Staff Leadership
Our mission is to strengthen Chicago area low-to-moderate income communities by collaborating with neighborhood stakeholders on community development efforts, acting as a developer and resource that supports economic development and neighborhood revitalization, and coordinating capital and resources to support community projects.
The long-term goal of CNI’s officers and board members is to expand capacity in order to be responsive to development opportunities in low-income communities throughout the greater Chicagoland area.
David Doig
President
A seasoned professional in community development, real estate, finance, and government with over 30 years of experience, Doig serves as president of CNI.
Prior to leading CNI, Doig worked in a variety of capacities within the administration of Mayor Richard M. Daley, including General Superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District and First Deputy in the Department of Planning and Development and initially in the City’s Department of Housing.
As Park District Superintendent, Doig oversaw a $350 million operating budget and a staff of over 3,000. Under his leadership the Park District’s bond rating improved and the District issued its first revenue bonds. Serving in Planning and Development Doig managed its neighborhood division which operates city programs to spur economic development and job growth in neighborhoods throughout the city.
In over thirty years of living and working in the city of Chicago, David Doig has become an expert on how cities and neighborhoods work.
Jenn Bransfield
Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel
A corporate attorney with an MBA and more than 20 years of experience, Jennifer’s responsibilities at CNI include operations, internal and programmatic legal, and finance; board, funder and government relations; and direction of the NMTC program. Jennifer previously served as counsel at a bank holding company and worked in the economic consulting and tax practices at international firms. Jennifer earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California, her JD and MBA from Pepperdine and is a University of Chicago Civic Leadership Academy Fellow and is certified through Stanford University’s Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders. She is also a member of University of Chicago’s Nonprofit Network for Strategic Finance and Operations and frequently speaks in classrooms. Jennifer also serves as a director on the boards of Christ the King Jesuit College Prep, New Markets Tax Credit Coalition and Friends of Big Marsh.
Terrence Johnson
Executive Director, Greenwood Archer Capital
Terrence brings a unique set of skills honed over a 25-year career in public service and the private sector. His values and passion align perfectly with Greenwood Archer Capital’s mission to improve access to the resources Black and other minority entrepreneurs need to build strong, sustainable businesses and more resilient communities.
Terrence joins us from the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development’s Incentives Division and brings years of experience at Harris Bank, Prudential Mortgage Capital Co., and PWC, where he helped entrepreneurs gain access to the financial resources and information they needed.
Annette Washington
Vice President of Finance
Annette is an accomplished leader with nearly 20 years of experience in the financial management and reporting functions for commercial, residential and industrial real estate developers, including monitoring a $25 billion portfolio of properties. She will help CNI continue revitalizing Pullman and will work to bring new investments and developments to disinvested and under-resourced neighborhoods throughout the region. At CNI, Annette is responsible for all finance and accounting functions. Annette is a graduate of Chicago State University and serves on the board at Options for Youth, a local nonprofit that helps adolescent mothers and male students make healthy lifestyle choices and maximize their potential.
Kimberly B. Morris
Director of Real Estate and Community Development
For 10 years Kimberly has been managing economic development opportunities and helping community organizations and the City of Chicago support small businesses, create jobs, and revitalize under-resourced and dis-invested neighborhoods.
At CNI, Kimberly is helping to build client and community relationships and design its development strategy and activities. She is also working to generate support for citywide opportunities and initiatives as well as managing all aspects of CNI’s construction projects.
She has a Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois and earned her Masters in Public Administration degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Donald Higgins
Senior Project Manager, Real Estate
Donald has more than 12 years of experience in the banking and real estate development field. At CNI, Donald is responsible for overseeing the organization’s affordable housing development programs, including the restoration of historic rowhomes, utilizing various financing initiatives. Prior to CNI, Donald worked as a Credit Analyst and Commercial Lender at Park National Bank. Donald earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration with a Concentration in Finance from Dominican University.
Spencer Tucker
Project Manager
Since graduating with a degree in Physics from the University of Iowa in 2018, Spencer has dedicated his time supporting operations and IT at CNI. With the promotion to Project Manager in the Summer of 2024, Spencer will manage CDFI GAC’s transition to a more robust online lending platform and broaden his support of CNI;s real estate and operations activities and fundraising. Spencer previously worked at Community Investment Corporation (CIC) on affordable housing preservation on community engagement and policy advocacy.
Maria Meduga
Account Manager
Maria has more than 25 years of accounting experience. At CNI, she is responsible for managing the bank accounts of CNI and its subsidiaries, providing loan servicing for microloans, assisting with monthly financial reporting, overseeing the accounts payable and reconciling the general ledger for all entities. Maria previously worked for Park National Bank and earned a degree from Chicago State University.
Kim Tubbs
Risk and Operations Associate
Kim has more than 15 years of accounting experience. At CNI, Kim is responsible for maintaining the organization’s insurance portfolio and compliance reports. She also assists the accounting team with generating consolidated financial reports and charts as well as reconciling the monthly bank statements for all entities. Prior to CNI Kim was an Indirect Tax Analyst with Cushman & Wakefield. She earned her Masters of Science in Accounting from Kaplan University.
Laura Garcia Escarzaga
Senior Loan Officer, Greenwood Archer Capital
Laura is a strategic finance professional with expertise in small business lending, impact investing, and risk management. At Greenwood Archer Capital, she leads efforts to identify and support underserved and minority-owned businesses by structuring customized financial solutions and securing funding to drive local economic growth. Laura designs and implements targeted financial coaching programs that improve capital access, cash flow management, and long-term sustainability for small businesses across Chicago’s South and West sides.
Her previous experience includes managing a $1 billion commercial loan restructuring portfolio at Citi and conducting financial modeling and due diligence for impact investments at the Steve Tarrson Investment Fund. Laura holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, with concentrations in Finance and Strategic Management, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with a minor in Finance from ITAM.
Marlene Guzman
Loan Officer, Greenwood Archer Capital
As a Loan Officer for GAC, Marlene focuses on underwriting loan requests, connecting with potential applicants and existing borrowers about their businesses and providing technical assistance to entrepreneurs.
While earning her master’s in urban planning and public policy from UIC Marlene interned for the real estate team at CNI where she focused on drafting funding applications. Prior to CNI, Marlene interned at Farpoint Development where she conducted real estate, retail and arts market research on the Bronzeville submarket. She also was a tenant organizer for the Jane Addams Senior Caucus.
Marlene earned a Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies from Lewis & Clark College and a Master’s degree in urban planning and public policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.