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Officers

Robert Boyle, MA, is a founder and the Chief Executive Officer of Justine PETERSEN, a St. Louis, Missouri based company that assists low-wealth individuals and families to develop, maintain and increase financial assets.  Rob also is a founder and a director of Great Rivers Community Capital, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), a lending organization wholly owned by Justine PETERSEN.  Rob earned his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and his Master Degree from Southern Illinois University.  Rob’s background includes work in urban planning, property management for low-income tenants, single family and multi-family housing development and construction management. He also has owned and operated two small businesses, a real estate services company and a contracting company.  He is also member of the board of directors of a national asset building organization, Credit Builders Alliance. Rob is married to Barbara (Diekemper), and has two children, Margaret and Patrick.

Sheri Flanigan-Vazquez, MSW, is the Chief Operating Officer of Justine PETERSEN where she joined staff in 1998. She was instrumental in the planning and implementation of Justine PETERSEN’s Individual Development Account Program and U.S. Small Business Administration Micro-Loan Intermediary Program. She is also a founder of Great Rivers Community Capital, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), a lending organization wholly owned by Justine PETERSEN. Sheri has a Master of Social Work from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor of Arts from Knox College in Galesburg, IL. She dedicated a year of service as a Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) coordinating English as a Second Language classes. Prior to joining Justine PETERSEN staff, Sheri was the Executive Director of La Casa Latina, a grassroots organization that assists non-English speaking Latinos, for three years where she managed a staff of five and oversaw agency operations. She was a founding board member of Choices Federal Credit Union and is currently a member of the Community Advisory Board of the Illinois Facilities Fund (IFF). Sheri is married to Jesus Vazquez and has two children, Claudia and Gabriela.

Our Staff

Small Business Services

Galen Gondolfi, MA, Senior Loan Counselor/Chief Communications Officer, joined Justine PETERSEN in 2003. In his time at Justine PETERSEN he has held positions in the departments of housing and microenterprise, and most currently in communications and development. Galen routinely speaks at national events and conference on issues of microfinance, credit building, microenterprise and the plight of the underbanked. Prior to joining Justine PETERSEN, Galen worked for community development organizations in Chicago, Boston, and Washington D.C.

Aida Ibragimova, MSW, IDA/ Loan Fund Manager, is a graduate of Washington University’s George Warren Brown School of Social Work. Aida has extensive experience in international community development, including her work in Uzbekistan as a program development manager for Mercy Corps (an International NGO). Aida came to Justine PETERSEN in September of 2005 as a practicum student and formally joined the staff in September of 2006. She oversees the IDA program and the Small Business Development Services. Aida delivers technical assistance to small business owners, and also mentors individuals to secure financing for their business operations. Aida’s lending activity and technical assistance has assisted hundreds of small business owners throughout St. Louis Metropolitan area.

Maria Sennett, BSSW, Small Business Counselor, came to Justine PETERSEN in June 2011 as an intern through FIELD, the Aspen Institute's microenterprise branch. She joined the staff full time beginning as a Credit Building Counselor and Resource Development Associate and has transitioned to the small business department. Maria's fascination with microfinance stemmed from the international market, specifically through her practicum with a local non-profit, MicroFinancing Partners in Africa. Maria is a graduate of Saint Louis University where she studied Social Work, Spanish, and International Studies. She is passionate about community development, specifically the role that small businesses play in urban revival. 
 

  Ankica Vukomanovic, BA, Finance Manager, joined Justine PETERSEN in 1999. She is originally from Bosnia and is bilingual in Bosnian and English. She came ot the U.S. in 1995 after the war in Bosnia where she worked for 17 years managing a staff of five in the financial department. Coming ot the U.S. and joining the JP team, she found a new home and family. Ankica manages all of Justine PETERSEN's accounts receivables, payables, bank accounts, and loan payments. Ankica loves cooking, gardening, and spending time with her family. She and her husband have two sons. The biggest joy in her life is her beautiful granddaughter.

Trina Roberson, Loan Fund Associate, states, “Growing with this company has given me the opportunity to help others in a way I never thought possible. Dreams can become a reality when you just stick with your plan of action. That’s what I’ve learned working at Justine PETERSEN.”

 
Kim “Andy” Gorman, Loan Fund Associate, joined Justine PETERSEN in 2010. He has previous experience at Underwood Law Firm, Credit Control, and Consumer Collection Management. Andy has a degree from ITT Technical College in St. Louis. He joined Justine PETERSEN for the “opportunity to utilize his talents, skills and experience of my collection knowledge to become a strong asset in a growing company.”

CREDIT BUILDING SERVICES

Kristin Schell, MSW, Credit Building Manager, is a graduate of Saint Louis University’s School of Social Work. She came to Justine PETERSEN as a joint practicum student with Credit Builder Alliance where she focused solely on credit and best strategies to help individuals build their credit score. She joined Justine PETERSEN as a staff member in December 2008. Prior to Justine PETERSEN she worked at Gateway EITC Community Coalition as a VISTA Site Coordinator where she managed free tax sites throughout the St. Louis area. Kristin and her husband bought and refinanced their home through Justine PETERSEN. 

HOUSING SERVICES

Chonda DeBoise, Housing Counselor, came to Justine PETERSEN in 1997 to purchase her own home. She reflects, “At the time, I received not only my own home but a better start on life." She joined Justine PETERSEN staff the same year as the receptionist and worked her way up to a counseling position. She is a single mother of four, a full time student at Forest Park, a singer, a poet, a writer, and whatever else comes up to be done in a day’s time.

Sheri Lynn Breeland, Foreclosure Prevention Counselor, came to Justine PETERSEN in 2012. She has experience in many fields such as management, recruiting, sales, and manufacturing. She is also a licensed life, accident, and health insurnace agent.

Dr. Jerry Hoffee, PhD, Housing Counselor, has a PhD from in Educational Leadership and Administration. He has held positions as project coordinator and adjunct faculty at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Edwardsville and Kaskaskia College. At Justine PETERSEN, Jerry provides counseling for seniors considering reverse mortgages and for low-income homebuyers accessing down payment subsidy programs.

Fredrica “Cookie” Graham, Housing Counselor, joined JP staff in April, 1999. She writes, “When I first started working at Justine PETERSEN, I set goals for myself being a single mother of three children and one of my major goals was to become a homeowner myself. Well, in my line of work I am usually the one saying 'Congratulations, you are officially a homeowner!' But on November 10, 2005, the tables were turned and my major goal was accomplished, I was not doing the congratulating, I was the person being congratulated!”

 Karen Drayton-Fowlkes, Housing Counselor, is a certified Foreclosure Prevention Specialist who began providing foreclosure prevention counseling in 2008.    She holds a real estate license.  In 2001, she became the first African American President of the St. Louis Metro Chapter of the Women's Council of REALTOR.  With her husband Ira Fowlkes, she has produced and co-hosted a talk show on Gospel 1600 for the past ten years.

 Deborah McClellan, BA, Housing Counselor is a graduate of Southern Illinois University School of Business and a certified Foreclosure Prevention Specialist. Deborah has worked as a Realtor and Residential Mortgage loan officer since 1985. She is actively involved with various community organization in the Metro East area. Deborah and her husband have 2 children and 10 grandchildren.  

FINANCE

Joseph Soer, CPA, Chief Financial Officer joined Justine PETERSEN in 2005. His 35 years of accounting and fiscal managment services has been focused on non-profit organizations. His experience ranged from auditing, cost accounting, accounting, special projects, and Chief Financial Officer services from small to large non-profit organizations and government agencies. His extensive accounting experience has allowed him to create his own company called ROI Business Solutions, LLC, which provides accounting and fiscal management services to small to mid-size non profit organizations. Joe is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a bachelor's degree in accounting and a CPA.