Key Staff Biographies

Gina Harman
President & CEO

Gina Harman is the President and CEO of ACCION USA. Ms. Harman also served on ACCION New York and New Jersey's Board of Directors from 2001 until her appointment in early 2008.

Ms. Harman brings a wealth of experience in both the non-profit and private sectors to AUSA. Previously, Ms. Harman served as President of the Consumer Division of Harman International Industries, a worldwide leader in the manufacture of high-fidelity audio and electronic products. Over a 23 year career with Harman, she was responsible for setting the long-term strategy, guiding product development, and increasing sales and distribution for multiple brands worldwide.

Ms. Harman also brings over 15 years of non-profit experience with organizations focused on community development in both New York and Chicago. She has served as Executive Director of the Local Astoria Development Corporation, as a Program Manager with the New York City Youth Bureau, as Founder and Director of the Washington Square Methodist Day Care Cooperative and regional director for a national trade union.  Ms. Harman co-founded and co-chaired the Queens Women's Network and was youth services planner and a member of Community Board 2 in Queens.

Currently, Ms. Harman is a member of the Women Executives Network, Women in Microfinance and a member of the Board of the CDFI Coalition, Capital One Community Renewal Fund, and the North Fork New Markets Credit Corporation.  Ms. Harman also sits on NY Governor Paterson's Small Business Task Force and the New York Federal Reserve Community Affairs Committee.  In June 2009, Ms. Harman received the "Minority and Women Business Enterprise Advocate of the Year" award on behalf of ACCION USA in recognition of its excellence in serving the minority and women small business community in New York City. 

Ms. Harman is a graduate of the State University of New York and Columbia University's Executive Management program, The Institute for Not-for-Profit Management.

Paul Quintero
CFO & COO
Prior to joining ACCION USA, Mr. Quintero served as Senior Vice President of Business Investments at the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone (UMEZ), where he successfully closed over $25 million in direct investments and $57 million in triple-tax exempt financings for community development projects that included the largest "big-box" retail development in Manhattan, the largest microloan fund in New York State history, the first new medical school in Harlem in over 30 years, the first auto dealership north of 57th Street, the first bowling alley north of 42nd Street and other development firsts.

Before joining the Empowerment Zone in 2003, Mr. Quintero was a Vice President at Lehman Brothers, where he worked in the Global Communication and Media Group within the investment banking division. Prior to Lehman, Mr. Quintero was Senior Associate at Schroder & Co., where he worked in the Industrial Manufacturing Group. Mr. Quintero began his investment banking career with Chase Securities (now JPMorgan Chase) where he coordinated and managed syndicated loan financings and merger and acquisition transactions for both domestic and Latin American clients across a range of industries. Prior to investment banking, Mr. Quintero worked as a senior staff accountant for Deloitte & Touche.

Mr. Quintero, a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), earned a BA in Business Administration and Accounting from the University of Washington and was one of the 100 students selected by the Washington state legislature for a four-year full tuition scholarship under the Washington State Scholars Program. Mr. Quintero was selected as a fellow from the Robert F. Toigo Foundation and completed his MBA from Columbia Business School.

Wanda Santiago
Vice President, Lending
As Vice president of Lending for ACCION USA, Ms. Wanda Santiago is responsible for the development of program strategy and has primary responsibility of intake and lending efforts.

Prior to her current position at ACCION USA, Ms. Santiago served as the Vice President and Branch Manager for Banco Popular in New York and the Vice President and Small Business Relationship Manager for Washington Mutual Bank. With over 20 years of banking experience, Ms. Santiago brings with her a keen interest in small business and a wealth of experience in coaching and managing various teams and branches, along with well documented participation in civic and community events.

Ms. Santiago was honored as a Woman of the Year by the New York Botanical Garden Association in 2001. She was also the recipient of the Exceptional Achievement Award for her service from the Bank of New York in 1999. Ms. Santiago is a graduate of Pace University in New York and holds a certificate from the New York Banker Association and American Institute of Banking.

Valeria Perez Ferreiro
Vice President, Resource Development

As Vice President of Resource Development at ACCION USA, Ms. Perez Ferreiro is responsible for strengthening and expanding institutional and individual support for the organization's operations, loan fund, and financial literacy programs.  Ms. Perez Ferreiro brings to her role a passion for asset building and over 15 years of experience in workforce and economic development.

Prior to her current position at ACCION USA, she served as the Founding Executive Director of La Cocina, a nationally-recognized nonprofit shared-use commercial kitchen and business incubator for low-income women with food businesses.  There she led the design and implementation of an innovative program that provided the affordable commercial kitchen space, the industry specific training and technical assistance, and the access to markets that these micro-entrepreneurs needed to grow their businesses into sustainable sources of income for themselves and their families.   She was recognized as the 2006 Women in Business Advocate of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration for her work on behalf of La Cocina's entrepreneurs and as a Profile of Excellence awardee by KGO TV Channel 7. 

Ms. Perez Ferreiro also served as a founding Board Member of the Mission Asset Fund, a comprehensive neighborhood-based asset building initiative that expanded access to financial services, savings and investment opportunities for residents of San Francisco's Mission District.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Cornell University and a Masters Degree in public policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Valeria is a native of Argentina and is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Elenor Denker
Vice President of Resource Planning and Administration
Elenor Denker serves as vice president of resource planning and administration at ACCION, where she manages the organization's human and other resources. Ms. Denker joined ACCION after a 13 year career with the Harman Consumer Group, where she served as vice president of human resources and the vice president of customer service.

Ms. Denker has led a varied career, serving as chief of staff to Queens borough president Claire Shulman and as a director in the Division of Housing and Community Renewal where she guided the funding of community groups throughout New York State.  Prior to these roles, Ms. Denker worked as a bilingual guidance counselor in the New York City School System and as executive director of Woodside on the Move.

Ms. Denker served in the Peace Corps in Colombia and remains an active volunteer.  She has served as the housing chair of Community Board 2 in Queens and a founder and first president of the Queens Women's Network.  Ms. Denker currently serves as a board member of the Hyde Bronx Leadership Charter School and as a Taproot Foundation project manager.

Ms. Denker holds a BA from Tufts University in Psychology and Education, an MA from Bank Street College in Guidance and Counseling, and a PhD from CUNY in Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics.

 

Luz Gomez
Senior Director, Marketing
As senior director of marketing, Ms. Gomez's role is to identify strategic partnerships to expand ACCION USA's distribution and market presence and increase overall marketing effectiveness. In 2003 she launched ACCION USA's Florida program and directed it for three years. Ms. Gomez previously worked for four years at ACCION New York, most recently as the business development manager. Before joining ACCION, Ms. Gomez worked as a research analyst for a Latin American online service, Porvenir Inc. She holds a B.A. from UC Berkeley and an M.A. from Columbia University.

 

Erika Eurkus
Senior Director, Capital & Brand Development
Prior to her current position, Erika served as New England Program Director for ACCION USA, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the area's largest microlending program, a position she came to after assisting with the first ever merger in the domestic microfinance field, the union of ACCION USA and Working Capital. 

Erika served for two years on the advisory board of the Center for Urban Entrepreneurship at the Pioneer Institute in Boston.  She currently sits on the advisory council for Onein3, an advisory of young professionals serving the Mayor of Boston.  She holds a B.A. from Northwestern University.  In 2007 Erika was named to the Boston Business Journal's "40 Under 40," which lists the best and brightest young business leaders and innovators in Greater Boston. Read more.

 

Andrea Stiles Pullas
Senior Director, Financial Literacy
Andrea Stiles Pullas, Senior Director, Financial Literacy, has worked for ACCION USA since 2001.  During her tenure she has worked on the Resource Development team, where she managed institutional fundraising and was responsible for securing 80 percent of grant revenue for the organization for five years.  In her current role, Ms. Stiles Pullas leads ACCION USA's efforts in financial education, spearheading program development, securing resources and developing strategies for implementation and roll out.

Prior to joining ACCION USA, she worked for the Fairfield County Microenteprise Investors Council in Quito, Ecuador as a Communications Associate.  In 2005 Ms. Stiles Pullas earned an MS degree from the University of Texas at Austin in Community and Regional Planning. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder (1999, communication and Spanish literature).

 

Jennifer Spaziano
Vice President, Business Development
As Vice President of Business Development, Ms. Spaziano is responsible for designing, executing and managing the organization's marketing strategy.  In her role, she directs community outreach and the Training, Resource, and Advising Center (OnTRAC) programs, as well as leads brand management, public relations, and partnership development.  Prior to her promotion, Ms. Spaziano served as a Community Relations Manager at ACCION New York and New Jersey.  She previously served as an Americorps volunteer with Crossing Borders, where she directed an educational program and worked with local organizations on immigrant rights and cross-border issues.  She holds a BA in Philosophy and Psychology with high honors from Providence College.

 
Wole Ralph
Program Director, Georgia
As program director for Georgia, Wole Ralph oversees the disbursement of loans to microentrepreneurs throughout this state.  He is also responsible for extending the reach of microfinance to more small business owners in the area.

Prior to joining ACCION USA, Mr. Ralph founded and led Ralph Consulting Services, which specialized in providing strategic planning and assessment programs to enhance organizational effectiveness. He has also served in the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor.  With 10 years experience in organizational development, fiscal management, performance evaluation and community building, Mr. Ralph brings to ACCION a comprehensive understanding of management, together with a demonstrated commitment to the underserved populations of the United States. 

Mr. Ralph holds a Masters in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University and graduated magna cum laude from Morris Brown College with a degree in African Studies. In 2007 Mr. Ralph was named to Georgia Trend's "40 under 40" which recognizes the best and brightest in Georgia's business, politics, nonprofits, academia, healthcare, and the arts. Read more. 

 
Ana Hammock
Program Director, New England and Internet
Ms. Hammock was hired in August 2006 to launch ACCION financial education program, Your Money and You.  The program has succeeded in providing essential financial resources to low to moderate income participants through two primary delivery channels: workshops and one-to-one counseling sessions.  With her promotion to Program Director for New England lending, Ana will build on the strength of community partners to ensure that local entrepreneurs retain access to capital and financial education.  Prior to joining AUSA, Ana worked in community development for Catholic Relief Services in Sri Lanka. In addition to her work overseas, Ana worked for three years at Centro Presente in Boston where she taught classes on citizenship, computers and immigration policies and procedures to Central American immigrants.

 
William Mateo
Program Director, Florida
As program director for ACCION USA in Florida, William Mateo is responsible for the day-to-day operations, including overseeing local marketing efforts, business development and the loan process. Mr. Mateo joined ACCION USA in 2003 most recently as the senior business development officer. His responsibilities included, but were not limited to, business development, loan productivity and loan risk management. Prior to joining ACCION USA, he worked for three years at ACCION New York as a lending team manager. He successfully expanded the program into Queens Borough and Long Island, NY. Mr. Mateo completed a B.S. degree from New York Institute of Technology.

Anne Sormani
Vice President, Operations
Anne Sormani manages ACCION New York and New Jersey's portfolio risk, data analysis, and network functions. Ms. Sormani directs the Underwriting, Collections, Business Systems, and Information Technology teams. Prior to being promoted to Vice President in 2005, Ms. Sormani was an Underwriter at ACCION. She has previously worked as a consultant and analyst for the United Nations, Oxford University Press, and Amway Chile. She holds a BA in Economics and History from SUNY, Stony Brook, an MA in Economics from Hunter College, and an MA in International Relations from City College.