Tom Espinoza, President and CEO
Under Mr. Espinoza’s leadership, RDF has become the largest Latino Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) loan fund in the U.S with total assets in excess of $100 million. In 1999, Mr. Espinoza pioneered a faith base approach to community development, establishing RDF’s Partnership of Hope (POH) and the Hope Fund. Over the last ten years, under Mr. Espinoza’s leadership, RDF has served 125 organizations that have received over $135 million in community development loans, leveraging $681 million in private capital for projects serving low income individuals and families.

Mark Van Brunt, Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Van Brunt has been at RDF since its inception in 1999. He was responsible for leading the start up of the organization, and has ongoing responsibility for the operation of all lending components and systems, capitalization strategies, investment management, and new product and policy development. Mr. Van Brunt has held positions relating to community development for over 20 years, including serving as the Deputy VP of Community Development for the National Council of La Raza from 1981 to 1999.

Laura Kozel, Chief Credit Officer
Ms. Kozel has been RDF’s CCO since 2002. She was responsible for developing and implementing underwriting policies and procedures and writing the credit manual utilized by RDF. She is responsible for the selection, training and management of underwriting and other credit staff, as well as the portfolio management and loan servicing operations. Ms. Kozel is a voting member of RDF’s credit committee and a liaison to the Board’s risk management committee. Prior to her appointment at RDF, Ms. Kozel held various positions in the banking industry, including Senior Vice President at First Security Commercial Mortgage and Assistant Vice President of Western Savings and Loan. Ms. Kozel has extensive experience in lending and asset management, having served as an asset manager and valuation expert for the Resolution Trust Corporation, several asset management firms, and as a consultant.

Bernarda Duarte, Chief Marketing Officer
Ms. Duarte joined RDF as CMO in 2008. She is responsible for all marketing and public relations activities at RDF. Prior to joining RDF Ms. Duarte headed Hispanic marketing at aigdirect.com (a subsidiary of AIG) and New York Life Insurance, Co. Ms. Duarte began her advertising and marketing career at Univision Communications Inc., the #1 Spanish-language multimedia company in the US, where she held various positions, including, Executive Director of Broadcasting for the Univision Television Group, and Station Manager for the Univision TV stations in Tucson, Arizona.

Alejandro Fuentes, Controller
Mr. Fuentes has been the Controller RDF since 2002. Mr. Fuentes is responsible for all matters pertaining to finance, accounting and management of capital; additionally he manages the implementation of RDF’s IT systems. Prior to his appointment at RDF, Mr. Fuentes served as a staff accountant for Kitchell Contractors of Arizona, a major real estate development firm with three companies located in Mexico. Mr. Fuentes has diverse experience in the development, implementation and management of accounting systems and processes, having held several positions with large multi-national companies.

Jim Ford, Charter School Program Director
Since joining RDF in 2002, Mr. Ford is responsible for developing and managing the charter school facilities financing program and technical assistance services at RDF. Mr. Ford has over 25 years experience in the field of education policy, research, school development and school finance.

Brian Champeau, Director of Lending for the Eastern Region
Since 2002 Mr. Champeau is responsible for identifying and negotiating financing opportunities among non-profit service providers and non-profit real estate developers. Mr. Champeau has been a community development real estate and lending professional for over 20 years. Before joining RDF, Mr. Champeau served as Director for the Phoenix Local Initiatives Support Corporation where he managed all real estate development activity as well as a $15M loan pool. Prior to his Directorship, Mr. Champeau served as the Community Development Lending Officer with Bank of America, providing a broad suite of deal structuring, underwriting and lending services to the nonprofit development sector.