Jeff is overly passionate about helping brands improve online selling strategies, creating digital marketing strategies that reach online consumers, and speaking as a business owner who can lift individuals into a positive mindset that attracts others to join. He provides value to employees at every level and can share the goals behind career exploration and developing talent through entrepreneurial-spirited experiences.
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Bon Wikenheiser
State Director, Wisconsin Small Business Development Center
Bon Wikenheiser became state director for the Wisconsin SBDC Network in September of 2014. Prior to that, Wikenheiser served as state director of the North Dakota Small Business Development Center for eight years, overseeing a 17-office network.
She previously was director of corporate programming and director of the Emerging Leaders Academy in Business for the Harold Schafer Leadership Center at the University of Mary, where she earned her Master of Business Administration and nursing degrees.
Her qualifications include experience as a recipient of a Small Business Innovation Research grant, reviewer on a national panel for SBIR grant applicants and owner and operator of multiple small businesses. Wikenheiser is responsible for coordinating the efforts of all Wisconsin SBDC Network locations throughout the state and works with other public and private organizations focused on economic development and entrepreneurship.
Eric NessDistrict Director, U.S. Small Business Administration
Eric Ness is the District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Wisconsin District with locations in Madison and in Milwaukee. As District Director, Eric is responsible for the delivery of SBA programs throughout Wisconsin.
Eric joined the SBA in 1990 as a Commercial Loan Officer where he had the opportunity to work in both processing and liquidation of loans. He has served as Finance Chief and Assistant District Director for Economic Development. In December of 2001, Eric assumed the position of Wisconsin District Director.
Prior to coming to SBA, Eric worked for Impact Seven as a Business Analyst and was General Manager of Western Wisconsin Development Corporation in Northwestern Wisconsin.
Eric graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Degree in Agricultural Engineering and later obtained a Masters in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
Ryan Black has over 15 years of banking
experience that he applies to the SBA Lending team at First Business Bank. Ryan
specializes in helping businesses with less than $25 million in revenue with
acquisition financing, partner buyouts, and recapitalization loans. LinkedIn
Peter Bushman, Chairman of West Central Wisconsin SCORE
SCORE Mentors
Peter retired in late 2017 after 35 years of successful Sales and Sales Leadership. Peter held various sales leadership positions at IBM. He left in 2000 to work at a couple startup company's. In 2004 he was recruited to work for Motorola and in 2010 he joined Honeywell as their first North American Director of Sales for their Auto - ID Business.
He is currently a Mentor and Chairman of SCORE
Travis Frazier, Portfolio Manager II - SBA Lending
First Business Bank
As Portfolio Manager II - SBA Lending, Travis Frazier works with lenders on loan requests for new applicants, services the requests of existing clients, and monitors the condition of clients in his portfolio. In 2018, he received the Credit Risk Certification designation. Prior to becoming a Portfolio Manager, Travis worked as an SBA Credit Analyst. Travis serves on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Chapter of the Risk Management Association.
Marty Furguson, Managing Director of SBA Lending
First Business Bank
Over 25 years experience in the SBA industry,
providing SBA 7a and 504 loans to small companies across the US. Currently
managing the SBA division of First Business Bank based in Madison, WI which is
a Top 100 SBA lender in 2022. LinkedIn
John Gossett, Assistant Center Director for Servicing
US SBA Fresno CLSC
I have worked for lenders and the SBA and thus know SBA loans from inside outside out side the SBA. I know the problems you as lenders face and work to help avoid those problems.
Bruce Glaub, Principal
Trade Acceptance Group, Ltd.
Bruce joined Trade Acceptance Group (TAG) in
July of 2016 as a principal opening the Wisconsin Office. With over 25 years of
experience, Bruce understands the specific challenges of working in the global
marketplace. TAG is a specialty financial services company founded in 1996 by
seasoned international banking professionals to provide innovative trade
finance solutions.
Bill Harrigan, Vice President, SBA Lending
First Business Bank
Started my career as an underwriting for a community bank in Chicago, moved to Business Banking and Middle Market commercial lending with M&I and have been focused primarily on SBA Lending the past 10 years.
Micheal Hetzel, Director of Lending
Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)
Michael Hetzel, Director of Lending, has over 34 years of experience in the Milwaukee banking industry. He joined WWBIC’s as the Sr Loan Officer in 2012 and since 2015, he has served as WWBIC’s Director of Lending. Hetzel oversees all lending activities for WWBICs 30 loan funds (including CDBG loan funds). He oversees a statewide team of five lenders who annually originate more than $9 million in new loans and 7 business consultants/outreach consultants that provide WWBIC clients with TA (Technical Assistance...1:1 business coaching). He consistently manages the WWBIC teams to meet goals set by WWBIC, CDBG and other Federal and State Government Loan Programs focusing on low-to-moderate income borrowers, especially women, people of color, and veterans. Under his leadership, the total WWBIC loan portfolio and the deployment of capital have grown and continues to grow from 6 million in 2012 to over 20 million in 2019. Mike received his BBA from the UW Milwaukee is a certified financial counselor. Starting his career in 1985, he has worked at Wells Fargo Bank/Firstar Bank; VP Small Business/Retail Banking at Associated Bank Corporation; then VP at PNC Financial Services Group.
Nick Jellum, President, Attorney at Law
Jellum Law, P.A.
Nick Jellum is the President of Jellum Law, P.A. where he focuses his practice on advising the firm's financial 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 SBA 7(a) government guaranteed loans, and is also an SBA 504 Designated Closing Attorney. LinkedIn
Luke Kempen, Center Director
Small Business Development Center at UW-Eau Claire
Kempen joined the SBDC in 2013 and consults with clients on business startup and purchase, business expansion and capital financing issues. A certified public accountant, Kempen holds a BBA in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Development Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Kempen has worked on thousands of financial projections. LinkedIn
Kyle Kuntz, Vice President - Loan Officer
WBD, Inc.
Kyle Kuntz is a Vice President & Loan Officer for WBD, Your Business Finance Resource. Kyle has worked with SBA loan solutions for nearly 12 years and joined WBD in 2010. In his current role, Kyle helps small businesses in Central & Northeast WI gain access to long-term fixed rate financing on owner occupied commercial real estate and equipment through the SBA 504 loan program. LinkedIn
Mike Larabee, Assistant Deputy Comptroller
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Mike is a 38-year OCC employee, having worked in primarily Nebraska, Wisconsin and Minnesota. He is the Assistant Deputy Comptroller in Milwaukee, supervising 25 examiners and 19 banks located on the Eastern side of WI and in the Upper Peninsula of MI. He has worked almost exclusively with community banks, but has also served as an analyst and team leader, and completed assignments in Mid-size and Large Banks. While working in community banks, his primary focus was on credit quality and leading the exam process. As team leader, he also focused on developing precommissioned examiners through the OCC's testing regimen.
Edward Ledford, Deputy Director - Office of Credit Risk Management
SBA - Office of Credit Risk Management
Eddie is responsible for overseeing participants
in SBA's business loan programs. Day-to-activities include, but are not limited
to, overseeing reviews and examinations, providing training on SBA Loan Program
Requirements, developing and implementing risk management activities, and
briefing SBA leadership about risk mitigation efforts to address existing and
emerging risk as well as discussing what is going well and what lenders need
from the Agency to be successful.
Joseph Nashar, Credit Risk Management
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Joe has over 15 years of regulatory experience at the Federal Reserve, primarily in community bank supervision. He currently manages a team responsible for assessing credit risk at banks of varying size and complexity within the Seventh District, but also has broad experience across various risk stripes. In his role, Joe has an opportunity to work with institutions engaged in various lending strategies, most commonly agricultural and commercial real estate lending
Lisa Preston, President
The Preston Group, LLC
Ms. Preston is a SBA industry expert in training, loan processes, department development, and loan review. She has over 35 years in the financial sector with experience at FDIC, a SBA PLP national bank, a SBA OCRM review contractor, and now as owner of The Preston Group for the past 12.5 years. The Preston Group has successfully completed government contracts with both the FDIC and the SBA.
Andrew Price, Attorney
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren
Andy Price is a shareholder in Reinhart’s Banking and Finance Practice, where he represents borrowers, lenders (traditional and non-traditional) and other related parties throughout the county in structuring, negotiating and documenting financing transactions ranging from smaller loans to affiliated borrowers up to large and complex facilities
Bill Reed, Supervisory Loan Specialist
Small Business Administration
Bill has made a career of analyzing financial data and providing leadership in the highly regulated industries of Financial Lending; Medical Device; Pharmaceuticals; and Hospital Products. He has spent over 14 years with the Small Business Administration where he currently provides in-depth analysis on loans involving complex credit decisions. Bill has been guest speaker at several lender conferences and earned an MBA from Golden Gate University, San Francisco.
Gayle Roenbaugh, International Trade & Export Finance Manager
SBA/Office of International Trade
Gayle Roenbaugh is the Export Development Finance Manager with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Working closely with the network of SBA field offices and SBA’s Office of International Trade (OIT), she provides international trade and export finance expertise to small business exporters and lending communities to deliver them effective export results. LinkedIn
Cari Sabel, Loan Specialist
USDA Rural Development
Cari Sabel is a loan specialist with USDA Rural Development as the lead for Business & Industry guaranteed loans. A commercial and agricultural lender with over 15 years of experience gives her a unique understanding of lenders, customers, risk mitigation, and the lending environment. Cari's passion for rural small business in Wisconsin drives her enthusiasm for program delivery, outreach and networking.
Alan Sisson, Financial Examiner Supervisor
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
Over 30 years experience in the financial
institutions industry. Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the
University of Arkansas-Little Rock, a Graduate of the Graduate School of
Banking, Madison Wisconsin and the ABA National Commercial Lending School. A
Certified Examinations Manager through the Conference of State Bank
Supervisors. Currently a member of GSB's Alumni Council and a faculty member of
GSB's FiSim class.
Barry Tessmann, Financial Institution Examiner
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Wesley Walsh, Loan Officer
Business Lending Partners (BLP)
As BLP's most tenured Loan Officer, 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 the entire SBA 504 process, often acting as a translator between government and industry. LinkedIn
Thomas Walstrum, Senior Business Economist
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Walstrum's responsibilities include the Seventh
District's contribution to the Beige Book, the Chicago Fed Survey of Business
Conditions, and briefings for the Chicago Fed president on Seventh District
economic conditions. He also is a contributing author to the Bank's Midwest
Economy blog.
John Wink, Corporate and Finance Attorney
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren
John H. Wink is a shareholder in Reinhart’s Banking and Finance and Corporate Law practices who serves a wide variety of clients including financial institutions and asset-based lenders as well as privately held and public companies with varying aspects of financing transactions. Prior to becoming an attorney, John studied accounting, passed the CPA exam, and worked for a large public institution on accounting matters.
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