Lori Diaz Email & Phone Number

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

Established Latino Small Business Lending Program (LP)• Developed LP’s strategic plan and standard operating procedures ahead of the formal program launch.• Manage program’s performance and productivity, while overseeing metrics, outcomes and impact measurement, including data collection and management. • Develop and implement marketing strategy, program evaluation, and risk management portfolio strategy, as well as marketing strategies for major cities in North Carolina, to reach the Latino entrepreneurship community.• Deliver over 700 hours of pre- and post-loan business management technical assistance for new, existing, and potential clients in addition to holding classes and networking events.• Train and supervise the LP’s statewide officers, located across the state.• Identify and actively recruit strategic partners across North Carolina to increase the reach of the program, including community centers, chambers of commerce, governmental organizations, and consulates. • Lead fundraising efforts for the LP program, including identifying and contacting donors and sponsors to fundraise for the expansion of the program.Created and Maintained Compliance Unit• Coordinate all external financial reporting, manage year-end reporting, and support all internal and external audits. • Interpret laws, rules, regulations and guidelines pertaining to financial procedures to assure the financial activities to comply with all laws, policies, and regulations and the organization’s strategic direction. • Direct the continuous improvement of the reporting process; coordinate and supervise colleagues submitting quarterly and annual reports, assure the overall integrity of the reports.

Dominican Republic

Continued to perform the Project Coordinator duties and the following new responsibilities: • Identified and pursued external sources of funding. Developed two award-winning grant proposals for a total US$130,000.00 (Nestle and Citi Foundation).• Served as a liaison to international representatives from funding agencies.• Evaluated proposals and hired national and international consultants for the different components of the projects.

Dominican Republic

Led, coordinated, and controlled activities related to the planning, monitoring and development of projects targeting the sustainable economic and social development of rural communities across the Dominican Republic through financial assistance and education. • Monitored and verified compliance with guidelines and requirements, elaborate projects’ annual action plan and budget, prepare technical and economic reports. • Coordinated market research and impact studies using focus group techniques and oversaw smooth execution of the projects through visits to local branches across the country.• Supervised and developed a strategic plan to increase loan placements in 18 branches. Successfully increased loans placement from an average of 60 loans per month to over 250 loans per month.• Worked with a number of international partners, including Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, Nestle, Inter-American Development Bank, and Citi Foundation.

Dominican Republic

Managed the logistics of the entire import process for the animal feed and fertilizer producer.• Handled a monthly average of 25 import processes with an approximate total value of US$650,000.• Developed legal documents such as contracts and non-binding memorandums of understanding. Procured all appropriate permits and approvals from government agencies, while maintaining relationships with international suppliers.

Conducted research related to ring-fencing and regulatory environment of public utilities in Utah

Directed review sessions to students by leading discussions based on class topics and subjectsResponsible for evaluating presentations and performance of students during class activities

Mba, Master Of Business Administration

Activities and Societies: MBA International Trip--England (UK) March 2011; Design Thinking For Innovation Program--Switzerland May-June.

Certificate In Community Development Finance

Certificate In Upper Management For Microfinance Institutions

B.A., Operations Management & Human Resources

Activities and Societies: Study Abroad Asia (South Korea, China, and Vietnam) May-June 2009; Study Abroad Eastern Europe (Russia, Turkey.