Board Members

Michael Cummings is a Vice President with the Housing Authority of The City of
Austin (HACA) and is responsible for leadership and oversight of two HACA
subsidiaries, Southwest Housing Compliance Corporation (SHCC) and Blueprint
Housing Solutions.
Mr. Cummings has over 25 years affordable housing experience and primarily oversees
the Performance Based Contract Administration (PBCA) work for the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for approximately 65,000 units of Section 8
Multifamily housing in Texas and Arkansas. SHCC’s mission as a partner with HUD is to
ensure all families are afforded safe, healthy, and accessible homes. Mr. Cummings has
worked on several organizational strategic initiatives directly impacting the Housing
Authority and its subsidiaries, and has provided his insights at various industry panels,
stakeholder meetings and working groups on preserving and improving affordable
housing.
A dedicated community volunteer, Mr. Cummings has served as a volunteer and board
member for Micah 6 of Austin and the Central Texas SPCA. He is a graduate of
Leadership Austin Class of 2011 and was recognized in 2021 as the ‘Industry Partner of
the Year’ by the National Assisted Housing Management Association (NAHMA). He and
his wife, Lydia, are the proud parents of 3 children and 2 dogs. In his free time, he
enjoys rooting for his beloved Boston sports teams and watching his kid’s baseball,
cross country, soccer, and tennis endeavors while coaching from the sidelines in all.
Mr. Cummings is excited about the opportunity to serve aspiring and existing business
owners in overcoming barriers to growing a successful business.

Daniel Bennett is a dedicated leader with over ten years of experience in finance, currently managing the Central Austin branch at WaFd Bank. Originally from Mossville, Louisiana, Daniel holds a BS in management and an MBA, embodying a commitment to continuous learning and growth.

In addition to his financial expertise, Daniel is a visionary advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. He chairs the BIPOC DEI ERG at WaFd Bank, Chairs the board of  A Little Bit of Good nonprofit, and serves as the secretary of the Austin CenTex Chapter of the NABA, fostering community impact and empowerment.

Daniel‘s creative pursuits include Snapshots by D. Bennett, where his storytelling skills shine through photography and videography, adding depth and resonance to his impactful work. He is also recognized for his work on the award-winning film ‘Mossville: When Great Trees Fall,’ a powerful exploration of environmental justice issues.

Eduardo Miramontes Medina serves as the Member Success Administrator for  A+ Federal Credit Union. He is a Board Member for the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and a Board Member of Economic Growth Business Incubator.

He has more than 20 years of experience in the financial industry and guides the A+FCU Multicultural Strategy. Eduardo is a co-leader of the A+FCU Black Excellence Leadership Employee Resource Group and a member of the credit union’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council.

With more than 15 years in leadership positions, Eduardo is actively engaged in developing the future leaders of the credit union and helping others get involved in their communities. Eduardo graduated from the Hispanic Austin Leadership Program in 2019 and was recognized as the Ambassador of the Year for the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2019.

In 2022, he co-founded the Language Skills Evaluation Committee at A+FCU to help govern and organize efforts and focus around language support and assistance. Eduardo’s dedication to the A+FCU members and the broader community reflects his deep commitment to the credit union’s mission of Banking on each other. Building stronger communities.^®

Laura Ramos James is the founder and owner of Ramos James Law, PLLC, a prominent personal injury law firm based in Austin, Texas. Specializing in cases involving serious injury and death, Laura has a particular focus on serving Spanish-speaking clients in the state.

She is an active member of various legal associations, including the Capital Area Trial Lawyers Association and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, where she contributes to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. Laura’s dedication to her profession has earned her recognition, including being named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers™ for five consecutive years and receiving accolades such as Up-and-Coming 100: Texas Rising Stars and Up-and-Coming 50: Women Texas Rising Stars.

Her commitment to advocacy extends beyond the courtroom, as she volunteers her time and resources to local nonprofit organizations. Laura’s achievements and contributions have been celebrated by both legal and community organizations, cementing her reputation as a top attorney and community leader in Austin.

Mike Lancaster was born and raised in San Antonio, TX. He attended the University of Texas at San Antonio and earned a degree in Business Management. Mike is a 25-year veteran in the banking industry. He is currently a Senior Vice President for Broadway Bank’s Business Banking Group.

Mike’s primary role at Broadway Bank is to deliver the best banking experience and build lasting relationships with his business customers. His goal is to provide a personalized banking experience to his customers. Some of Mike’s responsibilities are Business Development, Commercial Lending, SBA lending, medical lending, succession planning for business owners, and Treasury Management.

Mike lives in Round Rock, TX with his wife Kelly, their twin boys Zane and Tyler, and his dog Rocky. In his free time, Mike likes doing outdoor activities with his family, he also Coaches YMCA Sports, as well as traveling and trying out new restaurants. He is a graduate of Leadership Round Rock Class of 2014. He is also heavily engaged in his community. He serves on the Board of EGBI and as Board Member of the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce.

Robert Shipman serves as Executive Vice President of Commercial Banking for Frost Bank in Austin. With over 21 years in banking, including 15 years at Frost, Robert leads a team of commercial bankers focused on business development, lending, client relationships, and community engagement.

He is committed to building long-term partnerships and advancing Frost Bank’s mission to be a force for good in the Austin community.

A multi-generational Texas native, Robert earned his degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, TX. He is an active community volunteer, currently serving on the board of EGBI Austin and supporting organizations across the Austin area.