planning to daily operations, witnessing substantial growth to 3,000+ clients across two locations. Amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, she adeptly transitioned the business to virtual platforms, expanding to a global reach.

    Bria's contributions extend beyond her entrepreneurial ventures. As Vice President of a historical district business association, she played a key role in fostering local business growth. Her professional trajectory continued at CDFI Friendly America, where she rose from a business coordinator to a senior manager of communications and operations in just three years. In this role, she led a marketing team connecting small businesses to community development financial institutions and managed internal communications, administration, and event planning teams.

    Rooted in entrepreneurship, Bria actively assisted her father's entertainment business, contributing to marketing, management, booking, and performances. This unique perspective has shaped her passion for business and community development. Committed to serving minority and underserved communities, Bria remains dedicated to helping them achieve their small business dreams.

  • DeMario Greene joined CCLF in 2021 as Director of Policy and Government Relations. In this newly created role, DeMario is responsible for CCLF’s engagement in the public policy arena and advocacy for its legislative and regulatory priorities. He brings over ten years of policy experience, having served in various capacities in local, state and federal government.

    DeMario began his career working on Capitol Hill focusing on foreclosure prevention in inner-city Baltimore, Maryland. This formative experience guided his work in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, focusing on housing, banking, transportation and small business legislative initiatives aimed at revitalizing neighborhoods in need of deep and meaningful investment. He also held a position with the Small Business Administration, aiding businesses and homeowners in their efforts to recover from federally declared disasters. Most recently, DeMario served as part of the Communications team for the Executive Office of the Mayor of Washington, D.C., producing official correspondence and documents on behalf of the Mayor.

    DeMario is a graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C., earning a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He has published two research papers in the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) Journal.

    Prior to Ned, Dave worked across public and private sectors. He served as Press Secretary to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and spent the following decade building and operating growth-stage digital businesses across the technology sector. Most recently, he served as Chief of Staff to Michael Kassan, Chairman and CEO of MediaLink.

  • Varsovia Fernandez is a C-Suite level Executive, Consultant and Coach with over twenty-five years of combined experience in management in the not-for-profit, financial services and software technology industries. Varsovia is a thought leader that combines civic and business expertise to help clients achieve business results as well as understanding their role and contribution in support of their community. She is an agent of change committed to increasing diversity in the Greater Philadelphia business community and is a recognized authority on Hispanic cultural, governmental, and educational affairs. As a network champion, Varsovia is an active member of the Greater Philadelphia business community and has dedicated her career to helping companies resolve complex business challenges.

    Varsovia serves as a trustee on the governing boards of Montgomery County Community College, Rosemont College and The Philadelphia Award, is a director to the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation and is a member of the Comcast National Joint Diversity Council.

    She served as Chair of the Board to the Community College of Philadelphia and Treasurer to the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperative Authority. She has received numerous career awards including the Pennsylvania GACLA 2018 Latino 100, the PBJ Minority Executive, the U.S.H.C.C. Hispanic Executive of the Year, the HIAS & Council Heroes of Our Community and the PA Hispanic Bar Outstanding Community Service. In 2016, Pope Francis honored Varsovia with the Benemerenti Medal for her contributions to the 2015 World Meeting of Families.

    Varsovia graduated from Rosemont College (B.S., Business Management) and the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania and has completed The Wharton Leadership Program. She earned a Certificate in Fund Development from the University of Notre Dame, and the Women’s Director Development Program from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS | 3:00 PM |

Roundtable on Capital Planning & Fundraising

Room: 200B

Join us for a roundtable discussion designed for practitioners and attendees to share experiences, trends and successes in their work to raise capital for their organizations’ financing programs and find support for operations. This space will allow for connections amongst those attending to foster further engagement outside of the conference. Interactions will be facilitated through smaller affinity group conversations for targeted discussion on capital in specific sectors such as housing, small businesses, community facilities, and more.

Session Speaker

  • Marianne Vermeer has built her career using her business skills and acumen to encourage the growth and development of social enterprises and non-profits across the globe. Her global experience includes significant work in the Middle East, South Asia and East Africa. In the US, she has spent much of the past 14 years providing consulting services and executive support to non-profit organizations, especially Community Development Finance Institutions, and organizations in the health care and pharmaceutical research industries. Marianne has also been a C-level executive in both for-profit and non-profit organizations, building capacity and momentum, in sectors including social enterprises, global health, child development, higher education, health care, pharmaceutical research, and impact investing.

    Marianne was born and raised in Iowa and Nebraska. She holds a B.S. from Colorado State University and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. She currently resides in the Richmond, Virginia area with her family. Marianne enjoys travel, her local YMCA swimming pool, and hosting people from all over the world in their home.

    For more information on Marianne’s experience, visit her LinkedIn Profile or her website: www.vermeerconsulting.com. She can be reached at marianne@vermeerconsulting.com

Housing, Resilience, and Regional Needs: The Role of CDFIs Across Virginia

Room: 200E

Explore how housing challenges and opportunities vary across Virginia and the role CDFIs play in helping communities respond to those regional realities. From affordability pressures and workforce housing needs to rising utility costs, economic transition, and other place-specific factors, communities across the Commonwealth face distinct challenges requiring tailored solutions. This session will examine how CDFIs, lenders, and other partners are adapting financing tools, partnerships, development strategies, and innovative approaches to support resilient communities and housing systems. Panelists will share perspectives from across Virginia, highlighting how local conditions shape responses and illustrating the flexibility of community finance in meeting evolving needs, with discussion touching on regional housing trends, resilience considerations, financing gaps, partnership models, and emerging opportunities in community development finance.

Session Speakers

  • Jill Norcross is a strategic leader with an abiding commitment to strengthening communities and improving outcomes for residents through the development of affordable housing. She became the Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance in January 2023. Jill has over 20 years of experience in fostering successful partnerships with diverse stakeholders around affordable housing planning and development. She is a dynamic individual who is an experienced leader and communicator: someone with a vision for what is possible for the future of the Alliance. Most recently, Jill served as the Community Outreach Regional Manager for Virginia Housing, the state housing finance agency. She led the Northern Virginia-based team in working with partners and playing a key role in the agency’s relationship building initiatives to respond to regional housing needs. Prior to her position at Virginia Housing, Jill led a successful consulting practice focused on strategic services and technical assistance to nonprofit housing organizations, faith communities, and their partners in the areas of communication, strategic planning, asset management, project management, community engagement, and government relations. From 2005 – 2012, Jill served as the Executive Director of the Housing Association of Nonprofit Developers (HAND). Jill received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from James Madison University and a Master of Regional Planning in Housing, Community Development and Real Estate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Throughout her career, she also served on numerous boards and advisory committees of nonprofit organizations including Cornerstones, HAND, Fellowship Square, the Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship at GMU, the Honors Advisory Council at JMU, HousingForward Virginia and NVAHA.

  • Lisa O'Mara is the Director of Investor Relations where she leads a dedicated team in securing funding to advance Locus's mission of creating equitable access to capital. Previously, Lisa served as VP, Local Investment Strategy at LOCUS Impact Investing, where she collaborated with place-based foundations to leverage their assets for community impact through impact investing. With over 15 years at the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond, Lisa guided individuals and families in multi-generational philanthropy through values-based grantmaking - amplifying the philanthropic impact of donors in her community. Lisa also contributed to the field through her long-standing board service with the Advancement Network (AdNet), shaping thought leadership and educational programming. A 21/64 certified advisor, Lisa holds a BS from Rochester Institute of Technology and is a graduate of the Bryce Harlow Institute of Government Affairs at Georgetown University. She is based in Richmond, and is never far from her next cup of coffee.

  • Jane began her career in commercial real estate in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and later relocated to Richmond to serve as Managing Director and partner of Advantis Real Estate Services Company. Jane left the private sector in 2005 to join the City of Richmond under the Mayor Douglas Wilder administration. She spent the next fourteen years leading the City’s real estate, economic development, and business attraction activities.

    She was selected by Richmond’s Mayor to serve as a fellow for the Daniel Rose Fellowship for Public Leaders, a partnership of the Urban Land Institute and the National League of Cities and was appointed by the Governor of Virginia to serve on the business development and marketing advisory committee for the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.

    Jane taught commercial real estate investment analysis and real estate development courses as a faculty member of the CCIM Institute to commercial real estate practitioners from around the country. She was named as one of the Top 20 Women in Commercial Real Estate by Richmond CREWE in 2009.

    Jane joined Local Initiatives Support Coalition (LISC) Virginia in 2020 as Executive Director, where she leads efforts to raise and deploy capital, create and implement innovative community development programs, and provide policy support to advance broadly shared prosperity across Central Virginia.

Capital Ready with AI: How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Small Business Readiness for Community Lending

Room: 200D

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly accessible, it presents a significant opportunity for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), business advisors, and technical assistance providers to enhance how they prepare entrepreneurs for capital. While strong financial fundamentals remain the foundation of lending decisions, AI can accelerate financial readiness, improve documentation quality, strengthen coaching, and help small businesses become more prepared before they apply for financing. This interactive session explores practical, real-world applications of AI throughout the capital readiness journey—from organizing financial information and analyzing business performance to preparing loan packages and identifying appropriate financing opportunities. Participants will also discuss responsible AI adoption, common limitations, and strategies for integrating AI into technical assistance without replacing the trusted relationships that drive successful lending. Attendees will leave with practical AI prompts, tools, implementation of ideas, and actionable strategies they can immediately use to strengthen borrower readiness, improve lending efficiency, and expand equitable access to capital.

Session Speakers

  • Valeria Lopez is a Business Advisor with Capital Pathways at George Mason University and an economic development leader with more than a decade of experience helping entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits grow through strategic planning, financial readiness, and access to capital.

    Throughout her career, Valeria has designed and led award-winning entrepreneurship and digital transformation initiatives across the United States and Latin America, building partnerships with organizations including Google, Amazon, universities, local governments, and economic development agencies. She has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses, become capital-ready, and unlock new growth opportunities.

    Recognized as a Women of Vision 2026 Honoree, Valeria is passionate about leveraging innovation—including artificial intelligence—to expand access to opportunity and equip business owners with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to achieve long-term success.

Artificial Intelligence in CDFIs: Navigating Promise, Pitfalls and Policy

Room: 200A

A roundtable discussion on identifying AI risks, mitigating algorithmic bias, establishing governance frameworks, and leveraging artificial intelligence to strengthen and not compromise the mission of community development financial institutions.

Session Speakers

  • Azish is an accomplished executive, lawyer, board member, researcher, and speaker focusing on corporate governance, financial regulation, responsible AI policy, and business ethics and compliance. She is the Managing Director of The American College Maguire Center for Ethics in Financial Services, and the Charles Lamont Post Chair and Associate Professor of Business Ethics.
    After practicing corporate law and serving as counsel and A.V.P. at the NY Fed, she transitioned to executive roles in industry and academia. She writes about responsible AI, ethical culture and leadership strategies in business, and financial regulation and ethics, including environmental, social and governance considerations in investing. She has spoken at the United Nations (UNCITRAL), the OECD, and the U.S. Department of Energy, various companies and conferences, and in 2013 she conducted training on financial regulation to central bankers in Nairobi, Kenya.
    Her leadership extends into the community, having served on 12 trustee and advisory boards—including a ’40 Act Fund board, multiple non-profit boards, and advisory committees—with active participation on nominating and governance committees. She is currently the Co-Chair of the NY City Bar Association Presidential Task Force on AI Subcommittee on AI in Commerce and Finance. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Community Investment Collaborative, a Charlottesville-based CDFI. 

    She is a double ‘Hoo (UVA Echols; UVA Law) and currently lives in Charlottesville, VA.

  • Aleks Whitchurch is the proud Co-Founder of Doodle Enterprises, a consultancy supporting mission-driven organizations during innovative new product launches, critical scaling or pivots, and transformational cultural change curves. Having honed her strategic analytics skills at Capital One, Aleks is a seasoned Financial Services leader and GTM (Go-To-Market) expert with almost two decades of experience across product, finance, marketing, and technology. Her work has impacted resource-strapped startups, complex Fortune 500 organizations, and program-focused nonprofits seeking growth and revenue generation. Currently, Aleks is passionately supporting community development organizations exploring and adopting leading-edge technologies such as AI.
    A proud resident of Richmond, Virginia, Aleks loves reading (especially Agatha Christie novels), relaxing along the James River or on the Chesapeake Bay, and exploring the world with her family. Aleks holds a degree in Economics from Harvard University.

  • Dave Silverstein is the CEO of Ned, a lending platform powered by live bank data. Lenders use Ned's end-to-end enablement suite to streamline origination and underwriting, automate repayments, and manage portfolio risk across the full credit lifecycle. Ned serves banks, credit unions, and CDFIs across the country and has powered over $100 million in loans.

    Prior to Ned, Dave worked across public and private sectors. He served as Press Secretary to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and spent the following decade building and operating growth-stage digital businesses across the technology sector. Most recently, he served as Chief of Staff to Michael Kassan, Chairman and CEO of MediaLink.

  • Lolita founded FUND Consulting in 2000 and is a recognized leader in the CDFI industry. With a background in public service management and urban planning, she has guided the firm’s growth and strategic direction. Her expertise includes strategic planning, nonprofit business development, and CDFI banking. Lolita has worked in the CDFI industry since the passage of the Riegle Act of 1994 and served on the first BEA help desk. She was also an author of the first Native American Lending Study. She has presented at numerous industry conferences and webinars, taught strategic planning at the graduate level, and published work on Tax Increment Financing and CDFI deployment strategies. She has also been quoted on topics including fundraising ethics and consumer adoption of technology in banking. Lolita holds a BA in Slavic Languages and Literature from Indiana University and an MS in Public Service Management from DePaul University, where she was a Chaddick Graduate Scholar in Metropolitan Planning through the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Planning.

The Legislative Meeting: A CDFI Advocacy Simulationn

Room: 201B

Join us for a discussion with Delegate Rae Cousins of Richmond, VA on the importance of grassroots advocacy in the CDFI industry. Participants will learn how to prepare for legislative meetings, deliver concise advocacy messages, demonstrate impact, and make compelling policy or funding requests. The session will cover how to use borrower, community, and regional success stories effectively, respond to challenging policy and budget questions, and position CDFIs as trusted partners in economic and community development. Attendees will also gain practical strategies for conducting meaningful follow-up and building strong, lasting relationships with legislators.

Session Speakers

  • Elected to represent the 79th District in 2023, Rae is committed to building a Virginia where working families can thrive. In the General Assembly, she serves on the House Courts of Justice, Public Safety, Education, and Labor & Commerce committees and has passed legislation on education, food insecurity, housing, criminal justice reform, maternal health, and workforce development.

    Rae is a graduate of the College of William & Mary and Howard University School of Law. She is Senior Counsel at BrownGreer, where she manages the administration of multi-million- and billion-dollar settlement programs for people injured by harmful drugs and medical devices and environmental disasters. A 4th generation Richmonder, Rae grew up in Church Hill and currently resides in Northside with her daughter.