Experience

Vitas Lebanon

• Lebanon
• Financial Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Member

  • Jun 2023 - 7 months

  Represented Vitas Group on Board of leading micro and small business lender in Lebanon



Vitas Group

• Chief Risk Officer

  • Oct 2017 - 6 years 3 months

  Silver Spring, MD • Manages and monitors financial, market, and strategic risks of for-profit, small enterprise, and microfinance holding companies in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Romania. Group has $260 million portfolio and over 90,000 clients. Manages Group compliance and internal audit functions. Vitas Group is a for-profit subsidiary of Global Communities. • Serves as the Board Chair for Vitas Palestine and Board member for Boafo Financial Services in Ghana. Past Board Chair for LIDER in… Show more • Manages and monitors financial, market, and strategic risks of for-profit, small enterprise, and microfinance holding companies in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Romania. Group has $260 million portfolio and over 90,000 clients. Manages Group compliance and internal audit functions. Vitas Group is a for-profit subsidiary of Global Communities. • Serves as the Board Chair for Vitas Palestine and Board member for Boafo Financial Services in Ghana. Past Board Chair for LIDER in Bosnia, member for Vitas Jordan and Express Microfinanzas – Colombia. Seconded to Vitas Group part-time from Global Communities.

• Chief Operations Officer

  • Oct 2011 - 12 years 3 months

  Silver Spring, MD Played an integral role in the establishment, structuring and launching of the Vitas Group, microfinance holding company owned by Global Communities and Bamboo Finance. Manages group level compliance function to ensure subsidiary policies complied with group standards.



Global Communities

• United States
• International Trade and Development
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Director, Development Finance Operations

  • Aug 2021 - 2 years 5 months

  Silver Spring, MD Responsible for overseeing the department and overall operations and managing execution of department projects, focusing on optimization. Serves as primary relationship manager with the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Leads change efforts to strengthen overall operations of the department in line with Global Communities’ strategic plan. Leads cross-country initiatives in selected technical areas to build local capacity and improve program quality. Oversees budgeting process… Show more Responsible for overseeing the department and overall operations and managing execution of department projects, focusing on optimization. Serves as primary relationship manager with the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Leads change efforts to strengthen overall operations of the department in line with Global Communities’ strategic plan. Leads cross-country initiatives in selected technical areas to build local capacity and improve program quality. Oversees budgeting process, business development objectives, ensures coordination with other departments, and serves as a member of the Senior Executive Team (SET) at Global Communities. Serves as Chief Risk Officer of Vitas Group.

• Director, Development Finance Operations

  • Nov 2013 - Jul 2021

  Silver Spring, Maryland, United States Responsible for overall operations in department overseeing small business and microfinance portfolio of $270 million in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Romania. Strengthened lending network through providing overall technical guidance and developing policy manuals for credit, small enterprise lending, and internal audit. Small Enterprise lending grew from $38 million to $100 million between 2015 and 2020. Lead negotiator with OPIC (now DFC) for guaranty facilities in Lebanon… Show more Responsible for overall operations in department overseeing small business and microfinance portfolio of $270 million in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Romania. Strengthened lending network through providing overall technical guidance and developing policy manuals for credit, small enterprise lending, and internal audit. Small Enterprise lending grew from $38 million to $100 million between 2015 and 2020. Lead negotiator with OPIC (now DFC) for guaranty facilities in Lebanon, Kenya, and Central America. Advised USDA funded project to support agribusiness SMEs in Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi through a $50 million OPIC guaranty facility. Negotiated sales of $8 million microcredit portfolio in Colombia to Banco W, a leading Colombian bank. Managed three technical staff. Member of planning committee and writing team for Global Communities' new three year strategic plan. Presented results and technical learning internally and to external audiences (SEEP, Sanabel) and guest lectures (Wharton School, Johns Hopkins SAIS).

• Sr. Technical Specialist

  • Jun 2005 - Nov 2013

  Silver Spring, Maryland, United States • Developed and implemented a global strategy to commercialize Global Communities’ microfinance network. Wrote the Global Communities network’s first overall loan policy manual and institutional assessment tool. • Designed technical assistance plans for institutions, identified sources of technical assistance, and ensured plans were implemented. • Provided technical assistance in credit methodologies, product development, and housing microfinance, leading to increased portfolio from US$… Show more • Developed and implemented a global strategy to commercialize Global Communities’ microfinance network. Wrote the Global Communities network’s first overall loan policy manual and institutional assessment tool. • Designed technical assistance plans for institutions, identified sources of technical assistance, and ensured plans were implemented. • Provided technical assistance in credit methodologies, product development, and housing microfinance, leading to increased portfolio from US$ 40 million to US$ 105 million. • Negotiated loan and guaranty agreements worth over US$ 70 million with international investors including OPIC, IFC, and Sanad Fund.



Republic Boafo

• Board Member

  • Jun 2014 - 9 years 7 months

  Accra, Ghana



Westmoreland Square Homes Association

• Board President

  • Jul 2020 - 3 years 6 months

  Falls Church, Virginia, United States Board President for homeowners association with 182 town houses in a pleasant, welcoming community. near Washington, DC. Responsible for representing all homeowners, liaising with management company, and running monthly Board meetings. Elected to Board in November 2018.



Vitas Palestine

• Palestine, State of
• Financial Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Chair

  • Feb 2019 - Dec 2022

  Ramallah, Palestine Board Member since February 2015, named Chair in 2019, term expired in 2022.



MKF Lider

• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board President

  • Jul 2016 - Jul 2020

  Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina



Accion

• United States
• Financial Services
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Director, Marketing & Product Development

  • Aug 2003 - Dec 2004

  Washington, DC USA Led ACCION’s housing lending program worldwide, including market research, developing new housing products, advising on implementation, and disseminating results. Institutions offering home improvement lending increased from three to seven, with over 15,000 borrowers and portfolio of $18.5 million.

• Resident Advisor

  • Jul 2002 - Jul 2003

  Maputo, Mozambique Provided technical support to Tchuma, a leading Mozambican MFI, on loan underwriting and delivery, particularly decentralization, leading to reducing PAR > 30 by 30%. Led qualitative market research for new savings products.



Independent Consultant

• Consultant

  • Oct 2001 - Jun 2002

  Maputo, Mozambique Field Representative for MicroStart Mozambique. November 2001 – May 2002. Restructuring of Agricultural Development Fund of Government of Mozambique. March – May 2002. Qualitative market research and was main author on report to UNDP on developing financial services for families affected by HIV/AIDS in Zambezia Province. December 2001 – March 2002.



ACDI/VOCA

• United States
• International Trade and Development
• 700 & Above Employee

• Regional Representative

  • Jan 1999 - Sep 2001

  Maputo, Mozambique Supervised farmer association development project in Sofala and Manica Provinces, linking small producers with private sector, linking over 4,000 farmers, 52% women, with local and regional markets. Supervised technical assistance teams supporting rural finance institutions.

• Project Coordinator / Regional Manager

  • Jan 1997 - Sep 2001

  Washington D.C. Metro Area Provided technical support to agri-business development projects in Mozambique, Uganda and Ethiopia. Developed financial projections for MFIs in Mozambique, South Africa and Cape Verde.



Save the Children UK

• United Kingdom
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Administrative Manager, Base Manager

  • Jul 1994 - May 1996

  Angola



The World Bank

• United States
• International Trade and Development
• 700 & Above Employee

• Consultant, Sahel Department

  • Jun 1993 - Jul 1994

  Washington D.C. Metro Area



Peace Corps

• United States
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Cooperatives Extention Agent

  • Nov 1988 - Sep 1990

  Guinea