DreamSpring Announces Upcoming Retirement of Founding President/CEO, Anne Haines

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., FEBRUARY 25, 2025 – The DreamSpring Board of Directors announced today that Anne Haines, DreamSpring’s Founder and President/CEO, has shared her intention to retire effective December 31, 2025.   After 31 years of dedicated service, Haines leaves behind a legacy of impact, innovation, and commitment to excellence.

Under Anne’s visionary leadership, DreamSpring was founded in Albuquerque in 1994 and grew to become one of the nation’s top nonprofit lending organizations devoted to helping entrepreneurs realize their dreams and be catalysts for lasting economic and social change.   Now serving entrepreneurs in 27 states across the country, DreamSpring has issued more than 47,925 loans totaling over $562 million to small businesses that support an estimated 67,632 jobs. Lauded locally and nationally for its impact and organizational culture, DreamSpring is the recipient of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency National Access to Capital Award (in 2012 and again in 2019), the Association for Enterprise Opportunity Power of One Award, and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses/Surdna Foundation/Opportunity Finance Network Small Business Leader Award. In 2022, Fast Company recognized DreamSpring as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies.

Anne’s leadership has been recognized with multiple honors including the New Mexico Ethics in Business Award, JCC Humanitarian Award, Albuquerque Business First Top Performing CEO Award, and YWCA La Estrella Award.

“Anne has been an extraordinary leader and an inspiration to all of us at DreamSpring,” said Board Chair Alice Rodriguez. “We are deeply grateful for and motivated by the lasting economic and entrepreneurial vitality she has brought to our communities.”

The Board of Directors will begin the search for Anne's successor immediately and is committed to finding a leader who will build upon the strong foundation established by Anne and drive DreamSpring’s mission and impact into the future.

Anne will step down from the President/CEO role and become a Senior Advisor to the organization on July 1, 2025. Marisa Barrera, DreamSpring’s Chief Impact Officer, will step into the role of Acting President/CEO as the Board of Directors conducts the CEO search.

Marisa has a 29-year tenure with DreamSpring and has also been recognized locally and nationally for her outstanding leadership. Recipient of a U.S. Small Business Administration Advocacy Award, Marisa received her Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Public Affairs degree from Princeton University.

“The time has come for me to look toward the next chapter in my life, and I am excited to have time and space to do that,” said Anne Haines. “I am deeply inspired by the excellence, talent, impact, and passion of DreamSpring’s Board of Directors, Marisa Barrera, and the extraordinary staff team. I am confident they will continue to build on DreamSpring’s tradition of excellence and lead the organization to greater levels of impact. Small business is the lifeblood of our communities and economies, and I am forever passionate about the everyday heroism of individuals and families who start and grow local small businesses.”

About DreamSpring

DreamSpring is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lender dedicated to propelling individual and family economic mobility and community wealth-building by helping people start and grow small businesses. Founded in 1994, the organization provides rapid access to capital and customized wrap-around support to entrepreneurs and nonprofits in 27 states. To date, DreamSpring has issued more than 47,925 loans totaling over $562 million to small businesses that support an estimated 67,632 jobs. Learn more at www.DreamSpring.org.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Laura Marrich, Senior Communications Specialist
DreamSpring
Direct: 505-456-0104
press@dreamspring.org