Chris Baker  |  
Director of Lending

Chris manages the organization’s cornerstone lending program by overseeing the entire loan process and ensuring that all clients fully understand their responsibilities and the resources they have available to them. Prior to joining PeopleFund, Chris worked as a VP of Commercial Lending & Branch Manager for the American Bank of Commerce where he gained extensive knowledge in business development, credit underwriting, risk analysis and relationship management serving the business community in and around Austin. Prior to that, Chris spent several years with both Wachovia and Chase Bank as a Personal Banker and Licensed Investment Representative. Chris began his involvement with PeopleFund volunteering with the organization’s Loan Committee reviewing loan requests as well as advising on potential risk factors. Before banking, he owned and operated a restaurant/bar near the TCU campus in Fort Worth. The experience he gained in finance and as a former small business owner has served as a valuable asset for understanding the needs of small businesses in Central Texas. Chris earned his B.B.A. from the University of North Texas in the DFW metroplex.

Ivette Benitez  |  
Loan Administrator

As PeopleFund’s Loan Administrator, Ivette is responsible for client billing, portfolio reporting, Loan Committee organizing, and assistance with investor reporting and loan closings. Prior to joining PeopleFund, Ivette worked at ABC Bank as Bank Teller and Lending Assistant. She also has retail experience in WalMart’s accounting department. Ivette is currently working toward her degree in Political Science at Texas State University.

Barbra Boeta  |  
Senior Lender

As a Community Lender, Barbra is responsible for analyzing loan requests and building relationships with clients, community leaders, bankers and accountants. Prior to joining PeopleFund, Barbra worked in the Marketing Department of the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas as the Senior Office Assistant. Barbra has volunteered with the child life specialist at Austin Children’s Hospital and with SafePlace as a hospital advocate. Originally, from El Paso, Texas Barbra moved to Austin to continue her education. She received her B.S. in Psychology from St. Edward’s University.

Tanya Ladha  |  
Community Lender

As a Community Lender, Tanya is responsible for analyzing loan requests and building relationships with clients, community leaders, bankers and accountants. Prior to joining PeopleFund, Tanya worked in Central America with a small women’s fair trade cooperative and has organized with various communities here in Austin and abroad. Tanya holds a B.A. in Economics and Government from the University of Texas at Austin. Tanya sits on the United Way Finacial Stability Leadership Council.

Ayleen Perez   | 
Communications and Outreach Manager

Ayleen joined the PeopleFund staff in July 2009 as the Communications and Outreach Manager. In addition to community outreach and brand recognition, Ayleen’s responsibilities include planning and implementing public forums, such as our Conference on Economic Opportunity, that address critical economic needs in Central Texas. Born in Caracas, Venezuela but raised in Miami, Florida, Ayleen moved to Austin in November 2001 and has worked within the Latino community ever since. Armed with a passion for community organizing and hispanic engagement initiatives, Ayleen's recent work includes lobbying in support of clean energy legislation for Environment Texas and Public Citizen, two of Texas' leading environmental advocacy groups, Program Director for Austin Women Entrepreneurs, and co-founder of East Austin child care co-op. She earned her B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from New College of Florida.

Debra Peterson  |  
Finance Manager

The Finance Manager is a part-time position responsible for the generation of PeopleFund’s month and year-end financial reporting. This includes preparation of year-end audit schedules and coordination of audit procedures with external auditors. In addition, this position is responsible for reviewing PeopleFund’s internal control environment and creation of a template for annual budget and ongoing projections. Debra is a CPA who has managed her own accounting firm since 2000. Her firm serves businesses, nonprofits and performs financial audits. She currently works at PeopleFund, while continuing to serve other clients through her practice. Debra graduated from The University of Texas School of Law and received her BA in Government with Special Honors from The University of Texas.

Eric Scott  |  
Director of Development

As Director of Development, Eric Scott oversees the planning and implementation of all fundraising activities at both PeopleFund and PeopleTrust. Working closely with staff and the Board of Directors, Eric’s primary goal is to develop substantive relationships and communicate to potential funders the enormous social impact that PeopleFund and PeopleTrust have on the community at large. Previous to joining PeopleFund, Eric spent ten years leading successful annual giving and capital campaigns for various non-profits in New York City, most recently with The Irish Repertory Theatre and Roundabout Theatre Company. A native Austinite, Eric found that the mission of PeopleFund dovetailed perfectly with his own passion and respect for the unique communities of Central Texas, especially those on Austin’s East side. He received a BA in Theatre in 1998 from the University of Texas.

Margo Weisz  |  
Executive Director

Margo has served as the Executive Director of PeopleFund since its infancy in 1995. Margo also serves as a consultant on a variety of projects, including organizational assessments, trainings, and research on small and minority business development. Margo has received wide recognition for her work. In 2006, she was chosen as a Profiles in Power winner from the Austin Business Journal. In 2004, she received the Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and in 2003 she was chosen as Austinite of the Year at the Austin Under 40 Awards. She was also chosen as a 2003 Marshall Fellow and, in that role, traveled to Europe to discuss transatlantic relations.

Margo has a long history of community leadership. Some of her roles have included: co-founder of PeopleTrust, and author of a chapter on Small Business and Entrepreneurship for OFN’s book – The NEXT American Opportunity: Good Policies for a Great America. Margo served as the 2003 Chairwoman for the Mayor’s Small Business Task Force. She has served on numerous Boards, including the National CDFI Coalition and the Texas Association of CDCs.. Margo is a frequent speaker at conferences including Opportunity Finance Network, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and the University of Texas. Additionally, Margo has served as a Lecturer at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business where she taught a class on Community Development and Social Enterprise. Margo received her B.A. from Colorado College and her M.P.A. from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas.

Brad White  |  
Enterprise Developer

Brad serves as the client Enterprise Developer, providing technical and strategic planning assistance to our clients. He also coordinates PeopleFund’s professional volunteer program, which pairs individuals in one-on-one mentorship roles with clients on specific project assignments. Prior to joining PeopleFund, Brad worked as a C.P.A. in public accounting at Price Waterhouse Coopers, and in the private sector as a finance and operations consultant for a number of clients in a variety of industries. Brad has also worked with community centered economic development organizations on a volunteer basis in New Orleans, LA and San Francisco, CA. Brad earned his BBA in accounting from The University of Texas at Austin and received his M.B.A. and M.A. in Latin American Studies at Tulane University.

Carmen Wilson  |  
Office Manager

Carmen joined the PeopleFund staff in September 2009 with over twenty years of administrative support experience. She has several years of experience in the nonprofit field including two years as the Volunteer Program Coordinator for AIDS Foundation Houston. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she attended Merritt College and California State University Hayward.

Ramon Valeriano  |  
Director of Homeownership

Ramon serves as the Director of Homeownership, responsible for administering and managing the system, processes, and policies for the homeownership program. Prior to joining PeopleTrust, Ramon worked for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage as a Regional Emerging Market Manager, implementing strategies and designing plans to increase homeownership for first-time homebuyers, minorities, and low to moderate income homebuyers. He previously served as the Housing Development Supervisor for the City’s Austin Housing Finance Corporation, supervising the Down Payment Assistance and Homeowner Rehab Programs. In addition, Ramon worked for the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs exploring viable funding sources for affordable housing along the Texas-Mexico border. Ramon holds a B.B.A. in Finance from Angelo State University.

Kelly Weiss  |  
Executive Director of PeopleTrust

Kelly is the Executive Director of PeopleTrust, a subsidiary of PeopleFund and the first Community Land Trust in Texas. A leader in the field of community land trusts and shared equity housing, Kelly has served on the Board of Directors of the National Community Land Trust Network and currently serves on the National Shared Equity Coalition. She also serves locally on the Board of Primavera Montessori School and the Austin Community Development Design Center. Prior to her position with PeopleTrust, Kelly served as the Community Development Administrator over the City of Austin’s Housing Finance Corporation, a public non-profit housing finance corporation. Kelly graduated with honors from Rice University in Houston, Texas with a B.A., and she received her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.