Executive & Senior Management

President | Chief Executive Officer

James H. Bason sets and refines the broad strategic direction for the organization and leads a highly collaborative team in the execution of all programs and services. Mr. Bason provides tactical oversight for all aspects of our programs, staffing, operations, monitoring and reporting of social impact outcomes.

James H. Bason is an experienced financial executive with a history of providing comprehensive lending management expertise. Prior to joining TruFund Financial, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at Carver Bancorp, a nationally recognized community banking organization where he served in various executive roles during his nine-year tenure. During this time, he successfully drove organizational growth to build the loan portfolio from $250 million to $675 million and developed and implemented policies and procedures to enhance financial controls and to improve lending and loan servicing operations.

Previously, Mr. Bason served in positions of increasing responsibility at The Bank of New York, formerly as Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Lending and Community Development. Prior to that, Mr. Bason was the Community Reinvestment Act Officer at Barclays Bank in New York.

He earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the State University of New York at Oswego and a Banking Diploma in Finance from the American Institute of Banking. He recently completed a Citi/Opportunity Finance Network (OFN)-sponsored leadership training program for Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) executives at Wharton University. He completed his Formal Bank Credit Training Program at the Bank of New York.

Senior Vice President | Structured Lending & Investments

Jerrel is responsible for building and executing TruFund’s equity investment platform. He leads fund management, capital initiatives, relationship management, underwriting, and portfolio support, focusing on investments in historically under-resourced developers of affordable housing. Jerrel has a 15+ year banking background that includes LIHTC investments, construction loans to all asset classes, and Fannie Mae loans for affordable housing cooperatives. Jerrel holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, an MBA from the University of Maryland College Park, and a Master of Professional Studies in Real Estate from Georgetown University. He also holds the CFA’s Private Markets and Alternative Investment Certificate. 

Senior Vice President | Chief Lending Officer

OC Isaac is a seasoned financial executive with over 15 years of experience in lending, credit administration, and mission-driven economic development. He currently serves as Chief Lending Officer at TruFund, where he leads strategic lending initiatives to expand access to capital for small businesses and underserved communities.

OC began his career in investment banking at Lehman Brothers and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, specializing in capital markets and structured finance. His commitment to equitable economic development led him to the CDFI sector, where he first served as a Presidential Appointee under President Obama at the Small Business Administration (SBA). As a Special Advisor in the Office of Capital Access, he played a key role in shaping small business lending policies and programs at the national level.

Throughout his career, OC has led innovative lending programs across multiple sectors. As Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer at Locus Bank, he oversaw a diverse portfolio, including housing, renewable energy, and small business financing. Previously, as Chief Credit Officer at PCR Business Finance, he launched the People of Color Business Elevation Fund, which provided over $10 million in capital to underrepresented entrepreneurs, and successfully revitalized the organization’s SBA lending platform.

With expertise in impact-driven finance, OC remains committed to fostering economic equity and strengthening communities through responsible lending.

Senior Vice President | Chief Credit & Compliance Officer

Michael Vaugh is Senior Vice President and Chief Credit & Compliance Officer for TruFund Financial Services, Inc. Mr. Vaugh is responsible for TruFund’s credit risk management division, which includes underwriting and approval, credit administration, portfolio analytics, credit risk rating methodologies, counterparty risk, and problem loan management. Mr. Vaugh is an experienced commercial credit manager with formal credit training from Omega Performance. Mr. Vaugh has management and underwriting experience with Commercial Real Estate, Small Business Lending and C&I Lending. Over his 14 years of industry experience, he has worked with a variety of businesses such as Fortune 500 financial institutions, federal credit unions and nonprofit community development financial institutions (CDFIs). Mr. Vaugh holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration from East Stroudsburg University.

Executive Vice President | Chief Operating Officer

Dr. Kim Carter Evans is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of TruFund Financial Services, Inc., a national Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), where she provides executive leadership for the organization’s enterprise operations, strategic growth, and organizational performance. With nearly 23 years of experience in business, community, and economic development, she is widely recognized as a thought leader in community finance, economic mobility, organizational leadership, entrepreneurship, and equitable economic development.

Throughout her career, Dr. Carter Evans has been committed to expanding access to opportunity by strengthening institutions, empowering entrepreneurs, and building sustainable pathways to wealth creation for underserved communities. Her leadership combines operational excellence with strategic vision, positioning organizations to achieve measurable impact while remaining grounded in mission.

During her tenure at TruFund, Dr. Carter Evans has helped secure more than $65 million in philanthropic, federal, corporate, and private-sector investments supporting small business lending, entrepreneurial education, equity investment, and business advisory services for thousands of entrepreneurs. She has cultivated strategic partnerships with organizations including the Walton Family Foundation, Blue Moon Fund, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, JPMorgan Chase Advancing Cities, JPMorgan Chase, PNC Bank, Truist Foundation, Regions Foundation, Capital One, GoDaddy, Wells Fargo, Charles Schwab, and numerous additional public and private partners.

As Chief Operating Officer, she has helped reposition TruFund as a nationally recognized leader within the Community Development Financial Institution industry through operational modernization, enterprise-wide strategic planning, organizational transformation, and brand elevation. Her leadership has strengthened organizational infrastructure, refined systems, policies, and processes, enhanced enterprise performance measurement, advanced talent development, and championed Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives.

Dr. Carter Evans has also played a pivotal role in expanding TruFund’s geographic footprint, leading strategic growth initiatives throughout Texas, including Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth, while helping establish and strengthen the organization’s presence throughout the Atlanta metropolitan region and the State of New Jersey. She has been instrumental in elevating TruFund’s reputation as a trusted partner for governments, financial institutions, foundations, and corporations committed to advancing equitable economic development.

Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Carter Evans has led or supported the development of numerous signature initiatives, including the TruAccess Contractor Program, Small Business Resiliency Programming, the Women in Business: EmpowHERment Program, Financial Empowerment Programs, TruImpact Week, and other innovative initiatives designed to expand access to capital, strengthen business capacity, and foster long-term community resilience.
Since joining TruFund in 2012, Dr. Carter Evans has helped shape the organization’s national presence through strategic communications, executive leadership, public-private partnerships, and innovative programming. Her leadership has also guided disaster recovery and resilience initiatives that enabled communities to navigate economic disruption while positioning TruFund as a leader in climate justice, community resilience, and inclusive economic recovery.

Prior to joining TruFund, Dr. Carter Evans served in leadership and consulting roles with the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, the City of New Orleans, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s Urban Entrepreneur Partnership, and CCMG Management, where she advised municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and private-sector businesses on business, community, and economic development strategies.

Beyond her executive leadership, Dr. Carter Evans is a respected speaker, strategist, and advisor whose insights on leadership, entrepreneurship, organizational transformation, community finance, and economic mobility have influenced organizations and audiences across the country. She is passionate about developing the next generation of leaders and believes that lasting economic transformation begins with investing in people, institutions, and communities.

A dedicated civic leader, Dr. Carter Evans serves on the boards of the Jubilee Impact Fund (Chicago, Illinois), the Center for Empowerment and Development (Atlanta, Georgia), the Reimagine Women’s Center (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), the Jefferson County Revolving Loan Fund Advisory Board (Birmingham, Alabama), IGNITE Central, and other mission-driven organizations advancing economic opportunity and community development.

Dr. Carter Evans is also a six-time published author, writing on leadership, purpose, marriage and family relationships, entrepreneurship, faith, and personal growth. Her work reflects her belief that transformational leadership extends beyond organizational success to creating enduring legacies that strengthen families, businesses, and communities for generations to come.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Master of Business Administration in International Business from the University of Phoenix, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship from Trinity International University, and a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) from HB Institute. She is also a Licensed Professional Christian Therapist specializing in family and marriage therapy.

A third-generation entrepreneur, Dr. Carter Evans believes that expanding access to opportunity is one of the most powerful strategies for closing wealth gaps and strengthening communities. Her life’s work is dedicated to building institutions that outlast individuals, creating systems that empower entrepreneurs, and helping communities transform potential into lasting prosperity.

Senior Vice President | Director of Resource Development

Brianna Gavigan, SVP and Director of Resource Development, leads TruFund’s national fundraising, strategic partnerships, and capital development to support our mission.

She brings more than 15 years of experience in community development finance. Prior to joining TruFund, Brianna worked at Capital for Change (formerly the Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund) where she began her career as an AmeriCorps VISTA and supported affordable housing and community development initiatives across Connecticut.

Brianna holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Mary Washington and a Master of Social Work from the University of Connecticut with a focus on policy and program development, where she also served as adjunct faculty and staff. She also holds a Certificate in Community Development Finance from the Carsey School of Public Policy. She serves on the boards of Project Oak and the Branford Festival.

Senior Vice President | Chief Financial Officer

Stephanie Kabore Turquin serves as the Chief Financial Officer for TruFund and its subsidiaries. Alongside the CEO and COO, she leads TruFund’s financial and capital strategy, risk governance, and lender relationships, shaping the organization’s balance sheet and supporting its growth and capital deployment priorities. She also oversees the organization’s financial operations to support scale.

Stephanie brings over 20 years of experience across institutional wealth management and impact finance. Before TruFund, she was Global Finance Director at myAgro, where she was part of the core team that raised over $100 million in institutional funding to support a rapidly scaling, multi-country operation. Before that, she spent five years at BBR Partners, one of New York’s premier family offices with over $30 billion under management, where, as VP of Finance, she built the firm’s FP&A and financial planning capabilities from the ground up. She began her career in institutional finance at Scotiabank and JP Morgan Chase before moving into senior financial leadership roles across multiple sectors.

Stephanie holds an MBA from Babson College and a Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in New York and is fluent in English and French.