Movers & Shakers: Ben Woodward, Jeff Hildebrandt & Ashley Benoit

May 21, 2026

Bob Coleman
Founder & Publisher

Movers & Shakers: Ben Woodward, Jeff Hildebrandt & Ashley Benoit

Ben Woodward Joins Banc of California as Vice President, Business Development Officer

“Banc of California is very pleased to welcome two seasoned professionals to our originations team,” says George Harrop, EVP, Head of Small Business Lending at Banc of California. “As we continue to grow our national SBA group, we’re looking for talented originators who want to be part of a stable and thriving organization with national reach and local expertise.“

Ben Woodward brings more than 20 years of commercial lending experience to his new role, with deep expertise in SBA lending. He entered small business lending driven by a passion for helping owner-operators achieve their goals, whether through acquisitions, expansions, equipment purchases, debt
restructuring, commercial real estate or startup financing. He works closely with clients to navigate the SBA 7(a) and 504 loan programs and bring their business plans to life.

Over the past decade, Woodward has supported more than 100 entrepreneurs and facilitated more than $150 million in financing. Prior to joining Banc of California in 2026, he served as Vice President and Senior Business Development Officer at First Internet Bank. Earlier in his career, he was a Vice President at
Byline Bank.

Woodward is active in professional organizations and serves on the planning committee for the
Chicago chapter of the Midwest Business Brokers and Intermediaries. He earned a bachelor’s degree
from Iowa State University. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family in the mountains and long-distance cycling.

Jeff Hildebrandt Named Vice President, Business Development Officer at Banc of California

Jeff Hildebrandt has more than 20 years of experience in SBA financing, he specializes in commercial
real estate, business acquisitions, partner buyouts and growth capital transactions, typically ranging from $1 million to $20 million.

Prior to joining Banc of California, Hildebrandt served as Vice President of SBA Commercial Lending at Live Oak Bank, where he consistently produced more than $30 million in annual loan volume. He has extensive experience managing the full life cycle of SBA transactions, including deal structuring, credit analysis, underwriting coordination and closing, and works closely with business owners and referral partners such as brokers, accountants and financial advisors.

Hildebrandt is a state-approved SBA finance instructor through the California Department of Real
Estate and teaches continuing education courses on SBA financing for agents and brokers across
California. He is a licensed California commercial real estate agent and an active industry educator,
frequently leading seminars and speaking at professional associations. He was recognized as
Commercial Instructor of the Year by the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors.

Hildebrandt earned a Bachelor of Science in finance from St. Vincent College and is a member of
the Los Angeles Realtors Association, the California Association of Business Brokers and the National
Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders.

Ashley Benoit Appointed SVP, Director of SBA Administration at Echelon Bank

Ashley Benoit has joined Echelon Bank as Senior Vice President and Director of SBA Administration, bringing nearly a decade of banking experience and extensive expertise in SBA lending operations, compliance, and portfolio management. In her new role, she will oversee SBA administration, including loan processing, closing, servicing, compliance, and operational infrastructure.

Prior to Echelon Bank, Benoit spent nearly 10 years at Valley Bank, where she advanced through multiple leadership positions. During her tenure, she helped scale SBA operations through a period of significant growth and industry change, including the Paycheck Protection Program era.

Based in the Tampa Bay market, Benoit is recognized throughout the SBA industry for her operational leadership, compliance expertise, and ability to build scalable SBA infrastructure. She has also been active in industry and community organizations, including serving on the board of Tampa Connection and participating in NAGGL and Florida banking leadership events.

Echelon Bank says Benoit was attracted to the opportunity to help build “something meaningful from the ground up” while combining “the relationship focus of a community bank with the agility of a startup.”