Movers & Shakers – Mathewson, Von Woglom, Arana

June 5, 2025

Bob Coleman
Founder & Publisher

Movers & Shakers – Mathewson, Von Woglom, Arana

Ben Mathewson Joins Stone Bank as Vice President/USDA Government Guaranteed Loan Officer

Ben Mathewson has joined Stone Bank as a Vice President and USDA Government Guaranteed Loan Officer. He was formerly Market President, Production for North Avenue Capital in Boerne, TX. He also served in the U.S. Air Force and is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. Mathewson earned an MBA from the University of Nebraska and is a graduate of the School of Banking at Louisiana State University.

Stone Bank is headquartered in Little Rock with 5 additional locations in Arkansas and business development offices across the U.S.

Home Bank Welcomes Kristi Von Woglom as SBA Loan Officer

Home Bank is pleased to announce that Kristi Von Woglom has joined the company to serve as SBA Loan Officer.

Von Woglom brings over 20 years of experience where she most recently serving as Owner and Loan Broker at Fibonacci 3.14. In her new role, Von Woglom will be expanding small business lending opportunities, with a particular focus on SBA 7(a) and SBA Express loans.

“We are excited to have Kristi join our team, further expanding SBA lending operations throughout our footprint and deepening relationships in the communities we serve,” states Christopher Coulon, Director of SBA Program Lending. “Her knowledge and skills present an exciting opportunity to inform customers about financing opportunities that may otherwise be unattainable.”

Von Woglom is a graduate of the University of Houston Bauer College of Business with an Executive MBA in Finance and holds Series 7, Series 79, and Series 63 licenses. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for her leadership and dedication, including receiving the Houston District Director’s Challenge Coin for Leadership in 2022.

Carmel’s Merchants Bank Names Juan “Jay” Arana Senior Business Development Officer

Carmel, Indiana-based Merchants Bank has hired Jay Arana as a Senior Business Development Officer in the SBA Lending division. He will be based in Southington, Connecticut.

Arana has more than 30 years of experience in commercial lending for financial institutions, recently serving in senior-level commercial relationship management roles for companies including Everwise Credit Union, Sun State Bank and Growth Commercial Capital. His experience as a senior loan officer for the U.S. Small Business Administration brings unique insight to Merchants’ SBA Lending.

As a Merchants Senior Business Development Officer, Arana will create strategies to generate new business, leveraging his network in Connecticut and throughout the East Coast. His additional responsibilities will also include originating SBA 7(a) and 504 loans.

Arana holds dual bachelor’s degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Finance and Business Management. He received formal credit analysis training from the Wharton School of Business.