Janie Barrera is the founding President and Chief Executive Officer of LiftFund. Established in 1994 in San Antonio as Accion Texas, Inc. The name of the organization was changed to LiftFund in 2015. Due to our innovative approach and proven results, LiftFund has grown to become the largest micro and small business lender in the United States. We are a 501(c)(3) and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) providing loans and management training to enterprises of all kinds— from startups to long‐established businesses — and operates in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Since inception, we have disbursed more than 21,035 loans totaling more than $307 million – with an impressive 96% repayment rate.

As President and CEO, Ms. Barrera is responsible for the organization’s financial management, oversight of its annual budget, and the development of methodology and loan delivery procedures. In particular, she has worked hard to level the financial playing field for entrepreneurs, especially those who have historically faced considerable obstacles when seeking the financing they need to start and grow their businesses. Ms. Barrera has dedicated her professional life to helping others. She is an agent of change in the field of microfinance and helping small businesses reach their full potential. Ms. Barrera has received nationwide recognition for her accomplishments, including the Small Business Administration Financial Services Advocate of the Year and the Minority Enterprise Development Consortium's Corporate Advocate of the Year. The San Antonio Business Journal listed Ms. Barrera as one of “Twenty Defining Players: People Who Have Helped Shape the City, and also named her as one of 2013’s “Legacy Leaders.” Ms. Barrera has served on many national, state and local boards, including the Federal Reserve Board’s National Consumer Advisory Council. President Barack Obama appointed Ms. Barrera to the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability and she was named to the Board of Directors for the Federal Reserve of Dallas’ San Antonio Branch. In 2015 she was named to San Antonio Business Hall of Fame.