Cherry Bekaert CEO Michelle Thompson Joins Board of Managers for The Innovate Fund

Greenville, SC — Oct. 1, 2024 – Cherry Bekaert and The Innovate Fund are pleased to announce the appointment of Michelle Thompson, CEO of Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC, to the Board of Managers for The Innovate Fund. Based in Greenville, SC, The Innovate Fund is a New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Community Development Entity (CDE) dedicated to transforming communities by supporting the creation of quality jobs and enhancing health and wellness for the region’s low-income residents.

Cherry Bekaert, a minority owner in The Innovate Fund (TIF), is proud to support TIF’s vital work in generating significant community outcomes across Central Appalachia. To date, The Innovate Fund has achieved a total economic impact of $1.9 billion across a six-state service area, creating over 7,000 jobs in low-income communities and serving over 407,000 low-income individuals.

“We are thrilled to welcome Michelle Thompson to the Board of Managers for The Innovate Fund,” said David Barnett, Board Chairman. “Her leadership and expertise will be invaluable as we continue our mission of creating positive change in the communities we serve.”

TIF’s Operating Board includes esteemed members such as David Barnett, Board Chairman; Laurel Tinsley, TIF Operating Officer and Managing Director at Cherry Bekaert; Tammy Propst, TIF Founder; Mark Cooter, Partner at Cherry Bekaert; Andrew Kurtz, CEO of Kopis, LLC and Vigilix, LLC; and Charlie Mickel, President of RSI Holdings.

In addition to her new role, Thompson serves on the Nominating Committee at the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) as the Major Firms Group Chair and is a member of the National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion. She is licensed with the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA) and holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and an M.S. in Accountancy from the University of South Carolina.

“I am inspired by The Innovate Fund’s mission to improve local communities,” said Thompson. “I have always been passionate about transforming our communities and am honored to join a board committed to driving meaningful, lasting changes that will enhance outcomes for our clients and the communities we serve.”