Kevin is currently the Chief Analyst of the UWSP Center for Business and Economics Insight, which includes writing blogs and reports on a variety of economic issues. He was formerly a Professor of Finance at the UWSP Sentry School of Business and Economics and Vice President of Corprate Finance (Investment Banker) at Robert W. Baird & Co.
FDIC, Division of Risk Management Supervision
Mr. Beier is a supervisor based in the FDIC's Madison, Wisconsin Territory. He has over 30 years experience in bank regulation and supervision.
Ryan Black, Vice President - SBA LendingFirst Business Bank
Ryan Black has 17 years of banking experience that he applies to the SBA lending team at First Business Bank. He has held a number of roles in his career, ranging from retail banking to commercial underwriting, and now focuses on providing lending solutions for commercial clients using the SBA lending programs. Ryan specializes in helping small businesses with business and real estate acquisition financing, partner buyouts, debt refinance, start-up financing and construction loans. LinkedIn
Tom Clark, Loan Officer
Entrepreneur Fund
Tom Clark is a Loan Officer proudly serving Wisconsin and its Northern Counties; Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Washburn, Burnett, Sawyer, Iron, Price, Vilas, Oneda, Florence, Forest, Marinette, and Tribal Nations.
Victor Cruz, Managing Consultant
Guidehouse (FTA)
Victor M Cruz, Guidehouse (FTA) had been qa dedicated leader for SBA's Fiscl Transfer Agent Client Services team for 26 years. Since 2012, Victor has led 1502 training and development as a subject matter expert recieving recognition from the SBA and their lending partners for his problem solving solutions approach to all matters related to SBA Form 1502 Reporting.
Travis Frazier, SBA Portfolio Manager
First Business Bank
Travis Frazier is an SBA Portfolio Manager at First Business Bank. He has 10 years of experience in the field of SBA lending. 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.
Andrew Hendricks, SBA Business Development Associate
First Business Bank
Andrew has 7 years of commercial banking experience with the last 4 focused solely on SBA Lending. Andrew started his commercial banking career as a commercial credit analyst before joining the First Business SBA Team as a portfolio manager. His main focus now is aiding the First Business SBA business development team and guiding borrowers through the SBA loan process. Andrew earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and resides in Wauwatosa, WI with his wife and Labrador puppy. He is an avid outdoorsman with a passion for wildlife and outdoor sports including golf and tennis
Michael Hetzel, Director of Lending
WWBIC
Michael Heltzel, Director of Lending, has over 38 years of experience in the bankig industry and has served as WWBIC's Director of Lending since 2012. He oversees WWBIC'a lending function related to micro-loan, small business and SBA 7a underwriting; small business consulting and marketing for WWBIC's 24 loan fungs (including CDBG loan funds) He also serves as WWBIC's primary banking partner contact person for the State of WI. He oversees and works with a statewide team of five lenders who annualy originate more than $10 million in new loans. He has consistently mangaed WWBIC's lending team to meet goals by set WWBIC, CDBG and other federal government loan programs for loans to low-to-moderate income borrowers, especially women, people of color, Spanish speaking business owners and veterans. Under his leadership, the total WWBIC loan portfolio and the deployment of campital have grown and continues to grow from 6 million in 2012 to over 26 million in 2023. Mike recieved a BBA from UWM and has been certified as a licensed financial counselor. SInce starting his career, Mike has worked at First Interstate Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, Firstar Bank, US Bank, Associated Bank Corporation, and PNC Financial Services Group.
Manik Hossian, Operations Analyst II
Center for Professional & Executive Development, Wisconsin School of Business
Mike Hossian, Operations Analyst, has been a valued member of FTA's Client Services Team since March 2022. His primary responsibilities include handling secondary market lender investor inquiries related to payment discrepancies, reconciliations, and outstanding claims. He supports all other Client Service functions and is a high contributing team member who embraces lead roes when called upon. Prior to joing FTA Guidehouse, Manik spent 5 years with TD bank advancing his skills.
Deb Houden, M.A., Ph.D., Instructor
Center for Professional & Executive Development, Wisconsin School of Business
Deb has extensive experience helping businesses negotiate various needs, concentrating on transition, board development, shareholder agreements, family meetings, and next generation development. She specializes in working with family-owned entities.Through her consulting work, Deb interacts daily with several business entities at various stages of development. She has presented on numerous occasions to industry groups, family business centers, and individual company retreats on topics including the necessity of formal family agreements, communication and conflict resolution, and negotiation. She teaches for the Wisconsin School of Business in the Executive MBA and Evening MBA, the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, and with the Center for Professional & Executive Development.Deb earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees from the University of Wisconsin. She also holds a Certificate in Family Business Advising and Family Wealth Advising from the Family Firm Institute.
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 | Facebook
Kyle Kuntz, Vice President, Loan Officer, Northeast WI Team Lead
WBD, Inc.
Kyle Kuntz is a Vice President & Loan Officer and the Northeast WI Team Lead for WBD. Kyle has worked with SBA loan solutions for nearly 14 years and joined WBD in 2010. In his current role, Kyle helps lenders and their borrowers gain access to long-term fixed rate financing on owner occupied commercial real estate and equipment through the SBA 504 loan program. Website | LinkedIn
Mike Larabee, Assistant Deputy Comptroller
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Mike has 40 years with OCC, currently managing the Milwaukee Office, and previously worked in Minneapolis, Eau Claire, Omaha and Grand Island. His supervision focus has been commercial credit and staff development.
Christopher Lewis, Senior Examiner
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Christopher Lewis has been a commissioned Senior Examiner working at Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago for the past 17 years. Preceding his current position in the Reigonal & Community Supervision Department, Chris was credit lead for a large bank examination team in the FRBC's LBO portfolio. He previously worked at LaSalle Bank, Chicago, IL as an Assistant Vice President in the Global Securization Trust Securization Division acting as trustee for MBS and CMBS securizations.
Todd Miller, President
ATW Miller Group, LLC
Todd is a bank accounting consultant with 37 years in commercial banking and working with the SBA 7a and 504 loan programs. LinkedIn
Matthew Pletzer
Lift Consulting LLCMatthew Pletzer is the owner of LIFT Consulting, LLC, who's firm specializes in identifying, creating, and transforming organizational cultures through training, coaching, and consulting services. With a unique combination of corporate and entrepreneurial experience, he has direct leadership experience across a national team of sales and marketing professionals. He applies his background and experience to drive break-through results for clients. LinkedIn
Gonzalo Potzsch, Director of Software Sales
iBusiness Funding
Gonzalo Potzsch is the Director of Software Sales at iBusiness Funding, specializing in providing software solutions for SBA lenders. With a keen focus on fostering client relationships and providing strategic insights, he is dedicated to driving growth in small business management from the Utah Valley University and 8 years of experience in financial services, he is skilled in helping lenders grow revenue and innovate their lending process. Gonzalo lives in Utah with his wife and four-year-old daughter, and he is an avid skier.
William Reed, Assistant Director for Policy
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 16 years with the Small Business Administration (SBA) at the Office of Disaster Assistance and the 7(A) Loan Guaranty Processing Center (LGPC) where he currently is the Assistant Center Director for Policy.
He has expertice in an array of loan programs offered by the SBA that address the business's need for both short term and permenant working capital, including SBA CAPLine programs focused on meeting the short-term operating cycle needs of a business.
Bill earned a MBA from Golden Gate University, San Fransisco; obtained sound financial training provided at a Fortune 100 Company and taught 8 uars as university faculty for the master's degree program.
His past business experience includes a consulting practice targeted at the small business client as well as spending 14 years in the corporate environment. Positions held include - Director Corporate Business Development, Director Commercial Operations, Director Training and Development, Director Commercial Operations, Director Training and Development and Operating Board Member.
Bill has been a guest speaker at several lender conferences and continues to provide education sipport using webinars; 7a questions; and direct training of SBA staff and lenders.
Cari Sabel, Loan Specialist
USDA Rural Development
Cari Sabel is the team lead for OneRD guaranteed loans at Wisconsin Rural Development. She has more than 15 years of commercial/business lending experience acquired from community banks in east central Wisconsin. Cari has worked with a wide range of businesses in various industries including cheese plants, manufacturing & packaging, breweries, hospitality, grocery stores, and agriculture.
Ethan Smith, Co-founder & CEO
Starfield & SMmith, P.C.
Ethan is a co-founder and the Managing Partner/CEO of Starfield & Smith, P.C. He works with SBA lenders nationwide, ranging from large national lenders to small community banks, credit unions, and non-bank lenders.
Ethan has been actively involved with NAGGL for many years as a Board member, conference presenter, contributing writer, committee member, webinar speaker, and course instructor, for which he was honored in 2017 as NAGGL's "Instructor of the Year." Ethan has also been recognized for possessing the highest levels of legal skills and ethics, achieving an "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and being repeatedly recognized as a "Super Lawyer" and "Rising Star" by Philadelphia Magazine.
Alan Sisson, Financial Examiner Supervisor
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
Alan has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking – University of Wisconsin, Madison and of the ABA National Commercial Lending School. He carries a Certified Examinations Manager certification through the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. He currently sits on the Graduate School of Banking’s Alumni and is a faculty member for the Graduate School of Banking’s FiSim class.
Chris Valcheff, Vice President
True North Consultants, Inc.
Mr. Valchef has been working as an environmental constulant for over 30 years. He has vast environmental due diligence experience with public and private industries on simple and complex properties for transactions across the United States. Mr. Valcheff is well versed in identifying solutions that mitigate environmental risk during the transactional process. He is a member of the WDNR's External Advisory Group, Board member for Smart Growth Greater Madison, and co-chair for NAIOP - Madison. LinkedIn
Scott Wallace, Professor of Economics
University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Scott has been teaching at UWSP since 2000. He is currently the Director and Editor of the Center for Business and Economic Insight. His teaching and reserch interests are in the areas of the econoics of organization, industrial organization, and community economic development.
Wesley Walsh, Loan Officer
Business Lending Partners (BLP)
In his role as a 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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