Coleman Movers & Shakers — Morgan Johns, Phillip Mulder, Billy Szeto, Growth Capital, David Brindley

March 22, 2018

By Bob Coleman
Editor, Movers & Shakers

Coleman Movers & Shakers — Morgan Johns, Phillip Mulder, Billy Szeto, Growth Capital, David Brindley

Benetrends Financial Names Morgan Johns Director of SBA and Bank Financing

“We welcome Morgan to the Benetrends team and will help us further enhance the success we’ve had with our SBA lending initiatives,” says Dallas Kerley, president and CEO of Benetrends Financial. “His wealth of financing and lending knowledge, as well as the relationships he has established during his career, will prove beneficial to Benetrends as we continue to grow and provide funding for small business entrepreneurs.”

Morgan’s career spans nearly three decades in banking, with an emphasis on small business financing. While with Keystone Bank, he was part of a team that created and managed a centralized small business lending unit covering Eastern Pennsylvania. As specialty lending director at with Sovereign Bank, Johns was recognized in 2005 as one of the top leaders within the organization. His career has also taken him to Conestoga and WSFS Banks, helping small business owners obtain funding nationwide.

Benetrends Financial originated the 401(k)/IRA tax-deferred and penalty-free rollover process with its Rainmaker Plan, helping more than 15,000 entrepreneurs in the last 35 years.

Bank of Southern California Announces Phillip Mulder and Billy Szeto added to Its Commercial Real Estate and SBA Group

“As Bank of Southern California continues to expand its market position in Southern California, this is a natural time to grow and strengthen our client acquisition team. The addition of these experienced business development professionals demonstrates the Bank’s commitment to helping Southern California businesses grow and succeed,” says Tony DiVita, Executive Vice President.

“Philip and Billy are strong additions to the Commercial Real Estate and SBA Group. They will play an integral role in the execution of the Bank’s strategic growth as the company enhances its presence in the Southern California market.”

Philip Mulder previously served as Vice President, Business Development for a Southern California regional bank, and prior held a similar position with the CDC, Small Business Finance, Riverside for over 20 years. Mulder holds a bachelor’s degree from Dordt College in Iowa and serves on the Endowment Committee of Redlands Christian School.

Billy Szeto held a similar role at Union Bank. Mr. Szeto holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Southern California.

Fifth Third injects $4.7 million into Cleveland’s Growth Capital Corp. to make SBA Community Advantage loans

“The SBA Community Advantage program has become critical to getting small businesses the capital they need when they are unable to secure traditional bank financing,” says Growth Capital president John Kropf. “We are a not-for-profit mission lender at Growth Capital, a social enterprise that supports small businesses right here in our communities. Fifth Third Bank stepped up to support our work, providing financing that will allow us to fund companies with our SBA Community Advantage lending for the foreseeable future. We are making a significant impact with more than 80% of our lending supporting underserved market borrowers.”

“We understand the importance of small business to our economy and our communities. Our collaboration with Growth Capital Corp. will give more small businesses the capital they need to continue to grow. We are excited to see our investment impact lives and build stronger communities,” says Fifth Third’s Northeastern Ohio president, Joe DiRocco.

“The Cleveland District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration is pleased to see that Growth Capital has obtained additional financial support from Fifth Third Bank so it can continue to provide funding through our Community Advantage program to new and existing businesses,” says Gil Goldberg, SBA district director for Cleveland. “It is very important that businesses have an alternative to go to when our traditional programs are not the right fit. This way, hopefully, more businesses will be able to create jobs and wealth in our community. This is what SBA and Growth Capital are all about.”

David Brindley Honored as United Community Bank Sales and Service Champion

“Customer service is exemplified by our team every day. It is in our DNA and is what built this company,” says Jimmy Tallent, Chairman of United Community Bank. “In our business, it is difficult to differentiate on price or product, because those can be duplicated. But the strong customer service culture – that comes from the heart – cannot be copied. At United, customer service is not a department, it’s the company. We believe our customer is most important. I’m pleased to honor the teams that have excelled in delivering this service.”

United recognizes employees and teams who exhibited exceptional sales and service excellence throughout the fourth quarter.

Rich Bradshaw, President of Commercial Banking Solutions for United Community Bank, presented the award to Brindley and applauded his success at meeting and exceeding his targets. Brindley reflected on his decision to join United Community Bank last year, saying he “joined because of the leadership of this bank” and that he “works for the customers, the small business owners and the entrepreneurs, and helps to make dreams come true.”

Brindley was recognized as the top producer in Commercial Banking Solutions throughout the bank’s four-state footprint.

Coleman Report is Always Seeking to Add Additional Professional Webinar and Training Talent

Coleman Publishing is expanding its webinar and training offerings for the small business lending industry. We are also seeking experts in the construction, hotel, medical, C-Store, restaurant and assisted living financing niches.

If you love to teach and can break down complex information into easy to understand segments for busy small business lending professionals to understand — and possess the needed expert industry knowledge, please contact Bob Coleman at (818) 974 8934 or bob@colemanreport.com.

Upcoming SBA Lending Professional Industry Events

Mid-America Lenders Conference, April 15-17, Fort Worth
(Room Block Expires March 22)
11th Annual SBA Export Lender’s Roundtable, April 18, Washington D.C.
NAGGL SBA Lending Technical Conference, May 1-3, Chicago
NADCO Spring Summit, May 6-9, Arlington
Franchise Times Finance & Growth Conference, May 7-9, Las Vegas
SBA BDO Summit, May 21-23, Napa Valley
America West, June 20-22, Costa Mesa
(Exhibitor booths are sold out – all other sponsor levels are still open.)
America East, August 1-3, National Harbor, MD
Great Lakes Lenders Conference, Detroit, August 16-17
FLAGGL Small Business Lenders Conference, August 20-22, Orlando
(Early bird ends April 13th)
National Alliance of Commercial Loan Brokers, October 16-18, Miami
11th Annual Secondary Market Summit, December 4, Washington D.C.