Leadership Profiles
Socially Responsible Investing
Ebony Perkins, Investor and Community Relations Manager
Ebony Perkins is a dedicated, solution-oriented social entrepreneur whose heartbeat is community. She has a demonstrated ability of working with investors and philanthropists to help them make smart and strategic decisions. As Self-Help's Investor & Community Relations Manager, Ebony helps groups and individuals invest funds in a socially responsible financial institution that supports communities of all kinds, especially those underserved by conventional lenders. Before that role, she served as the Donor Relations Manager at Central Carolina Community Foundation where she managed a system to engage and educate over 400 individuals and groups to help them achieve their charitable goals.
Ebony’s commitment to community investing is evident by her service and contributions to Women In Philanthropy, Durham Center for Senior Life, and the University of North Carolina MPA Alumni Board. Ebony was also recognized on the SRI Conference's inaugural 30 Under 30 List.
Ebony holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Claflin University as a summa cum laude graduate. She also has an Executive Certificate in Financial Planning from Duke University.
Nuray Ozbay, Policy and Impact Investment Associate
Nuray Ozbay leads Self Help’s efforts to cultivate mission-supportive depositors and impact investors within and beyond Self-Help’s California footprint. As a global movement and relationship builder, Nuray loves working with change-makers across non-profit, corporate, and public sectors. Her expertise is in intersectional gender equality, global civil society activism, social justice, and ESG investing. Nuray currently serves as a Board Director at the UN Women San Francisco Chapter and a National Expert on Violence Against Women at the European Women’s Lobby, the largest umbrella organization of women’s associations across Europe. Before joining Self-Help, Nuray spent 11 years in the social impact sector as a researcher, consultant, and non-profit leader across Turkey and Europe, working on issues including but not limited to immigration, women’s access to economy, financial literacy & inclusion, entrepreneurship, and care economy.
Kimberly Jones, Investment Associate
Kimberly's professional career spans both the nonprofit and community development financial services sectors, with expansive senior leadership roles in arts management; business and resource development; community relations; and corporate philanthropy. Currently, she's Self-Help's Investor Relations Manager, where she helps individuals and institutions align their banking and investments with their mission, vision, and values. Kimberly has held leadership positions that advanced the missions of creative organizations and community development financial institutions seeking to make a difference in communities in their footprint. She has been a founding board member of mission driven organizations that supported the growth and development of young artists, creatives, and professionals in the nonprofit sector.
In 2015, Kimberly was selected to be a PLACES Fellow with The Funders Network, where she explored the role of philanthropy through an equity lens in low to moderate income communities. She has served as a grant/award reviewer for organizations that championed organizational excellence, community development, and environmental sustainability. Kimberly has a BA in Political Science from the University of Minnesota-Morris and an MA in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management from Columbia College Chicago.
Green Economy; Sustainable Society; Investing for the Environment
Melissa Malkin-Weber, Sustainability Director
Melissa has worked across a broad span of hands-on sustainability practices. At Self-Help Credit Union, she integrates the triple bottom line into the organization’s financial products, operations, and buildings portfolio. She led Self-Help to realize over $1.7 million in net present value from initiatives in this sector, including $180,000 energy savings in our own operations. Melissa previously directed the residential energy efficiency and indoor air quality research program at Advanced Energy and worked in industrial pollution prevention at RTI International. She earned her law degree from University of Michigan, and her Master's from UNC’s School of Public Health.
Shondra Tanner, Mortgage Lending
Shondra Owens Tanner brings her extensive experience and commitment to making mortgage loans for low-wealth families to her position as Self-Help's Director of Mortgage Originations, where she oversees all North Carolina home loan origination and new business development. Shondra's areas of expertise includes buying your first home, mortgage basics (documentation, closing costs, down payments), delinquency and loss mitigation (What is a forbearance and loan modification and what does that do to your credit?)
Sharing Black Borrowers’ Stories
February is Black History Month, and this year marks 100 years of national Black History commemorations. Black History Month originally started as only a week-long celebration in February of 1926, but it was expanded to be a
monthlong celebration at the 50th anniversary in 1976.
The purpose of this annual recognition is to honor the often-neglected accomplishments of Black Americans throughout our history. While Black Americans have contributed substantially to our progress as a society, it is also important
to celebrate the personal accomplishments of Black Americans. People don’t have to be written in our history books to be considered valued and important members of our families, neighborhoods,
and communities.
In this blog post, we will be sharing stories from our members and borrowers over the years who have worked hard to break down barriers and achieve their financial goals. We are honored to consider them part of the Self-Help
family.
Nana’s Growing Construction Business
Nana (left) with his associate, Anthony (right), at a job site
Nana’s business, Skyrock Construction, specializes in all types of concrete construction—foundations, curbs, sidewalks—you name it. He started his company in Raleigh, NC, in 2006 at the cusp of an economic
recession.
When he came to Self-Help in 2008, Skyrock qualified for a small business microloan. Since then, Nana has built Skyrock Construction into a multi-million dollar business. Throughout Skyrock’s
growth, Self-Help has been a lending partner. To date, we have provided several loans of increasing amounts as the company has grown.
Some of Raleigh’s large, well-established construction companies have come to rely on Skyrock’s quality work, and the company’s projects have included libraries, banks, and hotels. We are honored to
be part of Nana’s journey and are excited for Skyrock’s continued growth and success.
Bettie’s Journey Home
Bettie (right) with her son, Alexis (left)
Bettie bought her first home at age 76, with a 2018 loan from Self-Help CU. The retired hospital worker and mother of two had been looking for a fixer-upper in a desirable neighborhood and opted to purchase a foreclosed
property owned by Self-Help.
“We were already engaging with Self-Help Credit Union on the mortgage,” says son Alexis, who assisted his mother throughout the home buying process. “Then we found out that the house we wanted was owned by Self-Help, too!
It was a very fortunate coincidence.”
For Bettie, a renter all her life, the experience was almost unbelievable. “Once I signed the papers, we left the closing and went out to eat. That’s when it hit me. I couldn’t believe
it. It was almost unreal.”
We are so glad to have been able to offer support in making Bettie’s homeownership dreams a reality!
Andre’s Climbing Credit
Andre (pictured) started a career in real estate via a sponsorship from the Wisconsin Realtors Association’s (WRA) Partnership for Success Program. Things were going well until he encountered significant
losses in real estate and other investments when the pandemic hit. Bills piled up, and his credit suffered, which became his largest obstacle.
Andre was attending the “State of Black Illinois Conference 2020” when he was introduced to Self-Help. He opened an account at one of our branches and took out a Fresh Start Loan (a
loan meant to help build credit) and a Secured Credit Card. In less than one year, he improved his credit score by nearly 250 points!
Andre says, “I see a lot of people that need this product, that don’t understand how much they need it. I want to be the first to share this gem with them. It can single-handedly change your life!” Andre continued
his financial journey with a personal signature loan with Self-Help, and we’re glad to witness his ongoing success.
Toiya’s Thriving Education Business
Toiya (left) with one of her students (right)
Toiya is the owner of Kumon of Greensboro-Northwest, which offers a year-round reading and math curriculum for students of all ages and academic levels. Toiya recognizes that each of her students is unique. “I tell families
that this program is for all students of all ages and abilities," said Toiya.
Self-Help is honored to have been Toiya’s lending partner from the beginning. In 2008, when Toiya was planning to open her business, she came to us for a small business loan. Fast forward to 2020: The pandemic struck, and nearly
all small businesses were hurt, including Toiya’s, so Toiya called Self-Help again.
We had the perfect loan for her situation – our Pivot Loan, a COVID recovery loan for small businesses. With the new loan, Toiya was able to catch up on the rent for her business and handle ongoing expenses. Today, we’re so
glad that her business is continuing to grow and thrive.
Ronald's Road to Repairs
Stacey (left) with her husband, Travis (right)
When Ronald learned that his home needed some costly major repairs, he came to Self-Help to find out how he could obtain financing. As a veteran and retired accountant on a fixed income, Ronald felt it would be difficult to come up with cash for his home’s repairs. He worked with Self-Help’s mortgage team to explore the available options and decided to refinance his home.
Self-Help Loan Officer Vanessa Akans and Ronald created a step-by-step plan to get approved for the refinance, which included our Equity Boost product, resulting in a much lower interest rate than Ronald expected.
Ronald was able to close on this loan and plan the necessary repairs to his home. We’re so glad that Ronald’s home is now back in great condition, giving him more time to engage in his passion for gardening.
Leola’s Debt Cycle Disruption
Leola (right) with our Atlanta director, Mandy (left)
Leola was on a fixed social security income and doing her best to help support her son, who was in a nursing home with Guillain-Barré syndrome. To help with expenses, she took out two personal loans from predatory lenders that
were charging interest rates of 490% and 100% (!). These lenders kept Leola in a cycle of debt until payments became unmanageable.
Leola came into our Atlanta branch the day we opened and was one of the first members to join. It was her first time joining a credit union and opening a savings account. Upon hearing about Leola's payments, Mandy, the
director of business development and community engagement in Atlanta, worked with our legal team to get Leola out of her loans and complete a refinance.
Leola was so happy to find out she would be saving almost $295 a month! Now, she can do more to help support her son and even start putting money into her new savings account. We are glad to be able to find ways to support people like Leola,
who have been impacted by predatory loans.
Happy Black History Month!
Thank you to Nana, Bettie, Andre, Toiya, Stacey, and Leola for sharing their stories with us. This month, we are celebrating you and the rest of our Black members and borrowers who have accomplished goals, taken steps to reduce debt, opened businesses,
and achieved ownership. We are grateful to have you as part of the Self-Help family.