She/Her

Arlena Minter, who joined Michigan Women Forward as a Loan Officer in 2024, has more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry, where she has specialized in business lending and development. During her career, she received awards for her performance in these areas as well as in Credo/Client Services.

She has been a member of the Chaldean Chamber of Commerce for eight years, the Eastpointe/Roseville Chamber of Commerce for three years, and the Sunrise Networking Group (SNG) for over 11 years.

Arlena also has served as a pitch judge for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, and for the past six years, she has also worked as a Lender Clinic Coach within the program. Additionally, she is a Certified Financial Literacy Coach through the FDIC’s “Train the Trainer” program, a role she has held for 10 years.

Outside of her professional career, Arlena is a mother of four and grandmother of six. She owns and operates Lena’s Sweet Dreams LLC, a business specializing in gourmet cupcakes, and she also manages Christian’s Creative Cakes. Arlena practices organic gardening, growing and consuming her own vegetables during the summer months. She is also a dedicated and active autism advocate.