Yesterday, NDC’s President, Robert (Bob) W. Davenport, was presented with NDC’s Award for Lifetime Achievement in Training during the organization’s annual management meeting. The Lifetime Achievement in Training Award is presented to NDC employees who exemplify exceptional service, leadership and commitment throughout their career to NDC’s mission as exemplified through contributions to NDC’s comprehensive program of capacity-building training in economic, housing and community development finance.
Bob Davenport has served as President of NDC since 1986. Davenport leads nearly 80 professionals who are working in 100 plus communities to create small business jobs and develop affordable housing, real estate and community facilities projects. In his role as President, Davenport serves as Chairman of the Grow America Fund, Inc. (GAF), NDC’s Small Business Lending Company and CDFI. He also serves as Chairman of the NDC Housing and Economic Development Corporation (HEDC), which finances and develops affordable housing and a variety of other community and economic development projects.
As NDC’s first Director of Training, Davenport planned, wrote and implemented five one-week classroom training courses and a series of additional training seminars in development finance focusing on economic development financing systems, business credit analysis, real estate financial analysis, deal structuring and equity capital financing. He wrote 12 training manuals as part of training system for development professionals, including the complete training manual for SBA 504 Certified Development Companies.
Davenport also designed NDC’s nationally acclaimed four course Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) Certification Program™ which is endorsed by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), formally known as Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED), for professional certification in the field.
Prior to NDC, Davenport served as Vice President and New York Banking Division Credit Officer at Citibank in New York City where he managed a $1.3 billion loan portfolio covering 230 retail branches and 90 employees. Davenport currently serves as the President of the New Markets Tax Credit Coalition and has led NDC in receiving more than $700 million in NMTC Allocation. He also serves on a variety of bank CRA advisory boards.
Davenport earned a B.A. degree in History and Economics from Stanford University, a M.A. degree in economics from Michigan State University and his M.B.A. in Finance from Columbia Business School. Davenport currently resides in the Flatiron District of New York City, is an avid patron of the arts and gourmet cook.