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Esperanza Massana-Crane
Director, Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise at Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Esperanza Massana-Crane is the Director of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development at the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC).34 She was born and raised in El Salvador during the 1980s and received her education at British and German schools, which shaped her critical thinking skills and multilingual abilities.1
Massana-Crane has been with the AEDC since 2013.4 She previously served as the Director of Marketing for AEDC and worked to recruit businesses to Arkansas as a project manager.5 In February 2021, she was appointed as the Director of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Division.25
In her role, Massana-Crane serves as a voice for minority and women-owned businesses in Arkansas, connecting them with resources to help them grow.1 She describes her job as an opportunity to be a connector and resource-provider for these businesses.1
Massana-Crane is also a mother to a young child and enjoys reading books such as "The House of Spirits" by Isabel Allende and "But First, Save 10" by Sarah-Catherine Gutierrez.1 She values education and multilingualism, speaking English and German in addition to her native Spanish.1