About

CDC Board of Directors

Bridgeway Capital’s CDC Board of Directors is specifically responsible for 504 loans. The board includes representatives from the lending community, business advisors and community members and ensures that our 504 lending remains within its government-defined scope.

Please click on a name below to read more about that individual.

Sheila Cowieson Vice President & Business Development Officer, Community Bank
Ms. Cowieson is an experienced commercial loan officer with Community Bank, which serves Washington, Allegheny and Greene Counties. She is responsible for managing a $64 million commercial loan portfolio and generating commercial loans up to $5 million. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Washington County as its Vice Chairman of Resource Development. Ms. Cowieson has been active in many other charitable and civic endeavors.

Sheila Cowieson
Vice President & Business Development Officer, Community Bank

Ms. Cowieson is an experienced commercial loan officer with Community Bank, which serves Washington, Allegheny and Greene Counties. She is responsible for managing a $64 million commercial loan portfolio and generating commercial loans up to $5 million. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Washington County as its Vice Chairman of Resource Development. Ms. Cowieson has been active in many other charitable and civic endeavors.

Thomas Dodson CFO, CompuGroup Technologies
Mr. Dodson has nearly 20 years of commercial lending experience in the western Pennsylvania market. He is a graduate of Grove City College with a B.S. in Business Administration.

William Hawthorne President, A For the People Insurance Agency, Inc.
Mr. Hawthorne started A For the People Insurance Agency, Inc. in 1991 in the Hill District of Pittsburgh with a mission to provide the community with affordable, quality insurance. His business has grown to represent over 30 insurance companies and 17,000 clients. Mr. Hawthorne is also a Board member of BrotherKeepers, Hill District Census Board, and West Penn Minority Junior Golf Association. He attended Clarion State University and received a degree in electronics from the Ohio Institute of Technology.

William Hawthorne
President, A For the People Insurance Agency, Inc.

Mr. Hawthorne started A For the People Insurance Agency, Inc. in 1991 in the Hill District of Pittsburgh with a mission to provide the community with affordable, quality insurance. His business has grown to represent over 30 insurance companies and 17,000 clients. Mr. Hawthorne is also a Board member of BrotherKeepers, Hill District Census Board, and West Penn Minority Junior Golf Association. He attended Clarion State University and received a degree in electronics from the Ohio Institute of Technology.

William J. King, Jr. Senior Vice President, Washington Financial Bank
Mr. King has over 15 years of experience in banking and has been with Washington Financial Bank since 2005. He is currently responsible for the management of the Commercial Lending Department, and also participates in the Bank’s Commercial Loan Committee, Marketing Advisory Committee, and Risk Management Committee. He received a B.A. in Economics and a B.A. in English Writing from the University of Pittsburgh.

William J. King, Jr.
Senior Vice President, Washington Financial Bank

Mr. King has over 15 years of experience in banking and has been with Washington Financial Bank since 2005. He is currently responsible for the management of the Commercial Lending Department, and also participates in the Bank’s Commercial Loan Committee, Marketing Advisory Committee, and Risk Management Committee. He received a B.A. in Economics and a B.A. in English Writing from the University of Pittsburgh.

Jeffrey M. Kotula Executive Director, Washington County Economic Development Partnership
Mr. Kotula is the lead economic development official for Washington County through a public/private partnership comprised of the Washington County Commissioners, Chamber of Commerce and Washington Industrial Development Corporation. Prior to assuming this position, Mr. Kotula was a Program Manager for Innovation Works. He serves on the Board of Directors for United Way of Washington County, the Southwestern PA Area Labor/Management Committee and the Southwestern PA Community Development Corporation. He also was appointed to the Washington County Airport Advisory Board and the South Franklin Parks & Recreation Board. Mr. Kotula holds a B.A. in Political Science from Duquesne University and a Master of Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University.

Jeffrey M. Kotula
Executive Director, Washington County Economic Development Partnership

Mr. Kotula is the lead economic development official for Washington County through a public/private partnership comprised of the Washington County Commissioners, Chamber of Commerce and Washington Industrial Development Corporation. Prior to assuming this position, Mr. Kotula was a Program Manager for Innovation Works. He serves on the Board of Directors for United Way of Washington County, the Southwestern PA Area Labor/Management Committee and the Southwestern PA Community Development Corporation. He also was appointed to the Washington County Airport Advisory Board and the South Franklin Parks & Recreation Board. Mr. Kotula holds a B.A. in Political Science from Duquesne University and a Master of Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University.

Christopher A. Martin, Secretary President, Southwest Pennsylvania Region, Northwest Savings Bank
Mr. Martin has over 16 years of experience in banking at various commercial banks throughout western Pennsylvania. Before joining Northwest Savings Bank as the President of the Southwest Pennsylvania Region, he was the Vice President of Sales and Customer Service at Citizens National Bank (Currently NexTier). Mr. Martin is a graduate of Westminster College.

Earl Martin Business Banking Executive Sales Manager, First Commonwealth Bank
Mr. Martin is the Business Banking Executive Sales Manager for First Commonwealth Bank. In this capacity, Mr. Martin manages a group of banking professionals who serve clients in Southwestern Pennsylvania with revenue less than $25MM by providing advisory services while delivering need-based solutions primarily focusing on business lending and depository services. Mr. Martin joined First Commonwealth Bank after spending 29 years with National City Bank. Mr. Martin served on PowerLink’s Advisory Board and a number of committees with the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh. He received B.A. and B. S. degrees in Management from Robert Morris University, graduated from Stonier Graduate School of Banking, and also attended the Central Atlantic School of Banking.

Earl Martin
Business Banking Executive Sales Manager, First Commonwealth Bank

Mr. Martin is the Business Banking Executive Sales Manager for First Commonwealth Bank. In this capacity, Mr. Martin manages a group of banking professionals who serve clients in Southwestern Pennsylvania with revenue less than $25MM by providing advisory services while delivering need-based solutions primarily focusing on business lending and depository services. Mr. Martin joined First Commonwealth Bank after spending 29 years with National City Bank. Mr. Martin served on PowerLink’s Advisory Board and a number of committees with the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh. He received B.A. and B. S. degrees in Management from Robert Morris University, graduated from Stonier Graduate School of Banking, and also attended the Central Atlantic School of Banking.

Richard Opiela Attorney, Opiela and Associates
Mr. Opiela founded the law firm of Opiela and Associates, PC in 1996 after working for Lipsitz, Nassau, Schwartz and Leckman as a general litigation attorney. His firm concentrates in the areas of estate/elder law, personal injury, defective products, civil matters, landlord/tenant, criminal law, traffic violations, worker’s compensation and real property. Mr. Opiela is the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency - Constable Education Training Board, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate. Mr. Opiela earned a J.D. from the West Virginia University College of Law and a B.S. in Math & Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh.

Richard Opiela
Attorney, Opiela and Associates

Mr. Opiela founded the law firm of Opiela and Associates, PC in 1996 after working for Lipsitz, Nassau, Schwartz and Leckman as a general litigation attorney. His firm concentrates in the areas of estate/elder law, personal injury, defective products, civil matters, landlord/tenant, criminal law, traffic violations, worker’s compensation and real property. Mr. Opiela is the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency - Constable Education Training Board, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate. Mr. Opiela earned a J.D. from the West Virginia University College of Law and a B.S. in Math & Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh.

Raymond Phillips President, The Broker's Source, Limited
Mr. Phillips is the President of The Brokers Source, Ltd/PlusGroup Pennsylvania., a full-service, independent insurance brokerage firm providing fixed insurance products and guidance to insurance agents, financial planners and other financial professionals. He is currently Chair-Elect of the National Association of Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA); past-President of the Pittsburgh Chapter of National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors; past-President of the Pittsburgh Association of Health Underwriters; and past-President of the Society of Underwriting Brokers (SubCenters). In 2006, Mr. Phillips was presented with the prestigious Edward Haldeman Memorial Award from the Pittsburgh NAIFA Chapter for distinguished service to the insurance industry and community. He has served on the board of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and is a member of The Plus Group, the International Disability Income Society, the Pittsburgh Estate Planning Council, and is a founding member The Marketing Alliance.

Raymond Phillips
President, The Broker's Source, Limited

Mr. Phillips is the President of The Brokers Source, Ltd/PlusGroup Pennsylvania., a full-service, independent insurance brokerage firm providing fixed insurance products and guidance to insurance agents, financial planners and other financial professionals. He is currently Chair-Elect of the National Association of Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA); past-President of the Pittsburgh Chapter of National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors; past-President of the Pittsburgh Association of Health Underwriters; and past-President of the Society of Underwriting Brokers (SubCenters). In 2006, Mr. Phillips was presented with the prestigious Edward Haldeman Memorial Award from the Pittsburgh NAIFA Chapter for distinguished service to the insurance industry and community. He has served on the board of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and is a member of The Plus Group, the International Disability Income Society, the Pittsburgh Estate Planning Council, and is a founding member The Marketing Alliance.

Rebecca Yago Vice President, Real Estate Lending & Services, Dollar Bank
Ms. Yago has been with Dollar Bank since 1988, where she is currently responsible for originating, underwriting, and monitoring residential acquisition and development, affordable and subsidized housing, multi-family, retail, office and industrial loans. She serves on the Real Estate Loan Review Committee and the Pittsburgh Urban Initiatives Advisory Board of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh. Ms. Yago received her B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Robert Morris University.

Rebecca Yago
Vice President, Real Estate Lending & Services, Dollar Bank

Ms. Yago has been with Dollar Bank since 1988, where she is currently responsible for originating, underwriting, and monitoring residential acquisition and development, affordable and subsidized housing, multi-family, retail, office and industrial loans. She serves on the Real Estate Loan Review Committee and the Pittsburgh Urban Initiatives Advisory Board of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh. Ms. Yago received her B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Robert Morris University.

Dane Yancic, Chairperson Business Development Specialist, Allegheny County Economic Development
Mr. Yancic is responsible for underwriting small business loan requests between $50,000 and $500,000, as well as the overall supervision of the Department's loan portfolio. He has worked in finance for over 30 years. Mr. Yancic is also a board member of the McKeesport Development Corporation, a non-profit corporation focusing on economic development in the City of McKeesport. He holds both a B.A. in Economics and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.

Dane Yancic, Chairperson
Business Development Specialist, Allegheny County Economic Development

Mr. Yancic is responsible for underwriting small business loan requests between $50,000 and $500,000, as well as the overall supervision of the Department's loan portfolio. He has worked in finance for over 30 years. Mr. Yancic is also a board member of the McKeesport Development Corporation, a non-profit corporation focusing on economic development in the City of McKeesport. He holds both a B.A. in Economics and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.