Inaugural Advisory Board is comprised of professionals who are deeply connected to Baltimore through their experience in community development, small business growth, entrepreneurship, banking, and finance.

BALTIMORE, MD (November 5, 2020) – Baltimore Community Lending (BCL) is pleased to present its inaugural Advisory Board, comprised of professionals who are deeply connected to Baltimore through their experience in community development, small business growth, entrepreneurship, banking, and finance. The Advisory Board, created in alignment with the merger of Baltimore Business Lending (formerly a subsidiary of BCL), will provide advice and guidance to BCL’s small business division and promote the growth of the program. The organization is pleased to welcome the following members to its Advisory Board:

Watchen Harris Bruce, Chair – President and CEO, Baltimore Community Lending
Paul Taylor, Vice Chair – Director, Mayor’s Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business
Nichole Battle – Chief Executive Officer, Govans Ecumenical Development
David Bramble – Managing Partner, MCB Real Estate LLC
Matt Calhoun – Market Manager/Greater Baltimore Market, M&T Bank
Stephanie Chin – Assistant Director/Entrepreneurship, Maryland Institute College of Art
Randall James – Treasurer and SVP, Howard Bank
Gerard Joab – Executive Director, St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center
Mary Miller – Interim Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration, Johns Hopkins University
Christopher Rockey – Greater MD Marketing Manager of Community Development Banking, PNC Bank
John Walsh – Senior External Advisor, McKinsey and Co.

Advisory Board member and BCL Chair Nichole Battle said, “I am pleased that we have successfully merged Baltimore Business Lending and Baltimore Community Lending. Baltimore Business Lending has always been considered as an entity that provided an opportunity for BCL to have a greater impact in Baltimore City by addressing the access to capital needs by small businesses. It took 30 years to become the premier organization that we have become. As we learned during our 30 year anniversary ceremony, BCL and BBL have invested in communities and businesses in Baltimore City where others have not focused on. Our investment has leveraged millions of dollars that have contributed to making Baltimore City’s small business and real estate market stronger.

Our success did not come over night and it will take years to have the true impact we want to have in the city. Thanks to our leadership, partners, and volunteers that make up the Baltimore Community Lending board and the Advisory Board, we are, and will continue, to make things happen. I am extremely proud and grateful to be a member of the Baltimore Community Lending family. I look forward to the wonderful things we will do with our partners moving forward.”

Additional information can be found at https://bclending.org.

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About Baltimore Community Lending
Baltimore Community Lending is a US Treasury certified nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution. BCL provides loan capital to small real estate developers and small business owners in Baltimore City who have no relationship with or are unable to get a loan from a bank, and who are committed to developing underserved neighborhoods. We work with the government, foundations, financial institutions, community stakeholders, anchor institutions, and small business owners early in the planning process to provide small-to-mid size capital solutions leading to a more diverse and economically balanced Baltimore.