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CFED Experts

For over 30 years, CFED has been the industry leader in research, policies and practices that build assets and promote financial sustainability for Americans everywhere. Below is information about some of our experts who often contribute to The Inclusive Economy.

If you are a member of the media and are interested in interviewing one of our experts, please contact Kristin Lawton, Assistant Director of Communications, via email or by calling 202.207.0137.

Topic Experts

Andrea Levere, President

Andrea Levere has led CFED as its President since 2004, bringing the organization to new heights in its efforts to expand economic opportunity.

Expertise: Assets & Opportunity Scorecard, Children’s Savings Accounts, Enterprise & Economic Development, Federal Policy, IDAs, innovation@cfed, Local Policy, Savings & Financial Security, State Policy

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Bob Friedman, Founder, General Counsel and Chairman of the Board

As CFED's Founder, Bob Friedman has been a key leader in the assets movement for over 30 years. Bob also serves as General Counsel to the organization and as Chairman of CFED's Board of Directors.

Expertise: Assets & Opportunity Scorecard, Children’s Savings Accounts, Enterprise & Economic Development, Federal Assets Budgets, Federal Policy, IDAs, Local Policy, Microenterprise, Public Sector, Savings & Financial Security, State Policy

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Kim Pate, Vice President, External Relations

As CFED's Vice President for External Relations, Ms. Pate oversees innovation@cfed, an effort to accelerate the evolution of the next generation of effective strategies to expand economic opportunity. Ms. Pate also coordinates strategic partnerships and communications across CFED priority areas.

Expertise: Enterprise & Economic Development, innovation@cfed, Online Communications, Public Sector

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Ida Rademacher, Vice President, Policy & Research

In her role as CFED's Vice President for Policy and Research, Ida works to advance comprehensive legislative and research initiatives that help bring to life the organization's mission of creating an infrastructure through which all Americans can create sustainable financial futures.

Expertise: Assets & Opportunity Scorecard, Enterprise & Economic Development, Federal Policy, IDAs, Local Policy, Savings & Financial Security, State Policy

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Carl Rist, Vice President, Assets & Opportunity Programs

Based in Durham, North Carolina, Carl is Vice President for Assets & Opportunity Programs. In this role, Carl has been a key driver in a series of initiatives, such as Savings for Education, Entrepreneurship and Downpayment (SEED), that build assets for low- and moderate-income individuals.

Expertise: Children’s Savings Accounts, Enterprise & Economic Development, IDAs, Local Policy, Savings & Financial Security

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Jennifer Brooks, Director, State & Local Policy

In her role as Director of State & Local Policy, Jenn oversees all aspects of non-federal legislative initiatives, including leading the Assets & Opportunity Campaign and providing technical assistance and strategic advice to a rich network of advocates and policymakers. This work is designed to help low-income people build assets and become entrepreneurs, and to create incentives for equitable economic development.

Expertise: Assets & Opportunity Scorecard, Local Policy, State Policy

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Anne Li, Program Director, Innovation

Anne Li is CFED's Program Director for innovation@cfed, an initiative launched in 2009 to identify the next generation of creative approaches to expanding economic opportunity for all Americans. The program, which acts as a unique research & development arm of the organization, contibues to evolve in an effort to foster creative approaches to the problems confronting low- and moderate-income individuals.

Expertise: Affordable Housing, Finance, Innovation, innovation@cfed

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Leigh Tivol, Director, Savings & Financial Security

As CFED's Director for Savings & Financial Security, Leigh oversees the organization's efforts in matched savings, asset generation and protection, affordable housing and community development. She has also been critical in CFED's efforts to expand Children's Savings Accounts (CSAs).

Expertise: Asset Building for Children, Children’s Savings Accounts, IDAs, Financial Education, Savings & Financial Security

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Additional Blog Contributors

Johanna Barrero, Program Manager, Savings & Financial Security

As a Program Manager with the Savings and Financial Security team at CFED, Johanna provides technical assistance in program planning and implementation, primarily for the Asset Building for Children (ABC) initiative.

Expertise: Children's Savings Accounts, Savings & Financial Security

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Chris Campbell, Creative Services Manager

As Creative Services Manager, Mr. Campbell develops and designs CFED's publications and communication tools. His expertise is responsible for photography and graphic design for cfed.org, CFED events and a variety of other creative endeavors.

Expertise: Online Communications

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Ethan Geiling, Senior Policy & Research Associate

As a Senior Policy & Research Associate, Ethan contributes to the development and dissemination of policies that expand economic opportunity at the state and local level. He also researches strategies to increase access to safe and affordable financial services for unbanked and underbanked consumers.

Expertise: Applied Research, Local Policy, Savings & Financial Security, State Policy

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Stephanie Halligan, Senior Program Manager, Savings & Financial Security

Stephanie is a driving force behind CFED’s efforts to advance savings efforts for children and youth. As a member of the Savings & Financial Security Team, she provides writing, research, and program coordination and has most recently focused on the development of Asset Building for Children (ABC).


Expertise: Children’s Savings Accounts, IDAs, Savings & Financial Security

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Inemesit Imoh, Policy Associate

As a Policy Associate at CFED, Inemesit helps the Policy and Research team conduct research, writing, coordination and advocacy activities to promote the expansion of economic opportunity and development.



Expertise: Federal Policy

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Kristin Lawton, Director of Communications

As CFED’s Director of Communications, Kristin oversees all aspects of public relations and online communications, including www.cfed.org, the online home for the organization. She also serves as media relations manager, directs CFED’s social marketing and social media efforts, and plays a pivotal role in planning CFED convenings.

Expertise: Media Relations, Online Communications

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Katherine Lucas-Smith, Policy Analyst

As CFED's Policy Analyst, Katherine works with the federal policy team to promote effective public policies that expand economic opportunity for all people, particularly with regard to comprehensive wealth and asset building, microenterprise development and financing and community reinvestment.


Expertise: Federal Policy

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Sean Luechtefeld, Communications Associate

As Communications Associate, Sean assists in generating online content, including CFED’s blogs, website and social media presences. He also contributes to the writing and editing of CFED’s traditional and digital media publications and helps design messages that aim to fulfill CFED’s mission of expanding economic opportunity.


Expertise: Online Communications

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Michelle Nguyen, Senior Research Associate

In her role as a Senior Research Associate at CFED, Michelle provides research, data analysis and writing support for the Applied Research team, including the development of data and research tools that support asset building advocacy and program efforts.



Expertise: Applied Research, Savings & Financial Security

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Lauren Stebbins, External Relations Associate

Lauren provides program, writing and logistical support for CFED projects developed through public sector support and strategic partnerships. Lauren has also worked as a Program Associate for innovation@cfed, lending her talents to the dynamic research and development arm of the organization.

Expertise: Public Sector

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Kasey Wiedrich, Senior Program Manager, Applied Research

Kasey is a Senior Program Manager on CFED's Applied Research team and a member of the I'M HOME team. Ms. Wiedrich She manages research projects on asset building and financial security needs and strategies and leads the Research team's efforts on the Assets & Opportunity Scorecard.


Expertise: Affordable Housing, Applied Research, Local Policy, State Policy

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Lauren Williams, Program Manager, Affordable Housing & Entrepreneurship

As a member of the Innovations in Manufactured Housing (I’M HOME) Team, Lauren works to promote manufactured homes as an affordable and attractive alternative to traditional housing. She is also a member of the Self-Employment Tax Initiative (SETI), CFED’s strategic program designed to promote the needs of low-income entrepreneurs.


Expertise: Affordable Housing, Small Business