Staff
Beverly Correa
Loan Officer
Beverly is OBDC Small Business Finance’s most recent staff addition arriving from the east coast in August, 2007. She will be analyzing small business loans of $25,000 or less. Prior to OBDC, Beverly worked as a loan officer for ACCION New York and provided business counseling through the William Paterson University Small Business Development Center. In and amidst this, Beverly also assisted with the management and operation of a family owned business that employed 15 individuals in her native New Jersey. After obtaining her Economics Degree from Rutgers University, Beverly served in West Africa’s U.S. Peace Corps as a Small Business Advisor implementing community development programs for 28 different villages and evaluated lending programs for a local micro-lending financial institution. Beverly also sends a special hello to Oakland’s Spanish and French speaking entrepreneurs. Send an e-mail. Phone: (510) 763-4297 Ext. 111
Roberto Costa
Director of Business Development
Roberto came to OBDC after getting to know many of the organization’s clients while working at the City of Oakland’s Community and Economic Development Agency. Before coming to the City of Oakland, Roberto worked as Special Assistant to the Executive Director of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency. As a National Urban Fellow, he graduated with a Master’s in Public Administration from Baruch College’s School of Public Affairs in New York. Previously, he had served in the Peace Corps’ Small Business Development Program for two years assisting with Micro-Loans for business women in a disadvantaged community in the highlands of Guatemala. Roberto is also involved with community groups dedicated to improve the quality of life in Oakland. Send an e-mail. Phone: (510) 763-4297 Ext. 103
Jackie Maxwell
Account Operations Specialist
Jackie is responsible for accounts payable and receivables, and manages all of OBDC’s loan accounts. She has 25 years of accounting, collections and training experience. Prior to OBDC, she enjoyed 15 years of working for The Flecto Co. of Oakland in the credit department as Senior Accounts person. Jackie is a long time Bay Area resident who also enjoys track and field, of which she is a USATF official. Send an e-mail. Phone: (510) 763-4297 Ext. 101
William Ong
Director of Finance
William has 23 years of experience in mixed-use real estate development, program services, property management, and taxation. Before joining OBDC Small Business Finance, William was controller of the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC), an Oakland-based community economic development organization. Throughout his career, William has fostered partnerships with community-based organizations, banking institutions, and local and national equity foundations to accomplish lasting economic gains in the communities where he has worked. He graduated Cum Laude with an Accounting Degree from San Beda College and took masters’ coursework in business management at De La Salle University. William is responsible for all financial oversight and control for OBDC, and also serves as a member of the underwriting and loan evaluation team.
Send an e-mail. Phone: (510) 763-4297 Ext. 106
Felicia Pierson
Director of Lending
Felicia joined OBDC Small Business Finance in July of 2007 and is responsible for small business loans greater than $25,000. Felicia comes to OBDC after a 9 year career in Corporate Banking in New York City. Prior to her work as a Credit Risk Manager with various global banking firms and before business school, Felicia served as Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon, West Africa, where she taught Math and Physics at the Secondary School level. In addition, she was the Director of Peace Corps’ highly popular regional summer school program. Felicia is glad to return to the non-profit sector through OBDC. This marks an alignment with her personal mission to work to increase the self-sufficiency of individuals within underserved communities. Felicia holds an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University and a BS Degree from Southern University A&M College. In her spare time Felicia is an independent film buff and produces her own line of soaps, lotions, body butters and bath salts.
Send an e-mail. Phone: (510) 763-4297 Ext. 107
Jacob Singer, Ph.D
CEO
Jacob was recruited to serve as OBDC’s CEO after an extensive career in business management and economic development. With a Ph.D. in Community Studies from Union Institute, Jacob has taught business strategy, entrepreneurship and non-profit management as an adjunct professor at New College of California’s Green MBA program and Sonoma State University. Jacob became immersed in business development in the Bay Area while helping launch Pacific Community Ventures, a 501c3 community development equity fund. As director of portfolio management and investment development, Jacob was the senior team member responsible for lending and investing $20M of capital in early and expansion stage companies located in low-income communities. Jacob understands the unique challenges of entrepreneurs after running his own consulting business, and most recently serving as the turn-around CEO for a vocational school. Jacob also has deep roots in environmental conservation, and previously founded and ran a non-profit organization in Big Sur focused on watershed preservation and environmental education in partnership with the Esalen Institute. Jacob has an M.B.A. from Claremont Graduate School’s Drucker School of Management and a B.A. from CSU Pomona.
Send an e-mail. Phone: (510) 763-4297 Ext. 105
Starla Washington
Administrative Manager
Starla is a proud Oaklander and has found in OBDC an opportunity to assist in the economic development of her native City. Prior to joining OBDC, Starla was a customer relations representative for Bay Area companies such as Import/Export American President Lines and Leboeuf Lamb Green & Macrae law firm. Starla’s personal interest focuses on furthering her academic preparation that will complement her current position and her hobbies include shopping and traveling but most of all; she has enjoyed raising her family in the Bay Area where she has found comfort among its diverse population. Starla manages the application process for deals of $25,000 or less.
Send an e-mail. Phone: (510) 763-4297 Ext. 111
jann Yankauskas
Managing Director
Most recently, jann was a Project Coordinator at the Oakland Merchant’s Leadership Forum (OMLF) where she worked with merchant association groups from commercial neighborhoods of Oakland. She has also worked with the emerging immigrant entrepreneur community as a business trainer with CEO Women, Inc. She brings extensive experience in business development, lending and commercial revitalization. jann obtained her Masters in Community Economic Development from New Hampshire College and she is personally committed to lower the barriers that hold limited wealth communities powerless while honoring the environmental and social culture of the local community in efforts that create and preserve sustainable work, housing, health care, economic freedom and leadership opportunities for all people. Email: jann@obdc.com
Email: jann@obdc.com. Phone (510) 763-4297 Ext. 104