Cinnaire, a full-service Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) based in Lansing, MI, with offices in five states, supports community stabilization and economic development, recently announced two new positions in the Wilmington, DE, office and the Detroit, MI, office.

Corinne Hyzny has been named Vice President, Strategic Communications, in the company’s Wilmington, DE, office. In this new position, Corinne will be responsible for the development and implementation of Cinnaire’s communications and marketing program. She will work to support and grow the company’s position as a diversified and innovative leader in the community development finance industry.

Corinne, a resident of Kennett Square, PA, brings more than 20 years experience in marketing and communications in areas including strategic planning and market research. She has served as Director of Marketing and Communications for Upland Country Day School in Kennett Square for the past 5 years. Prior to that, she was a marketing consultant and spent more than a decade working with advertising and marketing agencies in roles from Senior Account Executive to Director of Communications. Corinne holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from Harvard University.

Jela Ellefson has been named Vice President, Social Capital, in the company’s Detroit, MI, office. In this role, Jela will be responsible for the development and implementation of fundraising strategies for Cinnaire. She will work with Cinnaire team members companywide to foster and strengthen relationships with banks, private foundations, and other funders to facilitate Cinnaire’s mission of advancing communities.

Jela earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the University of Detroit Mercy and her Master’s in Urban Planning from the University of Southern California. Since 2011, she has been the Community Development Director of Eastern Market Corporation, where she ensured stability and growth of the Eastern Market through management of funding, district-wide planning and development projects. Prior to moving to Detroit, she worked as project manager for Civic Enterprise Associates in Los Angeles on a variety of non-motorized transportation planning and economic development studies. Her corporate finance career includes financial analysis, credit analysis, and underwriting.