Karlene Sinclair-Robinson
Director, Business Finance Center, Officer-Community Business Partnership
Karlene Sinclair-Robinson
Karlene Sinclair-Robinson is a business and financing strategist, entrepreneurial coach, and instructor with over 20 years’ experience in the areas of capital acquisition and strategies, business development, planning, strategic solutions, human resources, customer relations, financial management, loan underwriting, credit analysis, small business financing, grant writing, portfolio management, and more.
Karlene Sinclair-Robinson had been a long time CBP client since late 2004 and volunteer before joining CBP’s Business Finance Center in April 2012 when the organization decided to pursue its’ CDFI certified designation.
In May 2023, Karlene was named Director of CBP’s Business Finance Center and an Officer of the organization. Her new and expanded management role includes overall organizational and lending operations, loan portfolio and credit risk management, CDFI, SBA, and other compliance requirements, client engagement, staff support, community, and stakeholder engagements. She also oversees all aspects of the BFC’s and CBP’s technical assistance with a financially focused program in support of the underserved and underbanked micro-enterprises needing support. She also instructs workshops including ‘Options for Funding Your Business’ and ‘Preparing for Funding’ designed to help clients understand the financing landscape, process, and applicable solutions available today.
Prior to her work at CBP, she owned a medical billing and transcription company, a staffing firm, and janitorial partnership along with a financing consulting firm. Karlene supports clients through coaching and other strategic solutions including online courses for 13,000+ enrolled students in over 100 countries. She has been an Adjunct Faculty member for Prince George’s Community College Workforce Development program for 12+ years and had been a Fairfax County Public School’s Adult Continuing Education instructor between 2011 and 2021.
Karlene is also a bestselling author, speaker, and is considered a foremost expert on Alternative Business Financing. Karlene currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia, with her family. She is passionate about special needs families and mental health awareness. She loves music, especially Reggae, R&B, and Gospel. Karlene also enjoys reading, writing, crocheting, gardening, cooking; most importantly she enjoys meaningful time spent with family, friends, and clients. She is originally from sunny Montego Bay, Jamaica.