The JP UP date: OFN Conference Recap

Opportunity Finance Network’s (OFN) annual conference this week featured an impressive agenda that probed the impact of Covid 19, while remaining focused on the central issues of financial inequality. OFN, the national trade association for community development financial institutions (CDFIs), held this year’s conference in a virtual format, allowing greater access to its engaging program content.  Titled “Finance Justice,” the conference included panel presentations by JP staffers Tamra Thetford and Galen Gondolfi.  Their sessions, “Credit Building Stepping Stones” and “Forbearance Assessment and Process Implementation” respectively, included CDFI peers from across the nation.  OFN President and CEO Lisa Mensah recognized in a plenary session Justine PETERSEN’s participation in a conference call with U.S. House Representative Maxine Waters, and the in memoriam video included a tribute to the late Danyel Pitts of Justine PETERSEN.

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Bank of America and Justine PETERSEN are teaming up to provide a webinar series highlighting topics pertinent to local small businesses. Titled “Driving Impact,” the six part series will launch December 3rd with a presentation by Todd Gilyard, Project Director at the St. Louis Minority Business Development Agency Business Center (MBDA). “Grow Your Business” will discuss MBDA’s wide array of products, services and initiatives that assist minority businesses in meeting the industry needs of both today and tomorrow.  The MBDA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.  Register for the webinar by clicking here!

Cait Baker has assumed a new title and new duties at Justine PETERSEN. Previously an Asset Building Counselor with a focus on Housing, Cait will now facilitate the various facets of the client experience at JP, ensuring that clients have a positive, people-centered experience from initial contact, to accessing products and services, to ultimately achieving their financial goals.  Specifically, Cait will oversee program pipelines and related staffing needs, creating pathways for continual improvements in service delivery and outcomes. Cait will also coordinate our agency-wide internship program.

“I can’t help but light up when I encounter a problem that needs a solution or a process that needs to be improved, “ notes Cait, “I love collaborating with my JP team to identify, plan and implement solutions that ensure our work has the greatest impact for our clients and community.”