Thanks to all the presenters who shared their insights and expertise as part of the the 2026 Minnesota CDFI Coalition Conference.  The sessions were designed to be conversational and were not recorded, but available presentation and handout materials are linked below!

Opening Plenary

The State of CDFIs – A National and Local Perspective
Kick off the conference with broad perspectives on the work of CDFIs in this moment, how we navigate this current environment, and necessary partnership and advocacy work – Policy Update Presentation

• Dafina Williams, EVP, Chief Public Policy Officer and Head of Government Affairs, Opportunity Finance Network
• Megan Teare, Managing Director, Community Lending and Investment, Wells Fargo Corporate and Investment Banking
• LeeAnn Rasachak, CEO, WomenVenture, and MN CDFI Coalition Board Chair

11:30 AM – Breakouts Round 1

• Bank and CDFI Partnerships – A conversation with Stearns Banks and regional partners – Rory Bidinger, Stearns Bank; Joanna Schnedler, WomenVenture; Zach Tabbatt, Initiative Foundation – Presentation
• Portfolio Management – Practical discussion on managing loan risk and growth in this environment – Andres Salinas, LEDC; Talia King, MCCD; Bethany Nagan, TCHFH Lending – Presentation
• Metrics That Matter – Connecting Risk, Cost, and Impact in CDFI Performance – Brett Simmons, Blue Aster Advising – Presentation
• 21st Century ROAD to Housing – Update on new housing legislation and opportunities – Cristen Incetti, Habitat for Humanity Minnesota; Peter Ebnet, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund; Julia Nelmark, MMCDC
• Partnering for Impact: A Case Study on Lending and Clean Energy – Alex Christensen, Energy Smart; Diana McKeown, Great Plains Institute; Fu Hang, NDC; Matt Kazinka, Lake Street Council – Presentation

12:30 PM – Lunch

Enjoy a lunch catered by CDFI client Jules Bistro, presented by US Bank, with Minnesota CDFI Coalition update – Presentation

1:30 PM – Breakouts Round 2

• CFOs & Financial Leaders Conversation – Trish DeAnda, Propel; Mesude Cingilli, Meda; David Heneke, CLA – Presentation
• HR & Internal Operations Conversation – Barb Sporlein, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund; Felicia Ravelomanantsoa, African Development Center
• Marketing, Communications & Storytelling Conversation – Catherine Higgins Whiteside, Sunrise Bank; Andrea Sanow, Propel; Bob McClintick, Initiative Foundation – Questions Handout & Storytelling Agent Handout
• Programs & Evaluation Conversation – Jamie (Schumacher) Kalakaru-Mava, LISC Twin Cities; Michael Norton, Norton Policy; Brett Simmons, Blue Aster Advising – Evaluation Handout
• Conversation on Coalition work, fraud narratives, and meeting the moment – Carl Swanson, MN CDFI Coalition

3:00 PM – Breakouts Round 3

• Child Care – The challenges, needs and opportunities facing child care partners and providers in 2026 – Heidi Hagel-Braid, First Children’s Fund; Amy Trombley, Initiative Foundation; Katie Messerli, WomenVenture – Presentation
• Disaster Planning Exercise – A tabletop simulation of loss of loan software access – Dave Nozal, Propel
• Credit Building – Discussion on credit building activity to get clients ready for loans and banking – Maria Steffel, NeDA; Anne Leland, Exodus Lending; Jeffrey Robinson, Build Wealth MN – Presentation
• Individual & Impact Investors – Individual investors in CDFIs – Christina Jennings, Shared Capital; Shawn Wellnitz, Entrepreneur Fund; Brian Voerding, Initiative Foundation – Shared Capital Presentation & Entrepreneur Fund Presentation
• Small Business Coalition – Updates and discussion of coalition work in the next session – Kari Johnson, MCCD; Allie Palmer, Main Street Alliance; Carl Swanson, MN CDFI Coalition