Jamie Beasley, Latino Program Director, Mountain BizWorks
Since 2007, Jamie Beasley has helped entrepreneurs through Mountain BizWorks, where he currently serves as Latino program director. The Asheville-based organization is a certified non-profit community development financial institution (CDFI). Mountain BizWorks’ mission is to help small businesses succeed in Western North Carolina, with an emphasis on lending, consulting, training and investing.
The following is an interview was conducted on May 30, 2013 with Amber W. Zachery. Amber is currently an Assistant Vice President and Financial Services Manager with First Citizens Bank in Brevard, NC. She has been in the banking industry for several years and has served in her current position since September, 2010.
Describe your background.
I am originally from Ethiopia and I moved to US when I was 13. I studied Biological Science in College but after graduation I was not interested in working in a lab so I got a job at E*Trade financial.
What made you decide to enter into the banking industry?
Once I started working at E*Trade in Finance I enjoyed the atmosphere dealing with people and helping in all aspect of the Market.
Amanda Sorrells manages a growing caseload of young entrepreneurs in the 85+ rural counties in North Carolina by assisting aspiring entrepreneurs with business plan preparation, market and product development, financial projections and analysis, operations and management planning, capital acquisition strategies, and business implementation.
