Mary Houghton
Mary Houghton | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Marquette University (B.A. cum laude), Johns Hopkins University (Master’s in International Studies) |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, company founder |
| Years active | 1973–2010 |
| Known for | Co-founder of ShoreBank, community development banking |
Mary Houghton co-established ShoreBank, recognized as the oldest and largest institution focused on community development banking. In 1973, together with Milton Davis, James Fletcher, and Ron Grzywinski, she acquired South Shore Bank to address discriminatory lending practices in Chicago's South Shore area. She stepped down from her role as president in May 2010.
Biography
During the early 1980s, Houghton partnered with Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh’s Grameen Bank (recipient of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize) alongside Grzywinski. Between 1986 and 2001, she was a member of the Board of Directors at Accion International.
Houghton currently holds a directorship at Vancity Community Investment Bank based in Toronto and has previously contributed to the boards of the Calvert Foundation and Women's World Banking.
She is affiliated with the Ashoka Global Academy for Social Entrepreneurship.
Her academic credentials include a B.A. cum laude from Marquette University and a Master’s degree in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University.
In 2009, she was selected as one of six members on the committee for the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence.
Awards and honors
Among Houghton’s distinguished recognitions are:
- 2001: Awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business by Northern Michigan University.
- 2004: Honored as “Community Banker of the Year” by American Banker magazine for setting ShoreBank as a leading example in community development banking.
- 2009: Received the Economic Opportunity Achievement Award from The Opportunity Collaboration in Mexico, acknowledging her efforts in expanding financial access to marginalized populations.
- 2009: Presented the "Leaders Forum Lecture" at the Yale School of Management.
- Alongside co-founder Ron Grzywinski, honored with the Hesburgh Award for Ethics in Business from the University of Notre Dame (2008) and the Gleitsman Citizen Activist Award at Harvard University (2006). Both were also featured on U.S. News & World Report's list of America’s Top Leaders.