Board of Directors

The Arizona Finance Authority is governed by a five-member board appointed by the Governor. The Board’s business-focused approach gets borrowers to deal-closing and ground-breaking more quickly.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS


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Robin Romano

President
- CEO, MariSol Federal Credit Union
- Advisory Board Member, Phoenix Community Development & Investment Corporation
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Robin Romano has served as CEO of MariSol Federal Credit Union for more than 25 years, driving financial empowerment and community building. A former National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Examiner, Robin was recruited to MariSol FCU by its board of directors to repair the problems identified during the examination. Robin has served as Chair of the CFPB’s Credit Union Advisory Committee and is the current Chair for Inclusiv, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Intermediary.

Romano shared, “I’m looking forward to helping the Hobbs Administration further its mission for an Arizona for Everyone by fully utilizing the Finance Authority, increasing access to capital, and investing in projects that make a difference in long underserved communities.”


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Ken Burns


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Ken Burns serves as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), where he oversees teams responsible for financial incentive program administration, accounting, information technology, human resources and overall operations.

Prior to ACA, Mr. Burns served in a similar capacity for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council for more than seven years, where he was active on Finance, Audit, Resource Development and other strategic planning committees.

In addition to his economic development experience, Mr. Burns has served as an independent management consultant and with a regional CPA firm. His executive experience includes serving as Chief Operating Officer for two mid-sized law firms. He also served on the firms’ executive management committees.

In his earlier years, Mr. Burns held leadership positions in diverse industries including manufacturing, telecommunications and the construction trades.

He currently serves on the Clearinghouse CDFI Arizona Board of Advisors and volunteers on the Finance Committee for Florence Crittenton.

Mr. Burns earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration, Mathematics and Computer Science from Wayne State College in Nebraska and an MBA from Arizona State University. Mr. Burns has also completed University of Arizona’s Basic Economic Development Course and is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in Arizona.


David Castillo

- CEO, Native Community Capital (NCC)
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Mr. Castillo serves as CEO of Native Community Capital – a 501c3 tax exempt, not for profit, Department of Treasury certified, Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with offices in New Mexico and Arizona. In addition to overseeing day-to-day operations his primary role is to maintain and develop strategic partnerships with banks, public-sector agencies, as well as CDFI and foundation partners to raise public- and private-sector capital to support housing, community- and economic development financing on tribal lands.

Mr. Castillo is active in developing technical assistance services that build the capacity of tribal professionals and individual Native Americans in the use of debt financing through his various board affiliations, partnerships and through his work with the New Mexico Tribal Homeownership Coalition.

Mr. Castillo’s professional contributions to tribal community- and economic development field began in 1997 through work first with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. later in tribal government and financial institution settings, and since 2009 in the CDFI industry. Mr. Castillo is a trustee with the Vitalyst Foundation, a member of the Board of Directors for Southwest Native Assets Coalition, New Mexico Community Capital and the Housing Assistance Council. He also serves as a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco’s Community Advisory Council, and Enterprise Bank & Trust Community Advisory Board. Mr. Castillo holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stanford University and an MBA from ASU. Mr. Castillo is of Nahua Indian descent.


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Marcel Dabdoub


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Andre Whittington