Coleman’s Movers & Shakers — Ron Feldman Appointed Chief Development Officer of ApplePie Capital

April 20, 2017

By Bob Coleman
Editor, Coleman’s Movers & Shakers

Coleman’s Movers & Shakers — Ron Feldman Appointed Chief Development Officer of ApplePie Capital

Ron Feldman Appointed Chief Development Officer of ApplePie Capital

“ApplePie is uniquely positioned to transform franchise finance by using technology and franchise data in new and innovative ways to make financing simple and predictable,” says Feldman. “They also truly understand what drives growth and work backwards from the needs of franchisors to develop custom solutions for their franchisees. I am thrilled to bring my expertise to ApplePie and help build on the momentum they have created in just a few short years.”

“These developments are a game changer for ApplePie and the brands we serve,” says Denise Thomas, CEO and co-founder of ApplePie. “In addition to the decades of franchise finance experience we are bringing on board to accelerate new product innovation, we can now provide comprehensive lending programs to franchisors, eliminating the need for their franchisees to engage with multiple lenders.”

Responsible for growing ApplePie’s brand portfolio and contributing to product strategy, Ronald Feldman comes to the company with more than 20 years of experience in franchise leadership and franchise financing. He previously served as chief development officer at FranData, the industry leader in market research, and as a principal and co-founder of Franchise America Finance (FAF) and The Siegel Financial Group. Feldman was also an early franchisee of The Goddard School system. As an active advocate of the franchising business model, Feldman currently serves the International Franchise Association (IFA) as chair of the Supplier Forum Advisory Board and sits on both the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the association.

Since it started lending in January 2015, ApplePie has formed partnerships with 43 franchise brands, funded over $65 million in loans and returned over $12 million in principal and interest to investors.

Amy Bassett Named SBA Maine State Director

“One of my goals is to increase the number of lenders who work with us,” she says. “We need those lending partners: They’re the ones who make the loans, and we back them with a guarantee.”

Bassett, a native of New Hampshire, succeeded Marilyn Geroux as SBA’s state director in mid-January, following Geroux’s retirement after more than 47 years of service with the Maine district office.
Prior to taking over from Geroux, Bassett worked for 26 years at the SBA’s New Hampshire District Office, most recently as its deputy district director.

Debora A. Webber Joins First Sound Bank as Senior Vice President and Relationship Manager of Commercial Lending

“We are very pleased to welcome Debora to First Sound Bank,” says President and CEO Jon Shelton. “She has been a top performer in the production of all types of business loans, including SBA, Export Financing, and commercial real estate loans, throughout her career.”

Webber graduated from The Evergreen State College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Administration and earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from South Puget Sound Community College. She is noted for her very active involvement in a number of community and civic organizations throughout the Greater Puget Sound area.

Webber has served the local market as a business lender for the past 12 years—as a relationship manager at Key Bank and, most recently, as a commercial banker with HomeStreet Bank.

SBA Recognizes Export Lenders BB&T, First American Bank and World Trade Finance

The U.S. Small Business Administration honored BB&T and First American Bank as the 2017 SBA Export Lenders of the Year, respectively for large and small lending institutions during a ceremony at the 10th annual SBA Export Lender Roundtable in Washington, D.C. During the event, World Trade Finance Inc. was recognized as SBA’s Export Working Capital Champion, for providing international trade financing to small businesses since 1997.

BB&T Senior Vice President William Browning, and First American Bank Vice President Alan Lane-Murcia received the awards on behalf of their respective institutions. World Trade Finance founder and former President Bernd Hermann, and co-founder/Managing Director Irene Kuo received the Export Working Capital Champion award.

Upcoming SBA Lending Professional Industry Events

Annual 3 Commercial Loan Broker Conference & Expo, October 17-19, Orlando