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Marietta Rodriguez knows what it’s like to be a new homebuyer because she was one. "I was 25 and living in a high-cost area," she says. "There was absolutely no way I could buy a home without someone holding my hand and walking me through it."

The folks holding her hand were from a NeighborWorks network organization that provided counseling and financial assistance to first-time homebuyers. Soon, Rodriguez went to work for the organization that assisted her so that she could help more people in her hometown. She led the national homeownership effort for the NeighborWorks network, which included a suite of pre-purchase, mortgage lending, and post-purchase programs and services.

Today, as president and chief executive officer, Rodriguez works with senior executives and nationally renowned experts to leverage the power of public-private partnerships. She has a proven record of leadership and accomplishment, creating and executing strategic initiatives that address some of the toughest challenges facing low-income families: homeownership, foreclosure prevention, community building and engagement.

Rodriguez is responsible for leading NeighborWorks America’s programmatic support to its 245 member organizations and nonprofit partners. Whether capacity building, technical assistance, grant management or relationship management, she has met or exceeded metrics for success while developing and mentoring her staff at all levels.