2025 Coleman Award Winners Announced: Honoring Excellence Across SBA Lending and Small Business Finance

February 5, 2026

Bob Coleman
Founder & Publisher

2025 Coleman Awards Announced: Honoring Excellence Across SBA Lending and Small Business Finance

This week, we are proud to announce the winners of the Coleman Awards, recognizing outstanding professionals and organizations across SBA lending, brokerage, marketing, media, and business services.

We received an incredible number of submissions filled with innovation, leadership, and dedication to helping small businesses thrive. Thank you to everyone who applied and submitted nominations. Your participation and commitment make these awards possible.

A special thank you as well to Banesco USA for hosting the Coleman Awards Dinner Ceremony on March 19, providing an opportunity to celebrate these honorees in person.

Please join us in congratulating our Coleman Award Winners:

  • Reece Sanford – Main Street Lender Professional of the Year
  • Mike Hoyl – SBA Rural Lender Professional of the Year
  • Jackie Gonzalez – SBA 7(a) Lender Professional of the Year
  • Jacky Dilfer – SBA 504 Lender Professional of the Year
  • Newtek – Bank SBA Lender of the Year
  • Plains State Bank – Community Bank Lender of the Year
  • Western Commerce Bank – Rural Main Street Lender of the Year
  • Harvest – Non-Bank SBA Lender of the Year
  • Midwest Regional Bank – Regional Bank SBA Lender of the Year
  • SomerCor – CDC of the Year
  • Truliant Federal Credit Union – Credit Union SBA Lender of the Year
  • Stephanie Castagnier Dunn – SBA Lending Executive of the Year
  • Lance Sexton – SBA Portfolio Manager of the Year
  • Don Jackson – SBA Credit Union Executive of the Year
  • Jennifer Davis – SBA 504 Sales Executive of the Year
  • Carissa Sousa – SBA 7(a) Sales Executive of the Year
  • Karen Bean – SBA Secondary Market Executive of the Year
  • Shay Kleinschmidt – SBA Franchise Lender Professional of the Year
  • Kay Anderson – SBA Lender Legacy Award
  • George Taylor – SBA Lender Legacy Award
  • Ashish Abraham – Spirit of SBA Lending Award
  • Elena Merkley – SBA 504 Green Energy Advocate of the Year
  • Anna Lavanger – SBA 7(a) Community Advantage Lender of the Year
  • Tim Terry – SBA Talent Developer of the Year
  • Ken Rosenthal – SBA Third Party Lender Professional of the Year
  • Justin Levy – SBA Lender Innovator of the Year
  • LiftFund – Mission-Based SBA Lender of the Year
  • FranFund – SBA Franchise Lender of the Year
  • Total SBA – SBA Lender Service Provider of the Year
  • Falcon Bridge Capital – SBA Secondary Market Product of the Year
  • SBARates.com – Vendor Solution Provider of the Year
  • Banesco – Emerging SBA Lender of the Year
  • First Bank of the Lake – SBA Veteran Business Lender of the Year
  • TMC Financing – SBA Underserved Market Lender of the Year
  • Shem Doupé — SBA Rising Star Lender of the Year
  • Gary Clark — SBA Loan Broker of the Year
  • Liudmila Esquerdo — SBA Loan Broker of the Year
  • Broc Roberts — SBA Loan Broker of the Year
  • Ryan Collins — SBA Business Development Officer of the Year
  • Edgar Escobar — SBA Business Development Officer of the Year
  • Zach Balmer — SBA Business Development Officer of the Year
  • Chris Bane — SBA Business Development Officer of the Year
  • Victoria Pelka — SBA Marketing Executive of the Year
  • Dean Aloe — Best Small Business Loan of the Year
  • Bryce Fennell — Best Small Business Loan of the Year
  • Sean Murray — SBA Best Use of Media Award of the Year
  • Lords of Lending — SBA Podcast of the Year
  • iBusiness Funding — Best Use of AI Award
  • McCune Construction Funds Management — Construction Provider of the Year