Leadership
Who We Are
Our team of dedicated board members and staff are our
strongest believers in the UP CDC mission:
create equitable economic development in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and achieve real, lasting change.
Jason Bullen
Executive Director
Jason Bullen has over 14 years of project management experience in the construction industry. He sat on the project team of some major developments in the greater Houston area, such as the Exxon Mobil Campus Project ($1.2 Billion) and Phillips 66 Corporate Headquarters ($400 Million).
William Banta
Board Treasurer
Recently retired from CenterPoint Energy as Economic Development Manager, Southern Region, Bill Banta has over 15 years experience with the Economic Development Department and over 22 years with the company.
Chris Bilton
Board Member
During the last two decades of his career, Mr. Bilton has served in various leadership roles with increasing levels of complexity with a focus on serving the public and economic development.
Jerry V. Davis
Board Member
Mr. Davis is a community advocate, educator, and entrepreneur. He founded the non-profit Making It Better (MIB) in 2007 to provide low-income children in Houston with academic support, mentoring, and leadership and life skills.
James Ebrey
Board Member
Mr. Ebrey is the Regional President and the Chief of Government Lending at Spirit of Texas Bank and has worked there for over ten years. He manages a portfolio of about $500 million in commercial and SBA loans.
Patrick Ezzell
Board Chair & CEO
Patrick Ezzell is the Founder of Urban Partnerships Community Development Corporation (UP CDC), and is the Chairman of the Board. During the past decade, Patrick was engaged in economic development in Houston’s East End, a majority Hispanic low-income community, as an independent consultant for the East End District.
Susan C. Garcia
Board Member
Susan Garcia is a 40-year resident in the East End. She is a small business owner in the East End and glaciere of Chocolate Wasted Ice Cream located in the East End, a small batch creamery, parlor, and food truck.
Joel K. North, Jr.
Board Member
Mr. North is the principal and president of Troika Consulting Inc. in Houston, Texas, which specializes in real estate and development opportunities for nonprofit and for-profit developers that are financed using public funds such as tax credits and CDBG grant funding.
