Small business champion

Richard
Esquivel

Sunrise Banks

For more than 30 years, Rich Esquivel has been one of MEDA’s most dedicated partners and a tireless advocate for small businesses in the BIPOC community. As Vice President and Senior Business Development Officer at Sunrise Banks, Rich has worked alongside MEDA through participation and committed service, including more than a decade leading MEDA’s Loan Committee, helping open doors for entrepreneurs who might otherwise go without access to capital.

Rich’s commitment to community runs deep, and he has seen firsthand the powerful impact organizations can have on Minnesota’s Latino population. He brings that same passion to his work with MEDA, grounded in a belief that family, community, and economic opportunity are inseparable.

Sunrise Banks' mission as a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) — offering financially inclusive products to those in low-to-moderate income communities — aligns naturally with MEDA's own vision of an equitable entrepreneurial landscape.

MEDA is proud to recognize Richard Esquivel for a career defined by service, advocacy, and an unwavering belief that small businesses are the backbone of thriving communities.

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