About AMCREF

Founded in 2005, AMCREF Community Capital is a mission-driven specialty finance firm with a community development strategy of providing flexible, below market rate financing to manufacturing/industrial businesses that create quality jobs, and economic opportunities for low-income persons and low-income communities.


AMCREF offers innovative financial products and advisory services including tax credit-enhanced investments and non-conventional debt financing. Together, our team has more than 100+ years of experience and has facilitated $1.5 billion in transactions.


AMCREF has invested more than $800 million of federal and state New Markets Tax Credit enhanced-capital. These funds are used to finance businesses based in low-income communities primarily in the Southern U.S., with a particular emphasis on rural communities.

Meet the Team

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SUSAN SEAGREN

PRESIDENT

Susan Seagren is President of AMCREF. Susan has over 20 years of corporate and specialty finance experience, including tax credit finance, venture capital/private equity and investment banking. Prior to joining AMCREF in 2007, Susan worked for Silicon Valley Bank Alliant raising private capital in the cleantech, technology and healthcare sectors. Before Alliant, Susan worked for Goodby, Silverstein & Partners in account management. Susan also worked at Hambrecht and Quist, an investment bank in San Francisco, CA specializing in the technology industry. Susan holds a BS in Finance with highest honors from the University of Colorado.

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NIANAH LOVE

DIRECTOR OF ASSET MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE

As Director of Asset Management and Compliance, Ms. Love oversees and maintains regulatory and compliance requirements while also providing asset management for the company’s portfolio. Prior to joining AMCREF in 2015, Nianah worked as a Client Service Professional at Chase Bank where she was responsible for the customer service and relationship management activities of an assigned portfolio of Commercial Middle-Market customers. Prior to Chase, Nianah was an Administrative Assistant at Capital One Bank, where she was responsible for administrative support and research activities in commercial banking for sales advisors and product managers. Nianah holds a BS in Finance with a minor in Management from the University of New Orleans and an MBA in Finance from Loyola University.

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DARRIELLE LEVY

VICE PRESIDENT OF ACCOUNTING

As AMCREF’s Vice President of Accounting, Darrielle oversees all company financial records, analyzing the financial data for accurate representation, compliance, and evaluating risk and benefit options for the organization. Other responsibilities include banking, loan servicing, and maintenance of all financial statements and tax returns within the organization. Joining AMCREF in 2021, Darrielle encompasses over 15 years of accounting experience in private, public, and government sectors with a focus on small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Her tenure as Senior Accountant of Deltha Corporation, an award-winning professional services contractor, earned her distinguished recognition on government contracts such as Department of Energy, NASA, KPMG, and more. She was also recognized for her internal audit collaboration efforts while working in healthcare, recovering over six figures in overpaid payroll taxes by the organization. Darrielle’s accounting experience also includes work in Human Resources, Benefits, Payroll, and Auditing, providing her with a unique ability to examine financial data from each departmental aspect. Darrielle holds a Master of Science in Accountancy and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Southern University at New Orleans. As a native New Orleanian, Darrielle takes pride in her philanthropic efforts, contributing to the improvement of community and uplifting the youth throughout the city.

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WHITNEY COLLINS

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF INVESTMENTS

As Senior Vice President of Investments, Ms. Collins is involved with all aspects of AMCREF’s NMTC transaction underwriting and closing for both direct investments and tax credit advisory clients. Prior to joining AMCREF in 2021, Ms. Collins was the Program Manager of The Innovate Fund (a certified CDE and $277 million allocatee) whose mission was to transform low-income communities across GA, NC, SC, and TN through the NMTC program. In that role, Ms. Collins was responsible for overseeing and implementing The Innovate Fund’s strategic plan, including deployment of its NMTC allocation, community engagement, and pipeline development. Prior to The Innovate Fund, Ms. Collins was the Asset Management and Compliance Manager at Tax Advantage Group, a full-service NMTC consulting firm, where she was responsible for the asset management and compliance functions on behalf of 6 CDE clients. Prior to working with Tax Advantage Group, Ms. Collins worked with Professional Mortgage Company helping to place $100 million in commercial rest estate loans throughout the southeast. She holds both a master’s degree in Real Estate Development and a bachelor’s degree in Financial Management with a minor in Accounting from Clemson University.

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SYDNEY VENÉY

FINANCE ASSOCIATE

As AMCREF’s Finance Associate, Sydney assists with the asset management of AMCREF’s portfolio of investments, compliance and reporting requirements, as well as various accounting functions. Joining AMCREF in 2022, Sydney holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance as well as a minor in Business Analytics earned from Loyola University New Orleans. Her academic achievements at Loyola University have awarded her recognition on the University’s Dean’s List, and she is also an esteemed member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.

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KNOX CLARK

CO-FOUNDER AND PARTNER

Knox Clark is a Co-Founder and Partner of AMCREF Community Capital, LLC and the founder of Gulf South Finance and Palmetto Capital Advisors. Knox has more than 30 years of commercial and corporate finance experience as a lender, investment banker and corporate development director. Prior to founding Gulf South Finance in 2003 and co-founding AMCREF in 2005, Knox served as Vice President, Corporate Finance with Hibernia Southcoast Capital where he spent four years executing mergers & acquisitions, equity financings and other financial advisory services for public and private companies. Prior to Hibernia Southcoast, he spent nine years in the natural resource industry as a corporate development professional executing stock and asset acquisitions, greenfield and expansion projects, new product development initiatives and existing operation enhancements on five continents. Knox earned a BA from Tulane University and a MBA from Loyola University New Orleans.

CLIFFORD M. KENWOOD

CO-FOUNDER AND PARTNER

Clifford Kenwood is Co-Founder and Partner of AMCREF Community Capital. Cliff has 25+ years of experience working in the specialty finance and environmental arenas in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Prior to co-founding AMCREF in 2005, he worked for Stonehenge Capital in tax credit financing, venture capital and community development. Prior to Stonehenge, Cliff worked for Preservation North Carolina, marketing and supervising rehabilitation of historic structures utilizing tax credits. Cliff also worked for the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation in New Orleans. He holds MBA and Master of Regional Planning degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a BA from Rollins College.

504.593.8247
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