Coleman Thursday’s Movers and Shakers

February 5, 2015

By Bob Coleman
Editor, Thursday’s Movers and Shakers

Cara Rudy Rejoins Capital Access Group as Vice President

“I am very pleased that Cara has chosen to return to the Capital Access Group team,” says Jacklyn Jordan, President/CEO. “Cara has the unique combination of skills and characteristics that are necessary to be successful in this extremely competitive industry. She’s informative, transparent, supportive, and very patient. Our small business clients and business partners are thrilled she is returning, too.”

“I’m so excited to return to Capital Access as a Vice President,” says Cara. “I missed the day-to-day interactions with small business clients and seeing the tangible results of our work. Nothing beats knowing that you’ve helped a small business grow, create jobs, and strengthen the community. The work we do here makes a big difference.”

“I’m also excited to take on new responsibilities, including a stronger leadership role and the chance to focus on building additional relationships with real estate brokers and banking partners throughout California and expanding our reach in the South Bay,” says Rudy.

During her previous time at Capital Access Group, Rudy helped hundreds of successful business owners access fixed rate commercial real estate financing through the SBA 504 loan program.

Anonio Leta Named Eastern Pennsylvania SBA District Director

“I look forward to leading the outstanding SBA team in Eastern Pennsylvania and working with our resource and lending partners to help small-business owners,” says Antonio. “Eastern PA has an extensive support network for small businesses, and SBA is an important resource within this network. Entrepreneurs and small businesses are critical to our nation’s and Pennsylvania’s economic growth, and SBA provides numerous programs and services that champion small-business success.”

Leta joined the SBA’s Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program in April 2009 and earned his SES certificate in September 2010. During his time with SBA, he has also served as acting deputy district director for the Eastern Pennsylvania District Office, director in Delaware and deputy associate administrator for Capital Access at SBA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Kendro Benjamin Named Director of SBA Division of Customers Bank

“We are very fortunate to be welcoming Kendro on board,” says Kevin Gallagher, senior vice president/SBA national director. “He is very accomplished and skilled in SBA lending, and I am looking forward to all that we will be able to accomplish with him as a member of our team.”

Prior to joining Customers Bank, Benjamin worked as a regional community loan program manager at the New York Business Development Corporation. He has been involved in banking and finance since 2002.

Jason Pagan Obtains the AICPA’s Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) designation

Another valuation analyst from GCF Valuation joins an elite group of accredited business appraisers. Jason Pagan, CPA/ABV, has been an analyst at GCF Valuation since 2014 and has contributed in appraising companies in a wide variety of industries. Prior to his work his work at GCF Jason held a senior forensic accountant role with a top 15 nationally ranked accounting firm focusing on business valuation, matrimonial litigation support and complex tax matters. Jason started his career in the assurance department at Ernst & Young one of the “Big Four” accounting firms.

Chris Hurn Launches Fountainhead Commercial Capital

“Fountainhead will immediately begin filling a need in the marketplace for small business owners to finance new and existing commercial real estate, including office buildings, warehouses, hotels and franchise locations,” said Hurn. “We have funding in place to finance entrepreneurs who want to expand, create wealth for themselves and lock in attractive financing.”

Upcoming Small Business Lending Conferences

2015 Southeastern Small Business Lenders Conference, February 23-25, Augusta, GA
National Alliance of Commercial Loan Brokers Annual Commercial Loan Broker Conference, March 8-10, Las Vegas, NV
Western Pennsylvania Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders, Seven Spings, March 11-13
NADCO Loan Processing Symposium, March 12-13, Sacramento, CA
NAGGL SBA Lending Technical Conference, May 5-7, San Antonio, TX
2015 Mid-America Lender’s Conference, August 31 – September 2, Dallas, TX
2015 FLAGGL Annual Conference, September 16-18, Orlando, FL