The Innovate Fund - Transforming Communities

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Team

Emma Wyatt Headshot

Emma Wyatt

Chief Operating Officer
  • Emma serves as the Chief Operating Officer of The Innovate Fund, where she provides strategic leadership in overseeing the organization’s direction and business operations. Her role involves balancing The Innovate Fund’s mission to transform underserved communities while enhancing the impact of the New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) program to benefit low-income areas. Emma has successfully deployed $100 million in NMTC allocations, with an additional $40 million set to be deployed in 2025.Previously, Emma was the Program Manager at The Innovate Fund, where she played a key role in supporting, supervising, and implementing the organization’s strategic plan. Her work included community engagement, pipeline development, and marketing throughout the service area. Emma entered the NMTC industry at People Incorporated Financial Services, where she deployed $144.9 million in NMTC allocations.Based in Abingdon, VA, Emma has a deep passion for the Appalachian region. She is actively involved in several organizations, including serving on the NMTC Coalition Board of Directors and the Steering Committee of the Appalachian Funders Network. Additionally, she is the President of the Trustee Corporation for Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church.
david-barnett

David Barnett

Chairman of the Innovate Fund Board

David Barnett currently serves as the Chairman of the Board for The Innovate Fund. David also serves as Board President for the Greenville Local Development Corporation. David retired from banking in 2020 (former President and CEO of Pinnacle Bank of SC) and now serves on the Division Board of Directors of Park National Bank. David has been instrumental in helping The Innovate Fund and the Greenville Local Development Corporation invest dollars into low income communities in the Upstate and throughout South Carolina.

Advisory Board

  • Andrew Crosson, Invest Appalachia, Chief Executive Officer
  • Bill Pollard, BrightBridge Capital, COO
  • Brendan Buttimer, The Reinvestment Fund, Senior Director, Equitable Food Systems
  • Brian Oxford, CAHEC, Manager, Acquisitions & New Markets
  • Carl Rees, Electricities of NC, Senior Economic Developer
  • Duncan Cheney, Metanoia CDC, Director of Physical Asset Development
  • Katy Davenport, CommunityWorks, Chief Strategy Officer
  • Merle Johnson, Charleston County, SC Economic Development, Executive Director
  • William Turner, Wells Fargo Corporate & Investment Banking, Senior Vice President

Operating Board

  • David Barnett, Board Chairman – Retired President/ CEO of Pinnacle Bank of SC
  • Laurel Tinsley, Operating Officer – Cherry Bekaert, Partner
  • Tammy Propst – TCPropst Consulting, LLC & TIF Founder
  • Mark Cooter – Cherry Bekaert, Managing Partner SC Upstate
  • Andrew Kurtz – Kopis, LLC, CEO & Vigilix, LLC, CEO
  • Charlie Mickel – RSI Holdings, President
  • Michelle Thompson – Cherry Bekaert, Chief Executive Officer