Our Board

We are held accountable to our communities by a diverse group of professionals and community advocates who believe in our mission and vision for businesses and communities in MS, TN, AR and LA.

Alex Lawson

SVP Strategic Initiatives, Hope Federal Credit Union

Alex Lawson is the Corporate Project Manager for HOPE (a nonprofit community development financial institution consisting of Hope Enterprise Corporation, Hope Federal Credit Union, and Hope Policy Institute in Jackson, MS). In this role working with the CEO, Mr. Lawson manages enterprise-wide projects related to corporate strategy and innovation, affordable housing, healthy food access, small business development, and disaster recovery. In addition to his career at HOPE, Mr. Lawson is the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for the Jackson Redevelopment Authority for the City of Jackson.

Ronnie Crudup, Jr.

Executive Director, New Horizon Ministries

Representative Ronnie C. Crudup Jr. (MS House of Representatives) was born and raised in Jackson, MS. Ronnie lives and works in South Jackson where he is Executive Director of New Horizon Ministries, Inc. He has been on numerous boards and advisory councils in the city of Jackson. Ronnie’s primary focus is the well-being of residents in Jackson and the state of Mississippi. Representative Crudup has been involved in affordable homeownership for almost a decade, with a particular focus on helping families become homeowners.

Brian Washington

Chief Executive Officer, B.E.W. Construction

Real Estate Investor. CEO of B.E.W Construction specializing in Residential and Commercial Rehab Services. Project Manager for Leflore Construction specializing in Commercial Renovations.

Monica Blanton

Director of NMTC Operations, BrightBridge Capital

Monica Blanton is the Director of New Market Tax Credit Operations at BrightBridge Capital (CDFI). Blanton has a finance and accounting background, which she utilizes in her current capacity at BrightBridge to help businesses understand and utilize complex financing tools (including New Market Tax Credits) to finance transactions that support economic development.

Matthew Campbell

Strategic Partnership Program Manager, Delta Regional Authority

Matthew Campbell is the Strategic Partnerships Program Manager at the Delta Regional Authority. In this capacity, Campbell is responsible for stakeholder engagement and management across the DRA and Alabama Blackbelt. He is committed to serving as a source of economic development funding for disadvantaged communities across the region. He is a community engagement practitioner working directly with communities to address critical economic development needs such as affordable housing.

Rebecca Coates

CFO, Sharkey-Issaquena Community Hospital

Becky is the CFO of Sharkey Issaquena Community Hospital and manages a power house team of trusted employees in the business office department of SICH. She has a direct role in the human resource and financial responsibilities of the organization. Becky lives in Rolling Fork with her family.

Jon Rybka

Chief Program Officer, Equitable Facilities Fund

Jon Rybka is the Chief Program Officer for EFF. In this capacity, Jon oversees lending business development and leads EFF’s School Success division, which provides hands-on support for prospective and current public charter schools as they chart a pathway to high-quality, affordable school facilities serving primarily low-income children. Prior to joining EFF, Jon was CEO of RePublic Schools, a network of seven public charter schools in Nashville, TN, and Jackson, MS, that primarily served low-income students of color. Previously, in Washington, D.C., Jon managed a three-year initiative by District of Columbia Public Schools to convert 13 elementary and middle schools into integrated theme-based schools to drive student achievement and enrollment. From 2003-2009, Jon was a teacher and administrator in both traditional and public charter schools.



Stewart Hood

CEO of Culleywood Capital, Board Member