D&E, A Housing & Economic Empowerment Center, Inc.
Carrie T. Harris
President & CEO
Harris is a nationally recognized transformational leader and economic empowerment visionary. With over four decades of outstanding achievements in banking, training, community outreach, and education, Harris has blown us away with her leadership and willingness to serve the community and families nationwide.
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Harris began her career in banking in 1974, serving as Vice President and Corporate Outreach Director of the Community Reinvestment Act for SouthTrust Corporation until leaving in 2000. Then, stepping in her divine purpose, launching D&E, A Housing & Economic Empowerment Center, Inc., a HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency (C/K/A D&E) in 2000, as its President and CEO.
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Under Harris' leadership, D&E operates in three states; Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, as well as; operating The Freddie Mac Borrower Help Centers (BHC) and serving as Regional Partners in the most economically drained programs in both Georgia and Mississippi. Most notably, of the 15 Freddie Mac BHCs around the country, D&E has opened the first and only Center located in rural geography.
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Harris has devoted over 40 years to community outreach, education, and economic empowerment. Harris remains committed to the development and implementation of programs. Harris' efforts have been widely recognized nationally for aiding low and moderate-income and disenfranchised citizens to become empowered financially, personally, and professionally.
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Lastly, Harris is a national trainer with NeighborWorks America, serves numerous Boards, holds multiple training certifications, and has received several local and national awards.
Patrice Duncan
Chief Operating Officer, COO
Mrs. Duncan serves as Chief Operating Officer (formerly EVP) of D&E, A Housing & Economic Empowerment Center, Inc., a HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency and Freddie Mac Borrower Help Center (BHC), whose mission develops & empowers underserved populations, by providing training and resources that facilitate greater participation in the economic and societal mainstream. Our goal is to empower citizens financially, personally, and professionally through outreach + education, to yield economic empowerment! She is a masterful trainer possessing over 30 years of Corporate, Community & Economic Development training and has specific areas of expertise as follows:
➢ Affordable Housing Programs & Services (Pre-purchase, Homebuyer/Rental Education/Counseling, Post Purchase)
➢ Consumer Real Estate Technical and Regulatory Loan Compliance
➢ Housing/Credit Counseling/Financial Capabilities/Coaching
➢ Foreclosure Prevention/Loss Mitigation/Mortgage Delinquency/Predatory Lending
➢ Budgeting/ Financial Capabilities/Debt Management/Savings
➢ Workforce Development & Readiness/ Welfare to Work/Job Placement & Retention/WIOA
➢ Youth Development/Character Development/Sex & Abstinence Education
➢ Community Reinvestment Act/Banking & Financial Industry Training
➢ Business Development Strategies & Practices
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With over 30 years of professional knowledge & career expertise in banking and financial education, Mrs. Duncan’s journey began by working for former SouthTrust Bank (now Wells Fargo) under the tutelage and mentorship of D&E’s Founder/ President and CEO, Carrie T. Harris. In 2002, Mrs. Duncan accepted the position of Vice President of Education/Outreach at The D&E Group. Mrs. Duncan is an Advisory Board Member of the Forest Park Minister’s Association and has formerly served as a member of numerous other community and faith-based organizations. She also proudly serves on the Women’s & Media Ministries of her church, New Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, GA.
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Mrs. Duncan received a B.S. from the University of West Georgia. She also has the following industry professional certifications:
➢ Professional Certification/Homebuyer Education – NeighborWorks America
➢ Homebuyer Education Methods – FHA, FANNIE/FREDDIE Products, Pre-Purchase, Post-Purchase, & Section 8
➢ Housing & Credit Counseling, Developing Rural Markets
➢ Certified Facilitator/Trainer - Achieving Extraordinary Customer Relations
➢ Certified Facilitator/Trainer – Banking On Fairness
➢ Lead Compliance Trainer – Regulatory Compliance, Consumer Real Estate Loans
➢ Certified Instructor – Train-the-Trainer, The Effective Facilitator, Return-to-Work