Movers & Shakers: Derek Ezovski, Paula Cook & Emily Doxzon

April 16, 2026

Bob Coleman
Founder & Publisher

Movers & Shakers: Derek Ezovski, Paula Cook & Emily Doxzon

Outsourced Risk Management Solutions’ President Derek Ezovski Named Connecticut National Small Business Week 2026 Small Business Person of the Year

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award from the SBA Connecticut District Office,” says Ezovski. “As the leader of a small business dedicated to helping lenders serve the needs of other small businesses, this is truly a full-circle moment for me.While the award lists my name, it really honors the work of our entire team at ORMS, every one of which has contributed to our overall success!”

Outsourced Risk Management Solutions LLC (ORMS)’s President Derek Ezovski has been named as the Connecticut National Small Business Week (NSBW) 2026 Small Business Person of the Year by SBA.

Derek Ezovski brings extensive experience in environmental and property risk management, having spent his entire career helping companies develop best practices through engineering solutions, insurance strategies, and data-driven insights. His unique background in business development within the financial services sector led to the founding of ORMS. He has also been instrumental in developing innovative environmental risk products for lenders, including solutions that influenced SBA due diligence standards.

Each year, SBA celebrates National Small Business Week by recognizing the achievements of outstanding small business owners and entrepreneurs across the nation. All 53 winners have been invited to attend ceremonies in Washington, D.C., May 3-4, where they will be honored with their individual award along with special recognition of the runner-up and the naming of the 2026 National Small Business Person of the Year.

Paula Cook Joins Banesco USA as National SBA Sales Director

Paula Cook serves as the National SBA Sales Director at Banesco USA, an independent Florida state-chartered bank serving the South Florida and Puerto Rican markets. In her role, Cook oversees the team of SBA Sales Development Officers, leading the national sales strategy and national expansion efforts focused on delivering tailored SBA financing solutions to small businesses. She currently manages a growing team of SBA sales professionals and is helping drive the bank’s continued growth in SBA lending nationwide.

Cook brings 30 years of financial services experience, including over 15 years specializing in SBA lending. She began her career in the consumer finance division at Wells Fargo, gaining experience across consumer lending while working closely with business owners. This led her to specialize in SBA lending, where she has spent most of her career supporting small business financing. Most recently, Cook was the National Sales Director for Huntington Bank for 9 years, growing that organization to a consistently top national SBA production institution.

Cook serves as an Executive Board Member of the Midwest Business Brokers & Intermediaries (MBBI) and is a past president of both the Illinois and Wisconsin chapters. She also chairs the organization’s Women in M&A Committee with MBBI. In addition, she is Co-Founder of 12 Days of Hope, a member of many M&A organizations, and a member of NAGGL.

A native of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, Cook attended the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire with a major in Finance. Outside of the banking profession, she enjoys playing pickleball, mahjong, traveling, live music, and is an avid sports mom to her two children.

SBA Office of Capital Access Announces Emily Doxzon as Chief of 7(a) Loan Origination Division

SBA’s Office of Capital Access has welcomed Emily Doxzon as the new Chief of the 7(a) Loan Origination Division.

Since joining the SBA in 2020, Emily has played a pivotal role in advancing key initiatives, including the Paycheck Protection Program forgiveness process and oversight of 7(a) guaranty and secondary market purchases, serving most recently as an Assistant Center Director at the National Guaranty Purchase Center in Herndon, Virginia.

Before joining SBA, Emily built a strong foundation in commercial lending, developing deep expertise in credit analysis, loan structuring, and portfolio management. In her new role, Emily brings a well-rounded understanding of both private‑sector commercial lending and federal loan programs that will strengthen SBA’s mission to expand access to capital for America’s small businesses.