Opportunity NEXT: See it. Learn it. Do it.

The 2007 Opportunity Finance Network Conference, “Opportunity NEXT: See it. Learn it. Do it.” was filled with opportunities to see and learn, and be inspired in the process. From the opening plenary with John Talmage of Social Compact and John Herrera of Latino Community Credit Union, to OFN’s President and CEO Mark Pinsky and his Challenge of NEXT speech, to more than 50 breakout sessions and the inspiring and insightful closing plenary conversation with the two recipients of the 2007 Wachovia NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance, the conference provided new ideas, potential solutions, and inspiration to more than 700 of practitioners, funders, and investors from around the country. The 2007 Opportunity Finance Conference provided the forum for leaders in the CDFI industry to come together and forge the path ahead in this exciting time for opportunity finance.

There were so many ways to learn at the conference. Panel presentations, training sessions, structured networking sessions, and the OFN Consultants booth provided information and gave attendees the opportunity to have their questions answered by experts, many of whom were their peers. The authors of OFN’s policy book, The Next American Opportunity: Good Policies for a Great America, led policy discussions on rural issues, small business, housing, community facilities and federal funding models in preparation for the book’s 2008 publication.

OFN has made it easy to access the wealth of information that was shared during the many exciting panels, sessions, and events. We have posted speeches, session materials, photographs, survey results, and much more from the 2007 Opportunity Finance conference. Use the menus to the left to tap into this rich resource of information for the opportunity finance industry.

Awards

At the Conference this year, six CDFIs were honored during the inaugural Wachovia NEXT Awards for Opportunity Finance. Click here to see the photos of the awards ceremony and the celebration of CDFIs that followed. One Native CDFI and one leader of a Native CDFI each received an award in the Second Annual Native Award Ceremony. Former Federal Reserve Board governor Ned Gramlich was awarded OFN’s very first Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously. In honor of Dr. Gramlich, OFN created the Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award for Responsible Finance that will go to people who, like Dr. Gramlich, have dedicated their lives to opportunity finance.
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OFN Annual Membership Meeting

At the annual Membership meeting, we spotlighted the changes that have occurred in our industry, our borrowers, and even our brand identity. We reviewed what we have achieved, what we have left to accomplish, and solicited OFN Member’s views on how to get to the next level. Mark Pinsky also laid out his vision of OFN NEXT. Click here to view his PowerPoint presentation. In addition, Members heard from an impressive slate of Board Candidates and elected four Board Members; two returning members (David Beck of Self Help and Mary Mathews of Northeast Entrepreneur Fund) and two new members (Kristi Coker of Citizen Potowatami CDC and Lori Glass of The Investment Fund)

Looking Forward to the 2008 Opportunity Finance Conference

Mark made another important announcement at the conference. Jim Collins, author of Good to Great and co-author of Built to Last, will be the keynote speaker at the 2008 OFN Conference in Albuquerque. Mr. Collins and his Boulder, CO management laboratory staff will study the opportunity finance industry over the course of 2008, culminating in his presentation in New Mexico in December 2008. This is an extraordinary opportunity for everyone involved in this industry.