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DALLAS, March 22, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (Bank) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jay Czar, Michelle Den Bleyker, Michael Gerber, Karen Phillips, and Michelle Whitten as new members of the Bank’s 2012 Advisory Council (Council). Arlene Leviege, Nancy Cates, and Shari Flynn were reappointed to the Council.

The Council is comprised of representatives from state, community, and nonprofit organizations who advise the Bank’s Board of Directors on affordable housing and economic development issues. The appointed terms began January 1, 2012.

Newly Appointed Members

• Jay Czar is executive director of the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (NMFA) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The NMFA provides housing and other related services to low- to moderate-income New Mexicans. As the state’s official housing agency, NMFA administers more than 35 programs that finance housing for the homeless, develop new affordable housing, and assist families in becoming first-time homeowners. Mr. Czar served in several capacities with the City of Albuquerque, including chief administrative officer. Mr. Czar also serves on the New Mexico Economic Development Partnership, United Way Cabinet, Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Board, Character Counts Leadership Council, and the University of New Mexico Public Administration Advisory Board. Mr. Czar previously served on the Bank’s Council and has extensive experience with the Bank and its programs. Under his new appointment, he will serve a one-year term.
  
    
• Ms. Michelle Den Bleyker is the director of housing development for YES Housing Inc. in Albuquerque, New Mexico. YES Housing’s mission is to build and revitalize communities with quality, affordable housing, accessible social services, and a dedication to being positive agents for change within the community. Prior to joining YES Housing, Inc., Ms. Den Bleyker held various positions at the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (NMMFA) where she analyzed and oversaw new housing development proposals for NMMFA’s loan programs, analyzed financial proformas, and reviewed legal and real estate documents. She was appointed to a two-year term on the Council.
  
    
• Mr. Michael Gerber is president of Strategic Solutions Group which works with nonprofit and community organizations in Texas and across the country to support and expand their ability to provide affordable housing and supportive services for low- and moderate-income persons. Prior to this role, Mr. Gerber was the executive director of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA), a state agency administering a wide array of housing finance tools and community action assistance programs. Mr. Gerber also has served as an advisor to Texas Governor Rick Perry in the Governor’s Office of Budget, Policy and Planning, and has held roles in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He was appointed to a two-year term on the Council.
  
    
• Ms. Karen Phillips is director of the Homeownership and Asset Development Center for Crawford-Sebastian Community Development Council, Inc. (CSCDC) in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Ms. Phillips also has served as the past president of the Old Fort Homeless Coalition and currently serves on its Board of Directors. She directs the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program within her department at CSCDC. Ms. Phillips is currently the chairman of The Arkansas Coalition of Housing and Neighborhood Growth for Empowerment (ACHANGE) which has given her a perspective of housing issues statewide. CSCDC is involved in and has partnerships in the areas of rental housing, housing rehabilitation, homeownership, housing counseling, and homeless assistance which have given Ms. Phillips an appreciation for the many different needs of affordable housing. She was appointed to a three-year term on the Council.
  
    
• Ms. Michelle Whetten is director of Enterprise Community Partners’ Gulf Coast office, based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her responsibilities include working with state and local officials to create effective systems for affordable housing production, implementing innovative training and technical assistance programs with local nonprofit organizations and supporting Enterprise’s investment of more than 0 million to develop more than 10,000 homes for low- and moderate-income families in the Gulf Coast region over the next five years. Ms. Whetten’s affordable housing experience includes managed organizational development, resident services-related technical assistance and grant making programs, and directed advocacy and outreach to local, state and federal officials on housing and community development issues. She was appointed to a one-year term on the Council.

Reappointed Members

• Nancy Cates serves on the Board of Directors for the Mary Lee Foundation in Austin, Texas. Prior to joining its Board of Directors, Ms. Cates was the director of development at the Mary Lee Foundation from 2006 through 2010. The Mary Lee Foundation assists individuals with special needs receive the resources they need to live independently.  Ms. Cates was also a lobby firm partner with Texas Stakeholders in Austin. Ms. Cates developed the message and plan of action for client issues in legislative sessions and state agencies. This is Ms. Cates’s second term on the Advisory Council. She has a firsthand understanding of the need for affordable housing, as well as knowledge of public policy advocacy to improve processes that better meet the needs of low-income individuals. She was reappointed to a three-year term on the Council.
  
    
• Shari Flynn is executive director of the Lubbock Housing Finance Corporation. The organization facilitates with the private sector the availability and financing of decent, affordable housing for low- to moderate- income individuals. Ms. Flynn also serves as the administrator of High Plains Community Capital, which is a multibank community development company that offers non-traditional financing to small businesses that serve low- to moderate- income individuals or areas; the Coalition of Community Assistance Volunteers, a nonprofit that provides free income tax preparation and filing services for low- to moderate- income individuals; and the South Plains Housing Finance Corporation’s mortgage revenue bond programs, which serve low- to moderate- income first-time homebuyers throughout the South Plains. This is Ms. Flynn’s third term on the Advisory Council. She was reappointed to a three-year term.
  
      
• Arlene Leviege is the housing program coordinator/manager of the Tunica-Biloxi Housing Authority, a nonprofit entity referred to as a Tribally Designated Housing Entity (TDHE) developed under the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana and supported by grant funding under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Native American Programs. Ms. Leviege is responsible for implementing all aspects of homebuyer education, housing counseling and maintenance, as well as coordinating the housing management functions of the organization. Ms. Leviege is versed in Native American affordable housing issues and promoting homeownership opportunities in tribal communities. This is Ms. Leviege’s second term on the Council. She was reappointed to a three-year term.

The remaining members of the Advisory Council are:

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 12 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932.  FHLB Dallas, with total assets of .8 billion as of December 31, 2011, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to more than 900 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas.  For more information, visit the FHLB Dallas website at fhlb.com.

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3013

CONTACT: Corporate Communications
         Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
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