Our History

Katrina McCree is a visionary leader celebrated for fostering connections, driving innovation, and achieving impactful results through strategic partnerships, processes, and people. As Chief Community Impact Officer at Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO), Katrina leads corporate development, community affairs, strategic partnerships, marketing, and public relations. She has spearheaded transformative initiatives, including a capital campaign for Detroit's first Healthy Housing Center for the homeless and a branding strategy to enhance NSO’s integrated care approach.

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Previously, Katrina served as Associate Administrator of Operations at DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital, managing multimillion-dollar budgets and leading special projects for senior executives. In her roles as Market Director for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Operations and Director of Government and Community Affairs, she drove ACA enrollment for 65,000 individuals, secured funding for neighborhood revitalization, and contributed to a $40 million capital campaign for a new emergency department.

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Katrina’s extensive experience spans roles as Organizational Development Consultant for Wayne County and the City of Detroit, Training Manager Consultant for Detroit’s Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Executive Director of Women ARISE, a human-service agency for women ex-offenders.

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Her dedication extends to board service with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Michigan, SDM2 Project Education, Sinai Grace Guild Community Development Corporation, the Coleman A. Young Foundation, and Detroit’s Local Development Finance Authority. She is also an active member of The Links, Incorporated, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

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Katrina holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Eastern Michigan University and a master’s in human resource management from Marygrove College. Her career reflects a deep commitment to community impact, organizational excellence, and transformational leadership.

Deacon Larry Mathews, Ph.D., CPA is the Chief Financial Officer of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church and all of its related entities. Prior to joining Hartford, Dr. Mathews was the Deputy Director of Finance of Wayne County and the CFO of the Institute for Population Health (the City of Detroit Health Department). Dr. Mathews has an earned a doctorate from Wayne State University, his Masters of Public Administration from WSU and an MBA from the University of Detroit Mercy.  His undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan. An avid golfer and swimmer, Dr. Mathews is married to his wife Beverly. They have two children, Gerald and Portia and 4 grandchildren.

June A. Mack is a dedicated community leader and advocate who has been a proud resident of Detroit, Michigan, since 1977. Originally from Harlem, New York City, she relocated to Detroit with her mother to join her oldest sister. As a devoted caregiver, she provided unwavering support to both her mother and sister during their lifetimes, a testament to her deep sense of compassion and service.

In recognition of her impactful contributions to the community, June was honored as the 2022 Changemaker of the Year as part of the 70 Over 70 Awards at the Hannan Center. She has also received numerous accolades from the Michigan Senate, Wayne County Commission, and the Michigan House of Representatives for her dedicated service.

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Passionate about gardening and outdoor maintenance, June enjoys cultivating her own vegetables, maintaining her lawn, and managing snow removal—activities that reflect her strong work ethic and love for nature.

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A committed educator, June has been instructing seniors in basic computer skills at WCCCD Northwest, free of charge, since 2021. She believes that technological literacy is essential and takes pride in empowering seniors with the knowledge to navigate the digital world.

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Her leadership extends across multiple organizations, serving as the Secretary of Sinai-Grace Guild CDC and the President of the Winship Community Improvement Association since 2017. Additionally, she is a Case Manager for Detroit Renaissance Group and a Community Ambassador, further demonstrating her commitment to uplifting others. She also volunteers at two food pantries on Detroit’s East Side, where she assists with registration for Forgotten Harvest, ensuring that families in need receive essential food resources.

June’s unwavering dedication to community service, advocacy, and education continues to make a lasting impact throughout Detroit.

Ryan graduated from the University of Michigan Business School with a concentration in Finance.  His career in equity markets began in Detroit as a stock trader. He eventually traded for the largest NASDAQ trading firm in the nation, Knight Securities.  He established his own financial awareness group in 2003, publishing newsletters about financial issues. In addition to being a financial advisor working with many prominent clients, he lends his support to inner-city communities by coordinating workshops and creating economic empowerment initiatives that teach the principles of financial literacy.

As a renowned public speaker, he has provided keynote presentations to organizations such as Harvard, Columbia and Princeton Universities, the NAACP, National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Housing Preservation and Development, National Urban League, NASA, National Black MBA Association, the NBA, Microsoft Corporation, HSBC, KPMG, Johnson and Johnson, Six Flags, and Deutsche Bank.  He can be regularly viewed on television networks such as GMTV, CNBC, CNN, Thomson Reuters, and BET discussing economic/social issues.

Ryan has also authored books “Living in the Village”, the “Playing Smart” financial handbook for athletes, and “The Stop and Frisk Handbook”; and co-authored a book with Kevin Powell entitled “The Black Male Handbook”.

Crystal Perkins was born and raised in Detroit, where she developed a strong sense of community and a deep appreciation for hard work. From an early age, she was drawn to problem-solving and helping others, which ultimately shaped her career path.

With a passion for serving the community, she pursued opportunities with the City of Detroit, allowing her to make a meaningful impact in the city she loves. As Director of the General Services Department, she has worked diligently to improve processes, foster teamwork, and drive positive change within her organization. Her career has been centered around efficiency, innovation, and ensuring that her teams have the resources and support needed to succeed.

One of Crystal’s greatest strengths is her ability to communicate effectively and build strong relationships. She believes that success is not just about achieving goals but also about uplifting others along the way. Her leadership philosophy is rooted in empowerment,
collaboration, and creating an environment where people feel valued and motivated to perform at their best.

Outside of work, Crystal is passionate about volunteering, mentoring, traveling, and giving back to others. Her commitment to community development is why she believes the work being done with the Community Development Corporation is essential to sustaining Detroit’s neighborhoods for current and future generations.

Throughout her journey, she has faced challenges, but each one has strengthened her resilience and determination. She remains committed to making a difference—both in her workplace and in the community—and looks forward to future opportunities to further this
mission. She believes in lifelong learning and continuous growth, both personally and professionally.

Crystal’s ultimate goal is to leave a lasting impact—one that reflects her dedication, integrity, and vision for a stronger, more connected Detroit.

Evelyn (Evy) Zwiebach is a seasoned planner, policy analyst, and program manager with 15 years of experience advancing equitable communities. As Director with Enterprise Community Partners in Detroit, Evy leads initiatives that promote affordable housing production and preservation, tenant protections, and access to affordable homeownership. She is co-author of a policy brief on land contract reform and a Land Contract Buyer guide [detroitmi.gov] for City of Detroit residents. She also oversees the Detroit Home Repair Fund, which provides low-income Detroit homeowners with critical health and safety repairs, paired with energy improvements.

Prior to joining Enterprise, Evy was a planner with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning where she led neighborhood and municipal planning processes and helped develop the Agency’s regional plan. Evy also previously worked as Assistant Project Manager at Telesis Corporation, an affordable and mixed-income housing development company, and as a paralegal at New York Legal Assistance Group. Evy earned her Master in Urban Planning from Harvard Graduate School of Design and her Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College. Evy currently serves on the boards of Sinai-Grace Guild CDC and the Coalition for Home Repair.

Kathleen Spillane Knight is a respected nonprofit executive and fundraising strategist with over three decades of experience driving mission-focused impact across healthcare, community development, and philanthropy. She currently serves as President of the Reimagine Life Foundation, where she provides visionary leadership to empower individuals and families through innovative programming, including stroke recovery support and adaptive sports for individuals with disabilities.

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Prior to this role, Kathleen was Vice President of Development and Operations at the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan Foundation (RIMF), where she oversaw fundraising and grantmaking for spinal cord, traumatic brain injury, and stroke programs. Her leadership helped steward a complex transfer of charitable assets in partnership with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office and Legacy DMC.

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Kathleen also held executive roles at the DMC Foundation, Sinai-Grace Hospital, and the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, where she successfully led multimillion-dollar campaigns, expanded donor engagement, and advanced health equity through community-centered giving. Her early career includes senior development positions at the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and leadership on political fundraising campaigns, including those for Michigan Supreme Court Justice Conrad Mallett and Governor Jim Blanchard.

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A Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), Kathleen holds an Executive MBA in Healthcare Management and Information Systems from Oakland University, and a B.A. in Social Science from Michigan State University. She is a recognized leader in philanthropy, with active roles in the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Planned Giving Roundtable of Southeastern Michigan, and Leave a Legacy.

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Driven by a deep belief in equity, resilience, and service, Kathleen continues to be a powerful force for change across Detroit and beyond.

Jason is a proud, generational Detroiter who operates Headen Development Group, LLC which is a real-estate development firm dedicated to creating and providing clean, safe, housing. Prior to starting the firm, he led CHN Housing Partners’ growth in Detroit - a role that involved expanding strategic partnerships and launching the Detroit Housing Network. In this role Jason raised over $13 million dollars for the network and helped coordinate two Low Income Housing Tax Credit awards in partnership with Motor City Blight Busters and Tribe Development.

Additionally, Jason was the Director of State and Local Government Affairs for Quicken Loans where he led community engagement, oversaw the $3.3 million renovation of Breithaupt Career & Tech Center and helped pass tax incentives for the Hudson’s site to be built and the renovation of the Book Tower.

While Jason's most recent roles have positioned him as a leader in Detroit’s development and affordable housing communities, he always represents his Detroit-based upbringing. After graduating from Renaissance High School and Wayne State University, Jason began his career as a property manager where he oversaw diverse property portfolios for Bedrock Detroit, Independent Management Services and Southwest Housing Solutions. Jason also made news in 2019 when he announced his $3.5 million new market tax credit development project in the Bagley/Fitzgerald neighborhood as a partner with Speramus Partners, LLC, where he co-developed 7400 W. McNichols which is an 8,000 square foot bar, restaurant and retail space.

His collective experience has led to board member invitations for the Citizens Research Council of Michigan (active), Building Community Value (active) and the Detroit Housing Commission (2014 – 2021). He is also a 2022 Michigan Chronicle 40 under 40 awardee and a Detroit Crains Business 40 under 40 awardee in 2023.