Board

Luther Branham

Board Chair, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Access Capital Technologies LLC
Luther is Co-founder and Managing Partner at Access Capital Technologies (ACT), an Austin-based company specializing in software and qualification tools for the Microfinance and Nonprofit industries. He previously held the position of Head of Digital Lending and Account Origination strategy at Fiserv, after the company acquired iLendx, a company he co-founded. Luther's extensive experience includes senior executive roles at USAA, where he oversaw lending, risk management, and product development. He also held board and leadership roles with LiftFund (formerly ACCION Texas) and Coolerado Corporation. He has deployed over $20 billion in capital, managed portfolios of over $100 billion, and raised more than $1 billion. Luther is a veteran who supports veteran causes and has a BA in Political Science and Business from New Mexico State University.
Nina Nelms

Nina Nelms

Board Vice Chair, Senior Vice President, Bank of America
Nina is a Senior Executive with 28 years of experience in finance, entertainment, education, technology, and engineering. She has held leadership positions at Bank of America, Dell, and Coca-Cola, creating enterprise-wide strategies for ESG, RPA, and supplier diversity. Nina has a BA in Economics, MBA, and is Certified Six Sigma. She is Lead Faculty Area Chair and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Phoenix. Nina lives in Austin, Texas, and mentors others through various programs while being active in the community.
Cecilia Castelo

Cecilia Castelo

Vice President, Retail Banking, Woodforest National Bank
Cecilia manages service experience, small business and community development, regulatory compliance, sales, and employee performance of 34 Woodforest branches across greater Austin and San Antonio, TX. She began as a retail banker in Sequin, TX in 2001 and was promoted to Vice President of Retail Banking in 2017. Castelo is a graduate of the Bank Operations Institute of Texas and serves on the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Small Business Committee.

John Burer

Founder and Managing Partner, ACMI Group
John is the Founder and Managing Partner of ACMI Group, an organization dedicated to manufacturing innovation and domestic supply chain resiliency. Consisting of three segments, ACMI leverages private capital to support national security priorities, to invest in emerging technologies and to rebuild the American Industrial Base through targeted industrial development. Prior to ACMI, John spent 20 years across investment banking, structured lending, and commercial banking. He currently serves middle market clients in Central Texas and volunteers for the Waterloo Greenway finance committee and conservation organizations. John also raises endangered African tortoises. He is an external member of PeopleFund’s Portfolio Quality Committee.

Larry Miller

Principal, Larry Miller and Associates
Larry began as a loan officer with the SBA, eventually becoming the Regional Financial Director and Deputy Director for the Dallas/Ft Worth District Office. He then held executive positions at Banco Popular and Prosper Bank, before retiring as EVP of Texas Bank in 2017. Now he consults with Texas Bank through L Miller and Associates.

Jack Nelson

CEO, Skimmer, Inc.
Jack is an entrepreneur and the CEO of Skimmer, Inc., a leading SaaS provider for the swimming pool and spa industry. Previously, he was the CEO and co-founder of Propel Financial Services, which he led through three different sales. Jack also built and ran his own law firm and holds a J.D. from The University of Chicago School of Law and a BBA and a BA from the University of Texas at Austin.

Anna Sanchez

Senior Vice President Commercial Banking, Truist
Anna is the Senior VP of Commercial Banking at Truist, with 33 years of experience in Business and Commercial Banking. She serves as Vice Chair of Ann Richards School Foundation, Board Secretary of PeopleFund and Texas Pride Impact Foundation, and is a board member of Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber Foundation. Anna graduated magna cum laude from St. Edwards University with a BBA in Accounting and earned a Master of Science in Leadership and Change in 2020.

Dorothy Cleaves

SVP and Managing Director, Southeast Markets, Truist
Dorothy is the SVP and MD of Partnerships and Services for CRA/Community Development at Truist. She leads a team of community development managers across six states to execute on Truist’s Community Reinvestment Act objectives. Dorothy serves on several boards supporting housing, small businesses, healthcare, and higher education.

Neha Shah

Director, Head of Community Development Lending, Charles Schwab
Neha is dedicated to driving impact capital to empower underserved communities. She leads Charles Schwab Bank’s Community Development Lending program, aiding Community Development Financial Institution funding needs in the Western States. Neha previously worked at Century Housing and JP Morgan Chase, financing affordable housing projects in California. Neha has a Bachelor’s in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Master’s in Urban Planning from New York University. She resides in Los Angeles with her family.

Beth Lipson

Chief Financial Officer of Opportunity Finance Network
As Chief Financial Officer of Opportunity Finance Network, Beth Lipson brings 25 years of experience and deep knowledge of the CDFI industry. Since joining OFN in 1997, Lipson has served in a broad range of roles, leading the organization’s capital, finances and budgets, compliance, grants, and risk management. Lipson has spearheaded several key initiatives during her time at OFN. In 2012, she developed a new executive role to lead the development and execute strategic cross-functional industry initiatives, including the NEXT Awards and Create Jobs for USA. Lipson spent nine years on the financial services team and currently serves on OFN's investment committee.  Previously, Lipson worked in business valuation at Coopers and Lybrand (now PwC) and spent two years at the Federal Reserve Board researching trends in savings and loans. Her passion for community and mission-driven business brought her to the CDFI world.

Like the industry she works in, Lipson has a strong connection to place. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Lipson received her education there as well. She has an MBA from the Wharton School with concentrations in policy and finance and a BA from University of Pennsylvania.

Bryan Rubio

Director of Development at The Holdsworth Center
Bryan Rubio is the Director of Development at The Holdsworth Center, dedicated to supporting and empowering diverse educational leaders. In this capacity, Bryan spearheads fundraising initiatives critical to the center's success.

Previously, Bryan served as the Chief Development Officer at Waterloo Greenway Conservancy, where he successfully led a $265 million capital campaign for the planning, design, and construction of a 35-acre downtown Austin park. Before this, Bryan founded Rubio & Co. Fundraising Consultants, offering comprehensive support to local nonprofits, from strategic planning and coaching to direct fundraising and grant writing.

Bryan has raised more than $220 million throughout his career. As a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. He holds a Masters in Business Administration from St. Edward’s University and a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin.

Gustavo Lasala

President & CEO of PeopleFund
Gustavo is a seasoned microfinance practitioner passionate about advancing opportunities for underserved communities through access to capital. Prior to joining PeopleFund he held leadership positions with leading community leaders, being instrumental in their growth at a national level. Highlights of his career include: the development of LiftFund’s MMS, an early “lending as a service” platform tailored to microlending in the US; the financial engineering of a $30MM asset purchase agreement between LiftFund and Citibank - a first in US microlending; the expansion of Oportun from 35 to 85 stores where he was responsible for the production of 20,000 loans per month; redefining the CFO role for Opportunity Fund and structuring credit facilities that helped the organization become the largest nonprofit microlender in the US. Most recently he co-founded and managed Listo, an organization providing financial products and services to thousands in California. Gustavo has served on numerous boards including OFN, AEO, Foundation for Women, School of Excellence, among many others. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

Eugene Sepulveda

Chair Emeritus, CEO of the Entrepreneurs Foundation, CEO & Co-Founder of Culturati, and advisor to Capital Factory