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.​

S​​​ESSION SPEAKERS

 ​ ​

Lindsay Cremona - Attorney at Law​
Jellum Law, P.A.​

​Lindsay is a litigation attorney with Jellum Law, P.A. who has successfully represented clients in a variety of complex civil litigation and bankruptcy matters, including breach of contract claims, enforcement of UCC rights, and fraud claims. Lindsay works with financial institutions to protect their interests in loan collection and liquidation, as well as regulatory compliance for the Small Business Administration's government-guaranteed lending programs. 

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

Janet M. Dery is a Shareholder in Starfield & Smith, P.C. and based out of its Fort Washington, PA office. Her practice’s primary focus is on commercial lending, business law, and real estate. Representing bank and non-bank lenders in commercial lending transactions nationwide for the last 20 years, she has extensive experience as closing counsel for various financial transactions, many of which involve government assisted programs and multi-jurisdictional issues and collateral. LinkedIn​

  ​

Gregory Fritsch - Managing Director
Fritsch Consulting, LLC

Greg is a senior-level executive with over 30 years of successful experience and expertise in banking, business, and leadership. He often wor​ks as a transformational interim executive in lower—to middle-market entities, where his holistic approach to transforming organizations is most successful. He looks at financial and operational performance, talent optimization, business strategy, and culture to determine how each needs to be re-engineered to meet stakeholder goals and objectives.​ LinkedIn

​​​

John Gossett - SBA Fresno Commercial Loan Service Center
US Small Buisness Administration​

John has done both sides of SBA lending, from within a bank and from within the SBA Fresno Loan Service Center. He had the opportunity to re-open an SBA Department in a Small Community Bank with another lending colleague. They did everything: origination, loan docs, guaranty fees, signing, loan sales to the secondary market, 1502 reporting, etc... John knows the same problems that you have and can help navigate your SBA loan portfolio.​​

​​

  

Kate 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 - Business Coach
EWH University for Small 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.​ LinkedIn​

​

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.

​

​ 

James Keig - Attorney at Law
Jellum Law, P.A.​​

Jamie is an attorney and Partner at Jellum Law, licensed to practice in Minnesota. He joined the firm in 2015 focusing his practice on commercial loan transactions, specifically U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) and 504 loans. Jamie represents a diverse range of clients in the financial services industry, from large national banks to closely held business entities. He values the relationships he develops and takes pride in becoming an essential member of his clients' teams. 

​

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 15 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

​

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 18 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. 

Brandon Marriott - Assistant Deputy Comptroller
Comptroller of the Currency

Brandon Marriott is the Assistant Deputy Comptroller for the Milwaukee Field Office of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).  In this role, Mr. Marriott is responsible for the supervision of 17 nationally chartered institutions and supervises a staff of 26 examiners.  He took on these responsibilities in May 2024 following the same role in the Peoria Field Office for 7 years. He has served the OCC in a variety of bank supervision and leadership roles during his 20-year OCC career.

 

Spring Nelson - Attorney at Law
Jellum Law, P.A.

Spring Nelson is an attorney and Partner at Jellum Law, licensed to practice in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Prior to joining Jellum Law, she gained extensive experience from her role as in-house counsel at a national commercial bank. She focuses her practice on advising financial institutions on all aspects of commercial loan transactions and banking regulations, specifically on U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) and 504 loans and USDA loans, and is an SBA 504 Designated Attorney.

​​

​

​

Suzanne Sherry - Center for Professional & Executive Development, Wisconsin School of Business

USDA Rural Development

Suzanne Sherry, MBARepresenting the Center for Professional Development at the UW School of Business, Suzanne Sherry is a consultant and founding partner of Talentlabs2. She brings deep expertise in leadership and talent, with experience across diverse industries, and helps leaders unlock their potential through coaching and development. Suzanne holds an MBA and is certified in a range of leadership programs and assessment tools for individuals and teams. LinkedIn​

Dan Truehl - Director of Training, Lift Consulting

Dan Truehl, Director of Training at Lift Consulting, helps clients achieve exceptional outcomes. With a background in family entrepreneurship and direct sales, he develops training for corporations up to $1 billion in revenue. His expertise empowers professionals, teams, and leaders to drive transformative results through practical, results-driven strategies.

Chris Valcheff - Vice President, True North Consultants​

Chris Valcheff has over 30 years of experience in performing environmental consulting services for a wide-ranging and diverse group of Clients and projects. Specializing in brownfield re-development, Chris has performed and managed environmental due diligence activities for various property types, from vacant land to chemical manufacturing properties, across the country. Working closely with Client teams and regulatory agencies, Chris develops solutions to perceived problems resulting in the best possible risk management practices for individual projects while still meeting Client budget goals and regulatory requirements.

​​​

Scott 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. ​

​

​Wesley Walsh​
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

​

Benjamin Wollin - MAI, AI-GRS: President
Valuation Compliance, LLC ​

Ben Wollin is the President of Valuation Compliance, a commercial Appraisal Management Company with over 25 bank clients across the Midwest. He is a former field appraiser with L.A. Duesterbeck and was a former Senior Real Estate Analyst for T.Wall Properties. Ben is a Former Director on the Board for the Wisconsin Chapter of the Appraisal Institute and is an active member of the Risk Management Association. Ben and his team review approximately 1,500 appraisals per year.​ LinkedIn​​