10/17/2026
Iowa Center Vice President of Capital Access, Jose Venales, is nominated for the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) Board. If you're attending this year's OFN Conference in New Orleans, don't miss the chance to chat with Jose and find out exactly why he is the best candidate for OFN Board!
"Growing up in Venezuela, I watched my parents navigate the relentless grind of running a family business. I saw firsthand how systemic barriers to capital can stall an entire family’s economic mobility. Today, I bring the heart of an immigrant entrepreneur’s son to this work, knowing exactly where these business owners are coming from.
Coupling this lived experience with my MBA in Leadership, alongside 15 years of experience in banking and economic development, I have dedicated my career to building equitable financial frameworks. As Vice President of Capital Access at The Iowa Center, I led the effort to build a Loan Fund from the ground up, achieving CDFI certification in 2022 and rigorous recertification in 2026.
I am running for the OFN Board to be a strong advocate and operational asset for every CDFI in our network. Whether your fund is a five-year-old startup or a thirty-year-old titan, the core mission of deploying capital effectively remains the same, and my ground level perspective brings fresh, pragmatic problem solving to the table. I firmly believe that diverse communities have unique needs. Whether we are funding businesses in dense urban neighborhoods or bringing capital to rural towns where access to traditional financing is limited, we must tailor our support to meet entrepreneurs exactly where they are.
I look forward to connecting with many of my CDFI colleagues in New Orleans, LA, for the 2026 OFN Conference from October 20–23. Vote Venales — OFN Board. Let's build the future of opportunity together."
