Coleman’s 2019 SBA Lender Awards — Emerging SBA Lenders of the Year (Under 40)

January 14, 2020

By Caity Witucki
Contributing Editor, Coleman’s 2019 SBA Lender Awards

Coleman’s 2019 SBA Lender Awards — Emerging SBA Lenders of the Year (Under 40)

Congratulations to Coleman’s 2019 Emerging SBA Lenders of the Year Matt Craig, Chris Levy, Javier Jorge, Shay Mora, and Daniel Pische!

Matt Craig, Fountainhead Commercial Capital

A true entrepreneur to the core, Matt has founded multiple successful ventures including an award-winning digital marketing agency (SLAM! Agency) and a successful Lifestyle brand (Lillian & Co.). Matt thrives on helping businesses and organizations reach their highest potential by connecting their brand’s values with their customer’s values.
As Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Matt is responsible for overseeing the planning, development, and execution of Fountainhead’s marketing and advertising strategy and initiatives.

Chris Levy, New York Business Development Corporation

Chris Levy serves as the Senior Vice President and head of the credit department at New York Business Development Corporation and its affiliate, The 504 Company.

Over the course of his 10-year career with the New York Business Development Corporation, Levy has exhibited an exceptional aptitude for SBA lending as well as leadership skills. Levy was originally hired as an intern and quickly moved up the ranks to an analyst and then department head. He has played an integral role in building out the company’s underwriting team by serving as a mentor and resource for new analysts on the team. With Levy’s assistance, the company’s analyst team underwrites an average of 600 to 700 loans annually across various SBA programs.

Javier Jorge, Pilot Bank

Javier Jorge is in charge of government-guaranteed financing for all Pilot Bank locations, helping small businesses gain access to capital.

“I have the best job in banking. I get to work with the small businesses in our communities and learn about their trade. Their passion and dedication is inspiring. I am honored to help them access capital to grow”, says Jorge.

Jorge was born in Miami and received his MBA from the University of South Florida He gained his experience with First Green Bank, which was ranked the #1 community lender in their North Florida district in 2017. He currently lives in Miami, along with his wife and son.

Shay Mora, FranFund, Inc.

Since Shay Mora joined FranFund in 2012, its Lending Department has become a key player in the franchise industry, establishing a distinguished reputation for quality loan services.

Mora continues to improve FranFund ‘s current lending systems and operations. She handles the development of procedures and organizational functions that promote sound internal controls and risk mitigation. Her assertive and enthusiastic personality, precision, work ethic, and exceptional interpersonal skills make her an integral part of FranFund ‘s success.

She is a graduate from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas and holds a B.A. in Communications.

Daniel Pische, First American Bank

A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Pische began working at First American Bank’s Chicago headquarters in 2005 as a loan analyst and relationship manager for the not-for-profit and asset-based lending teams. During the 2007 recession, Pische oversaw the bank’s Special Asset Division and helped struggling businesses find stability. Later in his career, Pische began managing the bank’s trade finance customers in South Florida, at which time he noted an opportunity for expansion into the region.

Following the acquisition of the Bank of Coral Gables, in 2016 Pische moved with his family to South Florida to assist with the bank’s expansion alongside Florida Market President Brian Hagan.

In recent years, Pische has received numerous honors and awards, including earning an impressive appointment to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Trade Finance Advisory Council, where he works alongside 24 industry experts and advises U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on the best ways to create innovative solutions for small and mid-sized exporters. Pische also testified before the United States Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee in 2019, offering the committee a fresh perspective on ways to support small business exporters and improve access to trade finance loans.