Men To Watch Awards 2026 honors Marshall E. Crawford

Marshall E. Crawford Jr. grew up in Coatesville, Pennsylvania and has served as president and chief executive officer of the Housing Fund Inc. since 2017. The Housing Fund, a community development financial institution (CDFI), provides resources and creative leadership to help individuals and communities create and maintain affordable and healthy places to live.

Mr. Crawford has been a transformative leader working collectively to sustain The Housing Fund by growing assets over 125 percent during his tenure. His leadership includes developing Nashville’s first community land trust and being selected to participate in various affordable housing taskforces. Mr. Crawford currently serves on Nashville’s leadership council for affordable housing.

Prior to joining The Housing Fund, Mr. Crawford served five years in the United States Army with assignments in Germany and Fort Knox, Kentucky. After being honorably discharged from the military and graduating from college, Mr. Crawford started his banking career in 1995 with SunTrust Bank, now Truist, in Nashville, Tennessee. His career evolved over the years as safety and soundness examiner in the Office of Thrift Supervision for the Department of the Treasury from 1999 to 2003. He became a management consultant and senior director for the Southern Region of NeighborWorks America from 2003 to 2016, and eventually, president of housing and multifamily development for Community Ventures Corporation from 2016 to 2017.

Mr. Crawford is currently a member of the board of directors of the Nashville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. He also serves on the Truist Bank National Community Development Advisory Group and is a board member of the African American Alliance of CDFI CEOs, and Nashville Chapter for the Titan 100. He serves on the finance advisory committee for the Gordon Ford College of Business at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. He was named Most Admired CEO by the Nashville Business Journal in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. He was inducted into the Tennessee Affordable Housing Hall of Fame in 2019 by the Affordable Housing Commission and is a graduate of Leadership Tennessee. He was recently recognized as one of the Most Powerful People in Nashville Business and honored on the Wall of Distinguish at the Gordon Ford College of Business at Western Kentucky University.

Mr. Crawford earned a BA in finance from Western Kentucky University, a master of public administration degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and an executive leadership certification from Georgetown University.