Chief Lending and Investment Officer

The Chief Lending and Investment Officer (CLIO) leads CEI’s lending and investment strategy and operations, driving the organization’s mission to foster equitable economic growth in underserved communities. This role oversees business development, loan and investment production, portfolio construction and management, pricing strategies, revenue generation, and overall mission impact.

As a key member of CEI's senior leadership team, the CLIO partners with the CEO, President, CFO, and Treasurer to engage with investors and peer CDFIs to secure the external capital needed to achieve CEI’s lending goals. The role sets the vision and strategy for CEI’s portfolio construction, directs investments made through 30 Federal Street Investments, LLC, and contributes to strategic planning, budgeting, and organizational performance monitoring. Additionally, the CLIO collaborates with CEI’s subsidiaries through their service on CEI’s integration team and on CEI’s subsidiary boards as appropriate.

The CLIO is a leader who can contribute to CEI’s system change strategy by fostering innovation and introducing impactful improvements while building on effective existing processes. Combining strategic vision and technical expertise, this leader ensures CEI’s lending and investment activities meet the evolving needs of underserved communities while achieving organizational objectives. The CLIO also plays a critical role in practice sharing, advancing CEI’s leadership in innovative community economic development initiatives. By collaborating with internal teams and external stakeholders, the CLIO drives measurable impact and strengthens CEI’s position as a leader in mission-driven financing.

Must Haves:

Lending and Leadership Experience: The candidate must have a minimum of ten years of lending and leadership experience in a related field, ideally within community development finance. This includes substantial experience in investment activities. They must have deep familiarity with private and public finance institutions and programs critical to community development finance, such as New Markets Tax Credits (NMTCs), Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs), Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), and Tax Increment Financing (TIF). The candidate should have a track record of structuring complex deals that align with client needs while promoting equity and expanding opportunities for underserved communities.

Financial Analysis and Risk Management Expertise: The candidate must demonstrate extensive knowledge of financial analysis, including projections, budgeting, reporting, and impact measurement specific to community development finance operations. They should have expertise in risk management for loan portfolios and investment activities, a strong understanding of small business lending and regulatory frameworks, and a track record of navigating complex funding structures involving diverse capital sources while ensuring compliance and safeguarding CEI’s reputation.

Mentorship, Coaching & Development Track Record: The candidate must possess exceptional leadership skills, with a proven ability to mentor and develop high-performing teams, particularly senior leaders. They should effectively balance autonomy with oversight, address long-term staffing needs, and foster a psychologically safe and inclusive work environment. Their leadership must align with CEI’s mission and values, embedding equity and collaboration into decision-making and innovation.

Communication and Relationship-Building Skills: The candidate must have exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, supported by a strong existing professional network. They must engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, including community members, bankers, lenders, funders, investors, policymakers, regulatory bodies, and Board members. They should foster alignment and shared goals through trust-based relationships and communicate complex decisions with empathy, clarity, and integrity.

Commitment to Equity and CEI’s Mission: The candidate must demonstrate a deep commitment to CEI’s mission, and an understanding of the unique challenges faced by underserved communities, including small businesses, rural entrepreneurs, and low-income populations. Their leadership style should be approachable, authentic, and aligned with CEI’s culture of equity, collaboration, and continuous improvement, ensuring the organization’s work remains impactful and sustainable.

Who We Are

We started our work back in 1977, supporting the resilience and diversity of Maine’s working waterfront with investments in seafood processing infrastructure and classes on aquaculture – it’s why Coastal Enterprises is our name.

Over the years, we identified and built expertise in other sectors vital to creating a more just, equitable and environmentally sustainable economy – including sustainable food systems on sea and land, child care that supports working families; adopting clean energy and building climate resilience; and preserving our heritage industries and historic buildings in ways that meets current and future needs.

CEI became a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) in the mid-1990s, expanding its capacity to drive economic opportunity and equity. In 2016, Betsy Biemann (CEO) and Keith Bisson (President) succeeded Ron Phillips, who retired after 38 years of leadership, continuing CEI's mission of fostering sustainable development and economic inclusion.

CEI provides business loans, business advising and personal financial development coaching to help people with low-incomes and/or not served by traditional financial institutions build economic agency and climate resilience.

Over the past 30 years CEI has launched several financing subsidiaries that work regionally and nationally, which are part of CEI's family of organizations.

Learn more at ceimaine.org/about/cei-history

What We Do

Investing in a more just, vibrant, and climate-resilient future in Maine and beyond.

Increasing Access to Capital & Opportunity

At CEI, we are redefining what “risk” means when it comes to lending and investing in our communities. We go beyond traditional metrics and biases to truly understand our business borrowers and the entrepreneurs behind them. We prioritize putting our money in the people and places that face biases and barriers from traditional finance providers so we can build a more equitable economy.

Supporting Economic Agency & Stability

Two of the best ways a person can take charge of their economic future and build wealth is through owning a business or home. Our business development and financial development services help people get the information and build the skills they need to make it possible.

Investing in a Shared Climate-Resilient Future

Changing weather patterns, shifting species habitats, and high energy burdens are all a threat to the strength and longevity of businesses across the country and is especially notable in Maine, where our economy and culture are heavily tied to natural resources. We’re working directly with small businesses to identify their needs and make solutions accessible and affordable.