Introducing 2011 ProInspire Fellow: Schuyler Woods
Name: Schuyler Ballou Woods
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Organization: Washington Area Community Investment Fund (WACIF)
Previous Employer: JPMorgan
What inspired you to make the switch into the nonprofit sector?
As a Religious Studies major with a penchant for urban development, working in the world of finance complimented my desire to make change in a tangible, skill-building form. As an Asset Management Analyst at JPMorgan, I developed a deeper understanding of the financial markets and how wealth is created. At the end of my second year at JPMorgan, I began looking for opportunities that could marry my heart in urban development and my brain in financial analysis: ProInspire and WACIF did just that.
What is your current position, and a typical day like?
I am the Credit Analyst at the Washington Area Community Investment Fund. A typical day consists of a high volume of calls, a few meetings and developing a credit memo or as I like to call it, “a loan proposal” with a potential borrower.
Lately, my work life has been driven by the Streetscape Relief Loan Fund with the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD). Any business (that isn’t a street vendor or a franchise) that has been negatively impacted by streetscape construction can apply for a 0% interest loan. As a result, I’m the point person on all Streetscape matters for the office, potential borrowers and DSLBD. On a given day, I answer a barrel of questions about the application requirements, visit potential borrowers to walk through the application process and attend community meetings in the evenings to discuss WACIF’s programs. I also communicate with DSLBD regularly with progress reports, wire requests and policy questions.
My favorite part of the job is pitching a loan proposal on the behalf of a potential borrower. This requires quite a bit of number crunching, business research and a heavy dose of creativity. Not to mention my loan committee is incredibly sharp- absolutely nothing gets by this group. In any case, I enjoy putting together a proposal, pitching it to Tim Flanagan, WACIF’s Executive Director and being peppered with potential questions the committee may ask. I like to think I’m getting better as I close each loan but with this job, you never know what curve ball will meet your bat next. And that’s what makes what I do exciting.
Where did you work prior to making the switch?
I worked at JPMorgan Asset Management and Citigroup Sales and Trading.
What is your professional background and areas of expertise?
My professional background is in finance and my areas of expertise include market research, investments and financial analysis.
What are you involved in outside of work?
I have had the great pleasure to serve on the Communications Committee with the Latin American Youth Center’s Associate Board. Additionally, you can always find me at Bikram Yoga Capitol Hill. (I am still working on dragging one of the fellows to sweat out their overachiever anxieties with me at one of the weekend classes- so stay tuned.)
Tell us about your past leadership experiences and how they are helping you in your current role.
Whether it was leading an office wide analysis of potential Roth IRA conversions amongst the analysts or building the infrastructure of a university conference, I have found the most important skill to have as a leader is the ability to multi-task. WACIF is five people strong so we overlap our duties habitually. Since the website reboot, WACIF has seen a significant uptick in intake forms from businesses that are interested in technical assistance and financing. While my job title says that my responsibilities are credit underwriting and borrower management, I also understand that in such a small organization, one cannot silo themselves. I pitched in on follow-up business evaluations and sent out some investor updates that exceeded the capacity of my co-workers. Volunteering for these types of projects also helped me too as I learned more about WACIF operations and the landscape of economic development in DC.
Who do you look to as a leader in your respective field, and why?
Tim Flanagan, WACIF’s Executive Director. My pick could easily appear obsequious and obvious but I am still sticking to my guns on this selection. His work ethic is practically insatiable. Since taking the helms of the organization just two years ago, Tim has managed to create a remarkable brand for the organization thereby increasing our investor pool and financial and technical impact in the DC community. He has the brain for this work and the interpersonal skills to disarm just about anyone- both important skills to have in community and economic development. Not to mention that he is a fantastic manager who provides countless professional development opportunities for the people who work for him. Recently, he extended an opportunity for me to guest lecture about economic development at American University’s School of Law. Tim is simply great at what he does and pulling others (clients, government, employee and otherwise) along for the ride.
If your friends and enemies had to describe you in three words, what would they be?
Tenacious, quirky and opinionated.
What book are you reading right now or what is your favorite book?
I’m incredibly late to this but I have been absolutely addicted to The Hunger Games Trilogy. I just finished the last book on Sunday and am now rolling into classic business literature as recommended by one of WACIF’s loan committee members. Currently, I’m reading Michael E. Porter’s Competitive Strategy. I’m also reading John Gallagher’s Reimagining Detroit: Opportunities for Redefining an American City.
Where else have you lived?
Houston, TX (best place in the free world); San Antonio, TX; Dallas, TX; San Marcos, TX and last but not least, New York City, NY.