Team

Bill provides strategic leadership to advance inclusive economic development efforts across LISC’s 38+ local markets by investing in small business, place-based strategies, and capacity building partnerships for community-based organizations. Bill has been with LISC since 2005, initially serving as LISC Indianapolis’ Executive Director, later as Program Vice President, and ultimately as Senior Vice President for Economic Development charged with the development of a cohesive national program structure. Under Bill’s leadership, LISC deployed over $230 million in pandemic relief funds to disadvantaged entrepreneurs, and previously led the investment of over $240 million to leverage $1 billion of investment in the core urban neighborhoods of Indianapolis. Prior to that, Bill was President of Southeast Neighborhood Development, Inc. (SEND) for 14 years, overseeing the comprehensive revitalization of the Fountain Square area of Indianapolis, and he also served as a Main Street manager. Bill has developed and co-manages a social venture building workforce homeownership opportunities, serves on the boards of several non-profits, and holds an undergraduate degree from Cedarville University and a master’s from Ball State University’s College of Architecture and Planning. 

Elizabeth is a certified planner with 18 years of experience in economic development, specializing in building networks to drive inclusive economic growth. Leading LISC's national economic development team, she orchestrates programs that foster entrepreneurship, advance local economies, and empower community-based organizations in disinvested communities nationwide. Previously, she served as Deputy Director at the New York Empire State Development Corporation and held various roles at the Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation, where she continues to contribute as a member of the Board of Directors. Elizabeth holds a Master’s in Urban Planning from Hunter College (CUNY) and an Executive Certificate in Economic Development from the Harvard Kennedy School. In addition to her professional roles, Elizabeth serves on the board of directors at the Urban Manufacturing Alliance (UMA) and is a member of the Racism and Economic Development Committee at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). She resides in Red Hook, Brooklyn with her family and enjoys hiking, sampling locally made goods and exploring new neighborhoods. 

Sarah Adams is an artist at heart and brings an artist’s vulnerability and dedication to her work at LISC. She’s inspired by connections—across teams, in relationships with donors, and with local ecosystems. In her role as Senior Economic Development Program Officer, Sarah brings people and programs together to provide flexible capital to Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Women, LGTBQIA, Veteran, and other entrepreneurs in underinvested communities. Most recently, she managed an $85 million grant program to support small businesses and drive systems transformation during this era of social and environmental change. Prior to joining LISC, Sarah supported small businesses and communities in both the private and non-profit sectors. Most recently she supported Habitat for Humanity’s local and international affordable housing projects, disaster recovery, and political advocacy work. Sarah lives in historic Hillsborough, NC with her family, and lots of plants and books. As a surfer and a sailor, she travels the world searching for waves and wind.

Destiny is an economic development professional specializing in supporting LISC’s small business and Business Development Organizations' (BDOs) initiatives nationwide. She leads the national BDO Network, ensuring small business owners access affordable capital and strengthen their financial and business practices to achieve their goals through direct support from these organizations. With more than 8 years of public sector experience, Destiny is dedicated to fostering growth and opportunity through small business support and economic development initiatives.  

Prior to joining LISC, Destiny served as an Economic Development Specialist in Southern Maryland, leading the Business Retention and Expansion Program and Southern Maryland Innovates, an initiative dedicated to transforming the region’s economy through entrepreneurship and innovation. She is passionate about helping partners strengthen their services to support historically disadvantaged entrepreneurs and building inclusive small business ecosystems. Destiny holds a master’s degree in public administration (MPA) from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Xavier University. Beyond her professional roles, she is actively involved in various committees and organizations, including the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA). Destiny resides in Prince George’s County, Maryland, with her family, and enjoys nature, grilling, and relaxation. 

Daniel is an Economic Development Program Officer at LISC, working to support the national Business Development Organization (BDO) Network. Before joining LISC, Daniel Anikwue led efforts with the ByBlack initiative for four years under the U.S. Black Chambers of Commerce where he and his team were responsible for building the first national certification for Black-owned businesses. Daniel also gained experience in Strategy and Client Engagement at several tech companies, most recently at Ontra.ai, where he focused on Operations and Strategy within the Account Management department. Outside of work, he volunteers his time with iMentor and ProjectBasta. 

Daniel holds a bachelor's degree from Baruch College, where he majored in Economics and minored in Entrepreneurship. He currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, where he spent his childhood

Jill Badger oversees LISC’s Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program which offers free, small business learning platform for entrepreneurs and small business owners. She manages all components of the design and implementation of local market strategy in 15 cities, overseeing communications with and support of program partners to maximizing program impact in local markets. Jill has extensive experience supporting small businesses in her past roles as Business Development Officer at Loudoun County Economic Development and Small Business Development Director at the Small Business Development Center in Toledo, OH.

Jill holds an MBA from Eastern Michigan University. She has a BA in Accounting from Baker College and is a Certified Business Advisor (CBA) through The University of Toledo. Originally from Temperance, Michigan, Jill currently lives in Ashburn, Virginia with her two daughters.

Thomas Brande executes marketing campaigns for LISC’s Income & Wealth Building and Economic Development teams. This includes managing and creating website, newsletters, social media, client stories, graphics, and other promotional content. Thomas has over ten years of experience as a communications professional, serving at non-profit organizations on the local, regional, and international levels. He is passionate about magnifying the voices of community members and creating a more equitable society through his work. Previously, he acted as Marketing and Communications Manager at Phipps Neighborhoods, a community development organization based in the South Bronx. Thomas holds a Bachelor’s in Peace and Justice Studies and a Master’s in Public Communications from Fordham University. He currently lives in Queens, New York with his family.

 Andrea Devening manages LISC’s place-based economic development initiatives designed to advance inclusive economic growth in communities across the country. She supports the Community-Centered Economic Inclusion initiatives, co-developed by LISC and Brookings, to drive community-led development using tested place-based strategies. Andrea also manages the EDA-funded Equity Impact Investments program, enhancing partnerships and capacity for inclusive economic development. Andrea has eleven years of experience working in multiple spheres of economic development, most recently managing GO Virginia, a statewide economic development initiative focused on creating jobs and diversifying regional economies at Virginia’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Andrea served in many roles at Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation (SBIDC) before ending her tenure as Deputy Director and Acting Executive Director. Earlier in her career, Andrea spent seven years in the field of refugee resettlement in Washington, D.C. and Chicago. Andrea Devening is driven to strengthen underserved communities and passionate about inclusive economic growth. Andrea has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from Mary Washington College and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from the Pratt Institute. Andrea is a lover of all things art, culture and nature and lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband, their two children and chihuahua.

Akilah manages the day-to-day development and implementation of partnerships with corporations seeking to diversify their procurement processes through LISC-forged links with new diverse suppliers. She has over 20 years of service in the public sector and is a certified diversity, equity, & inclusion professional.  

Prior to joining LISC, Akilah served as the Business Equity Manager at the Port of Houston Authority, where she oversaw the Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) program and was the subject-matter expert and liaison to a network of individuals and local, state, and national organizations regarding small and diverse-owned business programs. Her acumen in economic inclusion, community partnership, and diverse-owned business programming earned her the opportunity to serve on various boards and committees for agencies, including a mayoral appointment as Commissioner for the City of Houston’s Office of Business Opportunity, and advisory councils for the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council, and the Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance. Her passion lies in cultivating an inclusive business culture and working with community-based organizations to actively and positively contribute to the development of the diverse-owned business networks across the country. Akilah currently resides in Atlanta, where she enjoys sports and exploring the outdoors with her family

As Program Officer, Kanika provides a dynamic blend of project management, technical assistance and relationship cultivation to support LISC’s Supplier Diversity initiative. She has more than nine years of experience in non-profit management, overseeing multiple grant-funded programs aimed at uplifting underinvested communities. Her journey is fueled by a profound empathy and passion for catalyzing positive change in the lives of those often overlooked. Central to her mission is enhancing the financial health and bolstering the capacity of diverse and women-owned businesses. Prior to joining LISC, Kanika served as the Training Coordinator for Port Houston, where she established the first capacity-building training program for small, diverse- and women-owned businesses. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and resides in Houston, TX. 

Dejah McGibbon coordinates the expansion of LISC’s Economic Development program, with an emphasis on grant activities and financial management. Dejah has three years of experience mastering LISC’s internal compliance systems and supporting national Economic Development initiatives as they increase access to opportunity across the country. Prior to joining the LISC team, Dejah earned both a bachelor’s degree in Metropolitan Studies from NYU as well as a master’s degree from the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service in Urban Planning. During her time as a student, she solidified her dedication to community and urban development through her studies focused on innovative solutions to challenges faced by growing cities, and internships with a number of New York City based non-profit organizations including the Waterfront Alliance and Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. Dejah was raised and currently resides in the Bronx, New York City. She enjoys spending her free time cooking, learning new crafts, and solo traveling.  

Cari supports LISC’s place-based programs through arts + culture initiatives and supports small business initiatives. Prior to joining the Economic Development team in her current role, she spent two years studying community development in the Cleveland area through her graduate journey as a National Urban Fellow. Additionally, Cari previously supported façade improvement grants with LISC Indianapolis as an Assistant Program Officer. Her career is rooted in community organizing and has spent several years working with a congregation-based network in Pinellas County, FL advocating for affordable health care for historically disinvested communities. Cari received her bachelor’s from the School of Environmental Affairs at Indiana University and her Master’s in Policy Management from the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. She is based in Indianapolis’ west side neighborhood of Haughville.  

Armando is a formally and informally trained organizer and facilitator. He manages network collaboration for LISC local offices and the Business Development Organization (BDO) Network, coordinating training topics across grant programs and overseeing capacity building opportunities inside and outside the organization. 

As an instructor and convener, he has strategically positioned community-based organizations to better inform local economic development and created peer-learning networks across local offices to address the increasing intersection of community and economic development. Having established and led industrial land use and commercial tenant advocacy campaigns while working with the Association for Neighborhood & Housing Development (ANHD) in New York, he is passionate about coalition building, economic justice, and creating robust policy foundations for equitable economic development. As an alum of the Center for Community Leadership and the Forefront Fellow of the Urban Design Forum, Armando is most comfortable when blending the complexities of program and policy design with the immediate needs of marginalized populations.