President & CEO
In Memoriam: F. Leroy Pacheco
Born and raised in northern New Mexico, F. Leroy Pacheco dedicated more than 35 years to community development and banking. His work earned national recognition from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce. In 1990, he received the Advocate Award from the New Mexico Indian Business Association, and in 1995, he was named one of the Top 20 Most Influential People in Albuquerque by the former New Mexico Business Journal (now Albuquerque Business First).
Pacheco previously served as chief administrative officer of Roses Southwest Papers, Inc., and as president and CEO of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce. He also held roles as a senior consultant for the All Indian Pueblo Council, senior procurement analyst for the National Economic Development Association, and worked with the U.S. Small Business Administration and in private banking.
From 1997 through 2003, he led ACCION Chicago as president and CEO, providing non-traditional financing to small businesses. In 2004, he became executive director of ASSETS Chicago.
In 2007, Pacheco was appointed President/CEO of The Loan Fund, New Mexico’s first faith-based, non-profit microlender. Under his leadership, The Loan Fund lent over $112 million and helped create or preserve more than 13,000 jobs across the state.
Pacheco served on the advisory boards of the Atrisco Heritage Foundation, the Small Business Development Center, the Black Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico, Finance New Mexico, LLC, and served as treasurer of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico.
His previous civic and professional service included roles on the Mayor’s Advisory Council for Latino Affairs – Economic Opportunities Committee, the Illinois Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women Economic Opportunities Group, and the boards of the Veterans Procurement Technical Assistance Center, the Chicago Hispanic Bankers Association, the Albuquerque Independent Business Alliance, the Business Advisory Council for Wilbur Wright College, the Woodstock Institute, and the National Small Business Development Centers Advisory Council. He also taught part-time at Columbia College.
Pacheco earned a Bachelor of Business in finance from New Mexico State University and completed coursework for a Master certificate with a concentration in entrepreneurship from DePaul University.
Awards as President/CEO of The Loan Fund:
- 2011 U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency Access to Capital Award (Regional and National)
- 2011 U.S. Small Business Administration Financial Services Champion for New Mexico
- 2011 New Mexico Infrastructure Finance Best Practices Award for Community and Economic Development
- Named a Top Performing CEO for a Nonprofit and Powerbroker by New Mexico Business Weekly (2001)
- 2019 U.S. Small Business Administration Legacy Award for New Mexico
Memorial Services
A memorial service in Albuquerque is scheduled for 8 a.m. on April 24 at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, 9502 4th St NW.
His final resting place will be in Cleveland, N.M. A family burial is scheduled on April 26 in Mora County.