BOARD AND STAFF
Board of Directors
Andy Block
UVA School of Law
Lorenzo Collins, Vice Chair
LR Collins & Associates, Inc.
Daniel Goodall, Treasurer
Swift Run Capital
Bevin Etienne
UVA McIntire School of Commerce
Tim Heaphy, Chair
Willkie, Farr & Gallagher
Maurice Q. Jones
PAR-Recycle Works
Lisa Lorish
UVA School of Law
Kelly Orians
First 72+
Cyndi Richardson
On Our Own
Siri Russell
UVA School of Data Science
David Smith, Secretary
UVA McIntire School of Commerce
Brenda Smith
Community Leader
Pat Smith
Retired OAR Executive
Brian Williams
UVA Batten School
Our Team
Sankofa Alkebu-Lan
Lending Specialist
Sankofa Alkebu-Lan joined the Fountain Fund in 2023 to support the lending team. As a loan underwriter, Sankofa helps applicants through the loan process. He reviews and analyzes loan
applications within The Fountain Fund’s loan criteria framework to ensure that the loan application process is followed thoroughly and fairly.
Before joining the Fountain Fund team, Sankofa worked as a Peer Recovery Specialist and teacher’s aide. He dedicates himself to developing meaningful relationships and trust with members of his community, and his commitment to empowering others makes him an incredible asset to the Fountain Fund team.
Jeffrey Beacham
Loan Operations Specialist
Jeffrey Beacham joined the Fountain Fund team in 2023 as Loan Operations Specialist. He is a key member of the lending team, supporting the loan underwriting, approval, disbursement, and collection process. With an extensive background in banking and mortgage processing, Jeffrey brings professional and technical expertise to the Fountain Fund.
Jeffrey is also dedicated to supporting his community and believes in the power of relationship building. He is a U.S. Army Veteran. He continues to volunteer for the VFW and serves as a Board Member of S.O.V. WILCO, a small testament to his commitment to supporting veterans and their families.
Michael Butler
Philadelphia Site Director
Michael Butler joined the Fountain Fund in 2023 as Director of Client and Community Engagement, Philadelphia. He will be establishing and leading our Philadelphia office by creating community partnerships, supporting and coaching applicants through the loan process, and connecting Client Partners to additional community resources.
Before his role at the Fountain Fund, Michael co-founded and served as the Director of Reentry for the nonprofit Mann Up, where he mentored men and youth impacted by the criminal justice system. His experience and passion for helping those impacted by the criminal justice system will help the Fountain Fund establish a thriving presence in Philadelphia, our newest expansion site.
Shantel Hopkins
Community and Client Relations Specialist, Charlottesville
Shantel Hopkins serves as the primary point of contact for all applicants in the Charlottesville region. He is the key communicator with Client Partners and the connector to resources and community support. Shantel previously served as Team Collaborator and Loan Underwriter at the Fountain Fund, and he is a passionate and conscientious partner who brings a grounding presence to every interaction that he has with the Fountain Fund community.
In addition to his role at the Fountain Fund, Shantel is committed to supporting his community through counseling and mentoring. He serves as a Pastor of Nazareth Baptist Church in Orange, VA and team lead of Redemption Youth Mentoring Services in Charlottesville, VA.
Meagan Jordan
Economic Opportunity Facilitator, New Orleans
Meagan Jordan runs the Fountain Fund loan program in New Orleans in partnership with First 72+. She is the local primary point of contact, oversees the low-interest loans, the financial life skills programming, and credit coaching. She blends her connection to the community and the Fountain Fund model to our first expansion site, New Orleans.
Before joining the Fountain Fund team in 2022, Meagan worked at First 72+ as the Employment Specialist and Client Services Administrator. Her experience is a testament to her strong customer service skills and her passion for justice in reentry. She also has work experience with Take the Lead NOLA, Delta, and the City of New Orleans.
Thomas Mundy
Community and Client Relations
Specialist, Richmond
Thomas Mundy joined the Fountain Fund in 2022 as Community and Client Relations Specialist, serving as the lead Fountain Fund representative in the Richmond community. He is the primary point of contact for all applicants, the connector to resources and community support, and the key communicator with all Client Partners.
Thomas’s experience as a mentor and leader in Richmond will help the Fountain Fund expand its presence in the community. He was Outreach Coordinator for the Richmond nonprofit A Better Day Than Yesterday and served as a Peer Support Specialist for a local inpatient substance abuse counselor. He also served as a Youth Mentor in A Better Day Than Yesterday's after-school program. Thomas brings his experience and passion to the Fountain Fund, and he looks forward to fostering a positive relationship with Client Partners in the Richmond community.
Martize Tolbert
National Director of Client
and Community Engagement
Martize Tolbert is the lead representative and spokesperson for the Fountain Fund, expanding our brand and establishing our presence in communities nationwide. In this role, he builds relationships among staff, Client Partners, and a wide-array of social service agencies and reentry organizations. Perhaps most importantly, Martize ensures that agency programming and implementation are informed by and responsive to our Client Partners’ lived experiences.
Martize has been a community leader in Charlottesville and surrounding areas for over a decade. He holds leadership roles with the Network2Work Advisory Committee, Charlottesville Area Justice Coalition, and the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail (ACRJ) Reentry Steering Committee. His work with ACRJ led to the creation of a One Stop Shop, a monthly event which offers individuals in and around Charlottesville the opportunity to connect with 60+ agencies in a single location.
Martize also mentors at-risk kids and works closely with the Readykids RealDads program. He is a member of the NAACP, serves on the Tom Tom Festival Board of Directors and is a member of the Catalyst Community with the Stand Together Foundation. Through Home to Hope and Piedmont Virginia Community College, Martize received certifications as a Peer Support Specialist, a WRAP Facilitator and in Motivational Interviewing. In 2021, Martize graduated from the UVA Edge, a one-year education program for working adults at the University of Virginia.
Stacey Torrance
Client Partner Associate, Philadelphia
Stacey Torrance joined our team in 2023. As a Client Partner Associate, Stacey is the first point of contact for all applicants – sharing details about Fountain Fund services, establishing trust, and connecting individuals to other reentry services in the Philadelphia community. He also plays a pivotal role in managing client portfolios and preparing documentation for handover to the underwriting team.
Before joining the Fountain Fund, Stacey founded the Free Mind Entrepreneur Network, which creates opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals, and Clothes Off My Back, which provides clothes to those who are returning home. Having spent 30 years in prison, Stacey has a profound understanding of the challenges people face upon reentry. He is determined to elevate the lives of those who have been system-impacted and ensure they succeed.
Erika Viccellio
Executive Director
Erika Viccellio serves as the Executive Director, overseeing all operational, financial, and strategic aspects of the Fountain Fund. Prior to this role, Erika worked as the Executive Vice President at the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area, launching and chairing the Early Education Task Force, a multisector collaborative focused on placing all at-risk 4-year-olds in high-quality preschool. Prior to that, she served as Executive Director of the Charlottesville Free Clinic (CFC) and Executive Director of the Virginia Institute of Autism for a combined total of 20 years. While at the CFC she founded and co-chaired the Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition, a partnership of 20 agencies seeking to create a better system of adult mental health services.
Erika is active in the community and is particularly passionate about creating opportunity and implementing leadership models that emphasize sharing power and co-creating. She serves on the local steering committee for the Equity Center, the Network2Work USA Board of Directors, and the Virginia Institute of Autism’s Community Advisory Board.
Jay Vilar
Boston Site Director
Jay Vilar is a seasoned professional dedicated to advancing racial and social justice through community empowerment and program development. With over two decades of experience in leadership roles, Jay brings a wealth of expertise in strategic planning, stakeholder management, and team leadership.
Having served as Program Director at Haley House in Boston, Jay successfully led initiatives that positively impacted the lives of returning citizens, providing them with resources, employment opportunities, and community support.
Jay's passion for equity advocacy stems from his personal experiences, including growing up with family members who are returning citizens.
Jay has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from George Mason University and certifications in event management, marketing, and nonprofit leadership. He is currently a board member of Bikes Not Bombs, a nonprofit organization that embodies a powerful vision of empowerment, striving to foster economic mobility for Black and other marginalized communities in Boston and the Global South.
Paul Yates
National Director of Economic Empowerment
Paul Yates joined our team in 2018. As the NDEE, Paul ensures that lending operations are conducted with the highest level of integrity and fidelity to established lending practices and guidelines. He also oversees our agency’s loan and credit building program and is responsible for the training and supervision of all staff associated with the lending program.
Past experience includes five years as branch manager of Woodforest National Bank in Zion Crossroads. He also brings extensive financial acumen as the owner of multiple businesses in media, real estate, hospitality services, and small-business consulting. With experience on the boards of Habitat for Humanity (Fluvanna County), Louisa Resource Council, Louisa County NAACP, and Louisa County Chamber of Commerce, Paul offers wide-ranging experience in the nonprofit sector. This unique blend of lending experience, financial know-how, and compassion – ensures success for our Client Partners as they return home, rebuild their lives, and strengthen our communities.
