Quentin Lawrence, vice president of lending for Pathway Lending in Chattanooga, has worked in banking, nonprofit leadership and in ministry for decades in the community where he grew up. In his new role with Pathway, Lawrence helps small-business owners who might not qualify for more conventional funding to access loans and coaching to build their businesses.
“I always saw the common thread in these roles as trying to help support financial progress in communities that are considered disadvantaged,” Lawrence says. “Being able to help people in some of the most critical areas of their lives, when you talk about money and finances, this really puts that front and center. It tied a nice ribbon around all those experiences.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: Pathway is a community development financial institution, or CDFI. What does that mean when it comes to supporting business owners?
A: We are not a traditional lender from the standpoint of a bank. We’re a mission-based lender. We have some particular groups and target markets we try to cater to and work with while not excluding anyone else. There are barriers to access to capital for ethnic minorities, particularly African Americans, and for women and veterans, as well. Pathway’s approach is to make sure there are no missed opportunities – that’s our motto.