OUR TEAM
Sankofa Alkebu-Lan
Lending Specialist
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
Sankofa guides and supports individuals through the rigorous underwriting process. He listens to each Client Partner’s unique circumstances, builds trust, educates them about the lending process and then develops the strongest case for loan consideration. This includes investigation, evaluation and preparing case presentations for the Loan Review Committee.
Sankofa believes that everyone deserves an opportunity to experience the power of a YES. His commitment to the Fountain Fund is rooted in his own personal story of overcoming adversity. Growing up and as an adult, Sankofa shares, “I was told NO on so many occasions in my life. NO because of my disability, NO because of the color of my skin, NO because of my background. Nobody really wanted to take a chance on me. … So that’s why I’m so adamant about my job, I want to help get that next person to a YES! That rings real loud to me.”
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB
"Being a voice for the voiceless.” Shares Sankofa, “Being able to hear someone’s story and then speak up on their behalf, I really take that to heart. I’ll go to the far ends of the earth to do that.”
FUN FACT
His mom always said, “Know your history!” Today, Sankofa is a history buff with a particular interest in understanding his own African story. He also likes learning and reading about the past from the vantage of those who were colonized rather than the conquerors.
Jeffrey Beacham
Loan Operations Specialist
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
As a key member of the lending team, Jeff maintains accounts receivables and loan records and oversees the loan collection process. Working with leaders at each of our sites, he helps ensure that loan disbursement and repayment systems are as seamless as possible. His professional and technical expertise in banking and mortgage lending strengthens our team and brings knowledge to Client Partners.
Jeff is inspired by the way in which the Fountain Fund is able to reach those in our communities who need it the most. He shares, “The people are the reason I do it.” He adds, “I have lived the life of our Client Partners, and I have been through the struggles they are presented with on a daily basis.” He knows how hard it is to build better financial habits AND how essential that is if someone hopes to get to a better place in life.
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB
Jeff’s favorite part of his job is teaching. “I love sharing the knowledge I have learned about the system of Credit Reporting and Financial Growth. Being able to teach the ways it works in our favor and showing CP's that with responsible habits they can open doors that will help them in the future.”
FUN FACT
Jeff is a U.S. Army Veteran. He continues to volunteer for the VFW and serves as a Board Member of S.O.V. WILCO, a small testament to his commitment to supporting veterans and their families.
Michael Butler
Philadelphia Site Director
PHILADELPHIA, PA
When someone inquires about a loan in Philadelphia, Mike is often the first one to pick up the call. He knows, personally, how difficult the reentry space can be. There are a lot of expectations, but few opportunities. As site director, he leads all operations and ensures that individuals receive high quality services from start to finish.
Mike credits his commitment to our mission to someone he met in prison. “Tyree,” Mike explains, “has been wrongfully incarcerated for 26 years.” Despite this burden, he became an inspiring role model and friend – helping Mike look outside the box, teaching him about reentry and instilling a deep concern for others. Today, creating a supportive ecosystem for those returning home is what drives Mike’s passion. He loves helping individuals fashion reentry to their own unique life, “… so they can have what they call success, which eventually turns into freedom.”
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB
“The best part of my job is when I call someone and tell them they’ve been approved for the loan,” says Mike. “The joy & excitement in their voice is AMAZING! It keeps me going.” He also savors his job’s problem-solving side. “Figuring out different ways to get people funded – I love that.”
FUN FACT
Autumn is Mike’s favorite season. He reminisces, “Whenever I smell leaves burning, it takes me back to my childhood. I can actually feel it. I can feel the weather. I can feel being that child again. Those times are some of my happiest moments.”
Shantel Hopkins
Loan Administrator
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
As Loan Administrator, Shantel provides direct supervision of our lending team. He works to ensure that the loan application process is thorough and fair for all applicants and that the agency is in compliance with privacy and lending laws.
When asked what motivates his work, Shantel points to a sign above his desk which reads: Start Each Day with A Grateful Heart. And then he shares, “I’m grateful to be in a position where I can help other people discover their purpose. Maybe help them see, in some way, that their dream is bigger than just a dream. That it’s a reality in progress.” He continues, “I’m also grateful because… I was once a person who was headed nowhere, very fast.” Seeing the lightbulb come on for the people he serves reminds Shantel daily of his WHY.
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB
Shantel finds it particularly rewarding when someone is able to offer a clear sense of how the Fountain Fund helped them. Not with broad brush strokes, but with specificity. When individuals are able to acknowledge the unique hurdles they faced, and then celebrate their ability to overcome.
FUN FACT
Shantel does not shy away from what it means to be fully human – the preciousness of life as well as its pain. He wants others to know that they are not alone. “I’m just now trying to learn how to love myself. And accept who I am,” he acknowledges. “And it’s hard sometimes, to extend to myself the grace that I so easily give to others.”
Meagan Jordan
Economic Opportunity Facilitator
NEW ORLEANS, LA
In partnership with First 72+, Meagan manages the Fountain Fund loan program in New Orleans. She serves as the primary point of contact, oversees low-interest loans, coordinates financial life skills programming and offers credit coaching.
Through lived experience and helping others navigate reentry, Meagan is acutely aware of the difficulties people encounter. Her own reentry was incredibly painful. Upon returning home, she shares, “I lost both my parents, I lost my faith, I lost my hope, I lost my heart.” This experience motivates her to do as much as she can to help others as they rebuild their lives. Hearing Client Partners’ share their stories holds particular meaning: “You really don’t know what people have been through, what they’ve lived through, until you hear it from them.”
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB
Meagan knows that many people have faced impossible odds, so it means the world to her to receive their gratitude. When someone says, “Ms. Meg, I hate to bother you but I wanted to say I really appreciated your ability to get me this assistance.” Those simple moments – those simple words – make all the difference.
FUN FACT
When Meagan talks about food, you can tell the love runs deep!!! Her father was a chef, and through him she and her siblings learned the magic of adding “a little bit of this, and a little bit of that.” To gumbo, to fish, to everything. She recalls, “I was raised up on food, and I feel like I’m in tune when I’m cooking.”
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB
One of Tarsha’s favorite responsibilities is reaching out to Client Partners, hearing their stories and, ultimately, understanding their dreams. Shares Tarsha, “Everyone has goals, in terms of their loan, so trying to really listen to what those are and then see what other input you can give.”
FUN FACT
Now that her kids are grown, every year on her birthday Tarsha steps out of her comfort zone and travels far & wide in search of adventure! “Every vacation,” she admits, “is a little different.” One year it might involve a monkey or a parrot, the next it might involve horseback-riding or jet skis. Her bucket list is long and life is short. This year she’s headed to Costa Rica!
Tarsha Mortan
Lending Specialist
RICHMOND, VA
In her role as Lending Specialist, Tarsha works closely with Client Partners in both New Orleans and Boston. She listens to each individual’s unique circumstances, establishes trust, conducts a thorough analysis of their financial position and then summarizes their case for consideration by the Loan Review Committee.
Tarsha is particularly passionate about connecting people to resources so they can get what they need. It could be mentoring, it might be food, or perhaps its housing. Whatever the case, she loves knowing that her efforts are helping others create a better life with less struggle upon reentry. What inspires her the most? “The fact that the Fountain Fund is out here helping people who are in need, building relationships and supporting their growth in the community.”
Thomas Mundy
Director of Client and Community Engagement
RICHMOND, VA
Tom oversees all agency operations in the Richmond area. He is the primary point of contact for all loan applicants, the connector to community resources and the key communicator with Client Partners.
As a formerly incarcerated person, Tom’s dedication to the Fountain Fund is rooted in personal experience. He knows, all too well, the complex challenges returning citizens face. “It’s my belief that no single service can provide all that’s needed, but through my role here, I’m able to fill some of the gaps.” Doing this work successfully, he emphasizes, “means building something that defines the Client Partners’ needs, not my own, and not what others might think it should be.” His daily actions are driven by a firmly held belief that, “If you want a world with equity, you’ve gotta move with that spirit.”
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB
“It excites me to have a product that has a lot of impact on our Client Partners’ lives. A lot of nonprofits promise BIG but deliver SMALL. We don’t do that here. We don’t set people up for failure. We deliver. We ARE the message that we bring.”
FUN FACT
Tom disdains politics. “They play on people’s fears and gloss over the real issues,” he observes. “They appeal to us with oversized, unrealistic promises.” He offers this advice: “Don’t fall for the hype. When our government starts to reflect the people it serves – the common people – then we’ll finally be a democracy.”
Martize Tolbert
National Director of Client and
Community Engagement
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
Martize is our agency’s lead representative and spokesperson, expanding our brand and establishing our presence in communities nationwide. In this role, he builds relationships among staff, Client Partners and a wide-array of social service and reentry organizations. Ensuring that programming is informed by and responsive to Client Partners’ lived experiences is paramount.
As the Fountain Fund’s first Client Partner, Martize brings an invaluable perspective to his role. He shares, “Not only am I a proponent of our mission, I am also a walking manifestation of the organization's success.” A major part of Martize’s “WHY” is, “having the ability to share this feeling - whether it's a feeling of success, of having someone believe in you, or even just the security of a financial safety net - with others who are in the same position I once was.”
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB
Because Martize helps launch project sites across the nation, his role requires a lot of travel. He shares excitedly, "I feel like every time I go to a new city, I learn something new about myself. …Meeting passionate & powerful individuals while exploring different U.S. cities and seeing places through the eyes of locals has been a super cool experience.”
FUN FACT
Tez is a man of many talents! To name a few: he plays 17 instruments, meditates, does yoga, and is a trained boxer for “Guns Down, Gloves Up,” a program that steers at-risk youth away from firearms and street violence, by instilling values of self-respect, conflict resolution and personal growth.
Stacey Torrance
Client Partner Associate
PHILADELPHIA, PA
When individuals call about loans in Philadelphia, Stacey plays a vital role. He provides information about services, assists with applications and connects people to other supportive organizations. He also manages portfolios and prepares documentation for the underwriting team.
No stranger to the hardships faced upon reentry, Stacey wants Client Partners to know that he understands their struggles. “I know what it’s like to be homeless, what it’s like to need a job, what it’s like to have court fines & fees.” He continues, “I know how hard it is to obtain capital, especially if you have a criminal background.” So when he talks to Cient Partners, he sees himself in them. “I AM them,” he states compassionately. “Being in a position to help someone overcome those hurdles and succeed, it’s personal to me.”
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB
The invisible bond that forms with clients, especially during intake, is Stacey’s favorite part of his role. “They may call about a loan, but they end up talking about their children or work or other things they need help with.” Another highlight is witnessing the celebration and relief when a loan is approved! “I really like being a part of that moment.”
FUN FACT
To Stacey, no day is ever complete without exercise. He shares, “I bring my workout clothes to the office.” And then he ends his day with either a run or a trip to the gym. “It’s just a part of who I am. A part of my routine.”
Erika Viccellio
Executive Director
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
Erika oversees all operational, financial and strategic aspects of the agency. It’s important to note, however, that the Fountain Fund has embraced a shared-leadership model, where three senior staff members (ED, NDCCE, & NDEE) have equal influence in the decision-making process.
The strength of the team and its commitment to the work is what motivate Erika the most. “It’s the relationships,” she exclaims. “Really getting to know each other. Really seeing each other. And then helping everyone identify with the collective, even in the midst of hard times.” She also wants the agency to be known as much for HOW we are doing the work, not solely WHAT we are doing. She remarks, “The whole disruption element is essential to me: disrupting racism, disrupting systems, disrupting the way things have always been done.”
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB
Erika is learning how to lead differently, and she loves that! By embracing a shared-leadership model and ensuring system-impacted individuals guide programming, she is shifting her own conception, “… and, in fact, the world’s perception of what leadership looks like.” Seeing others find success in roles they never imagined is rewarding and inspiring.
FUN FACT
“I love family. And I love my friends,” Erika says with a smile. “Outside of work, focusing on family and nurturing a sense of home is really important. That our home is a refuge, a sanctuary, a place where everyone likes to be.” She continues, “I love burning candles, having fresh flowers and music. Those things will always be happening in the Viccellio house.”
Jay Vilar
Boston Site Director
BOSTON, MA
In 2024, Jay joined our team and provided the vision and leadership for the launch of our newest site in Boston. As Site Director, he builds partnerships, supports individuals in the loan application process, creates bridges to community resources and works closely with members of the national team.
Strengthening the reentry ecosystem in Boston is near and dear to Jay’s heart. Having worked extensively with returning citizens, he is well acquainted with the gaps that exist in services. Jay remarks, “When I heard about the Fountain Fund’s mission, I knew there was something so meaningful and tangible that no other reentry organization in the community was doing.” He continues, “And I felt this incredible responsibility to be able to direct it intentionally and ensure its success.”
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB
Jay is most excited about building a new site from the ground up in the city he calls home. It’s a blank slate! “I really love helping craft the origin story, imagining the impact we’ll have and then being able to lead the charge.” His extensive nonprofit experience will help make that happen.
FUN FACT
What does Jay like to do in his spare time? Garden. Cook. And host! Exclaims Jay, “Whenever I get the chance to put those three things together, they really light me up.” He particularly enjoys creating a farm-to-table feast for friends and family. Both he and his husband (who often serves as sous chef) would agree, it’s not just about making a meal; it’s about creating an experience.
Paul Yates
National Director of Economic Empowerment
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
Paul ensures that all lending operations are conducted with the highest level of integrity and fidelity. He also oversees our credit building program and is responsible for the supervision of our agency’s entire lending program.
The ability to help people who have been impacted by the criminal justice system drives Paul’s dedication to our mission. “When people get out, they’re trying to get their life together, and they have all these barriers,” says Paul. “So to be able provide a vehicle that will allow them to overcome one of those major barriers — which is access to capital — changes lives. That’s why I’m here and that’s why I enjoy what I do.” He believes the Fountain Fund is doing God’s work. Helping those in need.
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB
“Being able to provide access to money to people who really, heretofore, had no place to go,” shares Paul, “… that is my favorite part of the job.” We’re bringing hope and opportunity. When he hears Client Partners say things like, “It’s really nice to have someone believe in me. And trust in me,” Paul knows he’s in the right place.
FUN FACT
Paul is an unabashedly proud grandfather. In fact, being a Paw Paw is one of the highlights of his life. He dotes, “I have two beautiful grandbabies! Twins! And you can’t do better than that, now can you?!?” Despite the fact that his family lives far away, Paul visits as often as he can. “I adore them.”