A Coleman Conversation: Brent LeBlanc
July 22, 2026
Bob Coleman
Founder & Publisher
A Coleman Conversation: Brent LeBlanc
In this week’s episode of A Coleman Conversation, Bob Coleman sits down with Brent LeBlanc, Executive Vice President of Peachtree Group and Head of Growth for its SBA lending division, to discuss Peachtree’s entry into SBA 7(a) lending following its acquisition of First Western’s SBLC license. Brent shares how the firm’s hospitality and private credit experience is shaping a relationship-driven approach to SBA lending, why underwriting the borrower is just as important as underwriting the business, and how Peachtree plans to grow while maintaining a common-sense credit philosophy. He also provides an update on today’s hospitality market, the impact of higher interest rates, and why he believes strong lender-broker relationships remain essential to serving small business borrowers.
Watch episode here
Topics Covered:
✓ How Peachtree Group entered SBA lending through its acquisition of First Western’s SBLC license and experienced SBA team
✓ Why Peachtree is taking a relationship-focused, sponsor-first approach to SBA 7(a) underwriting
✓ The firm’s appetite for hotels, business acquisitions, startup franchises, and projection-based businesses
✓ How Peachtree combines decades of hospitality and private credit experience with SBA lending expertise
✓ The current state of the hospitality industry, including higher interest rates, refinancing challenges, and distressed assets
✓ Why Brent believes relationships with borrowers, brokers, and business development officers are critical to long-term success
✓ Peachtree’s national SBA growth strategy, commitment to working with brokers, and plans for thoughtful expansion rather than rapid scale