FCF National Headquarters
First Children’s Finance has claimed downtown Minneapolis as our home for three decades. Our national headquarters houses our organization’s Leadership Team, Loan Fund Team, and our National Team.
Meet our Team Members

Heidi Hagel Braid
President & CEO
heidihb@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-279-6504

Ben Nicholie
Chief Operating Officer
benn@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-279-6528

Ericka Warmack
Director of National Lending
erickaw@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-294-0083

Nellie Anderson
Information Systems & Data Strategy Manager
laurena@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-416-5823

Amy Arena Couture
Business Development Manager – National
amya@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-445-0360

Joan Berntson
Senior Business Development Specialist - Loan Fund
joanb@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-279-6539

Lynda Duncan
Portfolio Manager
lyndad@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-279-6514

Taijha Harden
Child Care Systems Coordinator
taijhah@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-294-0041

Darra Jackson
Child Care Systems Analyst
darraj@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-473-1314

Grace López
National Senior Program Specialist
gracel@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-279-6527

Anne McSweeney
Director of National Initiatives
annem@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-294-0038

Ellen Nikodym
Systems Coordinator
ellenn@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-473-9797

Charles Robinson
Multimedia & Communications Specialist
charlesr@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-699-4640

Laura Riley
Operations Administrator
laura@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-279-6512

Kari Stattelman
Director of Consulting
karis@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-279-6521

Kaitlin Rhoades
Child Care Systems Coordinator - National
kaitlinr@firstchildrensfinance.org
Mobile: 61222796529

Angie De Los Santos
Business Development Specialist - National
angiedls@firstchildrensfinance.org

Brielle Kenney
Business Development Specialist - National
BrielleK@firstchildrensfinance.org
Direct: 612-439-9274
National Headquarters
National Headquarters
212 North Third Avenue, Suite 310
Minneapolis, MN 55401