(ARLINGTON, VA) In its most recent Strategic Plan update, adopted last fall, the Columbia Pike Partnership (previously Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization), set a goal to expand its Board of Directors to “more accurately represent the community we serve and better provide the needed skills and expertise to fulfill our mission.”
In furtherance of this goal, the board welcomed two new members in Q1 2022: Marty Weitzel, Director of Business Lending at Arlington Community Federal Credit Unit (ACFCU), and Esayas Gebrehiwot, Acting Managing Director of ECDC Enterprise Development Group (EDG)
Marty Weitzel joined ACFCU with an extensive background in business banking and is enthusiastic about the credit union movement and mission. His responsibilities will include growing ACFCU’s small business portfolio and building additional product offerings to offer business members a remarkable experience.
Esayas Gebrehiwot joined ECDC Enterprise Development Group (EDG) in 2017 as a senior manager of loans and technical assistance. He oversees all lending and technical business practices. He also plays a pivotal role in new business development strategies; and supervises the activities of the loan officers and portfolio management team. Prior to joining EDG, Esayas held senior executive leadership positions, i.e., vice president of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia and president of the Development Bank of Ethiopia. For both banks, he led the design and implementation of multimillion-dollar projects in Ethiopia sponsored by multilateral organizations, including the World Bank to set up a line of credit dedicated to small-to-mid-size enterprises (SME) and Women Entrepreneurship Development. Esayas holds a master’s in Banking & Finance, graduating with distinction, from the University of Wales Bangor in the United Kingdom.