Our Team
Executive Leadership
Finance
Lending
Development
Administrative
Board
Sheilah P. Clay
Purposeful Consulting, LLC
Chair
Sheilah P. Clay is currently the Principal of Purposeful Consulting, LLC. Most recently she served as the Director of Training Quality and Retention for the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development. In 2018, following a 22-year career, she retired as the President and CEO of Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO) following 22 years of service. In recognition of her service, she was honored with the title President Emerita.
Joseph Heaphy
Ethos Development
Vice-Chair
Joe has been working in the affordable housing field since 1996 and throughout his career has worked to develop and preserve safe, decent and affordable housing in our communities. Before starting Ethos in 2014 he was the Vice-President of Real Estate Development for the Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO), a 60-year-old nonprofit social service agency that serves Detroit,
Carol Tarnowsky
Trinity Health – Retired
Secretary
Carol Tarnowsky is a corporate attorney who has specialized in health care law since 1990. Her areas of focus include regulatory issues, complex business transactions and contracting, governance, clinically integrated networks and intellectual property. Ms. Tarnowsky worked and was a partner at a large Detroit law firm for 9 years.
Thomas Johnson
Landmark Group
Treasurer
Tom Johnson is the Principal of the Boyne City-based company, Landmark Group, LLC. In this role, he oversees all operations while leading a team of diverse development professionals for projects across Michigan. Mr. Johnson provides project planning, financial, and project management services to developers and community-based organizations.
Victor Abla
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
Victor recently wrapped up a nearly 30-year career at the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) in Detroit and Toledo. During this time he was responsible for about $80 million in direct lending and grant funding, leveraging an additional $575 million of investment in nearly 3,500 affordable housing units and 840,000 square feet of commercial space, along with other community development projects
James Avery
Genesee County Government
James Avery was born in Flint, Michigan and attended Bunch Elementary School. When he was 10 his family moved to Grand Blanc where he graduated from High School. He played football and studied at Western Michigan University, and also pursed his education at Mott Community College, Baker College and the University of Michigan.
Fouad Bazzi
The Owner Hosts
Fouad Bazzi is an accomplished financial executive and entrepreneur with over two decades of leadership experience spanning commercial banking, treasury management, and strategic business development.
For 19 years, Fouad built a distinguished career at Comerica Bank, where he held progressive roles across Retail Banking, Treasury Management, and Commercial Banking.
Omar Cuevas
Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
As a first-generation immigrant from Mexico, Omar is committed to creating an inclusive economy. Serving as the Senior VP of Investor and Corporate Relations, Omar drives resource development and fosters growth by cultivating influential relationships within the Chamber and in the Community.
Michael Layne
Marx Layne
Michael Layne has been serving established and growing companies in the Detroit metropolitan area since the early 1980s. Over the past 34 years, he has provided strategic communications counsel to numerous industry leaders as an extension of their corporate brand.
Raymond Henney
Honigman LLP
Raymond W. Henney has been a partner of the Detroit-based law firm of Honigman LLP since 1990. He currently is Co-Leader of the firm’s Securities and Corporate Governance Litigation Practice Group. Raymond has represented individuals and corporations in various
Curtis Smith
Oakland County Government
Detroit resident, Curtis D. Smith, is an urban planner focusing mainly on economic development, affordable housing development, social justice and, entrepreneurship. He is a Real Estate Development Manager with Hope Network. In that capacity, Mr. Smith develops affordable housing targeting people experiencing housing insecurities in rural communities in Michigan.
Brett Oumedian
Cinnaire
As Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Brett Oumedian provides strategic leadership for the organization and financial functions. He is responsible for managing the financial strategy including capital raising, capital allocation, investor reporting, treasury, tax affairs, financial reporting and forecasting. He brings over 15 years of financial management expertise to the position with a focus on developing
Sonali Allen
Mercantile Bank
Sonali serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance and Community Development Officer at Mercantile Bank, Grand Rapids, MI. In this capacity, Sonali oversees regulatory compliance, mortgage quality control, CRA and HMDA Data Collection, fair lending, and all aspects of the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Program – including the development and implementation of community economic development initiatives. Sonali’s career spans branch management, consumer and mortgage lending, business development and sales management.
Katrina Chaves
JPMorgan Chase
Katrina is Vice President of Global Philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase, leading strategic investments and partnerships across Michigan and Canada to advance economic mobility and opportunity. With deep expertise in affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and inclusive economic development, Katrina focuses on Detroit’s neighborhoods and Canadian communities, collaborating with local organizations, civic leaders, and businesses to drive systemic change and sustainable impact in four key areas: business growth and entrepreneurship, careers and skills, community development and affordable housing, and financial health.
Careers
If you’re interested in learning more about OppFund and our career opportunities, contact us today!
Equal Employment Opportunity & ADA Compliance: Opportunity Resource Fund provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, service in the military, arrest record (and all other protected classes in the State of Michigan or as provided by Federal Law). Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training. To ensure equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with a disability, Opportunity Resource Fund will make reasonable accommodations for the known disability of an otherwise qualified individual, unless undue hardship on the operation of the business would result.