Connie E. Evans

Biographical Information
"Connie Evans is the President and CEO of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO), the national nonprofit organization and business trade association representing the U.S. microenterprise development industry. AEO has nearly 400 member organizations that provide training, technical assistance and resources to entrepreneurs across the United States. "Connie’s joining of AEO in March 2009 was a logical next step in her career as a visionary leader, strategist, activist, and social entrepreneur who has founded three organizations. In 1986 she was the founding president of the award-winning Women’s Self-Employment Project, the first and largest urban microenterprise development organization in the U.S. and the first adaptation of the Grameen Bank model to a U.S. urban setting. Evans also pioneered one of the first matched-savings program -- Individual Development Accounts -- in the country. In 2000 she founded WSEP Ventures, a social enterprise-hybrid organization developed to serve as a catalyst for social change, economic development and community empowerment. At WSEP Ventures, Evans launched Capital Bridge C3, a fellowship program supporting emerging social entrepreneurs. And in 2007, Evans founded CSolutions Consulting, an advisory boutique specializing in solutions that address social change. "An international development consultant, with over 25 years experience, she has been recognized and utilized by such groups as the World Bank, the Clinton Administration, a host of local government and private and independent sector organizations. With international experience spanning 43 countries, Evans draws on her expertise in developing and implementing strategies to further economic development, health and social change in communities. "Evans started her career in community mental health as a master-level psychologist. Her commitment to improving the health and life options for disadvantaged women and their families moved her to “harness the marketplace” for solutions. As the Assistant Director of a Hull House Association affiliate in Chicago, Evans became the Project Director for the first resident managed public housing site in the city. She helped low-income women to organize, develop leadership skills, and learn business to take control over a multi-million dollar enterprise. "Evans has lectured in universities throughout the United States and is a frequent panelist and keynote speaker at conferences around the globe. She has many distinguished awards. A sampling includes being named the Inaugural Twink Frey Social Activist in 2006; the 1996 Chicagoan of the Year by Chicago Magazine who recognized her contributions in making Chicago a better place to live. Her leadership and commitment to community service and social change has also been recognized with the first Teknion Humanitarian Award in 1999; Gloria Steinem Woman of Vision Award; 1998 Community Leader of the Year presented by the African American MBA Association at the University of Chicago; and the Chicago Community Service Fellowship Award by the Chicago Community Trust. "Evans’ broad experiences across the worlds of business and finance compliments her skills in development finance. She served two elected terms on the Board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and was the first African American woman to hold such a position. Evans was appointed by President Clinton to the CDFI Advisory Board, a fund in the Department of the Treasury. She also received appointments from President Clinton to the U.S. Delegation to preparatory meetings for the Summit of the Americas, to the U.S. Delegation to preparatory meetings for the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, and again for Beijing Plus Five. "

Affiliations

 * Director, New Economy Coalition