Staff

412.201.2450 ext. 26

Leah Bender brings a wide range of experience to Bridgeway Capital. Prior to this position, Leah worked for various nonprofits by writing donor correspondence, monitoring financial transactions, and developing communications strategies. In her position at Samaritan’s Purse International Relief in North Carolina, Leah traveled to Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Kenya to write compelling stories for the organization. Previously, Leah worked as a teacher in Kenya and taught English to nearly 100 students, and also worked as a reporter for many newspapers and publications. At Bridgeway Capital, Leah worked as a writer and helped with other marketing-related activities before transitioning to the Loan Assistant position, where she provides customer service to borrowers and prospects as well as support to Bridgeway Capital’s loan officers and credit team.  She received her bachelor’s degree in both Journalism and Religious Studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and is currently working toward a master's degree at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

412.201.2450 ext. 23

Jane brings 28 years of banking experience to Bridgeway Capital. Most recently, she was a Business Development Leader and Vice President of Huntington Bank where she trained and led a team of business banking specialists to meet production, growth and revenue goals. In addition, she has experience in managing a small business sales force, credit underwriting, and loan administration.  Jane is also involved in many volunteer activities, and holds Board positions at Lutheran SeniorLife Foundation, North Hills Community Outreach, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg Foundation, and other organizations. Jane holds a M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from the University of Vermont and a B.A. in Business Administration from Thiel College. 

412.201.2450 ext. 20

Andrea brings 22 years of banking experience to Bridgeway Capital. Most recently, she was an Assistant Vice President at Citizens Bank. She has extensive experience in reporting and customer relationship management systems, systems implementation and operation, compliance and risk management, and customer service. Andrea holds a B.A. in psychology from the State University of New York at Albany and an AA in liberal arts.

412.201.2450 ext. 24

Emily joined Bridgeway Capital in 2009 as Bridgeway Capital’s first Duquesne University Peace Corps Fellow. As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ivory Coast, West Africa, Emily worked on community development, small business development, water and sanitation education and project management. Prior to joining Bridgeway Capital, Emily worked at Triago LLC, a French private equity placement agent in New York City where she developed investor relationships in North America and Australia and helped raise private equity funds for American Fund Managers. In her current position Emily uses her nonprofit and for-profit experience to help develop new loan programs for Bridgeway Capital through research and grant writing and also to identify new sources of capital for Bridgeway’s existing loan programs. Emily received her B.A. in International Relations from Boston University and is a 2011 MBA/M.A. Public Policy Candidate at Duquesne University.

412.201.2450 ext. 25

Christian has been a part of the banking industry in western Pennsylvania for over 10 years, and has specialized in helping small businesses grow and expand throughout the area. His most recent position was with Huntington Bank as a Vice President in the Business Banking department in which he managed a portfolio of $17 million. Christian received his B.S. from Penn State University.

412.201.2450 ext. 12

Mary Kay brings 17 years of experience to Bridgeway Capital as an accounting manager with Highmark Inc. and its subsidiary companies. While there she worked with both non-profit and for-profit entities in a variety of industries. Prior to her experience at Highmark, Mary Kay worked as an accounting manager for a major Pittsburgh retailer. She received her B.S. in Accounting from Point Park University and also holds a B.S. in Music Education from Duquesne University.

412.201-2450 ext. 19

Liz joined Bridgeway Capital in 2006 and brings a wide range of communications experience to her position at Bridgeway Capital. Prior to this job, Liz worked at Bayer in Corporate Communications on various external and internal communications projects, including electronic media, special event planning, media relations, and print and broadcast advertising. In her current position, she is responsible for managing the marketing function for Bridgeway Capital. She also manages the public relations and communication efforts, plans special events, develops print materials, and works with clients on promotion needs. Liz received her B.A. in Mass Communications from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

412.201.2450 ext. 30

Eileen brings a variety of nonprofit and small business development experience to Bridgeway Capital. She most recently completed her Master of Business Administration degree at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. While there, she served as a student consultant to the domestic microfinance organization, ACCION USA, as well as worked with a group of small farmers to develop a business plan for a poultry processing program. Prior to entering graduate school, Eileen worked in higher education administration at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA. Eileen received her MBA from Brandeis University and her B.A. in Economics from Allegheny College. At Bridgeway Capital, Eileen is responsible for coordinating business education initiatives.

724.866.4027

T.J. has been in the business banking industry for 6 years, and has specialized in helping businesses get the capital they need to expand throughout the area. His most recent position was with Huntington Bank as a Business Banking Specialist where he managed and helped grow the portfolio of the Northwest Pennsylvania region that he covered. T.J. received his B.S. in Business Administration from DeVry University in Columbus, Ohio.

412.201.2450 ext. 14

Kristin Klingenberg joined Bridgeway Capital in 2005 after spending 7 years as an attorney with Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Nicholson Graham LLP (now K&L Gates LLP), representing a wide variety of clients in mergers and acquisitions, secured financing transactions, joint ventures, and other corporate and transactional matters. Prior to her experience with K&L, she clerked for Judge Simeon R. Acoba, Jr. of the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals and served as a research assistant for two senior fellows in the Economic Studies Program at the Brookings Institution. Kristin received a B.A. in Economics from Bucknell University and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She currently serves on the board of NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania.

412.201.2450 ext. 22

Vicki Hays Kunz has 34 years of experience in the banking industry, most of which has been in credit and lending-related functions. In her role at Bridgeway Capital, Vicki is responsible for the credit underwriting of all loans and portfolio management. Prior to joining Bridgeway Capital, Vicki served as the senior lending officer in three banks with assets of less than $1 billion. As a senior lending officer, Vicki had supervisory responsibility for commercial and retail loan production, underwriting and portfolio administration, along with strategic planning and budgetary responsibility for the lending division. She is a past president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Risk Management Association (RMA) and has served on the RMA National Council of Chapters and Membership. Vicki has a B.S. in Business Administration, Accounting, from Robert Morris University.

412.201.2450 ext. 11

Marcia has accounting experience in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors, including 10 years as the accountant for a major Pittsburgh printing company before joining Bridgeway Capital in 1995.  Marcia is responsible for all Bridgeway Capital accounting functions and oversees grant management. She received her B.S. in Accounting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

412.201.2450 ext. 13

Mark Peterson founded and leads Bridgeway Capital, which manages $54 million focused on economic growth across western Pennsylvania. Since 1990, the organization’s 15-person team has helped place nearly 600 loans for $63 million across the region, which has leveraged $236 million in additional financing. Nearly 5,000 jobs have been created and retained, leading toward the mission of a thriving region for all. Mr. Peterson has more than 30 years of experience in managing nonprofit organizations in Pittsburgh. Prior to founding Bridgeway Capital, he served as a management and fundraising consultant to nonprofit organizations. Mark received his BA in Sociology from Wittenberg University and completed course work with the American Banking Institute.

412.201.2450 ext. 28

Dwayne has been a part of the banking industry in western Pennsylvania for over 10 years. He has managed multiple branches and has led teams to exceed revenue goals, increase loan application production, and develop customer engagement programs. His most recent position was with Huntington Bank as a Branch Manager/Assistant Vice President. Dwayne received his degree in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. 

412.201.2450 ext. 10

Jennie brings 11 years of office managerial and organizational skills as well as guest relations experience to Bridgeway Capital. Prior to joining the organization, she worked as a guest relations officer and production assistant for a major advertising and public relations firm located in Downtown Pittsburgh. Jennie holds a B.A. in Journalism and Broadcasting from Pennsylvania State University.

412.201.2450 ext. 15

Carla brings 19 years of banking and lending experience to Bridgeway Capital. Most recently, she was the Commercial Loan Specialist for a Pittsburgh area community bank. She received her B.A. in Political Science from Saint Leo University in Florida.

Dan Sullivan joined Bridgeway Capital in 2005 after 14 years in the banking industry. Dan’s most recent banking job was with National City Bank of Pennsylvania where he served as Assistant Vice President of Small Business Banking, responsible for a $19 million portfolio. He received a B.S. in Economics and Business Administration from Geneva College.

412.201.2450 ext. 31

Eric has been a part of the banking industry in western Pennsylvania for 17 years, and most recently spent five years as a manager at Fifth Third Bank. His experience includes retail banking, business banking, commercial lending, and the residential mortgage business. Eric is a member of the North Hills Community Outreach program, and he received his B.S in Business and minor in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh.

412.201.2450 ext. 18

Jim Taibi brings 25 years of diversified banking and finance knowledge to Bridgeway Capital. His experience includes credit underwriting, portfolio management, commercial lending and international banking. Jim grew up in the northern panhandle of West Virginia and also spent ten years in Atlanta, GA. While in Atlanta, Jim worked for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Assistance Area Office where he made loans to individuals and businesses that were affected by natural disasters. This has provided Jim with a special appreciation for mission related lending. Jim’s varied background also includes work with Nations Bank (NKA Bank of America) in Atlanta, WesBanco Bank in West Virginia and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh. He holds an A.A.S. in Accounting and also a B.S. in Business Administration, Accounting from West Liberty (State College) University in West Virginia.