Watch the 2006 Conference Video!
Hear what Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke had to say about the CDFI industry, watch a clip from Opportunity Finance Network President & CEO Mark Pinsky’s speech, and see all the networking on the bustling tradeshow floor and in dynamic sessions. This video spotlights all of the great things that happened at The 2006 Opportunity Finance Network Conference. 98% of attendees said the Conference met or exceeded their expectations; will you be at the 2007 Conference in Miami?
What a Success!
The 2006 Opportunity Finance Network Conference was a success on all fronts. The theme “The Power of Opportunity” clearly resonated with urban, rural, and reservation-based CDFIs and other opportunity finance institutions as we met in Washington, D.C.in October 2006. Our vision of a financing system that can provide billions of dollars to benefit low-income and low-wealth people is becoming real.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Senator Paul Sarbanes, Former Governor of the Federal Reserve Ned Gramlich, Opportunity Finance Network President & CEO Mark Pinsky, and other industry pundits and dignitaries provided insightful and encouraging speeches, remarks, and comments throughout the event.
Opportunity Finance Network presented four leading CDFIs in California, Illinois, Maryland, and Mississippi with Wachovia Excellence Awards for Opportunity Finance. Two Native CDFIs also received national awards for excellence. Financing launched the first training sessions for our new mortgage originators, as we prepared to combat predatory lending next year. At our Annual Membership Meeting we unveiled the “three steps to success” for policy, discussed our new policy agenda, and provided new tools for advocacy. Merrill Lynch announced that it will be the first to use the new CARS™ ratings tool to underwrite $93 million in financing for underserved markets. And, Members who connected to the brand Opportunity Finance Network were honored in a gallery of Member Profiles.
Speeches, session materials, survey results, and more are now available online. Use the menus to the left to tap into this rich resource of information for the opportunity finance industry.