Kay Anderson Receives Coleman SBA Lender Legacy Award

February 4, 2026

Bob Coleman
Founder & Publisher

Kay Anderson Receives Coleman SBA Lender Legacy Award

Kay Anderson has been honored with the Coleman SBA Lender Legacy Award in recognition of a remarkable career that has helped shape the modern SBA lending industry. After early work at Temecula Valley Bank, Kay took a pivotal leap of faith to relocate to North Carolina and join Chip Mahan in the early formation of Live Oak Bank, becoming one of the institution’s first employees and helping execute a business model that would ultimately disrupt SBA lending nationwide.

Throughout her tenure, Kay played a central role in identifying and building out Live Oak’s vertical-focused strategy, selecting key industry niches and developing specialized lending teams that became foundational to the bank’s success. In 2018, she launched the highly successful “Generalist BDO” vertical, recruiting top business development talent from across the country and creating a platform that—if separated from Live Oak—would stand on its own as a top SBA 7(a) lender in the nation.

Beyond her strategic and production impact, Kay has consistently exemplified the collaborative, mentorship-driven spirit that makes the SBA community unique. She is widely respected for sharing best practices, supporting peer development, and helping elevate standards across the industry through openness and transparency. Kay Anderson’s leadership, influence, and legacy remain foundational to the continued evolution of SBA lending.