Leadership

Damon Burns

Chief Executive Officer

Damon Burns is an executive leader and entrepreneur with experience spanning the areas of investment banking, affordable housing, economic development, climate sustainability, and financial technology. His professional career began in 2004 and includes time as a banker serving public agencies, launching a financial technology startup, and public sector leadership. Since July 2016, he has served as Chief Executive Officer of Finance New Orleans, a quasi-governmental green financial institution with a mission to invest in climate resilient affordable housing and economic development projects that physically transform New Orleans.

Blake Stanfill

Chief Operating Officer

Blake J. Stanfill, Sr. is a strategy, finance, and organizational effectiveness leader who is passionate about making positive and long-lasting impacts on institutions, enterprises, and society. As the Chief Operating Officer, he is responsible for products, programs, operations, and strategy development/implementation at Finance New Orleans (FNO).

Before Finance New Orleans, Stanfill enjoyed a 15-year career that spanned investment, consulting, government administration, education, entrepreneurship, and financial services, earning him various recognitions and honors as a trusted advisor, strategist, investor, and facilitator.

Stanfill is a fifth-generation New Orleanian and is deeply committed to his community as a volunteer youth coach and a former board member for a charter school, policy think tank, education nonprofit, and philanthropic organization. Currently, Stanfill serves as the Vice Chair of BioDistrict New Orleans. Additionally, he is a speaker at career days and youth engagement events across the city and country.

Stanfill earned an M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Finance from Tulane University, and his B.A. from Duke University.

Byron Badger

Vice President & Chief Business Officer

Byron Badger, a native of New Orleans, proudly serves as the Vice President and Chief Business Officer (CFO) at Finance New Orleans.

In his role, he spearheads the strategic allocation of resources to meet Finance New Orleans’ overarching goals. With direct oversight of the finance and accounting teams, Badger drives the development and execution of financial structures crucial to supporting the agency’s diverse programs. These encompass bond sales and management, underwriting, and fostering communication with an array of stakeholders, including investors, bankers, financial advisors, and rating agencies.

With over a decade of extensive experience in commercial banking, Badger has held multifaceted positions in corporate treasury, accounting, financial reporting and analysis, commercial underwriting, business intelligence, and investment banking functions.

Throughout his career, Badger has demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for devising and implementing innovative solutions that drive efficiency, bolster internal control, and enhance overall performance across public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Annie Clark

Chief Programs Officer

Annie Clark stands as a distinguished leader in community development financing, boasting extensive expertise in public sector development, tax credits, and affordable housing. As the Chief Programs Officer for Finance New Orleans, she spearheads initiatives aimed at expanding Louisiana’s first and only green bank. Her focus is on financing projects ranging from single-family homes to infrastructure developments, all designed to integrate climate resilience and invigorate New Orleans’ economic landscape while fostering community reinvestment.

Prior to her role at Finance New Orleans, Clark served as the Chief Operating Officer for Education Facilities Development within the State of Louisiana’s Recovery School District (RSD). Leading the monumental $2 billion School Facilities Master Plan, she oversaw the construction of 80 schools across New Orleans, employing innovative financing strategies that utilized new markets and historic tax credits to facilitate transactions exceeding $450 million.

A native of Washington, D.C., Clark is actively involved in community service, she contributes her expertise to the boards of St. Augustine High School and the New Orleans Historic District Landmarks Commission. Additionally, Clark shares her knowledge as an Adjunct Lecturer at Tulane University’s School of Architecture.

Sydney Shivers

Director of Housing Policy and Programs

Sydney Shivers is a collaborative and creative urban planner with expertise in affordable housing policy and program design. Her experience spans over six years in leadership roles across various local governments and agencies. She has led zoning reforms, cross-sector and inter-agency coordination, and policy, program, and grant implementation.

In Summer 2024, Shivers joined the Finance New Orleans team to develop their growing suite of housing programs. In her prior position, she served as Director of Housing Policy for the City of Chattanooga, where she helped establish the City’s first housing policy team, working closely with the office managing HUD grants and program compliance. During this time, she led reforms to the City’s affordable housing tax incentive program and wrote seminal zoning incentives policy in the state of Tennessee.

As Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Assets and Investment in New Orleans, Shivers led several initiatives aimed at creating equitable, inclusive, amenity rich neighborhoods, including stewardship of the Redevelopment Framework, a process for creating new housing opportunities on City-owned properties.

Shivers earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia and a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania. In her free time, she enjoys potlucks, cycling, catching live music, and walking her dog Toast on the Bayou!

Eudonaise Lewis

Director of Community Engagement

With over three decades of dedicated experience in the housing industry, Eudonaise Lewis, our Program Operations Manager at Finance New Orleans, embodies precision and diligence. Throughout her esteemed career, she has navigated diverse roles, from guiding tenants through homeownership programs to adeptly managing federal initiatives. Her expertise spans credit counseling, loan modification, and financial management, serving as a cornerstone in empowering individuals and families to realize their housing aspirations.

Facilitating 72 in-house closings and strategically allocating HUD funds totaling $2.1 million dollars, she exemplifies unwavering commitment to excellence. Her meticulous approach ensures seamless processing of mortgage and deed documentation, upholding the highest standards of compliance and efficiency. Deeply committed to collaborative partnerships and armed with a profound understanding of grant-funded housing criteria, she remains dedicated to fostering community empowerment and enduring financial stability through her work at Finance New Orleans.

Clarice Williams

Staff Accountant

Meet Clarice Williams, a detail-oriented professional, currently serving as a Staff Accountant at Finance New Orleans. Williams ensures financial accuracy by meticulously reviewing classifications and reconciling ledgers.

With a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Xavier University of Louisiana, and previous experience as a Tax Preparer at 1st Class Tax Service, Williams has honed her leadership skills and gained valuable insights into financial operations.

Outside of her professional endeavors, she is actively involved in the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning and growth in her field. With her dedication to excellence and her drive for personal and professional development, Williams is poised to make a meaningful impact in the world of accounting, bringing precision, diligence, and a proactive approach to every task she undertakes.

Christopher Martinez

Accounts Payable Specialist

Christopher Martinez brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the team, with a strong background in accounts payable management at Finance New Orleans.

Backed by a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Xavier University and an associate degree from Delgado Community College, Martinez has proven his ability to process payments accurately, reconcile accounts, and generate detailed reports. Proficient in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Project, he possesses the technical skills necessary to excel in financial roles. His meticulous attention to detail and commitment to financial compliance ensure precision in every transaction. Additionally, Martinez’s diverse experience in delivery, document handling, and guest service roles has honed his communication and organizational skills, making him adaptable in dynamic environments. With a dedication to excellence, he is poised to be a valuable asset to any accounting team.