Movers & Shakers: Stephanie Taylor, Gary Griffin & Vanessa Latham

April 9, 2026

Bob Coleman
Founder & Publisher

Movers & Shakers: Stephanie Taylor, Gary Griffin & Vanessa Latham

Stephanie Taylor Launches New Venture: Construction Fund Managers

“As Founder and CEO, I am excited to leverage my years of sales and management experience to serve both existing and new customers”, Taylor says. “As we begin this new chapter, I am proud to partner with Ryan Morrin, our Chief Operating Officer, who brings approximately 15 years of experience across all aspects of construction management. Together, we are committed to bringing our experience, transparency, and disciplined oversight to every project we support, and we welcome the opportunity to earn your business.”

After several years working in the construction funds management industry, Stephanie Taylor has branched out on her own to launch a new company, Construction Fund Managers. The firm is dedicated to helping Lenders, General Contractors, Borrowers and Developers protect project funds through disciplined oversight, clear communication, and efficient draw management.

“Our mission is to consistently exceed expectations with speed, accuracy and integrity.”

Construction Fund Managers offers nationwide services, including:
· Document and Cost Review (DCR)
· Site Reviews
· Funds Monitoring
· Funds Disbursement
· Completion Assistance Program (CAP), providing lenders and borrowers greater peace of mind at a fraction of the cost of a payment performance bond

Through structured processes and vigilant oversight, Construction Fund Managers helps to mitigate many of the risks associated with commercial construction, safeguarding the financial integrity.

Gary Griffin Appointed Vice President, Senior Business Development Officer at The Venturus Group

Gary Griffin has joined The Venturus Group as Vice President, Senior Business Development Officer. Griffin brings more than 45 years of experience in SBA and USDA lending, with a background spanning loan origination, credit, processing, and portfolio management. Throughout his career, he has focused on small business finance and has conducted training in SBA lending both regionally and nationally.

Most recently, Griffin served as Executive Vice President at SBA National Servicing LLC. He has also held roles with Fidelity Bank, Dogwood State Bank Small Business Lending, and Patriot Bank, N.A., with a focus on business development, national SBA sales leadership, and supporting business acquisitions, commercial real estate, and startup financing.

Griffin earned a BSBA in Finance from the University of Denver – Daniels College of Business and completed post-graduate studies in Accounting at Georgia State University – J. Mack Robinson College of Business. In his new role, Griffin will lead nationwide SBA and USDA originations, continuing to support entrepreneurs and lenders across the country.

Vanessa Latham Joins WaFd Bank as Senior SBA Loan Coordinator

Vanessa Latham has joined WaFd Bank as Senior SBA Loan Coordinator. Latham brings more than 20 years of experience in SBA lending operations, with a background spanning loan processing, portfolio coordination, and loan operations management. She most recently served as Sales/Portfolio Coordinator at Banner Bank and previously spent over a decade at Columbia Bank, where she held roles including Senior Vice President, SBA Loan Operations Manager.

“I enjoyed my time at Banner Bank and appreciate Walter McLaughlin for the opportunity,” states Latham. “However, I’m excited to be part of Scott Bossom’s SBA vision at WaFd and can’t wait to see what we will accomplish.”

Throughout her career, Latham has developed deep expertise in loan closing, regulatory requirements, and SBA portfolio management, supporting efficient and compliant lending operations. She will play a key role in supporting WaFd Bank’s SBA platform, bringing operational depth and consistency to its lending division.