Microfinance in the National Spotlight

ACCION Texas Board of Directors and senior staff with
Ben Bernanke Chairman of the Federal Reserve.
Back row: Ken Olson, Jerry Romero, Gustavo Lasala, Gary Lindner, David Long, Luther Branham, Bill Albers, Roy Terracina, Juan Echartea, Aurora Perkins;
Front row: Jordana Barton, Virginia Torres, Janie Hernandez, Dora Ann Verde, Janie Barrera, Ben Bernanke, Linda Winston, Rose Mary Fry, Mario Riojas.

On November 6, 2007, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, delivered the luncheon keynote address at the ACCION Texas Summit on Microfinance in the U.S.

The 2006 Nobel Peace Prize focused attention on microfinance in developing countries. The Summit on Microfinance in the U.S. brought the focus home.

This important event highlighted the need for access to capital in underserved communities here in the U.S., and the importance of microenterprise and small business development in creating and retaining wealth and assets for low income families and communities across the nation.

The Summit brought together nationally recognized experts and practitioners to discuss microfinance with the press, the academy, philanthropy, government, corporations, and the general public.

ACCION Texas senior staff with the Chairman of the Federal Reserve: Gustavo Lasala (CFO), Janie Barrera (CEO), Ben Bernanke (Chairman of the Federal Reserve), Gary Lindner (COO), Jordana Barton (VP Development), and Ken Olson (Chairman of the Board)

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