SBA Rates 5.783% 10yr 6.136% 20yr 6.067% 25yr | SBA Refi Rates 5.819% 10yr 6.057% 20yr 6.096% 25yr | Prime Rate 7.00%
CDC Staff
Cheryl Blackman
Cheryl Blackman is the Executive Director of the Community Development Corporation of Fort Wayne. With over 35 years’ experience in the finance sector, including more than 20 years guiding CDC and 15 years in consumer and commercial banking. She combines financial expertise with a desire to revitalize communities with low-cost financing and job growth. Major responsibilities include daily operations, grant writing, portfolio management and loan servicing. Involvement in Community Activities: YMCA Child Care Services Advisory Board; Cervivor- Cervical Cancer Advocate; Waynedale Lions Club: Treasurer; Junior Achievement- Classroom Career Instructor; United Way - Community Investment Grant Review Board Volunteer Activities: Fort Wayne Open Streets, Treasure House, Fort Wayne Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity and Three Rivers Festival. Hobbies include spending time with family, traveling, reading, San Francisco 49ers football and recently, not killing plants.
Dawn Putney
Dawn Putney has been a team member of the Community Development Corp. of Fort Wayne (CDC) since 2006, starting her journey as an Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper and advancing to her current role as Accountant, Loan Servicer, and Office Manager in 2018. With a steadfast commitment to supporting our borrowers, Dawn works to ensure that the loan servicing process is as seamless and efficient as possible. In addition to loan servicing, she oversees the organization’s accounting functions and fiscal management, which encompasses financial, statistical and portfolio reporting, as well as adhering to funding partners’ reporting requirements. She also manages our annual audit and tax preparation, while assisting with day-to-day office operations and onboarding and engagement of our Board of Directors. A graduate of Ivy Tech Community College, Dawn earned dual degrees in Accounting and Business Administration in 2021, accompanied by certifications in Bookkeeping, Payroll, Accounting and Business Administration. Volunteer activities include Salvation Army, Community Harvest Food Bank and Huntington SPCA. Some of her hobbies are enjoying spontaneous road trips, attending live concerts, attempting to cultivate her own little homestead (green thumb still in progress) and pampering her fur baby, Daisy, who holds the title of “Chief Cuddle Officer.” Our staff is committed to the CDC mission in providing the financial resources to small businesses in order to thrive within our community. She looks forward to helping you in your CDC loan journey.
Darren Renier
Darren Renier joined Community Development Corporation of Fort Wayne (CDC) in 2004 as Finance Specialist and was promoted to Senior Finance Specialist in 2018. He has over 25+ years of experience in commercial banking and is responsible for CDC’s business development activities, credit underwriting, loan presentation to CDC’s Board of Directors as well as U.S. Small Business Administration, and all closing functions. Darren meets with borrowers and lenders to facilitate the origination of new loans and safeguards the credit quality of CDC’s loan portfolio by closely analyzing all loan applications. In addition, he works closely with CDC’s attorney to ensure loan closings are compliant with all requirements. Darren graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business in 1999 with a double Major in Marketing and International Business and a Minor in Spanish. He also earned a Masters of Business Administration from PFW in 2001. Darren is active in the community and has volunteered on several non-profit Board of Directors during his career. Currently, he serves on the Metro Board of Directors of YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne and volunteers to read books to 3rd graders within Fort Wayne Community Schools as part of Real Men Read. He also coached his two daughters’ youth softball and basketball teams for over 10 years and served as public address announcer for Homestead High School softball for 5 years. Darren and his wife, Kelly, have been married since 2001 and have two daughters, Allison and Peyton.