Director of Lending

Michael Rivera

Michael Rivera started Communities Unlimited (CU) as a Director of Nuestra Casa in April 2022. In January 2024, he was promoted to the Director of Lending. Michael provides leadership to a team of 7 employees. He handles the management of the loan process as well as Communities Unlimited’s Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) program. The CDFI Program includes small business, consumer, and commercial portfolios with assets of $17 million.

Michael has a 15-year background in banking and finance. During his time as Director of Nuestra Casa, he led the Nuestra Casa program that offered small-dollar loans to people in the Colonias for home improvement projects.

He has an Associates of Arts Degree in Business Management and Marketing from Athens Technical College.

Area Director of Lending

Debra Leach

Debra Leach, Area Director of Lending, joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in May 2021.

She is responsible for originating quality loans through internal and external referral sources. She also develops strategies to market the bank’s SBA and small business grant programs to entrepreneurs with financing needs. She came to Communities Unlimited with a strong financial background, from her previous roles as a Vice President/Loan Manager for Arvest Bank as well as Vice President of Commercial lending for RCB Bank.

Debra has a BS in Business Administration, Marketing Management Orientation from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo.  

Loan Operations Manager

Jane Coffin

Jane Coffin is the Loan Operations Manager for Lending for Communities Unlimited. She started CU in a Small Business Association (SBA) Payroll Protection role.

Jane has 16 years of nonprofit experience and brings her office management skills to her role as Loan Operations Manager. Her duties include post loan management, compliance, and collections. She is responsible for monitoring line filings, financial statements, and insurance compliance. She assists the Director of Lending in producing weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports. She has also increased the functionality of Communities Unlimited’s loan software. Jane monitors and reports on our current SBA profiles and assists in grant reporting and data management.

Senior Economic Development Loan Officer

Chris Ranniger

Chris Ranniger is a Senior Economic Development Loan Officer for Communities Unlimited (CU). On top of commercial loans, Chris also handles CU’s environmental lending. He meets with borrowers to develop relationships, helps them get all accurate documents, and ensures they are properly prepared for the loan process. He guides clients through the loan process and works with the loan committee to ensure that everything is ready for loan closing.

Chris has a retail management background and experience handling inventory and annual sales. Chris has a B.A. in Finance from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Chris works out of CU’s East Texas office.

Economic Development Loan Officer

Chris Tillman

Chris Tillman joined Communities Unlimited (CU) in October 2021 as an Economic Development Loan Officer Small Business Development Lender.

He has an Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. Chris has several years of experience in the loan, financial, and lending business.

Small Business Lender

Candence Brooks

Candence Brooks started Communities Unlimited (CU) in September 2023 as an Economic Development Loan Officer (Small Business Development Lender). Candence meets with borrowers to develop relationships, helps them get all accurate documents, and makes sure they are properly prepared for the loan process. She guides clients through the loan process and works with the loan committee to ensure that everything is ready for loan closing.

Before coming to CU, Candence worked as a Business Consultant for the A-State Small Business and Technology Development Center. Candence has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Jonesboro. Candence lives in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Consumer Loan Officer

Jesse Saldana

Jesse Saldana joined Communities Unlimited (CU) as the Consumer Loan Officer in December 2024.  Jesse lives in Brownsville, TX, and brings almost 20 years of experience as a Personal Banker at Wells Fargo to the position.

Jesse manages consumer loans, assesses applicant eligibility, monitors payments, and ensures borrower satisfaction and timely repayment. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Pan American University.

Loan Assistant

Amber McClellan

Amber McClellan, Program Assistant (Loan), originally came to Communities Unlimited in July 2018 as a Receptionist and moved up to Program Assistant in April 2019. In 2020, Amber became the Executive Assistant to the CEO and assisted with AHCC, Loan Closings, and more. She eventually moved into a full-time Loan Assistant position in 2022. In this role, Amber accepts and reviews new loan applications, answers client’s questions, files necessary paperwork, and performs other administrative duties.

Amber attended Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, Arkansas, and is a graduate of Farmington High School.

Loan Assistant

Yessie Hernandez

Yessie Hernandez started CU in September 2023 as a Program Assistant (Loan). Yessie assists the lending team by accepting and reviewing new loan applications, answering client questions, filing paperwork, and other administrative duties. 

Yessie has an MBA in Business Administration and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Before coming to CU, Yessie worked as the owner and operator at her Mobile Notary Services business. Yessie assists the Lending Team with loan documents and loan closings.