INDIANAPOLIS – Intend Indiana has welcomed five new team members to support the organization’s continued growth and statewide work in community development, housing and lending. The new hires include Lydia C. B. Watson, Alexus Tucker, Jason Comer, Summy Ventura and Stacey Verneé Walston.
In their roles, the new team members will support Intend Indiana’s initiatives, including Affordable HomeMatters, Build Fund, Edge Fund and Renew Landbank. Their combined experience strengthens Intend’s ability to manage local projects, expand housing opportunities, support small business owners and use data to guide strategy across Indiana.
- Lydia C. B. Watson, Director of Real Estate Development: Watson has more than 15 years of experience in community development, housing, cross-sector collaboration, program management and municipal compliance. Before joining Intend Indiana, she held leadership roles at the United Way of Central Indiana, including Director of Safe & Affordable Housing, and has also worked in administrative law operations for the City of Indianapolis.
- Alexus Tucker, Project Manager I for the Community Impact Accelerator: An Indianapolis native with experience in public service, international development and nonprofit work, Tucker has managed complex projects, built partnerships and worked across diverse stakeholder environments. She earned her Master’s in Global Affairs from the University of Notre Dame and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Eswatini.
- Jason Comer, Project Manager II for the Community Impact Accelerator: Comer’s experience includes finance, insurance, portfolio management and more than two decades of residential and commercial real estate investing. A Ball State University graduate with a degree in Finance, he has a strong interest in revitalizing buildings and neighborhoods.
- Summy Ventura, Manager of Data Strategy & Reporting: With more than a decade of experience in financial services and data strategy, Ventura’s background includes corporate banking, credit risk management and data insights for regional banks and credit unions across the country. Summy will help strengthen Intend Indiana’s use of data to guide decisions and measure progress.
- Stacey Verneé Walston, Business Lending and Development Specialist: Walston’s work has centered on small business support, entrepreneurial development, financial coaching, community lending, credit readiness and capital readiness. She also founded First Things First, a financial empowerment platform focused on financial literacy, credit wellness and generational wealth.
“We’re excited to welcome Alexus, Summy, Jason, Lydia and Stacey to the Intend Indiana team,” shared Intend Indiana President Stephanie Quick. “As our work continues to grow, so does our responsibility to make sure we have the people and experience needed to meet that moment. Their backgrounds will help us keep moving our mission forward and strengthen the way we serve communities across Indiana.”
Intend Indiana partners with community-based organizations, nonprofits, foundations, banks and state and local governments to leverage resources and deliver programs designed to meet the needs of communities across the state. For more information about Intend Indiana, visit intendindiana.org.
Lydia C. B. Watson, Alexus Tucker, Jason Comer, Summy Ventura and Stacey Verneé Walston
About Intend Indiana:
Intend Indiana, Inc. (Intend) is a nonprofit organization that envisions every person thriving in their communities. We advance comprehensive community development through innovative financing and development solutions that create and preserve affordable housing, support neighborhood revitalization efforts, and foster small business development.