The Triangle Entrepreneurial Leadership (TEL), a regional leadership network that empowers business owners in Raleigh/Durham, has awarded Lenwood V. Long, Sr., with the Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of his work in supporting Black entrepreneurship for over 30+ years.
Mr. Long is the cofounder and President & CEO of the Alliance, a membership-driven intermediary organization that aims to: build the capacity of member organizations; build bridges to economic stability, well-being, and wealth for Black individuals, families, and communities; and build power in Black communities by challenging and influencing financial sectors to operate more equitably.
Mr. Long has expertly directed organizations through periods of transformational growth and strategic shifts. He is especially noted for his work with African American small businesses, women entrepreneurship, veterans, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Since the establishment of the Alliance in 2018, Mr. Long has more than doubled its membership, has received funding support from 17 banks, public and private foundations, and corporations, and has played an active role in promoting policies, practices, and programs to close the racial wealth gap nationwide.
Mr. Long previously served as CEO of Carolina Small Business Development Loan Fund, a North Carolina CDFI loan fund, before retiring in 2019. He has more than 30 years of experience in community economic development, human resources, and business management. He has held leadership positions in a variety of organizations, including statewide economic and community development agencies, national consulting firms, and nonprofit organizations. Mr. Long also served as the Minority Affairs Assistant in the office of former North Carolina Governor James E. Holshouser and as the Chief of Staff for former congresswoman Eva M. Clayton.
The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at TEL’s Inaugural YBE Awards Luncheon and Symposium on April 30, 2022 at the Life Enrichment Center located at 3805 Tarheel Club Rd, Raleigh, NC 27604. For more information, visit https://telrtp.com/ybesymposium/.
