EVELYN M. BROWN
Orlando,FL
Summary
Demonstrated management, problem solving and decision-making in high pressure environments. Extensive knowledge and experience in community development Proven leadership skills and relationships with public, private, and nonprofit leaders Demonstrated competency working with culturally, racially, and economically diverse populations Self-directed, highly motivated and a team player
Overview
41
41
years of professional experience
Work History
CEO
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY DETROIT
09.2018 - 07.2020
- Restructured and reorganized a 33-year-old Habitat for Humanity Affiliate
- Led the reorganization of the Board of Directors including drafting and getting Board approval for revised bylaws and recruiting new members
- Updated or developed and instituted new policies and procedures to restore Habitat “Good Standing” designation
- Worked with Board Treasurer to institute policies and procedures for to address mortgage portfolio nonperformance
- Developed for Board approval a two-year operations and program plan
- Working with accounting firm, completed, and received unqualified financial audit.
- Managed partnerships and strategic business relationships by negotiating contract terms and handling conflicts.
- Built productive relationships with industry partners and competitors to support strategic business objectives.
Senior Vice President
LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION (LISC)
01.2005 - 12.2011
- Managed LISC’s Gulf Region Revitalization Initiative which made more than $180 million in loan, grant, and equity investments to rebuild communities in Louisiana and Mississippi after the devastation created by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
- Led a team of professionals to create the Louisiana Loan Fund, a public/private acquisition loan fund
- Provided oversight and supervision to three local LISC programs (Detroit, Chicago and MidSouth Delta) and served as primary liaison between local advisory boards, other local stakeholders and national LISC
- Reviewed and provided initial approval for all loans and grants and conducted asset management reviews for projects in my portfolio
- Served as a member of internal credit and senior management committees responsible for lending decisions, program development including LISC’s signature program, Building Sustainable Communities
- Served on diversity committee that is responsible for setting goals and assuring compliance with requirements
- Served as fund manager for the Louisiana Loan Fund, a $26 million public private acquisition loan fund
- Developed and implemented new strategies and policies in collaboration with executive partners to establish and achieve long-term business objectives, providing company with strong and sustainable organizational leadership.
Senior Program Vice President
LISC
03.1998 - 12.2004
- Managed a portfolio of eight LISC sites (Detroit, MI Statewide, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Toledo, MidSouth Delta, and Indianapolis) and served as primary liaison between local advisory boards, other stakeholders and national LISC
- Served as member of internal credit and senior management committees
- Led the development of instrument to measure local program productivity
- Participated in developing diversity plan and staff development plans
- Participated in developing LISC “organizational development initiative,” a method for measuring organizational competencies and intervention strategies
- Developed and implemented new strategies and policies in collaboration with executive partners to establish and achieve long-term business objectives, providing corporatoion with strong and sustainable organizational leadership.
Program Vice President
LISC
03.1995 - 02.1998
- Participated in the assessment of three hundred plus rural community development corporations (CDCs) and selected fifty program participants from thirty-nine states and Puerto Rico
- Direct responsibility as relationship manager, technical assistance provider and grant/loan underwriter for eight CDCs
- Supervised three program officers and managed program consultants
- Participated in preparing LISC’s initial and successful $1 million Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) application
- Worked with CDCs and other organizations to craft rural development policies for federal agencies primarily Rural Housing Services
- Developed and conducted training for CDC staff and board members
- Participated in designing the Rural Home Ownership Initiative
- Represented LISC events associated with rural community development
Deputy Director
CITY OF DETROIT
02.1994 - 02.1998
- Managed the Community Development Division that was responsible for all housing, community service, public facilities, and homeless programs with CDBG, HOME and Emergency Shelter federal funding
- Supervised two assistant directors and a staff of one hundred plus
- Served as City representative on the LISC advisory committee and the Detroit Neighborhood Investment Corporation
- Supervised the creation of a “Methods and Materials” manual, a HUD requirement for approval of the city’s owner-occupied home repaid program
- Managed Detroit’s successful $100 million Empowerment Zone application process (designed and conducted community outreach programs, supervised consultant, and city staff, wrote the neighborhood section and managed overall production)
- Led the review of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) applications.
Executive Director
LISC/DETROIT
01.1990 - 01.1994
- As founding director, assembled a local advisory board, created local policies and procedures, and raised initial $1 million funding
- Provided technical assistance and training to community development corporations (CDCs) and underwrote grants and loans
- Supervised staff of two
- Developed and implemented communications strategy and fund-raising plan
- Led he initial planning for a five year, $10M capacity building fund, the single largest at LISC
- Worked with the city to develop the criteria and application/approval process for the first HOME allocation
- Under contract with the city, developed model loan agreements and evaluated all operating and project requests
Vice President
DETROIT ECONOMIC GROWTH CORPORATION (DEGC)
01.1987 - 12.1990
- Developed and managed the organization’s external communication plan
- Worked with national communications firm to develop the “Moving Detroit Forward” campaign to market the city and development opportunities to investors and businesses
- Provided staff to corporate leadership committees on various special projects
- Served as personnel officer for corporation
- Participated as member of senior management team on organizational program and policy decisions
Program Manager
DEGC
01.1980 - 12.1986
- Participated in the design and later managed the work to revitalize selected commercial strips
- Managed the CAS participation loan program funded by the city and five local lending institutions
- Developed and managed efforts to promote local commercial strips and the city’s Eastern Market
- Served as a team member that was responsible for the securing financing and a developer for the Seven Mile/Livernois and Virginia Park shopping centers
Education
BS - Political Science
Spelman College
Skills
- Corporate strategy and program development
- Recruiting and developing effective board members
- Financial oversight and compliance monitoring
- Strategic partnership formation and execution
- Fund development and external relationships
- Event planning and management
Additional Information
- Recipient, Terrance A. Duvernay Leadership Award Recipient, Great Lakes Capital Fund Humanity Award Recipient Governor Snyder (MI) Lifelong Achievement Award Hannan Foundation "70 over 70" Trailblazer
Affilations and Achievement
Secretary, Vista Affordable Housing and advisory board ,member
Former board of directors president Habitat for Humanity Detroit
Recipient Terrance A. Duvernay Award (MI Housing Development Agency)
Recipient
Timeline
CEO
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY DETROIT
09.2018 - 07.2020
Senior Vice President
LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION (LISC)
01.2005 - 12.2011
Senior Program Vice President
LISC
03.1998 - 12.2004
Program Vice President
LISC
03.1995 - 02.1998
Deputy Director
CITY OF DETROIT
02.1994 - 02.1998
Executive Director
LISC/DETROIT
01.1990 - 01.1994
Vice President
DETROIT ECONOMIC GROWTH CORPORATION (DEGC)
01.1987 - 12.1990
Program Manager
DEGC
01.1980 - 12.1986
BS - Political Science
Spelman College
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