Who We Are

Our Staff

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Martina Edwards

President and CEO

Martina Edwards has 25 years of experience as a business professional and nonprofit leader, including work in fundraising, strategic partnerships and relationship management. Before being named President and CEO of ACE, Edwards spent six years as ACE’s Chief of Strategic Partnerships. In this role, Edwards worked with ACE’s Fund Development team to raise more than $69 million in grants, significantly boosting the organization’s visibility and impact. Prior to joining ACE, Edwards was a New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Equity Trader for Merrill Lynch, the first African American female stockbroker for the company in its 200+ year history; Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Points of Light in Atlanta; Senior Director of Alternative Investments for Sponsors for Educational Opportunity in New York City; Interim Executive Director and Director of Finance for Kaplan Higher Education College in Maryland; and Private Client Manager at US Trust.

Edwards is a Leadership Council member for Junior Achievement of Georgia and Advisory Board member for Zane Venture Fund – a first-time fund investing in early-stage companies in the Southeast with diverse founding teams. She also serves on various boards and committees, including GA Social Impact Collaborative (GSIC) as a CDFI Task Force member; GoATL Economic Inclusion Investment Committee; Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) Board of Directors; First Horizon Advisory Council; and Black Executive Leadership Team Community Advisory Council – Bank of America.

Edwards is an Atlanta Business Chronicle 2022 Women of Influence Honoree, recipient of the Atlanta Tuskegee Alumni Chapter 2019 Pioneer Award, the 2018 Atlanta’s Women of Distinction Non-Profit Sector Award, a 2017 Fellow of New Leaders Council Atlanta, and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She earned a B.S. in Finance from Tuskegee University and an MBA from UNC, Kenan‐Flagler Business School, where she completed an exchange program at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa and global immersion programs in India and Mexico. She is also a mother of two energetic boys and keeps it all together with the support of her spouse. (PDF)

Contact Information:
678-335-5600 ext 126

Ray Pennie

Chief of Business Advisory Services

Ray Pennie is the Chief of Business Advisory Services (CBAS) for Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE). As a member of the management team, Pennie serves as the leader of business advisory services for all Georgia markets. This role oversees and supports the development and offerings of tailored, innovative, and comprehensive solutions for specific client business needs. He also spearheads business advisory initiatives that are supportive and consistent with ACE’s overall mission of providing loan capital to small businesses with a targeted strategy of serving women owned, minority owned and low to moderate income entrepreneurs. He leads and develops the implementation of the business advisory service programs by working closely with ACE’s leadership team to identify lending products that are appropriate for ACE’s target markets. Prior to joining ACE, Pennie was Vice President of Business Development for Clearpoint, and was responsible for managing a national business development team that expanded Clearpoint’s mission of financial capability, education, and counseling outreach to underserved economic groups. His team was instrumental in developing new and diverse revenue streams by forming strategic alliances with national corporations and non-profits to further expand the agency’s footprint and reach. He has more than 28 years of experience in the banking sector working in commercial, residential lending and asset management. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Better Business Bureau of Metro Atlanta, Athens & North Georgia. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Kindred Futures (formerly the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative (AWBI)). Pennie also serves as the Southern Regional Council Chair for Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO). Before beginning his career, Pennie proudly served for six years in the U.S. Navy as a Cryptologic Technical Operator. He attended Capella University where he studied Business Management. (PDF)

Contact Information:
678-916-8452

Shanon Stewart

Chief Operating Officer

Shanon Stewart is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) serving as the primary strategic and management partner to the President and Chief Executive Officer. In addition to overseeing and executing the operational functions of the organization, Stewart is also the lead on designing and implementing business operations, and establishing policies that promote Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs’ culture and vision. As the COO, he oversees the day-to-day responsibility of planning, implementing, managing, and controlling all loan and program services-related activities of the company. Stewart has more than 25 years of banking experience serving in various roles as Assistant Vice President/Sr. Branch Manager at South State Bank, Vice President of Operations and Information Technology with Mountain Heritage Bank, and as a Commercial Loan Officer with Regions Bank. A Georgia native, Stewart attended both Gainesville College and American Intercontinental University. He is a graduate of Georgia Bankers Association (GBA) Georgia Banking School and GBA Southern Operations and Technology School. Mr. Stewart has served on the Rabun County Habitat for Humanity Board and served on other charitable organizations such as Fight Abuse in the Home (F.A.I.T.H.). (PDF)

Contact Information:
678-916-8449

Wassia Kamon

Chief Financial Officer

Wassia Kamon is the Chief Financial Officer at Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE), serving as a strategic business partner to the CEO and executive team. She leads the organization’s financial operations, including accounting, treasury, financial reporting, and compliance, and supports the development of policies and strategies to ensure ACE’s long-term financial health and effectiveness. Previously, she served as Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller at the Low-Income Investment Fund (LIIF), a national CDFI with over $2 billion in assets under management. With over 15 years of experience in corporate accounting and FP&A across manufacturing, technology, pharmaceutical, and nonprofit sectors, Kamon combines technical expertise with strong leadership. Her insights have been featured in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Accounting Today, and Strategic Finance Magazine. She is a Guest Faculty member of the Wharton Online FP&A Certificate Program and a two-time 40 Under 40 honoree by CPA Practice Advisor. Kamon actively contributes to the accounting profession through her roles on the AICPA Women’s Initiatives Executive Committee and the Future of Finance Leadership Advisory Group. She also serves as a board member and treasurer for HOPE, Inc., a nonprofit supporting low-income single parents in pursuing higher education. Kamon earned her Bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University and holds both the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designations, as well as an MBA. (PDF)

Contact Information:
470-668-5468

Adam Foley

Chief Credit Officer

As the Chief Credit Officer for ACE, Adam Foley supervises the credit team and oversees risk management in the loan portfolio. He has 26 years of financial industry experience serving in various credit, lending, and regulatory roles, including Commercial Lender with The First Bank in McDonough, GA; and VP/Credit Services Manager and Division President with Persons Banking Company. He also has extensive analytical/risk management training and experience managing the underwriting function. Foley believes very strongly that locally owned small businesses are vital to healthy, thriving communities and looks forward to helping ACE fulfill its mission of promoting entrepreneurship in underserved communities. He is a graduate of Mercer University and the LSU Graduate School of Banking and a past officer of Rotary and Kiwanis clubs. (PDF)

Contact Information:
470-845-1531

Chris Clay

Director of Lending

Chris Clay is the Director of Lending at ACE | Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs. Prior to this role, he accumulated over a decade of professional banking experience including three years as a Senior Commercial Lender with ACE, and then Interim Director of Lending. His focus has primarily been on community banking, small business development, and non-profit business support, demonstrating proficiency in complex lending mechanisms such as the New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) program. Clay champions small business financial growth, proactively identifying and seizing valuable opportunities to advocate for the development of inclusive and supportive financial ecosystems. Outside of his role with ACE, he has contributed to the metro Atlanta area by having served on advisory boards for a multistate Community Development Financial Institution and Affordable Housing Agencies. He has also demonstrated a commitment to community service through his previous involvement with the United Way Allocation Committee and Habitat for Humanity Family Selection Committee where he has been instrumental in guiding policies and initiatives that aim to reduce barriers to financial accessibility and promote sustainable community development. Clay holds an MBA from Georgia College & State University. Additionally, he is proudly affiliated with the Mu Psi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and Coach for the Archer Athletic Association. (PDF)

Contact Information:
470-646-3196

Tommie Beth Willis

South Georgia Regional Director

Tommie Beth Willis manages the ACE office in Tifton which serves and supports small businesses throughout the South Georgia region with capital, coaching, and connections. Prior to joining ACE, she served as president of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce since 2016. With her leadership, ACE’s partnerships with other local CDFIs, and her many connections made throughout the years, she helps entrepreneurs across the region benefit from ACE’s services. In addition to her work in community development, Willis brings 30+ years of marketing experience and 20 years of business management experience. She has served on the United Way of Colquitt County Board of Directors, the SRTC Marketing Program Advisor Committee, the CrossRoads For Her Ministry Advisor Committee, and the GACCE (Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives) Board of Directors for Region 10. Willis currently serves as the Colquitt County representative on the Southwest Georgia Workforce Development Board and is an Alumni of South Georgia LEADS. She is also a member of the Moultrie Kiwanis Club, and a member of the Heritage Church in Moultrie. (PDF)

Contact Information:
229-270-1620

Tonya Rapley

Director of Strategic Partnerships

Tonya Rapley is a master partnerships and communications strategist who brings a wealth of experience from her broad roles and experiences across New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. For nine years, Rapley ran her own firm with a team of four to drive communications strategy for financial services companies with responsibilities including customer acquisition, investor relations, corporate responsibility, and sustainability across local, regional and national media markets. These have included national media placement for platforms such as Good Morning America, Bloomberg, and the Today Show. Prior to that her roles have included funding campaigns with the Center for New York City Neighborhoods and YWCA of Brooklyn where she worked with diverse stakeholders including government agencies. She has a Master of Arts in Urban Affairs from Brooklyn College, as well as a Bachelor of Public Administration from Florida International University. Rapley currently sits on the board for the National Contract Management Association of Atlanta as the Communications Chair. She is also an active board member at Next OnBoard, championing the next generation of women developing a career path to board service and a volunteer for the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta. She is an avid golfer, angel investor, art collector and proud mother of a bright six-year-old. (PDF)

Contact Information:
404-458-1164

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