Coleman Movers & Shakers – Peter Siegel, Jim Hatch, Luke Williams, and Miriam Torres Baltys

May 25, 2023

Delaney Sexton
Contributing Editor

Coleman Movers & Shakers – Peter Siegel, Jim Hatch, Luke Williams, and Miriam Torres Baltys

BayFirst National Bank Welcomes Peter Siegel as VP, SBA Lending Officer

“Having served as a lender, broker, advisor and business owner, Peter brings an incredible level of knowledge to our team,” says BayFirst SVP, Director of SBA Loan Originations Chris Hackney. “We look forward to seeing him drive results, specifically in the business acquisition financing space, while also broadening our overall impact on small businesses nationwide.”

BayFirst National Bank has welcomed a third SBA-lending expert from GBank. In addition to holding the position of business development officer at GBank, Siegel also previously served as an SBA 7(a) loan broker/advisor specializing in larger business acquisition loans as president and founder of Business Exchange Network, BizBen.com, an online portal for buyers and sellers of small businesses, which he sold to an investor group in 2022. Prior to that, he founded BizBuyFinancing.com and SBALoanAdvisors.com where, in conjunction with BizBen.com, he initiated SBA loan educational online portals for business buyers, sellers and brokers. Siegel holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Entrepreneurship from UCLA where he also earned his bachelor’s in economics.

Jim Hatch joins First Bank of the Lake as VP, SBA Business Development Officer

“Jim brings wide-ranging experience which is a tremendous value to the Bank and our clients,” states Annemarie Murphy, EVP and President of SBA lending at the bank. “We are excited Jim has joined our team. His years of experience and professional expertise is just what we need to continue to grow the bank’s SBA lending portfolio.”

Hatch joined First Bank of the Lake’s SBA team in April 2023. He has over 20 years of lending experience, specializing in SBA lending. His primary focus is on commercial real estate purchases, but he is well-versed in other aspects of SBA lending including lines of credit and working capital debt. In this role, Hatch will be responsible for growing the bank’s assets by originating SBA loans nationwide in the Commercial Real Estate arena.

“With the backing of First Bank of the Lake and my commitment to responding to my client’s objectives, I am able to help entrepreneurs grow their business and succeed,” states Hatch. “I put my years of experience to work for my clients, provide them with a variety of financing options and have the privilege of helping them succeed.”

Luke Williams is Announced as a VP, Commercial Loan Officer at PlainsCapital Bank

“We’re excited to have Luke on board with us at PlainsCapital,” says John Hinton, president of PlainsCapital’s Weatherford branch. “His banking background in the local business community makes him an excellent fit for our commercial lending team.”

As a longtime resident of Weatherford, Williams has more than eight years of banking experience in the area. He received a BBA in finance from Tarleton State University. At PlainsCapital, he will provide commercial lending, banking, and credit underwriting solutions to clients in Parker County.

“I’m pleased to join a community-focused bank like PlainsCapital,” says Williams. “I look forward to serving Parker County business leaders and providing them with the lending support they need to grow and thrive.”

Miriam Torres Baltys Named “Financial Services Champion of the Year” By SBA in San Diego

“This job is truly about helping people, and it feels great to be recognized for the impact I am having on small business owners,” says Miriam Torres Baltys, Senior Small Business Loan Officer with CDC Small Business Finance.

The “Financial Services Champion of the Year” award from the SBA’s San Diego District Office recognizes individuals who support small businesses through advocacy efforts to increase usefulness and availability of accounting or financial services. Torres Baltys was praised for her knowledge and expertise and for advocating for her clients to be able to access capital.

She focuses specifically on providing SBA Community Advantage loans, a federal program for advancing racial and financial equity. In the 2022 fiscal year, Torres Baltys helped fund 51 small businesses with a total of more than $7.2 million in Community Advantage loans.

“Every time I talk to a client, I try to think of them as if they were family — how would I want them to be treated, and how can I help them reach their goal?” Torres Baltys says. “And if I can’t help them right now, how can I help them be knowledgeable and set a plan for the future so that they can still achieve their goals and dreams?”