Our Team
OurTeam
Mr. Billie W. Wade, CPA
Billie Wade
Executive Director
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Billie Wade is the Founder and Executive Director of HOPE of the Midwest (HOPE). Prior to founding HOPE in 2011, Mr. Wade was CEO of Citizens Union Bancorp in Shelbyville, KY, a holding company that owned three community banks with combined assets of $800 million. He is currently a Director with four community banks and one bank holding company.

Mr. Wade is a CPA and was in public practice for 19 years, concentrating on community banks consulting and auditing.

He has held numerous board positions with local and regional organizations, such as serving as Past Audit Chair and Past Director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, Past Chairman and current Director of Housing Partnership, Inc. in Louisville, KY, and current Advisory Board Member to Fuller Center for Housing.

Mr. Wade is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting.

Mrs. Tammy J. Nichols
Tammy Nichols
Financial Officer/Asset Mgr
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Tammy Nichols is the Finance Officer and Asset Manager at HOPE of the Midwest (HOPE) with a primary focus on loan servicing and asset management as well as playing a key role in project underwriting. Prior to transitioning full time to HOPE, Mrs. Nichols served as the Event Coordinator for the Kentucky Bankers Association (KBA) planning its Annual Convention, the KBA’s largest program. She has worked for the KBA for over 21 years serving in various positions.

Mrs. Nichols graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Master of Business Administration from Sullivan University in 2012. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management.

Mrs. Nichols has served as Board Member of Metropolitan Housing Coalition in Louisville.
Ms. Tamuna Loladze
Tamuna Loladze
Chief Operating Officer
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Tamuna Loladze is Chief Operating Officer at HOPE of the Midwest (HOPE), overseeing different aspects of HOPE’s operations, as well as playing a key role in asset management and underwriting.

Prior to joining HOPE, Mrs. Loladze served as Chief Operating Officer at Bluegrass International Fund in Louisville, KY, focusing on attracting foreign investment to local projects under the federal EB-5 program. Previously, she worked for 9 years at the World Bank Group in Washington, DC, where she led capital market development efforts in emerging market countries globally, with a focus on financing infrastructure and housing needs. Earlier in her career, she worked in financial services in New York and Kentucky.

Mrs. Loladze holds an MBA and Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Business Administration (Finance) from Transylvania University. She serves on the Growth Loan Committee of Access Ventures in Louisville.