About Edward J Crawford

“Edward Crawford, a dedicated entrepreneur, and passionate public servant, stands at the forefront of the ‘Mission and Margin’ movement as the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Coltala Holdings. His journey is a testament to humble beginnings, an unyielding commitment to service, innovation, and above all, the empowerment of others.

Edward’s remarkable career has seen him play a multitude of roles. From founding and leading a coffee business in the remote town of Los Blancos, Barahona, in the Dominican Republic, to supporting economic development at Advantage Capital Partners, and leading the capital operations team at Avesta Holdings that grew to over $1 billion in value. Additionally, he served as a Vice President at Goldman Sachs, providing guidance and support to entrepreneurs, founders, business owners, and CEOs across Florida and Latin America.

However, Edward’s journey began as a 23-year-old Peace Corps Volunteer, living in a modest shack in Los Blancos, where life lacked electricity and running water. He toiled daily alongside the locals, machete in hand, in the jungles and rainforests. Hand in hand with the community, he founded and expanded ‘CoopCafeSur,’ a coffee cooperative that brought transformation to the lives of over 300 Dominican and Haitian coffee farmers. This early experience ignited a lifelong passion for uplifting others.

This unwavering commitment to service and a profound love for humanity continued in the military, where Edward served as a US Naval Intelligence Officer. He played pivotal roles in Special Operations Command South in Latin America and served as the Tribal and Political Adviser for SEAL Teams Two & Four during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, an endeavor that earned him the prestigious Bronze Star for his service.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Edward remains deeply engaged in public service. Appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, he serves a seven-year term on the Texas Product Development and Small Business Incubator Board, creating opportunities for others. Furthermore, he co-founded the War Veterans Fund, successfully helping eight Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans get elected to Congress. This initiative, a testament to his commitment to service, can be explored at WarVeteransFund.Org.

Edward also serves as a trustee on the Business School Council at Tulane University, a Lifetime Member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and as a dedicated Member, Board Member and Service Chair of the Dallas Texas Chapter of YPO (Young Presidents Organization). Edward’s dedication to service, innovation, and business excellence is centered on uplifting and promoting the aspirations of others. This is Edward’s passion in life. He is a TEDx speaker on Servant Leadership, a mentor, and a catalyst for positive change.

Edward’s impact has been recognized in publications such as World View Magazine, Dallas Business Journal, Dallas Morning News, D CEO Magazine, and The Washington Post. Edward, holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management, as a Sloan Leadership Fellow Scholarship Recipient. He also earned an MA/GMBA from Tulane University, where he focused on Latin American Studies and Finance as a Morton Aldrich Fellow, FLAS Fellow, and Cowen Scholar for Public Service. Edward received the Deans Service Award as well as the Young Alumni of the Year Award at Tulane. He holds a BA in English Literature from Texas Christian University, where he met his wife, Mary Crawford.

Edward’s purpose in life is to, Inspire and guide servant leaders to foster enduring impact. Above all, Edward’s unwavering commitment to promoting and uplifting others is rooted in his personal faith in Christ. He serves as a beacon of inspiration, leading the ‘Mission and Margin’ movement with an unwavering dedication to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Education:

• MBA, MIT Sloan School of Management – MIT Sloan Leadership Fellow
• MA, MBA. MGM | Tulane University, Latin America Studies / Finance – Morton Aldrich Fellow | FLAS Fellow | Cowen Scholar
• BA, |Texas Christian University / English Literature – TCU Lacrosse

Edward Has Been Featured In:

Featured Video:

• “Edward’s presentation was top-notch. Based on his reputation, I knew he’d be good, but that exceeded my expectations.”
  — David Sheahan, DHR International
• “The presentation yesterday by Edward Crawford was inspirational and excellent. I appreciated the opportunity to listen and hear excellent questions from the two hosts.”
  — Stephen Banks, C&C International
• “I enjoyed the presentation immensely. One of my favorites in recent memory.  What an incredible story.”
  — Trey Hunt, Weaver
• “Really good program and was very worthwhile.”
  — Mike Ehlert, BMO Harris
• “Can’t wait for the recording.  I’d like to share his message.”
  — Melinda Jackson, Cadence Bank

Articles