We're here to help you master the rules of credit.

Sarah joined Working Credit in 2021. As CEO, she focuses on organizational growth and development—helping Working Credit meet its mission by strengthening internal systems and identifying opportunities to scale our credit building services to those who will most benefit from them. Prior to joining Working Credit, Sarah was the Chief Operating and Strategy Officer at Credit Builders Alliance, a national nonprofit network of hundreds of organizations that serves as a bridge between its member organizations and the credit bureaus. Before that, she was Executive Director of Innovative Changes, one of the few CDFI nonprofit loan funds in the country dedicated specifically to consumer lending, financial education, and credit building as a responsible alternative to payday lenders. Sarah has over a two decades of experience in nonprofit and public sector organizations with missions to help create systemic change. She has managed numerous programs with sizeable budgets and staff and has worked in diverse and challenging contexts, including post-war Bosnia. Sarah has a Master's Degree in Public Administration, a J.D. from the University of Texas, and is a member of the Oregon State Bar.

Susan Simon is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Working Credit where she developed the workshop you will see today. Since the organization's inception, Susan has been committed to the goal of communicating the importance and promise of credit building so that it is an easily understood concept and accessible strategy for all. Susan has an extensive background in Human Resource that spans 25 years at Harvard University as Senior Consultant in charge of training.  She holds a master’s in education from Wheelock College in Boston, is an adjunct professor at Lesley University, and currently sits on the board of Harvard University Employees Credit Union.

For more than 25 years, Ricki has been designing and implementing programs to help Americans improve their finances. Before founding Working Credit, Ricki served as the Director of Economic Opportunities for the Chicago office of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) in Chicago. At LISC, she created the organization’s first network of Financial Opportunity Centers—a model LISC replicated in 13 U.S. cities, and for which LISC received a federal Social Innovation Fund award in 2010. Ricki also developed Twin Accounts, a credit building and savings product featured in The New York Times Magazine and Telemundo Nacional in 2014. Before joining LISC, she developed neighborhood-focused employment initiatives for the Comprehensive Community Revitalization Program (CCRP) in the South Bronx. Ricki also worked for Chicago’s Business and Professional People for the Public Interest (BPI), assisting residents from the Henry Horner public housing development to pursue community revitalization initiatives. She holds a Masters in Public Policy from Columbia University in New York.

With over a decade of experience helping individuals, families, and organizations to understand credit building as asset building, Kristin keeps our programs up-to-date and running smoothly. Previously, she worked at Justine PETERSEN, a CDFI and microlender in St. Louis, where she ran a national secured credit card and small dollar loan program. Kristin was the lead credit building trainer for the “Asset Building through Credit” Pilot Program—a FIELD project through the Aspen Institute, as well as the Chicago Credit Building Coalition and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation's network of Financial Opportunity Centers—during which she trained more than 100 non-profit organizations. Kristin was part of the inaugural class of Emerging Leaders in Microenterprise (ELM2), an Aspen Institute FIELD program in 2013 and spent six years as a board member of Credit Builders Alliance in Washington, D.C. She currently serves on the board of June Jessee Memorial Foundation. Kristin has her Master of Social Work from Saint Louis University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas.

Morgan has rooted her career in not simply working toward economic inclusion but rather economic justice. Morgan currently serves as the Chief Community Engagement Officer for Working Credit. In this role, Morgan oversees the design, implementation, and oversight of a comprehensive community engagement strategy that drives long-term program growth, stability, and true impact by centering WCNFP’s mission. It is in this role that Morgan truly builds out WCNFP’s community engagement and business development strategy at all levels. Prior to Working Credit, Morgan served as the Senior Manager of Member Relations for Credit Builders Alliance for over 5 years. During her time with CBA, Morgan created and institutionalized the member intake and onboarding process and overall membership management process. Morgan has a deep commitment to economic justice. Her passion for systemic change is rooted in her lived experience and values. Morgan served as an Emerson National Hunger Fellow through the Congressional Hunger Center. In that capacity, Morgan actively led the effort on community engagement for Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. Morgan’s community organizing and coalition-building skills allowed her to increase the Detroit People’s Food Co-op’s members/owners by 40%. Prior to this, Morgan supported the economic security team at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights where she researched and authored written work on economic security issues such as payday lending, tipped wage, and equal pay. Morgan currently serves as an active board member for the CBA Fund and sits on both its’ Loan and North Star Committee (which she chairs). Morgan is also a Fulbright Scholar where she conducted independent research on Islamic Financing. Morgan holds a BA in Sociology, with minors in Economics and Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies from DePaul University. Morgan was born and raised in north city St. Louis but now resides in Hampton, Georgia. She is a proud mother to two dynamic little humans and enjoys playing volleyball.

Niki began partnering with Working Credit in 2015 when she joined as a part-time contractor. Shortly after, she graduated as a full-time team member when she saw the impact credit building had on people's finances and how it can provide new options and possibilities for individuals and their families. In her additional role as Operations Manager, Niki does the behind-the-scenes work of keeping the elements of the organization in order, strategizes improvements to internal processes, and advises on organizational development issues critical to carrying out Working Credit's mission. When she's not working with others to achieve their goals, she's probably attempting a DIY home project, learning more about urban forests and agriculture, or eating Raisinets and watching horror movies

Jim Schebek joined Working Credit in September 2018. Before Working Credit, Jim worked at one of the nation's leaders in credit building, Justine PETERSEN, for six years. There, Jim assisted hundreds of clients in building their credit and buying a home. In 2018, the Illinois Housing and Development Authority awarded Jim the Housing Counselor of the Year award. Besides counseling clients, Jim was one of the lead credit building trainers for Justine PETERSEN's Credit as an Asset Training. He trained dozens of organizations across the country on credit building best practices. Jim also provides training to organizations new to credit reporting as part of Credit Builder Alliance's Rapid Response Team. Jim graduated from Saint Louis University with his Bachelor's and Master's degree in Social Work.

Mario Gutierrez is the Director of Development leading the development & implementation of key strategies for organizational growth and visibility, centered on strategy, funder cultivation, and grant management. Prior to that he was a senior manager at a consulting firm where he led several teams helping nonprofits and public sector entities maximize their impact. Mario has served in the nonprofit sector for 10+ years where he held several roles across programs, fundraising, and strategic leadership.Mario is a proud father of two lovely boys, spouse of an amazing therapist/author, lover of books, exploring AI, and building out his second brain. Originally from the Bronx, NYC, you can find him in the Hudson Valley with occasional visits to Puerto Rico where he serves as a board member for a nonprofit addressing housing displacement.Mario holds a B.B.A from Baruch College and an M.A. from City College.

Shanta’ is a passionate advocate for community empowerment, personal growth, and community development. Born and raised in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, she has deep roots in rural communities and is committed to inspiring and uplifting others through impactful programming and meaningful connections. Currently, Shanta’ serves as a Community Engagement Relationship Coordinator (Southern Region), where her commitment to fostering community engagement and economic growth is poised to make a lasting impact. Her wealth of experience, leadership, and passion for the region will undoubtedly be an valuable asset to the Working Credit Community Engagement team. As a proud mother, Shanta’ leads with love, resilience, and faith, embodying the values of compassion and determination in every aspect of life.

Ian Gonzalez is a lifelong Chicago Southsider, entrepreneur, father, and community organizer. He was the founder of the only Black and Latinx-led running specialty store in Illinois, Last Lap Cornerstore, which served as a community hub catering to the needs of local Southside runners. He is also a co-founder and leader of the community-based running group 7onSundays, which expands access to the sport of road running for BIPOC communities, as well as the Co-Host and Producer for The Runner's Club Podcast. As an entrepreneur and former small business owner, Ian understands intimately the intersection between economic justice and community empowerment, and he is passionate about elevating his community through access to credit. An avid runner, Ian has run multiple marathons and ultra-marathons. He is also an RRCA certified running coach – and you can catch him running 7 miles every Sunday at 7:00 am on the Southside.

Tremaine Jones (He/They) is Communication Coordinator at Working Credit with over a decade of experience serving communities in roles such as public health educator, community relations manager, and organizer. Most recently, Tremaine worked as a Project Manager at Freedom Fund Network Inc., where he led community engagement and media efforts from 2018 to 2024, advocating for the safety and freedom of LGBTQ individuals in carceral systems across the United States. Their work has been featured in The Root, Human Rights Watch, The Miami Herald, and other publications. Passionate about fostering inclusion and amplifying underrepresented voices, Tremaine is dedicated to creating spaces for those traditionally left out of the conversation. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring new experiences, spending time at the beach, and training in Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art. Tremaine became a Capoeira Instructor in December 2020 through Carioca Capoeira Miami. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Tremaine now lives in Houston, Texas.

Derison joined Working Credit in January 2022, bringing over ten years of experience in direct service, program management, program design, and organizational capacity building. He was formerly at Phipps Neighborhoods, a multi-service organization that serves over 12,000 individuals in the South Bronx, where he led the integration of financial services across education and workforce programs to promote economic mobility. He serves on the Board of Directors for Credit Builders Alliance, a national non-profit agency that helps organizations move people from poverty to prosperity through credit building. Derison has trained financial coaches, counselors and program managers in delivering financial development strategies. His other passions are his Christian faith, his family, serving his community and the never-ending (but enjoyable) search for the best pizza.

Claudia is passionate about increasing everyone’s access to financial literacy and credit building tools. Before joining the Working Credit team in August of 2022, she worked at Homewise, a non-profit housing counseling agency in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she helped hundreds of clients understand and navigate their finances and improve their credit in order to achieve their dream of homeownership. In addition to helping clients, she regularly trained and onboarded new coaches and worked with management to streamline various processes and procedures. She currently volunteers with the Rebel Finance School based in the UK and is an avid FIRE movement enthusiast. She spends her free time looking for ways to make the principles of FIRE relevant and accessible for all people. Claudia earned her MA in Counseling from Southwestern College and her BA in Moving Image Arts from the College of Santa Fe. She received her Accredited Financial Counselor® certification from the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education® in 2020.

Brandon joined Working Credit in February 2023 and currently serves as both an Administrative Coordinator and Senior Credit Building Counselor. Before joining Working Credit, he worked as a Senior Financial Counselor at the United Way of Greater Nashville, helping individuals strengthen their financial well-being. He holds a Master of Social Work degree from Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts, and is an Accredited Financial Counselor through the Association of Financial Counseling and Planning Education. Passionate about financial empowerment, Brandon is dedicated to supporting individuals on their journey to building strong credit and financial stability. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his dogs and discovering new cuisines—Indian food being his favorite.

Judy is a financial coach, counselor, and educator with over 15 years of experience. She works with clients to help them increase their savings, decrease their debt, and build their credit to be in a better position to have what matters, and the freedom to make decisions that fulfill their lives. Judy holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston University and two master's degrees from University of Michigan. She worked as a researcher, data analyst, and financial education curriculum writer. Additionally, she has provided technical and capacity building assistance to dozens of community-based organizations in New York City and worked with hundreds of clients. She earned an Accredited Financial Counselor® certification from the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education® and a Financial Fitness CoachTM certification from Sage Financial Solutions. Currently an Adjunct Professor of Quantitative Methods at New York University, Judy has taught an array of statistical analysis courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels for more than 20 years. On most weekends she can be found with a cup of coffee on the sidelines cheering for her son's soccer team.

Ivory’s got the inside scoop on turning around your money game because he’s been there. Growing up in Detroit’s inner city, he saw the effects of poverty firsthand. From drug and crime infested neighborhoods to the failing school systems; the odds were stacked against him. Luckily, he rose to the challenge. Rather than becoming a statistic, he became the first in his family to attend and graduate from college. He answered the millennial call to “Treat yo’self!” He spent his money on materialistic stuff, name brand clothes, and meals at expensive restaurants. Though he’d locked down his dream job working as a Financial Coach, he was just barely making his own ends meet. What’s that old saying, “The shoemaker has no shoes?” Finally caving to the demands of his screaming wallet, Ivory buckled up his boots and started walking the walk. He challenged himself to rebuild credit, eliminate debt, and plan for emergencies. Since stepping up to the plate, he’s been hitting all home runs, paying off $32k in debt, and boosting his credit score from 545 to 803. He understands that credit can be a useful tool, but even the best tools require a skilled builder to create something awesome. Wealth building is the name of the game and Ivory wants to help others to experience an abundant lifestyle that makes them happy.

Jenniffer Sánchez is an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®️), financial services and public sector professional with more than 13 years of experience in financial coaching, banking, private investments, and social services. She holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and a master’s degree in public administration (MPA). She is passionate about finances, process re-engineering, operational models, project management, and transformation to achieve the common good of organizations and the communities they serve.