Anne Haines, founder of the nonprofit lender DreamSpring, has collaborated with two local authors to share insights on building a business. Grit and Growth draws on DreamSpring’s 30-year evolution from a tiny startup to a national leader in small business development. Authors Anne Haines, Amber Kani, and Laura Marrich — along with Yashoda Naidoo, founder of Annapurna’s World Vegetarian Café and one of the entrepreneurs who shares her story in the book — are hosting a book release conversation at the DreamSpring headquarters in Albuquerque on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Light refreshments will be served. Missed the event? Scroll to the link below to order the book.
Grit and Growth offers business tools alongside real-life stories, practical frameworks, and reflective exercises to guide entrepreneurs through starting and growing a business. It lays out the skills and resources every entrepreneur needs to master to become successful. It walks readers through identifying the business purpose, developing values-driven leadership, amplifying strengths, and cultivating communities of support. Stories of struggles and challenges urge readers to leverage their unique capabilities.
Haines, who has led DreamSpring for thirty years since the organization’s founding, said insight can be gleaned from real small-business owners who have lived the experience. Each chapter features insights from actual small business owners who have turned their business challenges into stepping stones of self-discovery, growth, and success. Haines is nationally recognized for helping thousands of people realize their dreams of business ownership, and she is a past board member of the Denver Branch of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank. She mentions passion as an emotion that can drive business growth.
“Passion, I learned, can push us into risk-taking we never thought ourselves capable of,” said Haines. “It gives us courage to step forward even when the fear is overwhelming.”
Co-authors Amber Kani and Laura Marrich are also experienced in nonprofit leadership, finance, and business development. Kani has worked to expand access to capital, strengthen financial education, and drive economic mobility. She serves as DreamSpring’s Chief Engagement Officer. Marrich, who serves as DreamSpring’s Senior Communications Specialist, is an award-winning writer and editor. Over her two decades in journalism and marketing — including tours as Food Editor and Editor-in-Chief at the celebrated Weekly Alibi alternative newspaper — Laura’s work has received numerous regional and national honors.
The book release event starts at 2:00 pm on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the DreamSpring headquarters located at 2000 Zearing Avenue NW in Albuquerque. The public is invited, but RSVPs are requested in advance here.
DreamSpring is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lender dedicated to accelerating the economic inclusion and strength of underserved communities. Founded in 1994, the award-winning organization provides rapid access to capital and customized wrap-around support to the most vulnerable small business owners in 27 states, focusing on communities including people of color, women, low- to moderate-income households, people with disabilities, and start-ups.
Since its founding, DreamSpring has lent more than $585 million to almost 34,000 businesses. It is ranked as one of the top five microlenders in the U.S. and has received 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator consistently since 2012 — placing it in the top 3% of rated nonprofits.
Learn more about DreamSpring loans and services.