Meet the Staff

Lockett begins his journey with LISC in October 2024. He brings with him an established track record of success in building, leading and growing high-impact organizations and initiatives. Most recently, he was the team leader for national housing stability for Rocket Community Fund, the philanthropic organization of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT).

At Rocket, Rob was responsible for all functions of philanthropic investment, market expansion and stakeholder engagement in key markets nationally. He worked with community development financial institutions (CDFIs), commercial banks, municipalities, and resident-serving organizations to drive progress, particularly in the areas of housing stability, workforce development, digital equity, and arts & culture. His work includes extensive efforts to expand inclusive and accessible homeownership, as well as creating the Rocket Wealth Accelerator, which provides personal finance solutions and financial education to residents with low to moderate incomes.

Lockett’s involvement and advocacy for equitable capital access, social justice, and economic mobility issues have shaped his personal journey. As an active nonprofit volunteer, he has contributed his time and talent to key community-based organizations and initiatives, serving as board president of The SASHA Center and a board member of the Wayne County Advocates for Children (CASA), Founders Junior Council of the Detroit Institute of the Arts, LISC Detroit, and the 100 Black Men of Greater Detroit.

A native of Atlanta, Lockett holds degrees from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University and the Goizueta Business School at Emory University, and is a graduate of the Michigan Political Leadership Program at the Michigan State Institute for Public Policy and Social Research. 

(313) 265-2893

Beginning his journey at LISC in 1996, Victor Abla has administered over $7 million in grants, has underwritten and overseen $100 million in loans and has facilitated over $55 million in Low Income Housing and New Markets Tax Credits equity investments. His recent achievements include the implementation of the Detroit Housing for the Future Fund (DHFF) and facilitating the Toledo YR16 Initiative.

Additionally, he has provided technical assistance and training for the Neighborhood Partnership Academy (NPA) and the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization (ONCR), including having a seat on the board. He also oversaw the planning process that lead to the formation of the Southwest Detroit Development Collaborative (SDDC).

Prior to LISC, Abla was an AmeriCorps member working at Core City Neighborhoods. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Masters of Urban Planning, both from the University of Michigan.

(313) 265-2892

Anthony Batiste came to LISC in 2008. Currently serving as the Director of Lending and Portfolio Management for the local Detroit office, Batiste has been responsible for underwriting over $30 million in lending for real estate development projects.  Batiste is also the local contract for LISC Small Business Lending and Economic Development.

Earlier in his banking career, Batiste also managed a Loan Initiative Program which targeted start up and early stage businesses before moving on to manage larger business lending relationships.  His previous experience includes over 18 years of proven commercial lending experience in both developing and managing commercial loan relationships for businesses of varying sizes and industries. 

(313) 265-2822

Since 2000, Jacqueline Burau has honed her professional skills and has worked her way through the ranks within the LISC organization.  Since 2012 Jacqueline Burau has led LISC’s Financial Stability and Economic Opportunities portfolio which includes directing and managing the LISC investment to support the local financial opportunity and workforce programs, including the Financial Opportunity Center network of 13 Greater Detroit Centers for Working Families. These are neighborhood-based centers offering integrated services of career development and placement, financial coaching and credit-building, and income support access as well managing as LISC’s role as the One Stop Operator for Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC).

Previously, Jacqueline managed the Michigan Neighborhood AmeriCorps Program, an initiative of the University of Michigan. She is a member of the Detroit Workforce Leadership Academy, class of 2017, part of the Economic Opportunity Fellows Network, a network of leadership and fellowship programs run by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program (EOP).  Within this Network, EOP connects national and local leaders from across sectors —nonprofit, government, business, philanthropy, academia, and more —to advance policies and practices with the potential to help low-and moderate-income Americans thrive in today’s economy.  She received her bachelor’s degree in Human Resources: Training and Development from Oakland University.

(313) 265-2827

Kiara joined the LISC Detroit team in July 2023 as an Assistant Program Officer on the Economic Development team. In this role, Kiara actively collaborates, internally with partners and stakeholders, to identify opportunities for alignment and coordination to increase LISC impact relating to workforce, financial stability, and overall economic development efforts.

Prior to joining LISC, Kiara has worked in multiple Higher Education institutions in West Michigan providing support services and academic advising to college students. Most recently, Kiara worked as a Design Associate for Public Agency at West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology in Grand Rapids, MI. In that role she facilitated workshops and trainings rooted in Human-Centered Design for staff in non-profit organizations. She has a B.A. in Communication Studies and a M.Ed. in College Student Affairs Leadership, both from Grand Valley State University.

(313) 265-2890

Brandon Ivory joined LISC Detroit in 2004 as an Assistant Program Officer working on capacity building for community development corporations and currently serves as the Building Sustainable Communities liaison to the Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood. Previously, he was employed with United Way Community Services (now known as United Way for Southeast Michigan) in community planning. Ivory has over ten years of experience working in several human service organizations that focused on the betterment of youth and families in Michigan. He has a Master’s of Social Work from Wayne State University and a Bachelor’s of Social Work from Saginaw Valley State University.

(313) 479-2074

Ramona McArn joined LISC Detroit in January 2023 as a Program Assistant, bringing over twelve years of administrative experience with her. She attended Eastern Michigan University where she studied Human Resources and worked as a student assistant to the Vice President of Enrollment Services for three years. Upon graduation, she worked in an office administrative position with the Wayne State University Department of Pediatrics. Ramona has provided excellent attention to detail, donor database management and fund development and has effectively supported nonprofit organizations with an equity/social justice focus such as the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion and the Anti-Defamation League of Michigan (ADL). Ramona has also provided back office administrative support for property management companies, supporting the back-office and tenant relations for a large housing complexes throughout the metro-Detroit region.  

(313) 265-2891

Michelle Rubin joined LISC Detroit in June 2022 as an Economic Development Program Officer. In this role, Michelle implements LISC Detroit’s economic development strategy, including managing a portfolio of place-based community-centered economic inclusion plans and small business support programs. Prior to LISC, Michelle worked in several roles aimed at supporting and strengthening communities, including over four years of experience in local government. Most recently, Michelle served as the Associate Director of American Rescue Plan Act Projects with the City of Detroit's Department of Innovation and Technology. Previously, she was a Senior Budget and Policy Analyst at the City Budget Office in Portland, Oregon. In that role, Michelle was responsible for providing funding and policy analysis on the City of Portland's portfolio of community development and housing programs and designing community engagement initiatives. Michelle holds a Master of Public Policy, Master of Urban and Regional Planning, and a B.A. in Political Science all from the University of Michigan.

(313) 612-4712

Alese Springer began her journey on the LISC Detroit team in March 2023 overseeing Detroit home repair programs including the 0% Interest Home Repair Loan Program and Delray Home Improvement Program, the financial review of existing projects, asset management, and federal and state compliance within the organization.

Prior to joining LISC Detroit, Alese played an intricate role in spearheading new disposition programs like the non-profit occupied program at the Detroit Land Bank Authority. Her greatest accomplishments in that role include increasing closing production by 90% in less than one-year and closing the most properties in DLBA history within a one-week and one-month timeframe. As a community lender, Alese is very active. Notably conducting home buying seminars, providing financial literacy for Low/Mod income buyers, non-profit organizations, and small business owners. She credits her roots in retail banking for her ability to forge and leverage relationships leading to her engagement in high profile activations such as PPP, HUD, CDBG, MSHDA and LIHTC.

(313) 265-2889

Albert, also known as Al, joined LISC Detroit in February 2021 as a Credit Risk Analyst. Al has seven years of experience in real estate with much of that being in developing affordable housing. Prior to joining LISC, Al was part of the development team at Community Housing Network, securing Low Income Housing Tax Credits and Federal Home Loan Bank funding for 70 new units of housing. Al also is certified by the National Development Council as a Housing Development Finance Professional, has experience in real estate sales, and is a licensed residential builder. He holds a Master’s of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s of Science in Television and Digital Media Production from Ferris State University.