The mission of True Access Capital is to educate, empower and elevate business owners and entrepreneurs by augmenting technical expertise, increasing access to capital and stimulating business growth throughout Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania.
Total percentage of loans to under-served communities
Vandell Hampton Jr., is President & CEO of True Access Capital and is responsible for the overall management and operation of the organization. Mr. Hampton has served in this capacity since 2004. Under his leadership, True Access Capital has provided over $20 million in financing to small businesses and community organizations throughout Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania.
Prior to joining True Access Capital, Mr. Hampton worked with The Enterprise Center in Philadelphia, a small business incubator, where he managed a micro-loan fund and managed consulting and technical assistance activities. Earlier, Mr. Hampton spent seven years with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development unit, where he financed single-family homes and water and sewer systems for small towns in rural Delaware and Maryland.
Mr. Hampton received his Bachelors of Science in Marketing from Delaware State University in 1993, and a Master of Science in Management with a concentration in Public Administration, from Wilmington University in 2013.
Barbara Willis currently serves as Director of Lending for True Access Capital. She directs all lending activities, ensuring that organizational goals and objectives are met. She manages all loans made under small business and community development programs. Such activities include loan underwriting, loan origination, loan servicing, and portfolio management. Prior to joining True Access Capital, the majority of her commercial banking career had been in the southeastern Pennsylvania market. Ms. Willis has served on numerous boards including: former Board of Directors Member for True Access Capital. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Immaculata University.
Barbara and her husband Bob currently reside in Rehoboth Beach, DE.
Sheila Harrigan serves as Portfolio Manager and “The Closer” for all of the commercial transactions. Since 1997, Sheila has been responsible for oversight of the True Access Capital lending process, which includes, loan closings, underwriting, portfolio management, collections and loan servicing. Prior to joining True Access Capital, she worked as a certified housing counselor with NCALL Research where she was responsible for providing home ownership counseling for low to moderate income families enabling them to qualify for affordable home mortgages. Sheila has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Sciences from The College of New Rochelle, New York. She also has certifications in Business, Community Development and Affordable Housing, and is appointed as a Notary Public for the State of Delaware. She currently serves with various community organizations: Southbridge CDC Executive Board, Delaware State University Food Business Incubator Center for Enterprise Development, Advisory Board, as well as provides consulting and technical assistance to several non-profit entities throughout the State. Ms. Harrigan is an ordained Associate Pastor at Kingdom Life Fellowship Center, Dover, DE and manages the Bereavement and Benevolence Ministries as well as serves in the outreach to members of various nursing homes and/or rehabilitative facilities throughout the State of Delaware through her ministerial affiliations.
Clinton Tymes currently serves as the Technical Assistance Coordinator for True Access Capital. In this position he is responsible for the development, implementation and coordination of the many business support programs at True Access Capital. Mr. Tymes joined True Access Capital in 2013, after a 25-year career with the University of Delaware, where he held the position of State Director of the Delaware Small Business Development Center Network (SBDC). Over his career, he has also owned and operated an office equipment business and worked in a variety of marketing support and financial positions in the manufacturing sector.
Mr. Tymes has served on numerous boards including: President of the Delaware Quality Consortium; the Small Business and Agricultural Council for the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank; Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Small Business Development Center; the Christiana Care Advisory Board; Greater Brandywine Village Revitalization, Inc.; the Board of Junior Achievement; the Delaware Council on Economic Education and Entrepreneurship; the Bear-Glasgow YMCA, and the Delaware Money School. He earned his BA and MBA degrees from Wilmington University.
Deborah Harrison serves as Finance Manager for True Access Capital. In this capacity, Ms. Harrison is responsible for managing the day-to-day accounting and finance functions, managing investment capital, managing the external audit process, and compliance and reporting to the Board, investors and other funders. Ms. Harrison’s career spans over 25 years in the accounting sector, working with both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Ms. Harrison has studied at both Virginia Commonwealth University and J. Sargent Reynolds Community College in Virginia.
Sara A. Crawford is Director of The Women’s Business Center at True Access Capital, an entrepreneur, fashion designer, and author. She is dedicated to furthering the contribution of women business owners, especially those from under-served and minority communities.
With a BFA in Fashion Design and Marketing from the International Academy of Design and Technology, and 15 years in the fashion industry, Sara lives life with a flair and energy that inspires those around her.
Since taking the role of Director in 2017, Sara has trained over 4,000 aspiring and existing business owners, assisted in helping to secure over $2 million in loan capital, expanded the client reach, and increased programming and services offered at the Women’s Business Center. Under her leadership, the WBC has been recognized as one of the top WBC’s nationally for the highest number of business plans completed through their Passport to Business Success program.
Sara is involved in community and nonprofit organizations like The Division for the Visually Impaired and The National Diabetes Association. She is a member of the invite-only hub, For(bes) the Culture for elite leaders of color who are breaking down barriers & impacting culture globally to connect, collaborate and change. Sara was also named a Delaware Business Times DBT 40 young professional recipient in 2020.
Sara is committed to drive awareness to social issues and to setting a higher bar for small businesses in Delaware by creating programming to educate and inspire entrepreneurs.
Delores Lee is a longstanding employee of True Access Capital (TAC). She has been with the organization since 1998 and has held several positions. Currently, Ms. Lee serves as Program Assistant for the Women’s Business Center (WBC) at True Access Capital and Office Manager for TAC. Along with her duties at the WBC, Ms. Lee also provides administrative support to the President & CEO. Prior to joining True Access Capital, Delores served as Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Marketing for the Lincoln Insurance Group.
Ms. Lee holds a Diploma of Biblical and Theological Studies from Palmer Theological Seminary and currently continuing her studies at Kingdom Theological College. Ms. Lee serves on the Ministerial Staff at the Mother African Union Church in Wilmington, the Board of Directors for both the Peter Spencer Family Life Foundation and the Community Services Building Corporation.
Lorenzo Merino serves as VP, Director of Government Lending for True Access Capital. Mr. Merino is responsible for Directing all SBA lending activities throughout Delaware and Southeastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Merino is fluent in English and Spanish, and works closely with community leaders to create new partnership opportunities.
Prior to joining True Access Capital, Mr. Merino was in banking for over 10 years. He has served on several community initiatives and boards including, Board of Director for Historic Kennett Square, Millennial Advisory Board for First Resource Bank, and Kennett Square Borough Council Member among others.
Courtaney Taylor currently serves as the Portfolio and Accounting Administrator for True Access Capital. In this position, she is responsible for handling payments, post-closing processes, and reporting. Ms. Taylor joined True Access Capital in 2019. Ms. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Morgan State University, and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Finance at Wilmington University.
Phyllis McCollum serves as a Senior Community Lending Officer for True Access Capital. She is involved in all lending activities, which includes loans made under small business, community development programs and SBA 504. Such lending activities include loan underwriting, loan origination and loan servicing.
Salaika Adams is the Program Specialist for the Womens Business Center at True Access Capital. In her role as the Program Specialist she supports the Women’s Business Center’s Program Director administratively. Salaika attended Temple University in Philadelphia, PA and Shaw University in Raleigh, NC, where she majored in communications. She has over 10 years’ experience in customer relations, retail training and coaching, and retail management.
Fun Fact: I’m a DIY and Docu Addict!
David Ortiz is responsible for promoting lending programs and facilitating pre and post loan technical assistance for potential and existing borrowers. His efforts will be directed to underserved neighborhoods in Wilmington, Delaware and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with an emphasis on communities that include businesses and people of color, low-to-moderate income individuals and women. Prior to joining TAC, Mr. Ortiz worked in public service for neighborhood nonprofits and the City of Philadelphia. He has focused on community and economic development activities including affordable housing and neighborhood planning. Mr. Ortiz has volunteered for home and school associations, community boards and coached youth athletics. David holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Regional Planning from Cornell University.
* Executive Committee
