Open Access Team

Gina Nisbeth

Co-Founder & Co-Chair of the Board

Gina D. Nisbeth is the founder and President of 9^th & Clinton, a national firm that provides strategic advisory and investment structuring expertise to real estate developers, fund managers, nonprofits and for-profit organizations investing for impact.

Previously, Gina was a Director at Citi in the Structured Lending & Investments Group. Spanning over two decades, her most recent role was as Citi’s inaugural Executive in Residence with a minority deposit institution, where she established Unity National Bank’s community development finance platform.

On July 27th, 2021, Gina discussed a program that allows the firm’s bankers and traders to spend time working at Black-owned banks. She spoke with Jennifer Zabasajja on “Quicktake Charge.” (Source: Bloomberg). Check out the video here.

Prior to that, Gina managed Citi’s national $1 billion New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) investments and its $800 million community development-focused private equity investments including transaction origination, structuring and portfolio management.

In 2020, Gina was tapped to deploy $200 million of private equity capital with Black fund managers and $50 million of loan participation opportunities with minority-owned banks for affordable housing preservation and development as part of Citi’s $1 billion commitment to racial equity.

A graduate of Rutgers College (B.A., Political Science) and an Eagleton Institute of Politics Undergraduate Fellow, Gina later received an M.B.A. from The Fox School of Business at Temple University with a concentration in Finance. She has completed a graduate certificate in Creative Cities and Economic Development at New York University.

Roz Billups

As a Financial Advisor and Founder of Billups Financial, Rashidah “Roz” Billups has over a decade of experience in the finance industry including banking & technology, investmentadvisory, risk management, and strategic business planning. A recent graduate of Open Access, Roz made a significant impact at New Jersey Community Corporation, as the NJCC New Markets Tax Credit Lending and Compliance Fellow. Roz is excited to join Open Access as its first Executive Director and shares her primary goals for the 2022-23 Cycle.

• Make Open Access the premier program CDFIs endorse and look to support by offering more ways to donate, with the launch of our virtual Giving Campaign and Annual Gala.
• Expand the program beyond NMTC by forming new strategic partnerships while deepening our existing relationships among industry professionals.
• Recruit top talent nationally, Fellows passionate about their community with a strong desire to influence change.
• Transform the digital presence of Open Access by increasing visibility and strengthening its online presence to become the choice fellowship for applicants looking to work in community development finance.
• Increase engagement among Fellows by expanding our course offerings, incorporating a highly interactive curriculum, culminating with a Virtual Symposium annually.
• Increase exposure for graduates by offering ongoing training and career support via the creation of a Fellows Only accessible database with current job opportunities, career coaching, and recommended industry events and groups to join
• Utilize technology to track program success and sponsor ROI with clearly defined DEl metrics such as projects managed, deal inclusions, dollars spent on Fellows, and the number of new roles taken immediately following program completion.