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Rural Investment Collaborative Leadership Team

Community Development Team


Our Community Development team provides leadership for the Rural Investment Collaborative™. The Richmond Fed's work with small towns and rural communities is part of its commitment to address economic challenges in underserved areas, particularly in low-and moderate-income neighborhoods. Jason Smith is the Bank's lead advisor for the Collaborative.

Carrie Cook, Community Affairs Officer
Vice President and Community Affairs Officer
Jason Smith, Senior Community Development Advisor
Senior Community Development Advisor
Community Development Regional Manager Erika Bell
Community Development Regional Manager
Community Development Regional Manager Peter Dolkart
Maryland and West Virginia
headshot of Jarrod Elwell
Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Shannon Sansone
Shannon Sansone
Rural Investment Collaborative Project Manager

Steering Group


The Rural Investment Collaborative™ steering group includes state and national leaders from rural intermediaries, businesses, nonprofits, philanthropy and the public sector. They provide expertise on rural capital access, manage resource development and select communities for training, technical assistance and other resources. They also engage in existing national, state and local investment activities to coordinate efforts for impact. Jason Smith and Erika Bell provide strategic support for these endeavors.

 

Maryland


Davis
Charlotte L. Davis
Executive Director
Rural Maryland Council

North Carolina


Dawson
Brandy B. Dawson
Senior Program Director
MDC
Patrick Woodie
Patrick Woodie
President & CEO
NC Rural Center

Virginia


Staton
Travis Staton
President & CEO
United Way of Southwest Virginia, Inc.

West Virginia


Obiozor
Kalyn Obiozor
Community Coach
West Virginia Community Development Hub

Project Development Workgroup


The Rural Investment Collaborative™ project development workgroup enjoins leaders from rural intermediaries, businesses and nonprofits, philanthropic organizations and the public sector. The workgroup informs leaders of small towns and rural communities about training and technical assistance for building their capacity to submit winning project proposals. Community Development's Peter Dolkart and Steering Group member Kalyn Obiozor co-chair the project development workgroup.

 

Maryland


D'Arcy
Megan D’Arcy
Program Administrator
Maryland Rural Council

North Carolina


Stacy J Guffey
Stacy J. Guffey
Senior Program Manager for Western North Carolina
NCGrowth, UNC Chapel Hill Vice Mayor, Town of Franklin

South Carolina


Boulware
Jenny Boulware
Manager & State Coordinator
Municipal Association of SC

Virginia


Holbrook
Mary Anne Holbrook
Vice President of Community Impact
United Way of Southwest Virginia

West Virginia


Hudson
Jennifer Hudson
Development Director
Williamson Health and Wellness Center West Virginia
Obiozor
Kalyn Obiozor
Community Coach
West Virginia Community Development Hub

Capital Development Workgroup


The Rural Investment Collaborative™ capital development workgroup works to ensure that capital providers are ready to invest in small towns and rural communities individually and through better alignment of capital sources. They will also collaborate with the other workgroups to understand and communicate ways to improve the rural capital absorption ecosystem.

Maryland


Ann Lichter
Ann Lichter
Director
Resource Rural
Anthony F. Pipa
Tony Pipa
Senior Fellow
The Brookings Institution

North Carolina


Kathryn Coulter Rhodes
Kathryn Coulter Rhodes
Partner
Rural Support Partners
Andrew Crosson
Andrew Crosson
Chief Executive Officer
Invest Appalachia
Deb Markley
Deb Markley
Independent Consultant
Sarah Thompson
Sarah Thompson
Director of Impact
Dogwood Health Trust

Virginia


Kate Keller
Kate Keller
President
Harvest Foundation

West Virginia


Jen Giovannitti
Jen Giovannitti
President
The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation

* Richmond Fed staff do not participate in fundraising, selection of grantees or selection of communities receiving training or technical assistance.

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Shannon Sansone (704) 641-9468