ICA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Managing Director, Ret.
Alexandro Olvera is a recent UC Berkeley graduate with a major in Society & Environment, with minors in Public Policy and Ethnic Studies. He is passionate about environmental and ecological justice. He has experience working with the non-profit Communities for a Better Environment, the Energy Institute at Haas (UCB research group), the Alameda County District Attorney's office (Environmental and Consumer Protection Division), as a Comcast Fellow for the Capitol in Sacramento, and most recently as the Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives intern for Apple inc where he developed and coded metrics for grant impacts within their Racial Equity and Justice initiative. ICA's goals inspire him, and he is excited to help positively impact his community as the Impact Associate.
In his free time, Alexandro enjoys spending time with friends and family, hiking, visiting museums and art galleries, and listening to and playing music. On the weekends, you can find him at Lake Merrit with friends or take in the sights and sounds at Golden Gate Park. He also works with researchers and colleagues from UC Berkeley and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) to finalize the publication of a research paper he completed during his senior year at UC Berkeley that quantifies the scope of migration following Hurricane Harvey in Texas.
Allison Kelly is deeply committed to fighting economic inequality through innovation and partnerships at ICA, a venture capital-certified non-profit CDFI, where she has been serving in the role of CEO since June 2019. Under Kelly's leadership, ICA has more than tripled its net assets, its number of investments, the number of companies served, and the organizations revenues.
Before joining ICA, Kelly was head of strategy and innovation at CDC Small Business Finance where she led the effort to bring on over $40 million in new impact investments to fund non-SBA small business loan products. Prior to CDC, Kelly spent seven years in various leadership positions at Pacific Community Ventures, a nonprofit social enterprise focused on helping small businesses thrive through affordable capital and free business coaching.
Ms. Kelly serves on the Board of Mal Warwick Donor Digital, a full service fundraising and advocacy agency serving leading charitable organizations. Kelly also serves on the Advisory Board of CNote and received her Bachelor's with honors from the University of Oregon and a MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Angelica Lozada is the Network Resource Manager at ICA. She is responsible for the daily operations and administration of ICA's Alumni, Advisor, and Professional Service Provider (PSP) Networks. Her goal is to ensure that ICA's resources are aligned with the ever changing needs of ICA's Alumni. Prior to joining ICA, Angelica held various account management/sales positions in the eCommerce space where she focused on building relationships with clients to ensure that all of their business needs were met. She is aiming to utilize that experience to foster and build connections with ICA's alumni in order to ensure the success of both ICA and the entrepreneurs to help close the racial and gender wealth gaps.
Angelica earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing Management from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Job Titles:
- Director of Portfolio Management
Caron Gugssa-Howard has over 16 years of strategy and entrepreneurial experience, beginning her entrepreneurial journey as a teen and operating several micro-enterprises after graduating from the Women's Initiative for Self Employment. She is currently the Director of Portfolio Management at ICA where she supports sourcing and vetting of new investments and is responsible for monitoring the performance, both financially and socially for ICA portfolio companies.
Prior to joining ICA investment team, Caron spent a number of years on the Programs team as Accelerator Manager, Strategic Program Manager and Director of Programs. In each of those roles Caron was charged with managing, developing and implementing innovative programming to support growth-oriented companies to help close the gender and racial wealth gaps. Through this work she lead innovation, improvements, and quality control across all programs.
Caron is credited with designing The Lab Accelerator at ICA, which supports high potential early stage businesses to stabilize, grow, and become capital ready. Caron successfully lead the first four cohorts through through a month long accelerator and supporting them to qualify for ICA's Seed Equity Fund.
Prior to joining ICA, Caron's professional experience spanned industries in health and beauty, education, international grantmaking, and small business incubation - with specific roles in operations, programs, and executive administration. Caron is dedicated to serving her community through resource sharing, volunteering, and making connections in the small business ecosystem. Caron received an MBA from the Lorry I. Lokey School of Business and Public Policy at Mills College and a Bachelor's in Marketing Communications from Emmanuel College.
Job Titles:
- President / Tucker Technology, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Principal / Green & Associates
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Finance and Administration
Dennise Gutierrez is an experienced finance professional with roots in private practice as well as an extensive background overseeing the financial management of community development financial institutions. She brings over 18 years of experience in financial oversight and management of CDFIs to her role as ICA's Vice President of Finance and Administration, where she leads the organization's Operations, Finance, and Human Resources team.
Prior to ICA, Dennise spent 15 years with CDC Small Business Finance (CDC) where she served as controller. At CDC, she oversaw commercial real estate transactions, SBA secondary market transactions, SBA microloans and grants, as well as the revenue streams and accounting for a separate technology company warehoused at CDC. Additionally, she facilitated the merger between CDC Small Business Finance and Capital Impact Partners in 2021.
Job Titles:
- Chief Program and Strategic Initiatives Officer
Dianna Tremblay is the Chief Program and Strategic Initiatives Officer at ICA. She is responsible leading the implementation of the organization's strategic initiatives and operating plan ensuring every department has the resources they need to reach and/or exceed their goals and communicate clearly and effectively across department. With expertise in program design and implementation, small business support, and cross functional collaboration, Dianna strives to use these skills to increase equitable access to capital, coaching, and market opportunities for entrepreneurs of color. Dianna currently serves on the board of the nonprofit Naturally Bay Area supporting natural and good for you CPG brands. She also serves on the board of Progeny Coffee, an ICA investment portfolio company.
Prior to joining ICA, Dianna's professional experience included sales, corporate relationship management, business development, and category management roles in e-commerce and textbook publishing. Dianna received a MBA from the Lorry I. Lokey School of Business and Public Policy at Mills College and a Bachelor's in English from California State University, East Bay.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder / Oakland Black Business Fund
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Director
Erica Dixon serves as the Marketing & Communications Director of ICA Fund, a venture capital non-profit CDFI investing to close the racial and gender wealth gaps in the Bay Area. As a senior-level communications professional and narrative strategist, Erica has deep experience helping organizations creatively tell their stories, expand and strengthen their brand, and advance innovative solutions for social change. Erica brings 10 years of experience in communications, community engagement, and strategy work across the entrepreneurship, culture, and social impact sectors. Outside of work Erica makes paintings and ceramics, experiments with new recipes, and hangs out with her adopted dog, Rosie.
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Manager
- Writer
Hannah is the Senior Program Manager at ICA and is responsible for the strategy and execution of ICA's two accelerator programs, the Lab and the Accelerator. She centers an entrepreneur-first ethos to deliver high quality content and learning experiences to prepare founders to grow and raise capital. Hannah is passionate about building pathways to wealth for communities of color in the Bay Area. She brings her diverse set of experiences to serve ICA's mission, spanning grant writing, grantmaking, community development, program management, and operations across social enterprises in the US and abroad.
Hannah earned a Bachelor's degree from UC Santa Cruz with a dual concentration in Public Health and Spanish Literature and a Masters of Business Administration from San Francisco State University with a concentration in Sustainable Business.
Hannah is a writer, avid reader, and curious traveler, believing the best way to learn about a new culture is immersion through food and language. You can find her on the weekends cooking and relaxing with her traveling circus; her two young daughters, her husband and two dogs.
Job Titles:
- Investment Manager and Market Development, Silicon Valley
- Silicon Valley Investment and Program Manager
Hector Ramos is ICA's Silicon Valley Investment and Program Manager and is responsible for growing ICA's presence and impact in the Silicon Valley region. He works cross-functionally with the program and investment teams to accelerate growth-oriented businesses and deploy $1M of investment dollars over the next two years into Silicon Valley - with a deep focus on San Jose.
Hector has extensive experience in startup banking, commercial banking, corporate banking, and business development. Most recently at Silicon Valley Bank, he built and managed relationships with founders of high-growth, venture-backed startups while structuring and delivering equity-like debt capital. Hector has also served as a Microfinance Fellow with Kiva in Central America and co-launched a nonprofit to increase diversity in the venture capital industry.
He is the proud son of Mexican immigrants who gave him first-hand experience in a small business (restaurant) environment. Hector earned a Bachelor's in Business Administration from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.
Job Titles:
- Accelerator Program Associate
Isabelle (she/her) recently joined ICA in September 2022. As the Accelerator Program Associate, she manages the day-to-day operations of The Lab and The Accelerator. (If you're a business owner interested in learning more about ICA's programs, or if you know of any cool small businesses in the Bay, she's the person to reach out to.) Isabelle earned her degree in Business Administration from UC Berkeley. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crocheting, and discovering new music.
J Aguilar (they/she) has extensive experience in a variety of operations roles for Bay Area nonprofits. As ICA's HR Manager, J helps the organization deliver on its mission by ensuring ICA's human resources and operations run smoothly. Before ICA, J coordinated operations and HR at CEGA, a hub for research on global development at UC Berkeley.
Job Titles:
- National Managing Partner of Corporate / Development
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Chairman
- Member of the Board of Directors
John Gough - Chief Investment Officer
John Gough serves as Chief Investment Officer at ICA, a venture-capital CDFI and 501(c)(3) non-profit investment fund, focused on creating good jobs, funding women and entrepreneurs of color, and driving economic opportunity and ownership for employees. John leads the organization's Investment team, and oversees the development, funding, and implementation of the ICA Growth Fund and Seed Equity Fund. John has over 20 years' experience in corporate finance, international banking, impact investing, and has held executive leadership and operating roles in entrepreneurial ventures. John believes that supportive and patient capital can be used to reach, serve, and bring meaningful change to communities.
Prior to ICA, John founded True North Capital Management LLC, an investment management business focused on public equities impact and essential services investing. John also served as Head of Global Corporate Banking in Asia-Pacific for Wells Fargo, living with his family in Hong Kong for 9 years; Managing Director at LoopNet Inc (NASDAQ: "LOOP"), a venture capital start-up; Farallon Capital in San Francisco; and Grameen Bank, a micro-credit lender in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
John serves as a Board observer for Firebrand Artisan Breads, and Advisor to NowHer.org focused on Philippines social impact and micro-enterprise investment/development. John holds an MBA from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business (Haas School Scholar), and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis (Magna Cum Laude).
Job Titles:
- JP King Advisor
- Chief Impact Officer & Shareholder
Kathy Wong is ICA's Office Manager, overseeing the smooth operation of the office and providing administrative support to the ICA Team.
Kathy has over 20 years of experience in client servicing and administrative support.
Lovely Munzer oversees the accounting and supports the internal finance function including budgeting, financial forecasting, and cashflow management of ICA. She provides actionable intelligence to support the decision making which impacts the finances of ICA.
Lovely has over 10 years of experience in Accounting & Finance both in the for-profit and non-profit sectors. She has earned her Bachelor of Science in Financial Management and Systems Development from San Beda University in the Philippines. Prior to moving countries, she worked for A.P. Møller - Mærsk which is the largest container ship and supply vessel operator in the world. This provided her experience in managing relationships in multiple offices and providing financial reports to support the financial stakeholders in Egypt, Turkey, Syria, Libya, Israel, Lebanon.
After moving to the US, she volunteered for East Bay Agency for Children which is a non-profit working to improve the well-being of children, youth and families by reducing the impact of trauma and social inequalities. And she eventually joined Playworks Education Energized, which is a national non-profit dedicated to improve the health and well-being of children by providing access to safe and healthy play. She took on 4 different positions in Accounting and Finance within 6 years supporting 23 offices before getting the opportunity to join ICA with hopes of putting her skills and experience to further the cause in building a better community.
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Associate
Maya (she/her) recently joined ICA in September 2022. As the Marketing and Communications Associate, she develops and manages social media content and campaigns for ICA. Maya is earning her degree in Design from UC Davis. In her free time, you can find Maya trying a new coffee shop, singing, crocheting, or illustrating.
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Manager for Economic Equity / the Greenlining Institute
Job Titles:
- Yerba Buena Construction and Engineering / Founder & CEO
Job Titles:
- JP King Advisor
- Senior Director
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Senior Vice President / City National Bank
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Brand & Marketing Strategist / Studio Pearl, LLC
Princess Aghayere is an Investment Associate at ICA and contributes to sourcing new investment prospects and conducting investment due diligence. She works cross-functionally across ICA, communicating portfolio company needs and identifying areas of growth.
Princess has experience working in a minority-owned private equity fund called IMB Partners and co-founded a non-profit called Rebound Liberia. The nonprofit empowers young women through basketball and leadership development. Following the launch of Rebound Liberia, Princess had a short stint playing professionally in Spain in the LF2 league.
Princess graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor's in Health and Societies and a minor in International Development. Outside of work, she loves traveling and is an avid basketball fan.
She believes entrepreneurship is one of the most effective ways to promote economic growth and development. She hopes to facilitate ICA's mission of advising and providing capital for high potential businesses to address the gender and racial wealth gap.
Sachiko Moran recently joined ICA as a Development Associate, supporting in organizational fundraising efforts and narrative development. She is excited to work at an organization working to close the racial wealth gap and to make an economy that works for everybody, and particularly excited to do so somewhere rooted in the East Bay. Outside of work, Sachiko loves to decorate her home, hone her graphic design skills, listen to music and podcasts, learn about history and politics and eat lots of good food.
Sachiko received her Bachelors of Arts from UCLA in Political Science with a concentration in Racial and Ethnic Politics, and World Arts and Cultures with a concentration in Arts Activism.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President & Chief Executive Officer / Business Consortium Fund
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Strategy & Innovation Consultant
Shibisha is consultant and ICA's Interim Head of Customer Strategy and Business Innovation.
Job Titles:
- VP, External Affairs Market Manager / Comerica Bank
Job Titles:
- Development Director
- Development Director, Managing
Viola Mai is ICA's Development Director, managing ICA's funding streams from philanthropic, government, and corporate donors. She oversees the organization's portfolio of institutional funders and individual donors, ensuring that the organization raises enough contributed revenue to effectively and sustainably finance its innovative programs.
Viola is a community-rooted finance professional dedicated to democratizing financial systems. Prior to joining ICA, Viola led capital raising efforts from values-aligned investors at Self-Help Federal Credit Union, engaging with high net worth households, wealth advisors, nonprofit organizations, and corporations across the nation. Her career has also encompassed roles in financial education and financial services compliance.
Viola received her Bachelor's in Economics with highest honors from University of California, Davis, where she studied as a Regent's Scholar.
Job Titles:
- SVP, Community Impact Director / Community Bank of the Bay
Job Titles:
- Director of Investment
- Senior Director of Investment
Yui Ueno is the Sr. Director of Investment at ICA and has been a member of ICA's investment team for the last 8 years. Yui was an integral part of building ICA's investment practice and has deployed over $8M of equity capital to dozens of growth-stage Bay Area businesses. Yui comes from a family of artists and entrepreneurs and has been passionate about business since he helped start his mother's tofu factory in Japan as a teenager. After a short stint in the corporate world to start his career, he joined ICA to help entrepreneurs make their dreams become a reality and to improve the overall health and well-being of the Bay Area community.
Yui received his Bachelor's in Economics from Lawerence University, his MBA from the Lorry I. Lokey School of Business and Public Policy at Mills College, and is a Certified Public Accountant