Alima Samad

I’m a finance and economic development professional with experience in the public and private sector, focused on entrepreneurship across pre-revenue, early stage, growth, and mature companies. I bring a high degree of professionalism and fiduciary integrity, with a strong, customer-facing approach that helps people turn capital and strategy into real outcomes.

Since 2020, I’ve served as Co-Founder of Loiter, a nonprofit charity revitalizing East Cleveland, Ohio, by seeding community-owned businesses. With my background in public service and experience through organizations like the Urban League of Greater Cleveland and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, I provide business advisory services and help foster economic development in the community. My core duties include facilitating the disbursement of reinvestment dollars, and I currently serve as president of Loiter’s Board of Directors.

From 2005–2015 and again in 2018 through August 2019, I worked at the Entrepreneurship Center at the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, helping connect private, public, and nonprofit resources to build sustainable minority businesses. As a Certified Business Advisor (CBA) for the Cuyahoga Small Business Development Center, I was evaluated on yearly performance goals like starting 33 businesses, creating 75 jobs, retaining 500 jobs, increasing sales by $5,000,000, and supporting $100,000 in public and private contracts. I also served as a Self Employment Advisor for the SET Program, a Certified Integrated Quality Assessment (IQA) Consultant using Baldridge and Ohio Partners for Excellence criteria, and a Capital Implementation Strategist/Loan Packaging Expert—assisting 72+ business owners per year with capitalization, solvency evaluation, loan repayment monitoring, and identifying the correct investor.

My work spans micro-lending and early finance operations, including Micro Loan Officer responsibilities (microloans of $500–$55,000) and earlier experience as an Accounting Associate and Investment Banking Administration. I’ve also participated in community development and economic inclusion initiatives, and I hold a BSBA in Finance from John Carroll University (graduated 1999). I’m especially energized by roles where I can advise entrepreneurs, implement effective business strategies, and strengthen local economic ecosystems.