Janie Barrera
President & CEO
ACCION Texas
Janie Barrera is founding president and chief executive officer of ACCION Texas. Created in 1994, ACCION Texas has become the largest nonprofit micro-lending organization in the United States. The agency provides small loans and management training to micro-enterprises throughout Texas. As president and CEO, Ms. Barrera is responsible for the organization’s financial management, oversight of its annual budget and the development of methodology and loan delivery procedures. She has received recognition for her accomplishments, including the Small Business Administration Financial Services Advocate of the Year and the Minority Enterprise Development Consortium's Corporate Advocate of the Year. San Antonio Business Journal listed Ms. Barrera as one of “Twenty Defining Players: People Who Have Helped Shape the City.” She also has served on many national, state and local boards, including the Federal Reserve Board’s National Consumer Advisory Council.
Ms. Barrera began her career as director of telecommunications for the Diocese of Corpus Christi in 1977. There, she helped found the area's first nonprofit radio stations, KLUX and KHOY, as well as two television production studios. After completing her MBA from Incarnate Word College, the Corpus Christi native remained in San Antonio where, in 1989, she became marketing director for the U.S. Air Force Morale, Welfare and Recreation Division headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base.
