Dave Castillo, Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Castillo was appointed to serve as CEO in early 2009 with previous experience in the private-, public- and non-profit sectors. Prior contributions to the field of tribal housing and economic development occurred through work as Senior Deputy Director for Fannie Mae in Arizona, Economic Development Division Manager for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community as well as Community Development Director for the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.   His work with finance professionals as well as elected and appointed officials has resulted in increased access to private capital as well as federal and state resources for new and rehabilitated housing on Tribal lands.  He is a member of the board for the Arizona Commission on Indian Affairs, Arizona Rural Development Council, Arizona Native Assets Coalition, Arizona Saves, Arizona Housing Alliance and Construction In Indian Country Conference Executive Committee.  Mr. Castillo holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stanford University and a Master in Business Administration degree from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.  Mr. Castillo is of Nahua Indian descent.

Valerie Phillips, Office Manager

Valerie is the first point of contact for Native Home Capital's clients.  Her previous experience in the private sector and technology industry providing client support, direct sales and training provides the basis for her work supporting NHC staff and clients alike.  Valerie serves on the Board of Directors as an officer for Native Health and is completing coursework towards an undergraduate degree in Business.  Ms. Phillips is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.

Native Home Capital Associates

Native Home Capital partners with the following Independent Contractors who bring skills, experience and expertise specific to lending and community development in Indian Country as well as the public and private sectors.

Steve Gundersen

Mr. Gundersen is the principal of TALLSALT FINANCIAL GROUP that includes METTE ASSOCIATES, LLC, (an Investment Advisory Firm) and TALLSALT ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC, (Investment Fund Manager).  Mr. Gundersen is also active in advising Native American tribal entities on direct investments in economic development ventures and assisting new venture start-up firms in raising seed capital and second round financing.  His fourteen years of business experience includes mergers and acquisitions (M&A), investment management and corporate finance across a wide range of industries.  He received his BA in business administration from the University of Washington in Seattle and his MBA from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. Mr. Gundersen, is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.

Stuart Kritzer

Mr. Kritzer is the principal of Kricon Development Partners and serves as Native Home Capital’s lead underwriter.  Mr. Kritzer has experience underwriting numerous tribal projects and serving as a reader for the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Magnet Fund and CDFI Fund Financial Assistance programs.  In addition, he  designed and structured the Arizona Department of Housing’s (ADOH) Green Building incentive program successfully introduced in 2010. As the lead Risk Officer for ADOH, Mr. Kritzer was in charge of all market analysis, annual updating of market study guidelines and internal market research efforts. Prior to his work in the field of housing and development financing, Mr. Kritzer worked in financial analysis and risk analysis for commercial real estate in the P&C insurance industry.  Mr Kritzer's academic credentials include a BA in economics from San Diego State University and an MBA in finance from California State University Long Beach. In 2005 Mr Kritzer earned the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation and expects conferral of the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) credential in 2012.

Bryan Mercier

Mr. Mercier serves as the policy advisor for a federal agency related to American Indian affairs. He has also served as the principle program administrator of the Native Initiatives program with the Department of Treasury’s CDFI Fund, increasing the access to capital and financial services to American Indian communities through the development of financial institutions. Mr. Mercier was recognized as the “Outstanding Leader 2008” by colleagues. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Native American Business and Entrepreneur Network (ONABEN), The Potlatch Fund, and Grand Ronde for Open and Honest Leadership Political Action Committee, Mr. Mercier holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Oregon, a graduate certificate in Economics from  Universitaet Freiburg (Germany), and a masters in International Law from the Universidad Carlos III of Madrid (Spain). Mr. Mercier is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

Jerry Ryburn

Mr. Ryburn is a career finance professional with 16 years of high-level banking experience and 28 years of experience in working directly with Indian tribes, organizations and entrepreneurs. Prior to establishing October Hill, Mr. Ryburn served as Vice President for Western Operations with the American Indian National Bank in Washington, D.C. where he established commercial banking relationships to benefit Indian communities in the western U.S. Prior to his work with AINB, he spent twelve years as a senior commercial lender and branch administration officer in the commercial banking industry in suburban Washington, D.C. In 2000, Ryburn contracted with the Bureau of Indian Affairs to take primary responsibility to administer the BIA’s Credit & Financing Program for the Southwest Region headquartered in Albuquerque and the Western Region headquartered in Phoenix. During the 8-year duration of this contract, he booked over $225 million in private sector funding to capitalize Native economic development projects. Current projects consist of renewable energy development (wind, waste-to-energy and geo-thermal) and reservation-based hotels and office buildings. Mr. Ryburn is a graduate of George Mason University with a B.S. in Finance, Jerry also attended the University of California at Berkeley, graduated from the University of Virginia’s School of Bank Management and has completed an extensive training program in conflict resolution and mediation. Mr. Ryburn is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation.