INEZ LONG
PRESIDENT & CEO, BLACK BUSINESS INVESTMENT FUND FLORIDA, ORLANDO
The Black Business Investment Fund is certified by the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a community development financial institution. BBIF’s core service is providing loans and technical assistance training to black, other minority and underserved small businesses throughout Florida. The organization employs 18 and has 30 volunteers. Long has been president for 30 years at BBIF, which has brought more than $70 million in loans to small businesses and over $100 million in economic investment dollars in community projects.
| EDUCATION | University of South Florida (BS) |
| PROFESSIONAL EVOLUTION | I started my career as an in-house accountant for a small business in Louisiana. I found that I did not like the work and upon my return to Florida, I became employed by a major bank and was trained as a commercial underwriter, later becoming a commercial lender before joining the BBIF in 1990. |
| ADMIRES | Ignacio Esteban, president/CEO of Florida Community Loan Fund in Orlando. I love his work, his impact, and I love his desire for collaboration and sharing. |
| SABBATICAL TOPIC | I would spend time practicing yoga and meditation. |
| READING | The Color of Money, by Mehrsa Baradaran |