The Forward Community Investments Staff
Salli Martyniak sallim@forwardci.org, Executive Director
With a background in finance and an unwavering passion for social change, Salli Martyniak, together with staff, has had the pleasure of seeing Forward Community Investments (FCI) reach record levels of growth.  Salli was born in Detroit, where she thrived on the diversity of the city. "Driving through town meant traveling from one culture to another to another," she remembers.  "Each neighborhood was wonderfully alive with its own language, religion, and traditions."  After receiving a business degree from the University of Wisconsin, Salli served in various management roles with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, US Bank, Associated Bank, and the QTI Group.  She became the executive director of FCI in 2003, when it was still known as The Dane Fund. Under her direction, FCI has expanded the scope of its services to include providing vital technical assistance and financial management advice to nonprofits through workshops and seminars across the state.  Salli believes in a comfortable, friendly workplace -- which is why dogs are allowed in the FCI offices. Her dog, Marley, is usually at her feet.  "Actually, walking Marley forces me to get out of the office," she says, "which is a great opportunity to clear my head and resolve problems."  Salli looks forward to the challenges of expanding FCI's services statewide.  "We are the only statewide Wisconsin loan fund that builds the financial and technical capacity of nonprofits," says Salli.  "With over 16,000 nonprofits in Wisconsin, this is tremendous opportunity to achieve a higher level of social change."

Earle Edwards earlee@forwardci.org, Vice President, Lending

Earle joined FCI in 2008 after spending 42 successful years in banking and bank management.  Most recently, Earle worked as a consultant to banks, assisting them with strategic planning, board governance and executive recruiting.  For ten years prior, he was CEO of Monona State Bank in Monona, WI.  From 1985 through 1993, Earle was employed as Senior Vice President of Planning and Development at M&I Bank in Madison where his duties included CRA oversight and business development.  His banking tenure also includes 13 years as president of Mt. Horeb State Bank in Mt. Horeb, WI.  As part of Country Bankshares, Inc., a four-bank holding company, Earle was responsible for management of Argyle State Bank, Montello State Bank and Citizens State Bank [in addition to the bank in Mt. Horeb].  Earle's community service includes acting as chair of the City of Madison Community Development Authority (CDA) from 2000 to 2002; member of the CDA for nine years from 1993 to 2002; a board of director of the Wisconsin Bankers Association from 2001 to 2003; board member for the Monona Chamber of Commerce from 1995 to 2001 and a board of director of Centro Hispano from 1991 to 1997.

Tracy Hubbard tracyh@forwardci.org, Vice President of Operations
Tracy assists Forward Community Investments with day-to-day functions and long-term strategic development. She grew up lakeside in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.  "I fondly remember all of my spare time as a child spent on the beach or in the water," says Tracy.  Tracy loves the challenge and involvement of working with nonprofits.  "It's a fierce passion that drives people to give beyond themselves," she says.  "And it's that passion that drives them to share it with others."  She brings with her a variety of skills and disciplines from her experience as the Director of Finance and Operations at the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce (GMCC) for the last seven years. At the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, Tracy's main role was supervising all functions of internal accounting and operations planning for the GMCC and all of its related entities.  Tracy has also been the publisher of The Business Beat, the GMCC membership magazine, and overseen events including the production of the GMCC annual dinner with 1,200 attendees.  Tracy is currently working on her degree in organizational psychology from the University of Wisconsin. Tracy currently lives in the Columbia County countryside with her three beautiful children -- Taylor, Maja, and Analiese.