KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has announced five appointments to its External LinkCommunity Development Advisory Council (CDAC) for 2025. The council is composed of community and business leaders from the Kansas City Fed’s seven-state region. Council members advise the Bank on current developments and emerging issues in community and economic development.

Council members serve three-year terms, offer year-round insight on economic and community development issues and meet twice a year with the Kansas City Fed’s leadership.

New CDAC members include:

  • Joel Smith, president of community development and chief credit officer, Native American Bank (NAB) in Denver, Colorado. NAB is a Tribal-owned CDFI that specializes in lending on reservation and to Tribal governments, enterprises and housing authorities.
  • Jennifer Tidwell, principal place strategist, Health Forward Foundation in Kansas City, Missouri. Tidwell oversees the community investments and internal operations of work focused on housing and digital access, two social influencers of health.
  • Rollin M. Wood, chief executive officer, Native Partnership for Housing (NPH) in Gallup, New Mexico. A Native CDFI, NPH has facilitated more than $80 million in home mortgage loans and helped more than 700 families purchase homes since its founding 28 years ago

Current council members include:

  • Monica Abeita, executive director of North Central New Mexico Economic Development District in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
  • Michelle Bish, executive director at Northeast Workforce Development Board in Catoosa, Oklahoma.
  • Anne Brandt, executive director, Lincoln Littles in Lincoln, Nebraska.
  • Amanda Brewer, CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.
  • Quintin Hughes, Sr., program director at Northeast Oklahoma City Renaissance, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
  • Jackie Loya-Torres, CRA and community development at Commerce Bank in Kansas City, Missouri.
  • Lloyd Rainge, vice president and community development director, Capitol Federal, Lawrence, Kansas.
  • Brenda Sharpe, president and CEO, REACH Healthcare Foundation, Overland Park, Kansas.

As the regional headquarters of the nation’s central bank, the Kansas City Fed and its branch offices in Denver, Oklahoma City and Omaha serve the seven states of the Tenth District: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, northern New Mexico and western Missouri.

Media Contacts

Bill Medley: Bill.Medley@kc.frb.org

Victoria Rosengarten: Victoria.Rosengarten@kc.frb.org