CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS • July 19, 2021 19
2021
MINORITIES INcover COMMERCIAL BANKING These 27 professionals the spectrum of commercial bankDOROTHY ABREU ing, from real estate lending to treasury management. The pandemic turned their world upside-down last year, and they quickly adapted by serving and guiding clients remotely. Many were able to extend credit that enabled organizations to remain liquid. And they assisted in the processing of thousands of SBA PPP loans. Following the murder of George Floyd and heightened awareness of systemic inequality, many joined resource groups and diversity and inclusion initiatives. They led online discussions on topics ranging from the broader challenge of discrimination to more granular issues of hiring and advancement. Some have taken on the tasks of designing mentorship and leadership development programs for minority colleagues. Outside the office, they are engaged in professional associations and nonprofit initiatives in health care, the arts, education and neighborhood development. Their efforts should provide a smoother path for the next generation of minority bankers. By Judith Crown and Lisa Bertagnoli METHODOLOGY: The individuals featured did not pay to be included. Their profiles were drawn from the nomination materials submitted. This list is not comprehensive. It includes only individuals for whom nominations were submitted and accepted after a review by editors. To qualify for the list, individuals must self-identify as part of a racial or ethnic minority and have at least 10 years of experience in commercial banking. They serve as role models, promote inclusive practices and assume leadership positions outside their organizations.
Senior vice president, PNC relationship manager public finance PNC Financial Services Group
Dorothy Abreu is a senior leader in PNC’s Public Finance Group and helps lead the provision of capital solutions and tailored financial services to public sector and notfor-profit entities, including the state of Illinois, the city of Chicago and its sister agencies, among other organizations. She also collaborates with community partners in various Midwest markets identified as “catalyst developments” in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Previously, she was the regional sales leader for PNC’s Community Development Banking team, guiding one of the largest and most impactful production units in the division. Her work with Community Development Financial Institutions intermediaries and community organizations helped fund projects valued in millions of dollars to enhance the quality of life and create economic empowerment for communities across the Chicago area, particularly underserved neighborhoods in the South and West sides.
MOHAMMED ABUNADA Senior vice president First Midwest Bank
Mohammed Abunada services private practices including physicians, dentists, veterinarians, surgery centers and hospitals. He is responsible for business development/ portfolio management, managing the Midwest market and specializes in practice expansion, new construction, practice acquisitions, start-up financing, practice buy-in and buyout, equipment financing and working capital lines of credit. The Professional Services team added nearly $100 million in loan commitments to the portfolio and last year originated more than 83 loans, far exceeding goals. In 2019, Abunada was appointed to the Governing Council at Advocate Christ Medical Center, and he has been named a President’s Circle Member at First Midwest. He is chairman of the Orland Park Prayer Center scholarship committee and is a member of Medglobal, an international medical nonprofit providing health services to people in need.
JAMEL ALIKHAN
JAVONNA S. BURTON
RAMÓN CEPEDA
PRAVEEN CHATHAPPURAM
Managing director, Illinois commercial banking CIBC Bank
Vice president First Midwest Bank
Senior managing director, commercial real estate banking & professional services groups Northern Trust
Senior vice president, division head, commercial banking Byline Bank
Jamel Alikhan is a group head responsible for growing CIBC Bank’s professional service-focused client base (lawyers, accountants, etc.) as well as helping to expand its middle market commercial banking business. In the last 12 months he brought in five new clients to the bank with more than $50 million in commitments. Alikhan recently took on the role as reverse mentor at CIBC; joined the board of Family Focus, which works to strengthen families in Chicago and northeast Indiana; and has become a board member of the Nora Project, which promotes disability inclusion by empowering educators and engaging students and communities. Prior to joining CIBC, he was an executive director and senior vice president at JPMorgan Chase and a vice president at National City.
Javonna S. Burton provides team leadership, develops new account relationships and manages a portfolio of corporate/municipal clients. Her responsibilities include selling treasury management products to established corporate customers and prospects alongside the commercial lending staff. She is a member of the Association for Financial Professionals; the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, most recently chairing its Global Impact Day; and a past board member for Growing Home, a nonprofit providing farm-based training for people with employment barriers. Over the years she’s held positions of increasing responsibility, starting at American National Bank in the loan operations department and being accepted into the Credit Analyst Program. Burton received her Certified Treasury Professional designation and has held positions at PNC Bank, Charter One/RBS Citizens and American National Bank.
Ramón Cepeda leads two commercial teams: Professional Services, which provides commercial corporate lines of credit, partner loan programs, treasury management and wealth management to legal, accounting and consulting firms, regionally and throughout the Northern Trust footprint, and Commercial Real Estate, which focuses on new and existing high net worth clients. On a combined basis, balance sheet growth for both teams was 15 percent. In 2020, the teams closed on $296 million in new business. At Northern Trust, Cepeda is also a senior lender and chairs the regional credit committee. He was recently reappointed by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker for six more years to the Board of Trustees at the University of Illinois System. Other civic involvements include: LISC-Chicago, the National Museum of Mexican Art and the Latino Leadership Council.
Praveen Chathappuram is responsible for $225 million in commitments and $115 million in average deposits to owner-managed/ owner-operated middle-market companies. He has been the top producer at Byline Bank for the last four years in a row, managing the largest portfolio on the commercial banking team. During the pandemic year, he grew his loan portfolio by $30 million and his deposit portfolio by $45 million by helping clients with the PPP and navigating the crisis caused by the pandemic. Chathappuram has been a CFA Charterholder since 2011. He was on the board of DuPage PADS for six years; the treasurer and board member for Apna Ghar, a domestic violence shelter; the treasurer and board member for the US-India Chamber of Commerce; and is an active member of the CFA Society of Chicago.