Martina Edwards Takes Charge as ACE's New CEO for Growth
Portfolio - People | Jan 02, 2025 | EIN
Martina Edwards has been appointed as the new CEO and President of ACE | Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs, a Georgian nonprofit making strides in small business lending. With nearly 25 years in financial services, Edwards is set to steer ACE in its mission to offer affordable loans to under-resourced entrepreneurs, focusing on expansion and economic opportunity. During her tenure as ACE’s Chief of Strategic Partnerships, the organization raised over $69 million in grant funding and tripled its lifetime lending to $237 million, significantly impacting Georgia's economy by creating and retaining over 22,000 jobs. The leadership transition aligns with a strategic growth plan aiming to deploy $300 million in loans by 2027, prioritizing underserved populations.
Sectors
- Financial Services
- Nonprofit
Geography
- United States – The context of the article is within the United States, as ACE operates in Georgia, focusing on providing financial services to small businesses in this region.
- Georgia – ACE primarily operates in Georgia, where it has become the largest small business lender, impacting local businesses and communities.
Industry
- Financial Services – The article discusses the activities of ACE, a community development financial institution providing capital and financial resources to small businesses.
- Nonprofit – ACE is a nonprofit organization focused on providing loans and resources to underserved communities as part of its mission to build sustainable businesses.
Financials
- $69 million – Raised in grant funding under Martina Edwards' leadership as ACE's Chief of Strategic Partnerships.
- $237 million – ACE's total lifetime lending to small businesses, nearly tripled during Edwards' tenure at the organization.
- $300 million – Target amount of capital ACE aims to deploy by 2027 as part of its strategic growth plan.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Martina Edwards | CEO and President | Person | Newly appointed CEO and President of ACE with extensive experience in financial services and strategic partnerships. |
| ACE | Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs | Target Company | Company | A nonprofit community development financial institution providing loans to underserved small business owners. |
| Bill Zawrotny | Chairman | Person | Chairman of the ACE Board of Directors, highlighting the leadership transition. |
| MacKenzie Scott | Philanthropist | Person | Provided unrestricted gifts to ACE, boosting its visibility and capacity for impact. |
| Grace Fricks | Founder | Person | Founded ACE in 2000, which has grown to become Georgia's largest small business lender. |