Partners in innovation
Urban Advisors provides C-level consulting and management for development of impact investment firms by leveraging a foundation of innovation, strategic partnership and hands on expertise.
Urban Advisors is an Impact Investment Consulting Firm that is committed and passionate about solving problems through the effective deployment of impact capital. Through innovative financial design, creative deal structuring and scale, we work to maximize the total return of all client engagements. Our approach is rooted in finding creative ways to structure complicated impact investment transactions that seek to achieve both financial and social returns.
Urban Advisors bridges the gap between resources and economic disparities that many minority business owners face. Our innovative approach disrupts social inequality and actively increases access to capital. In addition to being researchers, we focus on being hands-on practitioners who leverage our combined C-suite level expertise to create successful loan funds.
Urban Advisors delivers high quality impact investment services in three areas:
Design and development of innovative Impact Investment strategies, initiatives and transactions
Facilitation of due diligence and deal structures to maximize financial, social and environmental objectives
Engagement with local stakeholders to ensure impact investment initiatives and transactions are aligned with community needs and objectives
Our Values
Innovation
We intentionally lead change and creatively drive growth.
Synergy
We value dynamic partnerships to produce greater impact beyond our individual efforts.
Tenacity
We engage in each interaction with a determination to see growth and success.
Consistency
We strive to provide a trustworthy, anticipated end-result over and over.
Meet Our Team
David Sharp
Managing Partner, Chief Program Designer
David is the founder and CEO of Urban Advisors and has been an active impact investment consultant for the past fifteen years. Prior to Urban Advisors, David was the investment manager for Wells Fargo Bank's community development investment group, where he grew the investment portfolio from $40 million to $100 million over a 3-year period. The portfolio consisted of private equity funds and direct investments, real estate funds and direct investments, fixed income investments and CDFI investments. David has served as a Leveraged Finance vice president, Mergers and Acquisitions analyst, and as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Navy. David is a Morehouse College alumnus and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance.
Tawruss Sellars
Chief Strategy and Operations Officer
Tawruss manages Urban Advisors’ strategy and infrastructure efforts for projects and engagements. Prior to Urban Advisors, Tawruss was a management consultant at The Boston Consulting Group, and began his career underwriting senior debt with Wells Fargo Bank’s Loan Syndications group. He also served as a Vice President with Urban Advisors before attending business school, and worked towards chartering a NC-based community bank. Tawruss, an alumnus of Morehouse College, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. He also holds an MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.
Jordan Whitfield
Strategy & Operations Analyst
Jordan combines financial analysis, process improvement and executive leadership skills to improve the business performance of Urban Advisors projects and engagements. Jordan has over 30 years of business experience and was an adjunct professor at Johnson C. Smith University for 15 years. An alumnus of Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, he also holds an Industrial & Systems Engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University.
Senemeht Olatunji, MSW
Impact Officer
Senemeht develops approaches to manage and create impact across Urban Advisors’ projects and engagements. A licensed Social Worker, Senemeht previously worked with homeless women and families and domestic violence and sexual assault survivors. She facilitated group and individual therapeutic and psycho-education interventions. A graduate of Marymount Manhattan College with a Bachelor of Arts degree, she also holds a Master of Social Work from Howard University.
Sanyakhu-SHeps Amare
Business Advisor
Amare co-founded and operated the oldest African American online company in the country for 15yrs in the early 80’s, before the web. His experiences covers the formation of many companies, as well as providing consultation advisory services in CED to non-profits, business teams, and small entrepreneurial companies. He assists in taking ideas from concept to implementation through strategy team development and operations. Amare holds a Masters in Community Economic Development (CED).
Zakiya West
Administrative Assistant
Zakiya serves as Urban Advisors’ Administrative Assistant focusing on the clerical tasks of the company to ensure Urban Advisors runs smoothly and efficiently. Zakiya also works closely with the Urban Advisors’ team focusing on integrating social impact across the firm’s projects and engagements. Zakiya holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a minor in African American/African Diaspora Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Marlo McGibbony-Wiggins
Internal Accountant & Book Keeper
Marlo performs all internal accounting, book keeping and loan account servicing for the UP Community Fund. She is an experienced cost accountant and Certified Tax Preparer with a demonstrated history of working in the accounting industry. Most recently, Marlo spent 17 years with International Paper as a cost accountant. Marlo is skilled in budgeting, general ledger, data analysis, cost planning, and general ledger reconciliations. Marlo holds a BA in accounting from University of Phoenix.
S Y Mason-Watson
Chief Administrator Officer
S.Y. serves as the UP Community Fund’s Chief Administrative Officer. She is responsible for managing legal documentation and identifying and addressing borrower legal and background issues that may negatively impact access to capital. S.Y. has over 16 years of civil and criminal law experience, practicing as a sole practitioner, an equity partner in Mason-Watson, Obiorah & Singletary, PC and an Assistant District Attorney in Mecklenburg County.