Coleman Movers & Shakers – Joe Barbato, Candice Caruso, Anthony Ryan, Deb Curtis, and Kirk Beason

February 10, 2022

Delaney Sexton
Contributing Editor

Coleman Movers & Shakers – Joe Barbato, Candice Caruso, Anthony Ryan, Deb Curtis, and Kirk Beason

Joe Barbato Joins First Bank of the Lake’s SBA Lending Team as SVP, SBA National Relationships Sales Manager

“Joe is a dynamic and knowledgeable lender with years of lending and sales experience. He brings proven success and is a trusted advisor to his clients,” states Annemarie Murphy, EVP and President of SBA Lending. “We’re excited Joe has joined our team.”

Barbato joined First Bank of the Lake’s SBA team in December 2021 and closed his first loan that month in less than 30 days from submittal. He has over 29 years of SBA experience including 26 years of sales experience in SBA 7(a) and 504 lending. In this role, Barbato will be responsible for managing and directing activities to create SBA Loan opportunities with an emphasis on building national relationships and an emphasis on franchisors. He will also mentor and be the team lead for Franchise Lending for First Bank of the Lake and establish national account relationships.

“With my extensive background, I understand the complex ins and outs of SBA lending. I am ready to help businesses get the financing they need to thrive,” states Barbato. “I provide solutions, set expectations with borrowers and structure the right loan for their stage of development. I put my years of experience to work helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses and have the privilege of helping them succeed.”

WSFS Bank Promotes Candice Caruso SVP, Chief Retail Lending Officer and Anthony Ryan to SVP, Director of Retail Lending Strategy and Operations

“I am thrilled for Candice and Anthony on their well-earned promotions as we grow a deep bench from a pool of talented Associates,” says Richard Wright, EVP and Chief Retail Banking Officer. “Both are respected and high-performing leaders within the Bank and industry, and their expanded roles and responsibilities are a direct reflection of their talent, hard work and innovative approaches to how we can best service our consumer and small business Customers as we continue to grow.”

Caruso will be responsible for Consumer Lending, Small Business, Government Guaranteed Lending, Community Reinvestment, and the bank’s fintech lending relationships. She joined WSFS in 2018 as Senior Vice President, Director of Government Guaranteed Lending and brings more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, including 14 years as a business funding expert.

In his new role, Ryan is expanding his scope of work to lead all Small Business Operations, Consumer Lending, Retail Loan Servicing and Credit Cards to capitalize on the connection and efficiencies between consumer and small business lending. Previously, he was Senior Vice President, Director of Small Business Banking. Ryan joined WSFS Bank in 2011, bringing with him 30 years of retail and small business banking experience.

Dogwood State Bank’s Small Business Lending Team Welcomes Deb Curtis as VP, Business Lending Specialist

“We are thrilled to welcome Deb to the Dogwood State Bank Family. Deb brings a wealth SBA knowledge to the table along with a passion for helping her clients,” says Chris Kwiatkowski, Dogwood’s President of Guaranteed Lending.

Deb Curtis brings over 15 years of SBA experience in the SBA industry to Dogwood State Bank’s Small Business Lending team. She specializes in business acquisitions, partnership buyouts, and owner-occupied commercial real estate lending transactions. Prior to joining Dogwood State Bank, Deb served as a Senior SBA Development Officer for Fund-Ex Solutions Group, as well as a Senior Vice President & Nationwide Direct Non-Bank SBA Preferred Lender for Harvest Small Business Finance and Vice President & Business Development Officer for Wells Fargo.

Kirk Beason Joins Dogwood State Bank Small Business Lending as SBA Credit Administrator

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Kirk again,” says Chris Kwiatkowski, Dogwood’s President of Government Guaranteed Lending. “Kirk’s vast credit knowledge, SBA experience and existing relationship with our team is a huge benefit to Dogwood State Bank Small Business Lending. Adding Kirk to our team takes us up another level.”

Kirk Beason brings 25 years of commercial lending experience to the Small Business Lending team at Dogwood State Bank. Kirk’s experience focuses on Credit Administration, spanning a range of commercial lending disciplines, including SBA government-guaranteed lending (approximately 12 years), residential construction and development lending, and investment non-owner occupied commercial real estate financing. Early on in his career, Kirk served as a Senior Credit Officer for PNC, where he worked for 12 years. Following PNC, Kirk joined First National Bank as the Director of Credit Risk Management. From there, he worked as a Regional Credit Officer for First Citizens Bank and Chief Credit Officer for FundEx Solutions Group before joining Dogwood State Bank’s SBA team.