Staff

Nick Mitchell-Bennett

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Nick Mitchell-Bennett is the Chief Executive Officer of cdcb and the Administrator of the RGV Multibank CDFI headquartered in Brownsville, Texas.

Prior to taking the position of ED in 2008, Nick served in multiple positions within the organization. During his tenure, he has led the cdcb team in the development of over 3,000 affordable homes, raised over $75 million in public and private grant funds, and deployed over $100 million in private lending capital and equity.

Nick has a BA from Tabor College, an MS Degree from Eastern University, a Housing Development Finance Professional certification, and has completed The Achieving Excellence program at Harvard JFK School. In 2015, Nick was recognized with the Texas Houser of the Year Award.

Dr. Blanca G. Marquez

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Dr. Marquez brings over 25 years of leadership in global operations, supply-chain transformation, and organizational excellence. Originally from Mexico, she likes to say, “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.” Having lived in the Rio Grande Valley for more than 35 years, she has dedicated her career to designing systems that empower people and strengthen communities. Before joining cdcb, she served as Director of Supply Chain and New Product Launches for Albea Americas, where she oversaw $125 million in annual operations and introduced technology-driven efficiencies across multiple countries.

A recognized expert in supply-chain strategy, Lean/Six Sigma, and organizational change, Dr. Marquez has guided multicultural teams to measurable, lasting impact. She is also a dedicated educator, serving as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Driven by a deep commitment to the Rio Grande Valley, she views leadership as service, helping teams and communities thrive through collaboration, innovation, and purpose.

Leonardo Walss

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Leonardo holds an MBA degree from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Prior to joining cdcb, Leo was a leader in several finance and accounting roles within the banking industry. He has been in several industries throughout his career and now working in a non-profit he thrives on helping our company achieve its multifaceted mission through teamwork, data analysis and a deep understanding of the different business lines we are in. Even though he is a numbers person, he believes the human factor in organizations supersedes any excel spreadsheet and numerical analysis.

Linda Marín

CHIEF LENDING OFFICER

Ms. Marín holds a B.B.A. degree in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin, and previously worked for the Washington Mutual as a DE Underwriter. She is responsible for underwriting all loans and issuing loan commitments for all cdcb loan products as well as coordinating cdcb’s entire mortgage lending operations from loan application through closing.

Daniel Elkin

CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER

Daniel serves as Chief Strategy Officer, where he looks after the day-to-day consistency of the organization across staffing, policy, technology, communications, and resource development, making sure they are all pulling in the same direction.

A historian by training, Daniel earned his PhD from the University of Arkansas with a focus on community development along the U.S.–Mexico border. This background keeps him grounded in the idea that the most durable progress stems from, and is deeply connected to, a place’s memory. Raising his family in Brownsville, Daniel is dedicated to La Frontera and taking care of the daily who and what of our community.

Outside of his professional role, Daniel stays involved in local life through nonprofit boards and the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission. He has a quiet appreciation for things that reward a bit of patience; whether that’s a thoughtful book, a classic film, or the steady craft of a well-made watch.

Dorene Fourar

cdcb YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Dorene Fourar serves as Director of YouthBuild Brownsville, where she leads the creation of transformative pathways for young people seeking direction, dignity, and opportunity. She holds a B.A. in English with a concentration in Applied Linguistics and an M.A. in English with a concentration in Rhetoric and Composition. Her work bridges education, workforce development, and community engagement, grounded in the belief that language, learning, and leadership can reshape lives. She is committed to building environments where high expectations and compassion coexist, preparing students not only for careers, but for purposeful futures.

Dorene oversees academic programming, workforce training partnerships, student recruitment, and strategic planning, including the launch of YouthBuild Brownsville High School. She collaborates with community and industry partners to expand opportunity and long-term impact. A proud mother of two, Dorene is deeply rooted in Brownsville and believes in the transformative power of education for families and communities.

Nadia Erosa

RGVMB OPERATIONS MANAGER

Nadia Erosa is the RGVMB Operations Manager at cdcb, where she has dedicated 17 years to advancing the organization’s mission and expanding financial access across the Rio Grande Valley. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from the University of Texas at Brownsville.

In her role, Nadia oversees the mortgage loan servicing department, manages operations for the Rio Grande Valley Multibank CDFI, and leads the CLC program and its franchises across the country. She also contributed to the development of a unique loan‑servicing software approved by the OCCC in Texas and by regulators in ten additional states.

Outside of work, Nadia enjoys spending time outdoors, running, and being with her husband and three children. She is also an active volunteer in the special needs community, where she dedicates her time to supporting local families.

Dennise Silva

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

A Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Texas at Brownsville with an AAS in Accounting, Dennise worked 7 years as a Bookkeeper for Brooke Insurance, an out-of-state insurance agency that serves in the Brownsville area. Currently, she directly supervises five employees in the accounting department and oversees all cdcb accounting functions.

Crystal Losoya

RENTAL PROPERTY AND OPERATIONS MANAGER

Crystal Losoya is a Brownsville native and holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Criminal Justice. From 2015-2019, she was a key member of the board of directors for cdcb before taking the role as Financial Capabilities Program Associate within the organization. Presently, Ms. Losoya is the Rental Property and Operations Manager, responsible for overseeing all rental assets, including both Natural Occuring Affordable Housing (NOAH) and Low-Income Tax Credit Housing (LITCH) properties. Guided by the principle that everyone deserves safe, stable, and affordable housing, she is deeply passionate about her community. Crystal is committed to transforming the financial landscape of one of the nation’s most enduring poverty-stricken areas. She strongly believes in equal access to robust financial products, education, resources, and housing, and passionately promotes these beliefs in her work.

Jose Omar Sandoval

HR MANAGER

Jose is a senior Human Resources leader with over 20 years of experience working across petrochemical, manufacturing, logistics, and global corporate environments. He partners closely with leaders and teams to connect people strategies with real business needs, supporting performance, engagement, and sustainable growth. Jose brings extensive experience across the full employee lifecycle, including talent acquisition, talent management, labor relations, payroll and compensation, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness, all grounded in hands-on operational experience. What drives him most is building strong teams, leading positive change, and creating workplaces where people and businesses can succeed together.

Jose is passionate about developing people and building strong communities, both professionally and personally. He enjoys continuous learning, mentoring others, and contributing to organizations that make a meaningful difference.