Our Staff

Our highly skilled team is experienced in making affordable lending to small real estate developers and small business owners committed to developing underserved neighborhoods.​ Meet the team members working behind the scenes.

Executive Team

Watchen Harris Bruce

Position: President and CEO
Categories: Executive Team
Watchen has over thirty-five years of banking, development finance, small business lending, economic development, international development, affordable housing, and leadership experience. She has served numerous roles on local, national, and international levels. Before joining Baltimore Community Lending, Watchen worked as Chief of Party/Country Director of the international USAID-funded project “Investing for Business Expansion” (IBEX) project to provide access to finance and economic development in Libera. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Chief of the Party for the USAID-funded project “Liberia Agribusiness & Renewal Energy Development Activity.”   On the national level, Watchen has served as Vice President at several national banks in the U.S. including PNC Bank, Fleet Bank, and JPMorgan Chase among others. She is a graduate of Leadership Boston & Baltimore. She serves on Maryland Community Development Network and Morning Star Baptist Church Five CDC boards. She is also a board member of African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs and a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Consumer Advisory Board member. She is a certified PNC Women in Business Lender & Certified Trainer & Coach with the Nehemiah Project International Ministries. Watchen has been honored as one of the 100 Top Women Leaders in Baltimore by the Daily Record.   Watchen is pursuing a doctorate in Organizational Development & Leadership through Grand Canyon University . She holds a master’s degree in Business Management from Cambridge College in Massachusetts, a BA in Community Planning & Management from the University of Massachusetts, and a BA in French from the University of Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire.

Watchen Harris Bruce

President and CEO

Clarence Snuggs

Position: Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Categories: Executive Team

Clarence is responsible for guiding our business expansion strategies, capital solutions, community development activities, and operational growth. He is a seasoned community development professional who has demonstrated a solid track record of successful leadership and related industry knowledge. His work in the public, private and community sectors has produced outcomes which have led to significant success in building and stabilizing communities. Clarence has completed programs in Executive Education at the Harvard Kennedy School for state and local government officials, Leadership Maryland, and Leadership Montgomery. He has an MBA from Howard University and a BA from Winston Salem State University.

Clarence Snuggs

Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

Small Business Lending Division

Sean Chrysostom

Small Business Training & Development Officer

Bonnie Crockett

Vice President & Director of the Small Business Lending Division

Angella Aizire

Loan Officer, Small Business Lending Division

Don Cutwright

Loan Officer, Small Business Lending Division

Ulric Donawa

Loan Officer, Small Business Lending Division

David Freeman

Small Business Training & Development Officer

Jaclyn Whitley

Small Business Associate, Small Business Lending Division

Real Estate Lending Division

Reno Pratt

Loan Officer & Loan Analyst

Sean Russell

Vice President & Chief Lending Officer

Ned Fields

Manager of Building Facilities and Construction

Dierdra Pressley

Loan Officer, Real Estate Lending Division

Tracy Evans

Loan Officer, Real Estate Lending Division

Roy Miller

Loan Administration Coordinator, Real Estate Lending Division

Administration & Finance

Jessica Brockington

Position: Marketing & Communications Officer
Categories: Administration & Finance

Jessica Brockington

Marketing & Communications Officer

Susan Kelly

Position: Chief Financial Officer
Categories: Administration & Finance

Susan is responsible for the organization’s monthly financial statements, compliance filings, yearly audit preparation, budgeting and cash management. In addition, she oversees loan servicing, payroll processing and human resources. Susan joined Baltimore Community Lending in September 2010 as an Executive Assistant, was promoted to Office Manager, Assistant Controller, and Finance Manager before becoming CFO in 2020. She has prior experience in banking and accounting as well as a degree in both Economics and Psychology from Virginia Tech.

Susan Kelly

Chief Financial Officer

Patricia “Pat” Clements

Position: Major Gifts Cultivator, Operations Administrator, and Executive Assistant to the President & CEO
Categories: Administration & Finance

Pat is responsible for implementing fundraising campaigns, developing donor relationships, managing and directing daily operations, and providing executive leadership support. She has extensive experience in residential and small business lending as well as construction management. Her leadership roles have involved operations, loan origination, and servicing at various financial institutions. Pat serves on the Baltimore Homeownership Preservation Coalition, the Asset Building and Community Development Steering Committee, and the Baltimore Predatory Lending Task Force. She has a bachelor’s degree in History from Morgan State University.

Patricia “Pat” Clements

Major Gifts Cultivator, Operations Administrator, and Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

Edwina Vinton

Position: Portfolio Administrator and Finance Assistant
Categories: Administration & Finance

Edwina supports payment processing, accounts collections, accounts reconciliations, and other financial matters. She has a strong track record as a negotiator and result driven debt collector. Edwina can work in any environment and can adapt to complex situations. She has a BS in Business Administration and an MBA in Finance, both from Walden University.

Edwina Vinton

Portfolio Administrator and Finance Assistant