Blueacorn Co-Founder Nathan Reis Pleads Guilty in PPP Loan Fraud Scandal
August 15, 2025 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher Blueacorn Co-Founder Nathan Reis Pleads Guilty in PPP Loan Fraud Scandal Nathan Reis, co-founder of Blueacorn, has pled guilty to federal charges tied to fraudulent PPP loan applications, joining his wife and fellow co-founder, former Phoenix news anchor Stephanie Hockridge, as a convicted felon. Blueacorn was one of…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers: Momentus Securities, Kyle Bennett, & Gary Merson
August 14, 2025 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher Movers & Shakers: Momentus Securities, Kyle Bennett, & Gary Merson Momentus Securities and Mesirow Issue $122.75M A+ CDFI Bond Offering “Community development financial institutions (CDFIs), and other community lenders such as certified development companies (CDCs) and credit unions, need more liquidity in order to help support economic growth…
Read MoreA Coleman Conversation: Chuck Evans
August 13, 2025 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher In this week’s episode of A Coleman Conversation, Bob Coleman sits down with Chuck Evans, Executive Director at Lenders Cooperative and a highly respected leader in the SBA lending industry. Chuck brings decades of experience shaped by a unique journey that started with unconventional beginnings and evolved through…
Read MoreLeverage ChatGPT & Microsoft Co-Pilot to Craft SBA Loan Credit Memos — Workshop in Oakland, CA on 11/18
A Coleman Workshop Live in Oakland, CaliforniaDate: Tuesday, November 18, 2025Includes e-certification & recording . This is not a webinar. This is a true Coleman Workshop—an interactive, hands-on training event where your team will engage directly with Bob Coleman to master AI tools that revolutionize SBA 7(a) and 504 loan credit memo preparation. Event Details Workshop…
Read MoreTwo Paths in Small-Balance Lending: BayFirst Exits, FSWB Expands
August 12, 2025 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher Two Paths in Small-Balance Lending: BayFirst Exits, FSWB Expands In the wake of BayFirst’s decision to shutter its small-loan program and lay off 51 employees, the community banking sector has been reminded of the volatility, and opportunity, in niche lending markets. While some institutions are retreating from high-touch,…
Read MoreRestaurant Lending Outlook: 2025 Brings Stability, but Beef Costs Up 12%
August 11, 2025 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher Main Street Monday — Restaurant Lending Outlook: 2025 Brings Stability, but Beef Costs Up 12% For lenders eyeing the restaurant sector in 2025, the narrative is shifting from crisis management to strategic opportunity—but with a few red flags worth noting. Inflation Easing, Planning Horizons ExpandingThe Federal Reserve projects…
Read MoreNJ Loan Broker Pleads Guilty in $7 Million SBA Hotel Flip Scheme
August 8, 2025 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher Fraud Friday: NJ Loan Broker Pleads Guilty in $7 Million SBA Hotel Flip Scheme A New Jersey loan broker has pleaded guilty to a complex SBA 7(a) loan fraud scheme that exploited hotel transactions, fake equity injections, and concealed ownership to defraud lenders out of millions. Jennifer Watkins,…
Read MoreMovers & Shakers: Tonya Mazurek, Van Phan, & Alfonso Castell De Oro
August 7, 2025 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher Movers & Shakers: Tonya Mazurek, Van Phan, & Alfonso Castell De Oro Tonya Mazurek Joins Community Bank & Trust as Senior Vice President, SBA BDO “I’m excited to join a team of top-notch SBA professionals here at Community Bank & Trust,” says Tonya. “This role allows me to…
Read MoreA Coleman Conversation: Shay Kleinschmidt
August 6, 2025 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher In this week’s episode of A Coleman Conversation, Bob Coleman sits down with Shay Kleinschmidt, Vice President of Lending at FranFund and a 2019 Coleman Emerging SBA Lender of the Year. Shay shares her unique path into small business lending, the rapid growth of franchise financing, and her…
Read MoreMeet the Candidates: Charles Rho & Diane Heyden for NAGGL Board
Meet the Candidates: Charles Rho & Diane Heyden for NAGGL Board A Coleman Conversation: Charles Rho In this episode of A Coleman Conversation, Bob Coleman speaks with Charles Rho, President of VelocitySBA and a candidate for the NAGGL Board of Directors. With over 20 years of experience in commercial finance, including a high-level tenure at…
Read More