Meet the Speakers

Keynote Speaker

David Bowers

VP and Market Leader, Mid-Atlantic and Sr. Advisor, Faith-Based Development Initiative

David Bowers is vice president and market leader for the Mid-Atlantic and senior advisor, Enterprise Faith-Based Development Initiative^SM at Enterprise Community Partners. David’s work includes facilitating affordable housing and community development transactions, and policy implementation in collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas. David leads a team that provides access to financing, capacity building and technical assistance to local developers, and participates with local coalitions advocating for increased resources for affordable housing and community development.

Throughout David’s tenure, his team co-initiated and co-convened the Housing Leaders Group of Greater Washington, lead the Purple Line Corridor Coalition, initiated several efforts including the Enterprise Faith-Based Development Initiative^SM, as well as a transit-oriented preservation and resident displacement prevention initiative (GreenPATH), and the D.C. Green Communities Initiative.

Prior to joining Enterprise, David was a program manager for a single-family housing program at the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust. Before joining the trust, David was a financial and programs advisor at the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund. Before that, he worked in the office of U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, at the time the ranking member of the Senate VA-HUD Appropriations Committee.

David earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and his Master of Divinity degree from Howard University. He is an ordained minister and the founder of the all-volunteer NO MURDERS DC movement, launched in 2000.

Alyia Gaskins

Mayor of Alexandria ( Alexandria, VA)

A tenacious fighter for families, communities, and health equity, is the first African American woman to serve as the Mayor of Alexandria. She was elected in 2024 and is dedicated to building a healthier, more prosperous Alexandria for all.  

The same issues that motivate Alyia as an elected official—health, housing, education, public safety, and the economic, social, and physical vitality of cities—have motivated her professional career as a public health strategist and city planner. She has worked on hunger policy at D.C. Hunger Solutions and health issues at the National League of Cities, managed an affordable housing investment program at the Center for Community Investment, and was most recently a Senior Program Officer at the Melville Charitable Trust, a national philanthropic organization devoted to ending homelessness.

Currently, Alyia runs her own consulting business, CitiesRX, which focuses on building physical, social, and economic health through community partnerships. Alyia graduated from Vanderbilt University, where she majored in medicine, health, and society.

She earned a master’s degree in public health at the University of Pittsburgh and further honed her policy chops with a master’s in urban planning at Georgetown and a Professional Certificate in Municipal Finance from the University of Chicago. 

John Farden

EVP, Global Network Advancement and Operations

John is the Executive Vice President of Global Network Advancement and Operations at United Way Worldwide (UWW), integrating decades of nonprofit leadership experience to guide U.S. and International Network teams in implementing strategies, tools, and resources to support local United Ways. In collaboration with the senior leadership team, John’s focus is driving outcomes for Network Resilience, Community Impact Solutions, Strategic Insights and Operations, and international work streams. 

Before joining UWW, John served as the Chief Operating Officer at Results for Development, where he was instrumental in helping this international nonprofit work across sectors to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. Before that, John worked at Save the Children U.S., a nonprofit championing children’s rights in 100 countries, and held multiple roles, including Associate Vice President for U.S. Programs, Head of Strategy & Planning, and Senior Director of Global Sponsorship Operations. 

John earned his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s degree from Lesley University.

Sandra L. Thompson

Former Director, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)

Sandra L. Thompson is a seasoned government official and housing finance regulator with a long career in federal financial oversight and policy. She served as Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) from June 22, 2022, to January 20, 2025, after having been appointed Acting Director in June 2021. As FHFA Director, she led the agency responsible for overseeing the secondary mortgage market, including supervision of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Bank System.
Prior to becoming Director, Thompson was Deputy Director of the Division of Housing Mission and Goals at FHFA, where since 2013 she oversaw housing regulatory policy, capital policy, financial analysis, fair lending, and mission activities for the GSEs and Federal Home Loan Banks. Before joining FHFA, she had a distinguished 23-plus-year career at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), most recently as Director of the Division of Risk Management Supervision, leading bank examination, risk management, and consumer protection programs.
Thompson’s leadership at FHFA was historic: she became the first Black woman to lead the agency.

Claude Richard Alexander Jr.

Bishop & Senior Pastor, The Park Church (Charlotte, North Carolina)

Bishop Claude Alexander has dedicated over four decades to Christian ministry and community leadership. After accepting his call to ministry at age 17, he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Morehouse College (1985), a Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (1988), and a Doctor of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (2004).
For nearly 30+ years, Bishop Alexander has served as Senior Pastor of The Park Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, transforming it from a single local congregation of around 600 members into a global ministry with thousands of followers and multiple locations with international outreach. Under his leadership, the church also developed The Park Expo and Conference Center and the Park International Trade Hub, serving as centers for community engagement, economic development, and leadership enrichment.

Bishop Alexander is widely recognized as a civic and community leader in Charlotte and beyond. He has partnered with government and civic officials on critical local issues and served on boards such as Charlotte Center City Partners, United Way, Arts & Science Council, NAACP Educational Committee, and Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts & Culture. He currently holds leadership roles with organizations like Christianity Today, Mission America Coalition, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, and Wycliffe Bible Translators USA.

David Wiltz

Digital Masterplanning Specialist & Smart-Infrastructure Strategist

David Wilts is a leading expert in digital masterplanning, advising cities, institutions, and organizations on how to design future-ready ecosystems powered by technology, data, and smart infrastructure. His work integrates urban planning, digital systems design, sustainability, and long-range strategic thinking. He is widely recognized for bringing clarity, structure, and innovation to complex planning environments and helping organizations prepare for emerging digital realities.

Deloris Thomas

Community Development Professional

Deloris Thomas brings extensive experience in community-forward programming, organizational leadership, and multi-stakeholder engagement. Her work strengthens families, supports equitable development, and advances mission-based initiatives across communities.

Valery A. Mosley

Founder & CEO, BrightUp (Upward Wealth Inc.)

Valerie A. Mosley is a seasoned financial executive, entrepreneur, and thought leader with more than three decades of experience in investment management, strategy, and financial wellness innovation. She is the founder and CEO of BrightUp, a financial wellness and fintech platform committed to helping individuals build wealth, improve well-being, and make informed financial decisions. Prior to founding BrightUp, Mosley spent over 20 years at Wellington Management, a global investment firm, where she served as Senior Vice President, Partner, Portfolio Manager, and Investment Strategist — managing billions in assets and leading strategic initiatives that navigated major market shifts. She has also held leadership roles at PG Corbin Asset Management and in institutional sales at Kidder Peabody.

Juliana Araujo

International Institute for Business Information & Growth (iiBIG) President

Juliana Araujo is a strategic, purpose-driven leader with more than 30 years of experience across the financial services, telecommunications, technology, nonprofit, and international development sectors. She brings deep expertise in strategic marketing and communications, organizational growth, financial inclusion, and cross-sector collaboration. Juliana currently serves as President of the International Institute for Business Information and Growth (iiBIG).

Her career spans executive and senior leadership roles in Brazil, Argentina, and the United States, complemented by extensive international development experience overseeing U.S. Government–funded projects throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. In these roles, she worked closely with public-sector partners, multilateral institutions, and local and U.S. stakeholders to advance higher education, institutional capacity building, and inclusive economic growth initiatives.

Juliana’s corporate background includes senior leadership positions, driving multi-million-dollar marketing campaigns, and fostering product innovation and program development in higher education, workforce development, and financial inclusion. She has a longstanding commitment to financial literacy and financial inclusion and earned a certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School focused on advancing inclusive economic and financial systems. This work aligns with her broader leadership in education finance and public-private collaboration.

In addition to her professional roles, Juliana serves on the City of Alexandria, Virginia’s Commission on Employment, where she contributes to workforce development strategies and promotes inclusive economic growth at the local level.

Fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, Juliana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, an MBA, a Master’s in Education, and a Master’s in Science and Technology Policy. She has collaborated on research projects with the University of Georgia, Arizona State University, the Federal University of São Carlos (Brazil), and the State University of Campinas (Brazil). 

A. Wayne Johnson

Founder and CEO, Presidential Cottage Homes

Dr. Arthur Wayne Johnson is a public servant, accomplished entrepreneur, U.S. Army veteran, and lifelong Georgia native with extensive experience as a senior executive, CEO, and business founder across consumer finance, customer service, and community-focused enterprises. From 2017 to 2019, he served in senior leadership at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid, helping lead the nation’s largest student aid organization and expand access to affordable higher education for millions of Americans.

Inspired by the lifelong service and housing advocacy of Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter, Dr. Johnson founded Presidential Cottage Homes to address the growing need for quality, affordable housing grounded in dignity, stewardship, and community. The initiative reflects his belief that housing is foundational to economic mobility and community well-being.

Today, Dr. Johnson advances a national vision for housing innovation through partnerships with public agencies, impact investors, municipalities, and faith-based organizations, which he views as essential anchors for neighborhood revitalization and long-term opportunity. He holds a PhD from Mercer University, an MBA from Emory University, and a BA from Mercer University.

Stacie Whisonant

Founder, Pay Your Tuition Foundation

Is a nextgen entrepreneur advancing innovation in education, healthcare, and housing. She is the Founder of the Pay Your Tuition Foundation, a DC-based 501(c)3, and a first-of-its-kind FinTech platform helping students crowdfund tuition, access philanthropic aid, and reduce debt through alternative data.

A Halcyon Fellow and New York City FinTech Innovation Lab winner, her work disrupts traditional finance models with tech-driven, community-powered solutions. Stacie's career spans over two decades in finance, including roles at HSBC, U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, and Freddie Mac, where she led equitable housing and innovation strategy. She also served as an Innovation Lead at the U.S. Department of Education, driving public-sector solutions for deserving students and families.

An Army veteran, TEDx speaker, and recipient of honors from President G.W. Bush Points of Light, Bertelsmann Foundation, and M.L.K. Drum Major Award, Stacie holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Longwood University and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., continuing her legacy of service and leadership. Her current interests include projects in health tech, community infrastructure, and sports and entertainment technology. Stacie enjoys spending time with family, sleeping when she can, and beating her friends and family at the card game, UNO.

Eugene H. Dibble IV (Gene)

Founder, Faith Opportunity Zone Initiative (FOZI)

Eugene H. Dibble IV (Gene) is the driving force behind the Faith Opportunity Zone Initiative (FOZI), which aims to mobilize catalytic capital to empower faith-based organizations to become community developers. His leadership in this initiative reflects his commitment to unlocking new models for economic mobility, community revitalization, and social impact through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions.

Gene is also an accomplished entrepreneur and strategic advisor with extensive experience in impact investing and digital transformation. As Founder and Chief Impact Officer of Uncommon Impact Studio, he leads a strategy and investment firm that leverages innovation for societal impact across financial services, housing, education, agriculture, and clean energy sectors. His expertise in digital transformation and sustainable growth has made him a valued partner to entrepreneurs and organizations driving transformative change. As a partner at View Park Capital, Gene specializes in investment opportunities in sports and entertainment, while his board position at Thread Bank, a fast-growing, technology-enabled community bank, demonstrates his commitment to innovative financial solutions.

His career encompasses both entrepreneurial initiatives and executive leadership roles in public and private organizations, with a particular focus on empowering entrepreneurs of color and women-led businesses.

A Duke University graduate, Gene’s strategic approach to finding the intersection of community and commerce has established him as a leading voice in impact investing and sustainable business development.