Our Team
David Sharp |
Managing Partner
David is the founder and Managing Partner of the UP Community Fund. He is responsible for the overall management of the fund, which includes deal sourcing and investor relations. David is also founder and CEO of Urban Advisors, a national social justice and impact investment consulting firm.
Prior to Urban Advisors, David served as the investment manager for Wells Fargo community development investment group, where he grew its investment portfolio from $40 million to $100 million over a 3-year period. The portfolio consisted of private equity, real estate, and private debt investments. David also served as a Mergers and Acquisitions financial analyst, Leveraged Lending vice president and Naval Intelligence Officer. David earned a BA degree from Morehouse College.
Tawruss Sellars |
Partner
Tawruss serves serves as a partner of the UP Community Fund. He is responsible for underwriting and fund operations. Tawruss is also responsible for the systems and operations of Urban Advisors.
Prior to Urban Advisors, Tawruss was a management consultant at The Boston Consulting Group, and began his career underwriting senior debt with Wells Fargo Loan Syndications group. He also served as a Vice President with Urban Advisors before attending business school, and worked towards chartering a NC-based community bank. Tawruss earned a MBA from University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business, and a BA degree from Morehouse College.
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Jordan Whitfield
FINANCIAL & OPERATIONAL ANALYST
Jordan combines financial analysis, process improvement and executive leadership skills to improve the business performance of UCF borrowers. Jordan has over 30 years of business experience and was an adjunct professor at Johnson C. Smith University. He earned an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University, an engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, and a BS degree from Morehouse College
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Senemeht Olatunji
IMPACT OFFICER
Senemeht manages the impact creation and measurement aspects of the Up Community Fund. Senemeht previously worked in the social service field in a variety of settings including work with homeless women and families, domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, and group and individual therapeutic and psycho-education interventions. Senemeht earned a Master of Social Work from Howard University and a BA degree from Marymount Manhattan College, and is a licensed Social Worker.
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Zakiya West
ADMINSTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Zakiya serves as the Administrative Assistant for the Up Community Fund. Zakiya holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and minor in African American/African Diaspora Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
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SY Mason-Watson
CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR OFFICER
S.Y. serves as the UP Community Fund’s Chief Administrative Officer. She is responsible for managing legal documentation and identifying and addressing borrower legal and background issues that may negatively impact access to capital. S.Y. has over 16 years of civil and criminal law experience, practicing as a sole practitioner, an equity partner in Mason-Watson, Obiorah & Singletary, PC and an Assistant District Attorney in Mecklenburg County.
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Marlo McGibbony-Wiggins
INTERNAL ACCOUNTANT & BOOK KEEPER
Marlo performs all internal accounting, book keeping and loan account servicing for the UP Community Fund. She is an experienced cost accountant and Certified Tax Preparer with a demonstrated history of working in the accounting industry. Most recently, Marlo spent 17 years with International Paper as a cost accountant. Marlo is skilled in budgeting, general ledger, data analysis, cost planning, and general ledger reconciliations. Marlo holds a BA in accounting from University of Phoenix.
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Radea Crawford-Sharp
DIGITAL DESIGN & MARKETING TEAM LEAD
Radea ia the brand designer for all print and digital media for Up Community Fund. She is also responsible for managing Up Community Fund’s social media networks. She has performed design work for a number of Charlotte, NC small businesses over the past 12 years. Radea attended Spelman College and received a BS in Natural Science.
Thurman White | Advisor
Sanyakhu Amare | Advisor
Nialah Sharp | Payroll
"We are excited to offer a flexible financing solution that has been specifically designed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs of color in the southeast region. UP Community Fund is a social justice solution that will make a difference to people and communities of low-to-moderate income."