John Kennedy elected President and CEO of SLEFI
The Board of Directors of the St. Louis Equity Fund elected John Kennedy President and CEO of the organization on June 11, 2015. John Kennedy, who was SLEFI’s Executive Vice President and CFO, succeeds John Wuest, who served as President and CEO since 2005 and announced earlier this year that he was stepping down from both roles.
“John’s selection was a logical choice given his strong experience based in tax credits and his specific knowledge of SLEFI and its operations. The transition is anticipated to be seamless given these facts,” said SLEFI Board of Directors Chair Joe Ambrose. “Our organization is currently well positioned and will continue to prosper under John’s direction.”
John Kennedy joined SLEFI in 1998 and has more than 30 years of experience in commercial and residential real estate development, affordable housing development and the syndication of tax credits. As Executive Vice President and CFO, he was responsible for all financial accounting, financial reporting, year-end tax reporting, and reporting to investors. He and John Wuest also led the formation of Gateway Community Development Fund, Inc., a U.S. Treasury certified Community Development Financial Institution and a SLEFI subsidiary.
“I’m looking forward to furthering the mission of the St. Louis Equity Fund in developing much-needed affordable housing,” John Kennedy said. “I want to express my gratitude to John for his leadership and hard work in shaping and growing SLEFI.”
John Wuest will remain Vice Chair of SLEFI, Chair of the Gateway CDFI Board of Directors, and Chair of the Community Asset Management Company Board of Directors., a SLEFI affiliate company. “John’s knowledge and experience will ensure a seamless transition providing for the continued success of SLEFI,” John Wuest stated.
John Kennedy announced that Meredith Toler, who joined SLEFI last year as Controller and is a licensed CPA, will succeed him as Treasurer and CFO. “Her development with SLEFI has been rapid and impressive and we are confident that she will become a critical part of the management team,” John Kennedy explained.