2026 ​​Wisconsin Lenders Conference - ​​Presenters​​



​Keynote Presenter​

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Scott Kunes.png​Darcy Luoma - ​Founder & CEO, Darcy Luoma Coaching & Consulting
Darcy Luoma Coaching & Consulting​

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Darcy Luoma, author of Thoughtfully Fit® and Certified Speaking Professional, is a Master Certified Coach and inspiring speaker. She has worked as director for a U.S. Senator, trusted senior advisor to a governor, and on the national advance team for the White House and two presidential campaigns. As the CEO of Darcy Luoma Coaching & Consulting, she’s worked in forty-eight industries with more than five hundred organizations to create high-performing people and teams.​​ LinkedIn​


​Opening Speakers 

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Frank Demarest - Acting Director, U.S. Small Business Administration Wisconsin District Office


Frank Demarest is the Acting Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Wisconsin District Office. As the Acting Director, he is responsible for the day-to-day management of SBA programs throughout the state. He also is the Veteran Representative for the District and works with veterans regarding veterans’ programs.

Demarest joined the SBA in 2012. He has an international background, program/project management and business development experience. 

Prior to coming to the SBA, he worked for the U.S. Army as an Army civilian, Motorola and other firms in a variety of business-related positions. He is also a U.S. Marine veteran.

Demarest graduated from DePaul University in Chicago, with a Degree in International Studies and later obtained a Master’s in Business Administration, also from DePaul.


Risk Management Association (RMA)

Platinum Sponsor and Conference Partner​​​​

The Risk Management Association (RMA) is a not-for-profit, member-driven professional association serving the financial services industry. Its sole purpose is to advance the use of sound risk management principles in the financial services industry. RMA promotes an enterprise approach to risk management that focuses on credit risk, market risk, operational risk, securities lending, and regulatory issues. 

Today, RMA has approximately 1,900 institutional members. Relationship managers, credit officers, risk managers, and other financial services professionals in these organizations with responsibilities related to the risk management function represent these institutions within RMA. Known as RMA Associates, these 18,500 individuals are located throughout North America and financial centers in Europe, Australia and Asia.​

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Gold Keynote Sponsor Commentary

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​Jellum Law

Gold Keynote Sponsor ​​

Jellum Law is a ​​banking and business law firm with a strong concentration in banking law, commercial lending, and litigation. ​

Our firm is a leader in representing lenders in government guaranteed lending, providing a full range of servic​​es in processing, closing, servicing and liquidating, and regulatory compliance for all types of United States Small Business Administration (SBA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans.

Our attorneys and staff work diligently to provide pragmatic and creative solutions that address clients’ legal needs in a cost-efficient manner without compromising quality or sophistication for all types of small and large businesses. We offer a comprehensive suite of legal services for financial institutions and corporate clients. We make your needs a priority, approaching every matter with urgency and an eye for detail.​​​

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​Minnesota Business Finance Corporation

​Gold Keynote Sponsor 

MBFC is a private not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a certified development company (CDC).

Our CDC was created in 1983 as Opportunities Minnesota Inc. (OMNI), which was then a division of the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development. Through the enactment of state legislation in 1993, the organization became a quasi-public agency. In 1996, it was privatized and renamed the Minnesota Business Finance Corporation (MBFC). In 2022 Prairieland EDC in Slayton, MN merged with MBFC, making Slayton the fifth MBFC office in the region.

With offices in St. Cloud, Excelsior, Detroit Lakes, Slayton, Superior, WI and West Fargo, ND, we serve the entire states of Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, along with southeast South Dakota, and 3 counties in northwest Iowa. We will travel to YOU for all of your lending needs, no matter where you are in our service area.​​​

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Silver Sponsor Commentary


iBusiness Funding
​Silver Sponsor 

iBusiness Funding is a leading financial technology and lending solutions provider dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses access the capital they need to grow. Through innovative technology and a network of lending partners, the company streamlines the business lending process—making it faster, more efficient, and more accessible for entrepreneurs across the United States.

Specializing in SBA lending, iBusiness Funding supports banks, credit unions, and financial institutions with advanced tools and analytics that simplify loan processing and improve decision-making. Their mission​ is to expand access to reliable financing while empowering businesses and communities to thrive.


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S​​​ession Speakers

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Kevin Bahr.pngKevin Bahr - Chief Analyst, Center for Business and Economics Insight, Sentry School of Business and Economics, UWSP​

Professor Emeritus, Sentry School of Business and Economics, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Investment Banker (Vice President - Corporate Finance) at Robert W. Baird for 10 years
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Kevin Bahr.pngJim Bannantine - P.G., Kapur & Associates​
B.S. Geology University of Wisconsin Oshkosh M.S. Geology Northern Illinois University 35 years of environmental consulting experience Completed hundreds (maybe thousands!) of Phase I ESAs of sites all over the country. LinkedIn​


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Ryan Black (1).png​Ryan Black - Vice President: SBA Lending
​First Business Bank​​

Ryan Black brings 20 years of banking experience to the SBA Lending team at First Business Bank. He specializes in helping businesses of $25 million in revenue or less with acquisition financing, partner buyouts and recapitalization loans. He has experience in many industries, including professional services, medical practices, franchise lending, the trades and owner occupied real estate purchases with little to no down payment.​​ LinkedIn​​

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Janet Dery.pngJanet M. Dery​ - Esquire
Starfield & Smith, P.C.

Janet M. Dery is a Shareholder of Starfield & Smith, P.C. based in its Plymouth Meeting, PA office. Assisting bank and non-bank lenders in hundreds of commercial lending transactions nationwide, she has extensive experience as closing counsel for various financial transactions, with an emphasis on those including SBA lending programs. Janet is also a NADCO certified closing attorney for certified development companies located in or with projects in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland. LinkedIn​

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Janet Dery.pngJohn Gossett​ - Assistant Center Director Fresno Commercial Loan Service Center Post Servicing Actions

John started out in the banking world while in college. He has worked on both sides of SBA lending – As a lender within a bank and as a loan specialist and supervisor within the SBA – He knows and understands the issues from both sides of the SBA and wants to help you smoothly navigate through SBA lending. I want to help you to avoid Bills from the SBA. ​​

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Greg Fritsch.pngBrent Halfwassen - Founder & Owner, MKE Business Coach
MKE Business Coach

Brent Halfwassen is an experienced business owner and operator, and possesses invaluable first-hand experience with the challenges and successes of business ownership. As a four-time business owner himself, Brent understands the critical importance of aligning vision, implementing effective processes, and building the right team to drive business growth.​​ LinkedIn

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Kate Halfwassen.pngKate Halfwassen - Owner of MKE Business Coach
MKE Business Coach


Kate Halfwassen is a proven thought partner, having held key operations and finance roles throughout her career. Her C-Suite experience provides her with a deep understanding of business from the inside. She is known for championing empowerment and guiding teams toward achieving their growth goals. Kate excels at navigating the challenges of overwhelm by offering clear, actionable insights that align strategic vision with action steps across all levels of the organization.​​ LinkedIn 


Joseph Hastreiter.pngJoseph Hastreiter -​ Business Trainer​
EWH University for Small Business​

​Joseph Hastreiter grew up in a family business and spent nearly 15 years helping lead and grow it as a partner and Sales and Marketing Director. Along the way, he saw how many business to grow. After doubling his own family business, and working with thousands Joseph created EWH University to help business owners and teams successfully grow there businesses and go from Burnout to Breakthrough™.​ LinkedIn​

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Andrew H.pngAndrew Hendricks -​ Assistant Vice President, SBA Lending
First Business Bank

Andrew Hendricks is an Assistant Vice President with the First Business Bank SBA Lending team based out of Brookfield, WI.  Andrew brings over 10 years of banking experience to his role within the SBA Lending team at First Business Bank. Andrew has held numerous roles in his career, ranging from commercial loan underwriting to portfolio management. In his current role Andrew focuses on helping entrepreneurs access the right financing structures to support growth, expansion, and long term stability via the SBA 7(a), SBA Express, and SBA 504 lending programs. He specializes in acquisition financing, franchise lending, and owner occupied real estate transactions across industries such as professional services, skilled trades, and assisted living facilities. Andrew earned his B.S. in Economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and outside of work he enjoys golfing, playing tennis, and spending time outdoors. LinkedIn

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​Andrew H.pngNick Jellum - President, Jellum Law​
Jellum Law, P.A.​​​

Nick focuses his practice on advising the firm’s lending institution clients throughout the Country on all aspects of commercial loan transactions, from loan documentation and loan workouts to collections and liquidation, specifically focusing on U.S. Small Business Administration lending programs. Nick is an active member of a number of banking and lending organizations and associations and is a frequent speaker on a wide variety of SBA and conventional commercial lending issues. LinkedIn

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Kyle Kuntz.pngKyle Kuntz - Senior Vice President, Loan Origination
WBD, Inc.

Kyle Kuntz serves as Senior Vice President - Loan Origination at WBD, Inc., one of the nation’s leading Certified Development Companies (CDCs) delivering the SBA 504 loan program. As a mission driven nonprofit, WBD is dedicated to expanding access to capital for small businesses, fostering economic growth, and supporting job creation in the communities we serve. The organization consistently ranks among the top 10 SBA 504 lenders in the country and is widely recognized for its expertise, reliability, and commitment to partnership.
A member of WBD’s Senior Leadership Team, Kyle oversees WBD’s loan officer team and leads sales and market development efforts across all regions. He plays a central role in strengthening relationships with lending partners, deepening engagement with economic development organizations, and expanding WBD’s reach through education and outreach initiatives. He is responsible for ensuring WBD’s high service standards are delivered consistently throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

With more than 15 years of experience in SBA lending—and having been part of the WBD team since 2010— Kyle is instrumental in advancing WBD’s mission and supporting lenders and small businesses in structuring effective financing solutions. Linked​In

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Christopher Lewis - Senior Examiner
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

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Keith Schiegel.pngKeith Schlegel - Expor​​​t Finance Manager, Office of Manufacturing & Trade

SBA​

Keith Schlegel is a Finance Manager with the SBA Office of Manufacturing and Trade, whose mission is to enhance the ability of small businesses to compete globally. Based in Chicago, Keith works with banks and SBA Resource Partners throughout WI to increase the access to capital for small businesses. He brings experience in int'l trade, commercial lending, and supply chain finance. Prior to joining the SBA, he worked 20 years in banking & earned his degree from DePaul in International Studies. LinkedIn​

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Keith Schiegel.pngAlan​​​ Sisson - Financial Examiner Supervisor, Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions

Alan has 41 banks in the southwestern region of the state under his supervision with assets totaling over $30 Billion along a team of eight examiners focusing on the areas of safety and soundness, IT, and BSA/AML. Alan has a Degree in Accounting from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking – Madison, WI where he is also on the faculty for the GSB's FiSim course. He is also an instructor for the CSBS Credit Evaluation School.

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Dan Truehl.pngBen Udell - Founder, Ben Udell Consulting, LLC

With nearly 30 years of experience in financial services, Ben helps professionals and organizations translate GenAI into actionable outcomes. Through Ben Udell Consulting, he partners with leadership teams to move organizations from curious to confident. He serves on faculty at the American Bankers Association’s Stonier, Graduate School of Banking at WI, and is featured at major industry events, including The Financial Brand Forum, ABA programs, state and national conferences. LinkedIn
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Scott Wallace.pngScott Wallace - Director of UWSP's Center for Buisness & Economic Insight

Dr. Wallace joined UWSP in 2000. He is a tenured full professor and brings ten years of business experience to the SSBE. He has a B.A. in Economics from Drew University and has earned both a M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Connecticut. He currently serves as the Director of UWSP's Center for Business and Economic Insight. ​

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Wesley Walsh - Vice President & Loan Officer

Business Lending Partners (BLP)

In his role as Vice President & Loan Officer with BLP, Wes is an expert in navigating the SBA 504 program. Serving formerly as a commercial lender at a community bank, Wes leverages his experience to guide borrowers and lenders through SBA 504 financing on projects throughout the state of Wisconsin.​​​ LinkedIn

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Wesley WalshTreva Wetherell - Head of Coaching Services
LIFT Consulting

Treva brings over 20 years of experience supporting people and organizations across industries like healthcare, higher ed, non-profit, finance, construction, law, and tech. She’s known for her warm and curious approach, along with a process-driven mindset that helps create environments where people feel supported, empowered, and ready to grow. When she’s not helping leaders and teams unlock their potential, you might find Treva traveling and spending time with family. ​LinkedIn​

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Ben Woodward - Vice President, Senior BDO​

Seeing small businesses thrive is what drives Ben’s passion for Small Business Administration (SBA) Lending. After all, helping individuals realize their dream of entrepreneurship is a tremendous motivator. Ben has advocated for small business owners over the past 15 of his 20+ years in banking. He attributes his success to having a dedicated support staff, providing timely communication to customers and managing expectations. Focusing on lending for business acquisitions, real estate financing, debt refinancing, start-ups and construction nationwide, Ben has used his experience and expertise to close over $110MM in transactions since joining First Internet Bank in 2021.



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