Vibrant communities. Empowering business owners.

About Us

About Us

Vibrant communities. <br>Empowering business owners.

Community Enterprise Development Services, or CEDS Finance, is a mission-driven, non-profit, small business lender that also provides business support services to underserved business owners across Denver Metro. We work to remove barriers thus expanding financial services to those who’ve been marginalized from the traditional financial system; and empower them towards thriving businesses, families, and communities.

Established in 2009 primarily to serve refugees and immigrants, CEDS has broadened its products and services to include a more diverse population. With almost all of its borrowers (98%) immigrants to the US, people of color, and women, CEDS has a proven track record of supporting business owners from diverse geographies, backgrounds, and cultures with culturally responsible lending.

CEDS is the only Islamic compliant lender in the state of Colorado and is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Small Business Administration (SBA) Lender. CEDS partners with the City and County of Denver, the City of Aurora, and many others.

Our Mission

CEDS Finance supports the American Dream of financial self-sufficiency by assisting immigrants, refugees and those from underserved communities to start, grow or strengthen their small business in Metro Denver.

Our Team

Alex
AlexExecutive Director
Diana
DianaDirector of Finance
Tony
TonyDirector of Lending & Portfolio Management
Juan
JuanSenior Investment Officer
Daphne
DaphneInvestment Officer
Sayed
SayedInvestment Officer
Flaubert
FlaubertInvestment Officer
Carly
CarlyCommunications Officer
Fatou
FatouPortfolio Officer
Yolanda
YolandaPortfolio Officer
Micki
MickiSenior Business Consulting Officer
Kelly
KellyBusiness Consulting Officer
Barbara
BarbaraOperations Officer

Board of Directors

Karol Jones
Karol JonesChair
Chief Financial Officer, B:Side Capital & B:Side Fund
Jonalyn Denlinger
Jonalyn DenlingerVice Chair
Director of Consulting, Syntrinsic Investment Counsel
Patrick Horvath
Patrick HorvathSecretary
Administrative Officer, Center for Community Wealth Building
Josh Peebles
Josh PeeblesTreasurer
Regional President, Encore Bank

Nicole Carner
Nicole Carner
COO & CFO Consultant to Early Stage Impact Companies
Maria Gonzalez
Maria Gonzalez
Founder & CEO, Adelante Community Development
Jeremy Harkey
Jeremy Harkey
Managing Director, Groundswell Ventures
Paul Stein
Paul Stein
Founder, iNOW (integration: Navigation, Outreach, & Wealth-Building)