Staff Members

Gustavo is a seasoned microfinance practitioner passionate about advancing opportunities for underserved communities through capital. Prior to becoming President and CEO of PeopleFund he held leadership positions with top-tier community lenders where he was instrumental in their growth at a national level. Highlights of his career include: the development of LiftFund’s MMS – an early “lending as a service” platform tailored to microlending in the US; the financial engineering of a $30M asset purchase agreement between LiftFund and Citibank – a first in US microlending; the expansion of Oportun (from 35 to 85 stores) where he was directly responsible for the production of 20,000 loans per month; he redefined the CFO role for Opportunity Fund and put together credit facilities that helped the organization become the largest non-profit microlender in US. Most recently he co-founded and managed Listo, an organization providing financial products and services to thousands in California. Gustavo has served on the boards of Opportunity Finance Network, Foundation for Women and School of Excellence – San Antonio and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

Anthony Hedger is a seasoned financial executive. Mr. Hedger worked for Rolls Royce maritime, Petronas, CFS Bank and Vodafone playing key roles within each organization. He most recently served as CFO of Houston SPCA, an iconic Houston non-profit focused on protecting animals from suffering, abuse, and exploitation. He holds a BA in Accounting and Finance and an MBA from Lancaster University.

Mr. Hedger comes to PeopleFund with 20+ years of national and international experience in deeply complex financial operations. He has advised chief executives, senior leaders and boards in matters of mergers and acquisitions, integration, business commercials, operations, finance, capital markets, and strategy.

Fernando is a seasoned strategic leader with a proven track record in driving global transformational initiatives, expertise extends to corporate information technology, operations, cybersecurity, and risk management. Strong background in establishing and expanding cross-functional program management organizations. Unique blend of strategic vision and hands-on expertise to enhance process efficiency and foster operational excellence across Fortune 100 and Top 4 consulting firms in US and Latin America,  including Citigroup, Deloitte, Gallagher, Scotiabank and Accenture. He holds an Executive MBA from Florida International University and a B.S. degrees in Industrial Engineering and Computer Science and Systems Engineering from the University of Los Andes.

As SVP of Philanthropic Partnerships & Investor Relations, Jenny is responsible for leading and managing PeopleFund’s partnership development and fundraising/fund development strategies. As a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) she is passionate about bringing resources to nonprofits and underserved populations. Prior to her role at PeopleFund, she was responsible for managing programs raising millions in grants and donations for several Central Texas nonprofits. She has extensive experience in business operations and fundraising and has spent 20 +years leading and managing a small for-profit business. She understands the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and small business owners. Jenny holds a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology from Stephen F. Austin State University. Outside of work, Jenny enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters. She enjoys traveling, camping, and volunteering.

Cris Houston, Esq. obtained her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Harvard Law School. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Finance from Hampton University.  Cris is a licensed attorney and a mediator in the State of Texas. 

Cris’s career as a professor, attorney, Legal Research and Writing Program Director, Academic Success and Bar Preparation Program Director, and Compliance professional spans a combined total of eighteen (18) years.  Cris has taught Business Law, Business Leadership and Ethics, Employment Law, Legal Research and Writing, Appellate Advocacy, Academic Success, Bar Preparation, Criminal Law, and Criminal Procedure courses.  Furthermore, she has practiced law, primarily in wills and estate planning, for a total of eighteen (18) years.  She also served as the Compliance Officer at Waco Family Medicine for approximately two (2) years, lending her legal skills and expertise to help the organization fulfill its mission to increase access to high quality primary, dental, and behavioral health care to the underserved residents of McLennan, Bell, and nearby counties in Central Texas.  She also dedicates her time to providing legal counsel pro bono to economically disadvantaged clients in Waco, Belton, Temple, and Killeen as a volunteer lawyer with Lone Star Legal Aid of Waco. 

Since 2018, Cris has passionately performed mediation services at every opportunity, garnering experience mediating a wide variety of cases with the objective of bolstering her mediation skills in order to build a successful career in mediation and other fields of alternative dispute resolution, such as arbitration. She had the honor of being chosen to complete an American Arbitration Association A. Leon Higginbotham Fellowship to strengthen her alternative dispute resolution skills.  Cris is also a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitrator.  She has devoted much of her time to conducting mediations through the Harris County Dispute Resolution Center, Bexar County Dispute Resolution Center, and McLennan County Dispute Resolution Center. 

Cris serves her community through her involvement in the Harvard Alumni Association Early College Awareness Program, Waco Civic Theatre Board of Directors, Inspiracion Board of Directors, Greater Waco YMCA Board of Directors, Waco Foundation’s Development of Strategic Assets (DSA) Committee, Communities in Schools Community Youth Development Community Collaborative Committee, The Links, Incorporated Waco-Central Texas Chapter, National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Christian Women’s Job Corps Volunteer Program, Lone Star Legal Aid of Waco, McLennan County Dispute Resolution Center (where she previously served on the Board of Directors), Community Race Relations Coalition, and Greater Waco Legal Services (where she previously served on the Board of Directors), to name a few of her most recent community service endeavors.  She enjoys traveling, yoga, Zumba, dancing, reading, patronizing the arts, and trying new restaurants and cuisines, among other things. 

Cris attends Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston, Texas and Open Door Church of God in Christ in Waco, Texas. She is a devoted servant of Christ and a dedicated public servant with a heart for her community.  She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role as the Executive Director of McLennan Community Investment Fund. 

Janie is an accomplished HR executive with more than 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector, including leadership roles in HR with Texas’ CDFIs LiftFund and now PeopleFund. Played critical roles in building organizational talent through the employment cycle (recruiting, onboarding and offboarding) facilitating effective management of conflict resolution, professional development and promoting an ethical company culture and ensuring conformity to internal HR policies, procedures and practices. Effective company representative in the community, monitored HR developments and communication to employees regarding benefits, compensation, disciplinary action, performance evaluations, recruiting and selection, and employment law-related updates. She holds B.A. degrees in Business Administration and in Psychology from the University of The Incarnate Word. 

Patricia joined PeopleFund as a Development and Finance intern and was quickly promoted because of her experience and work ethic. She graduated in December 2012 from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in Business Administration. Prior to joining Peoplefund, she assisted a UT professor with her research about the socioeconomic returns in education in developing countries and volunteered in other organizations, such as Latinitas, Candlelighters, and the American Cancer Society.