About Us

Kate Barr advises nonprofits locally and nationally on strategy, finance, and governance as a speaker, author, and trainer. She currently serves as Senior Advisor for both the Minnesota CDFI Coalition and the national Nonprofit Financial Commons. Previously, she was the President and CEO of Propel Nonprofits, a Minnesota-based nonprofit whose mission is to fuel the impact and effectiveness of nonprofits with guidance, expertise, and capital. She joined Propel after serving as a bank executive and began her professional life as business manager of a performing arts nonprofit. She teaches courses on nonprofit governance and finance at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. She currently serves on the boards of directors of the Jerome Foundation and Center for Victims of Torture and the advisory board for Minnesota Bank & Trust.

Breanne joins the Minnesota CDFI Coalition as contract Program Coordinator. She brings 20 years of experience in community development, spending most of her career in community development in local government. She has a passion for providing financial resources to communities who have been historically excluded to build personal and family wealth across generations.

Brian is the president of the Initiative Foundation, which empowers residents to build prosperous rural communities and economies in Central Minnesota. He joined the Foundation in 2021 as vice president for inclusive entrepreneurship. Prior to joining the Foundation, Brian founded and served as executive director for Engage Winona, a social-change nonprofit creating equitable access, voice and power for community in southeast Minnesota. Brian also served as executive editor of the Winona Daily News for several years. In a previous life he was a traveling musician and writer. He is a lifelong Minnesotan who currently lives in the St. Cloud area.

Cristen joined Habitat Minnesota in January 2020. She is responsible for leading the strategic, financial, and administrative components of the organization, while stewarding the resources entrusted to Habitat Minnesota in a manner that supports our mission and advances affordable homeownership. Before joining Habitat Minnesota, Cristen was the Senior Director of Programs and Services at Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and the Chief Operating Officer at Girl Scouts of Wisconsin – Badgerland Council. Cristen holds a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls, a Masters in Higher Education & Student Affairs from the Ohio State University, and is a Real Estate Diversity Initiative Graduate through the Urban Land Institute.

Henry Jiménez is the President and CEO of Propel Nonprofits, a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution that offers nonprofits access to capital and wrap around capacity building services. He has dedicated his academic and professional life to advocating for and advancing his community. Prior to joining Propel, Henry was the Executive Director and President of the Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC). In his tenure there, Henry has led successful efforts to build generational wealth, reimagine cultural corridors, and invest in all communities, particularly Latino, immigrant, and undocumented communities. Henry is a trustee on the board of the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota and is the founding president of the board of directors of COPAL (Comunidades Organizando el Poder y Acción Latina), a Twin Cities-based non-profit working to consolidate and activate the civic power of MN’s Latinos. Nationally, he serves on the boards of the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) and National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB). He is a 2023 Bush Fellow, a program hosted by the Bush Foundation that supports accomplished leaders with extraordinary track records who are ready to take their efforts to the next level and have even greater impact with and across communities. Henry is originally from Las Vegas, NV and moved to Minnesota in 2008. He lives in Richfield with his wife and two young children.

Robyn Bipes-Timm as Chief Strategy and Operations Officer leads Habitat’s strategic plans and special initiatives and aligns strategy with effective operations in finance, lending, people and culture, technology, and retail. She is President of Habitat’s nonprofit CDFI. Prior to Habitat, Robyn led statewide affordable rental and homeownership programs, financing, and lending at other CDFIs. Robyn is passionate about affordable housing and creative ways to bring equitable access to communities. She has a master’s degree in public policy from the Humphrey School, is a CDFI graduate of the Wharton School of Business, and holds MN mortgage originator and realtor licenses. She is on several boards and national housing groups, is co-creator of the Minnesota CDFI Coalition, and is outdoors whenever possible with her husband Jeff, young daughter Luci, and dog Tipsy

Renay Dossman is the President and CEO of Neighborhood Development Center (NDC). Renay holds an extensive background in team leadership and community development, including a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from St. Mary’s University. Renay and her husband are the founders of Affirmation House, a nonprofit for unhoused men that provides housing and services to eliminate homelessness. In addition, she serves on the Destination Northside Committee and works with GroundBreak Coalition. She participates in the Anti-Racism and Economic Justice (AREJ) Trust and is an active member of the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs. Renay also serves as a board member for Finnovation Lab, Build from Within Alliance, Constellation Fund and the MN CDFI Coalition.

LeeAnn Rasachak is CEO of WomenVenture, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), US SBA designated Women’s Business Center, and non-profit serving women and minority entrepreneurs and business owners. Rasachak serves as the Board Chair of the Minnesota CDFI Coalition. In October 2021, Rasachak was named CEO of WomenVenture after serving on its Board of Directors for three years and 20 years working in the private sector for Fortune 1000 companies in Corporate Communications, Marketing, Digital, and Enterprise Strategy.

Elena joined MCCD in May 2020 as the Chief Executive Officer. A trusted leader in the nonprofit community, Elena Gaarder is known for her holistic approach and ability to build successful partnerships that advance community wealth building. She currently serves on the Family Housing Fund Board of Directors, Ramsey County’s Economic Develop Vision Plan Steering Committee and the City of Lakes Community Land Trust’s Project Development Committee. Prior to coming to MCCD, she was the Director of Community Wealth Building at Nexus Community Partners. In 2015, Elena was awarded a Bush Leadership Fellowship, where she studied national and international cooperative economic models. She has also served as the Executive Director of several non-profit organizations and operated a successful consulting practice for 15 years. She holds a BS in Community Development and Urban Planning from St. Cloud State University and an MS in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University.

Julia Nelmark leads Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation (MMCDC), a mission-based lender and developer headquartered in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, as well as the White Earth Investment Initiative (WEII), a Native CDFI subsidiary serving Native Americans on the White Earth Reservation and throughout Minnesota. MMCDC provides commercial, NMTC and mortgage lending, housing development and management, and through WEII lending and development services (free tax preparation, homebuyer education and financial counseling) focused on Native Americans in Minnesota. Prior to becoming president in 2018, Ms. Nelmark served as MMCDC’s Director of New Markets Tax Credit Financing for a number of years.