AZMJ » Team

Our team’s background as analysts, advisors and project managers - for multiple public and private sector organizations - allows us to offer clients a broad range of experience and understanding of the complex issues involved in working in developing country contexts. Our commitment is to bring a commercial approach to projects and problems in a way that enhances the lives of the poor.

Anita Campion, President – Senior Finance and Enterprise Development Specialist
Anita is an economist with more than 20 years experience in international and US finance and private sector development. Recently she managed a Youth and Enterprise Development project in Eastern Congo. Ms. Campion is a Rural and Agricultural Finance expert and has authored a primer on doing Rural and Agricultural Finance for Food Security for USAID. Previously, she managed the Financial Sector portfolio for Chemonics International, overseeing projects related to small and medium enterprise finance, leasing and investment funds, as well as prudential regulation and supervision of microfinance institutions. As executive director, she transformed the MicroFinance Network into a leading policy institution by developing and promoting microfinance best practices. She has designed participatory trainings and delivered them in multiple countries in English, Spanish and French. You can reach her at acampion@azmj.org

Rashmi Kiran Ekka, Finance & Research Specialist

Rashmi is a Finance and Research Specialist at AZMJ. Ekka has a degree in Economics and has conducted quantitative economic research and due diligence analyses of microfinance institutions and investment funds. For USAID/Afghanistan, she conducted an assessment of FINCA’s operational and financial performance. For USAID in the DRC, she analyzed findings of an impact survey of 100 youth who received technical assistance and training on enterprise development. For the Inter-American Development Bank, she researched interest rate structures and implication for microfinance institutions and clients. Ekka is adept at regression analysis and using advanced statistical software packages, such as STATA. A solid analyst, strong writer and excellent public speaker, she is fluent in English and Hindi. You can reach her at rekka@azmj.org

Laura J. Sallmen Smith, Enterprise Development Specialist and Office Manager

Laura holds a BA in Economics from Hiram Collage (OH) and an MA in Technology and Human Affairs from Washington University in St. Louis. She manages the books of AZMJ. She spent 10 years as an Economist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, DC. Most recently, she spent 9 years as President of Shenandoah Brewing Company, a small, family-owned and operated microbrewery in Alexandria, VA. You can reach her at lsmith@azmj.org

Kim Ha, Finance & Research Specialist

Kim holds a BS in finance from Virginia Tech. Most recently, she has conducted financial analysis for potential microfinance investments. For the Professional Massage Training Center, Kim conducted market research in support of creating a microfinance-inspired student lending system to fill the gap left by Sallie Mae. Prior to joining AZMJ, Kim spent two years in Vietnam where she worked for the Capital Aid Fund for Employment of the Poor (Vietnam’s leading MFI), taught English to Vietnamese high school students, and volunteered with local non-profits. You can reach her at kha@azmj.org

Jehiel Oliver, Finance & Research Specialist

Jehiel is a finance and economic development professional and has experience in the international and domestic investment banking, corporate banking, private equity and private sector development arenas. For USAID/Afghanistan, conducted reviews of MISFA and WOCCU, including assessment of financial and operational self-sufficiency. Jehiel has also assisted in conducting due diligence analysis of microfinance institutions for socially responsible investors. Before working in International Development, Jehiel worked at the Institutional Capital Group at Key Bank, where he participated in the sourcing, execution and maintenance of corporate debt underwriting, mezzanine and equity financings, merger & acquisition advisory work, debt syndication and currency, interest rate and energy hedging transactions. You can reach him at joliver@azmj.org

News and Events

May 11, 2010 - Anita Campion visited Springfield, Missouri to work with the Professional Massage Training Center to create a microfinance-inspired system to fill in the gap left by Sallie Mae.
May 1, 2010 - Rashmi Ekka visited Paris, France to attend a meeting for the CGAP Funder Survey 2010 project.
April 2010 - Orlando Lanuza visited Honduras to conduct a study on the design and implementation of ACDI/VOCA’s Farmers Access to Credit to extract lessons learned and make suggestions for future, similar programs
March 2010 - Rashmi Ekka visited Casablanca, Morocco to conduct a training of trainers on Building Analytical Skills for Microfinance Decision Making.
February 22, 2010 - Anita Campion presented the findings of the Value Chain Finance study based in Nicaragua and Honduras at the Financiamiento de las Cadenas Agricolas de Valorseminario, San Jose, Costa Rica.
February 16, 2010 - Anita Campion and Jeremy Coon presented the findings of a Value Chain Finance study in Nicaragua and Honduras at the Inter-American Development Bank.
January 30 - February 5, 2010 - Anita Campion visited Egypt to give a social performance management training to over 20 MFIs from 10 MENA countries.
January 26, 2010 - Anita Campion and Rashmi Ekka presented the findings of a microfinance interest rate study at the Inter-American Development Bank.