Dennis Carlson is a seasoned credit risk executive and data strategist with over two decades of experience spanning impact investing, fintech, and structured credit. As Chief Credit Officer at Equivico—following a three-year collaboration—he plays a pivotal role in advancing the firm’s mission to expand access to capital and empower historically excluded populations through impact investment.

Dennis combines rigorous underwriting expertise with advanced modeling and data science, leading initiatives that deliver scalable, risk-adjusted returns while maintaining a focus on social impact. His cross-functional leadership has shaped multi-billion-dollar portfolios, built predictive scoring systems from the ground up, and guided teams through volatile market cycles with clarity and conviction.

Prior to joining Equivico, Dennis served as Chief Risk Officer at Credibility Capital, where he led the development of quantitative risk modeling and underwriting operations. His leadership was instrumental in achieving above-market credit performance for this online lending platform providing affordable financing to small businesses.

Earlier, as Director of Consumer and Small Business Credit at Verizon, Dennis oversaw the company’s smartphone finance portfolio—managing credit risk for nearly 25 million new loans annually, totaling over $24 billion. This experience underscores his exceptional ability to manage large-scale credit operations and complex risk frameworks.

Before that, Dennis served as Deputy Chief Economist at Equifax, advising senior management on macroeconomic insights that informed strategic direction and customer engagement. A frequent speaker at industry conferences and C-suite forums, he shared perspectives on economic trends shaping credit markets. His analyses have been featured in The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, and other leading outlets. Earlier in his career at First Data Merchant Services, he developed innovative statistical and analytical products serving diverse business clients.

Dennis began his career at American Express as Director of Quantitative Analytics and Modeling, where he developed, implemented, and maintained more than 100 predictive customer response and affinity models—showcasing his deep analytical and behavioral insights.

A Valedictorian graduate of the University of Florida with a B.S. in Mathematics and Statistics, Dennis continued postgraduate studies at Cornell University.

In addition to his financial leadership, Dennis is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) and certified coach dedicated to uplifting women, underrepresented minorities, and neurodivergent individuals. Drawing on both professional expertise and personal insight, he integrates inclusive, strengths-based practices into everything he builds. He is passionate about guiding entrepreneurs, mentoring future leaders, and expanding equitable access to opportunity.