Interim Co-President/CEO Duane Lewis leads internal operations and provides strategic leadership to ensure the organization fulfills its mission of providing affordable, and responsible financing, and technical assistance to Black, minority, and underserved businesses. With a distinguished career in financial management, Duane has previously served as Chief Financial Officer for a private contracting company, overseeing all financial operations and developing strategies to minimize financial risk. He brings extensive experience in credit analysis and has worked with a variety of loan products, including structuring B&I and Commercial Real Estate lending transactions, and New Markets Tax Credits Financing with over 18 number of years with BBIF.
Duane’s commitment to economic development is reflected in his service on the boards of the City of Orlando’s Minority Enterprise Business Assistance Program and the City of Kissimmee’s Black Business Council. Certified by the National Development Council as an Economic Development Professional, Duane holds a Bachelor of Commerce with honors in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Windsor. His strategic vision and operational acumen make him a pivotal figure in driving BBIF’s mission forward.
Interim Co-President/CEO – Duane Lewis and Oraine Reid
Mr. Lewis and Mr. Reid bring their combined expertise and vision to the helm of BBIF as Co-Presidents and CEOs, forming a dynamic partnership dedicated to advancing the organization’s mission. Together, they seamlessly collaborate to fulfill the responsibilities of the presidency while maintaining their individual duties.
In their joint leadership role, Mr. Lewis and Mr. Reid work closely with the treasurer to manage BBIF’s investment portfolio and ensure its alignment with strategic objectives. They are instrumental in raising capital, developing the operational budget, and monitoring loan conditions to support BBIF’s growth and sustainability. By leveraging their diverse skills, they accomplish investment goals, assist clients, and explore new investment sources to expand BBIF’s impact. United in their dedication to economic empowerment, they ensure BBIF remains a leading force in community development finance.
