Meet the Team

Rusty Borkin | President

Rusty’s professional experience spans decades in private, public and nonprofit organizations, focusing on organizational and leadership development. Most recently he has been engaged in community work: helping Walnut Way Conservation Corp. grow its community wealth building programs, serving as an outreach specialist for JobsWork MKE and as a community organizer for Common Ground.

Teresa Thomas-Boyd | Vice President

Teresa’s work includes SDC, Wisconsin Citizen Action as a senior organizer and Milwaukee Director, Central City Churches as the Executive Director and Civic Engagement Advisor/Deputy with the Democratic Party, Obama Campaign, DNC Host Committee and 2020 Convention and now with Walnut Way Conservation Corporation as a NID Team Leader. As a local pastor of 20 years, her relationships are far and wide with over 60 non-profit organizations, hundreds of churches and community faith groups, a history of working with county, city and statewide elected officials and a new small business owner.

Bill Kopka | Secretary

Bill is a seasoned mortgage professional, with experience ranging from sales and servicing, to operations and underwriting.  Bill has 8+ years experience managing underwriting for CLTs.  In his current role, he is a Community Accountability Officer for Associated Bank, focused on community development and CRA strategies.  Bill has been an MCLT board member for 5 years, and has other board experience with Wisconsin Habitat for Humanity and other philanthropy focused non-profits.  Bill lives in Wauwatosa, but works and plays in the greater Milwaukee area. 

Mikal Wesley | Treasurer

Mikal Wesley is a real estate entrepreneur who has been investing in real estate for 15 years. Mikal got his start in real estate purchasing investment properties. He moved into the property management space before taking his first endeavor into the development space. Mikal founded Urbane Communities in 2016 to focus on improving neighborhoods through catalytic developments and investments. Mikal partnered on a real estate redevelopment project in the Sherman Park neighborhood on Milwaukee’s Northside, which brought 167 units of affordable housing to the neighborhood. 

Antonio Butts

Antonio Butts, Executive Director, Walnut Way Conservation Corp., is a catalytic leader who is passionate about transforming economically excluded communities into neighborhoods of health and prosperity.  Antonio’s career is marked by his collaborative leadership style and ability to create social enterprise for economic and social impact.

Throughout his career, Antonio has held community and economic development leadership roles with Fondy Food Center, Boys & Girls Clubs, and SHARE of SE Wisconsin.

Antonio also currently serves on the board of Imagine MKE and JobsWork MKE.

Bethany Sanchez

Bethany Sanchez directs the Fair Lending Program at the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council, working to ensure that every credit-worthy borrower has equal access to fairly-priced credit. In this position at MMFHC for over 21 years, she works across sectors to develop and operate initiatives to encourage sustainable homeownership opportunities, and combat predatory lending and foreclosure. Bethany has over 40 years of experience working in the nonprofit housing and community development sector in California and Wisconsin.

Dana Williamson

Dana Williamson is an entrepreneur as a business and lifestyle counselor for B.A.D. Blessed, Anointed & Destined, LLC. Her experience in housing and community development stem from her volunteer service at various organizations throughout Milwaukee, being the chairperson for housing and economic development for Amani United and living in the Amani neighborhood for over four years. Dana also holds certifications in basic construction helping in understanding community building needs. 

Dynasty Caesar

Dynasty currently serves as a senior organizer for the Redress Movement in MIlwaukee, a national organization addressing the economic and social disparities that have resulted from discriminatory housing practices. She has worked for Running Rebels Community Organization for years as community organizer engaging youth and families in improving their lives. She also served as a racial justice educator for the YWCA and as an environment and  sustainability advocate for the City of Milwaukee.

Jonatan Zúñiga

Jonatan is the Deputy Director of the City of Milwaukee Election Commission. Prior to that, he was the Director of Outreach and Engagement at Layton Boulevard West Neighbors (now VIA CDC). Jonatan He was awarded the 2018 Trailblazer Award from Milwaukee LISC and the 2017 Future Leader Award from the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee.

Lamont Davis | Executive Director

Lamont has a 20-year career improving housing conditions in Milwaukee’s distressed neighborhoods. He cofounded Community First, which assists families with home repairs, serving as its program director for several years. He has worked for various other nonprofit organizations developing and implementing housing programs for low to moderate income households. Lamont serves as Board President of the Community Insurance Information Center and a Board member for the Washington Park NID #3 and United Methodist Children’s Services. He is an active member of the Reclaiming Our Neighborhoods Coalition, Take Root Milwaukee, and the Community Development Alliance.

Chris Krco | Founder

Chris is the founder of the MCLT and keeps track of the organization’s administrative needs. He is also the president of Housing for All and cohost of its 4-episode podcast on the basics of reforming the American housing system.