Have you met my long lost brother? It'll make sense in the episode. This week's guest on the Art of SBA Lending podcast is Jonathan Smith. Jonathan has worked at some of the biggest banks in the country, and now he's leading the charge to take Northwest Bank's SBA lending program nationwide. We'll talk about hiring and interviewing strategies, unde…

This week we have SBA legend Lance Sexton on the podcast for a stellar episode on education for the future generation of SBA lenders behind the scenes of a bank closure, and Lance uses a phrase that may sound familiar: clear as mud. Can you guess what he’s talking about? Great topics for a great guest, live from Nashville at NAGGL. Also, how did Th…

We’re sitting down with Lane Rhodes on her home turf for this episode! Live from Nashville we are chatting with Nashville's OG of Lending about leveraging your strengths and efficiency to find success as a BDO. Listen in to get all the details about how Lane found her success by creating relationships, how being patient doesn’t always pay off, why …

For this weeks episode we have Karen Bean joining us to discuss all things about the secondary market. Listen to Karen and Ray get into details about her incredibly successful career in the secondary market, learning about what happens when a buyer mistakenly bids too high, how 2008 and Covid-era incentives impacted the secondary market, her BTS th…

This week we have Steve Miriani, founder of Diamond Financial joining us to get into the industry hot topic, raising the SBA 7(a) limit. Listen in to hear Ray and Steve discuss why this needs to be a priority and what steps are being taken to get us there. We also discuss the journey of Steve’s career, how creating his own niche led him to his succ…

For this weeks episode we have Darren Davis, president of Small Business Specialty Lending at Colony Bank joining us to conclude our sit-down interview series from Asheville. In one of Ray's favorite episodes so far this season, they sit down to talk leadership, talent, overcoming obstacles and SBA changes, and the lessons he's learned the hard way…

This week on The Art of SBA Lending- Shatterbox Join us for a panel discussion as we sit down with founder of Shatterbox, Dustin Baker, and early adopters of the program Chris Kwiatkowski and Cam Nayebi. Ray and our panelists go into detail about the struggles with the talent gap in SBA lending, including hiring and training, why Shatterbox was cre…

This week we have Ken Rosenthal on the podcast giving us his 4 secrets to success in SBA sales. Listen in as Ray and Ken think back to when they first met in the very beginning of Rays SBA career, how Ken organizes his day to maintain his position as a top-producer, standing out as an SBA lender in your market, and those sales secrets we are all wa…

This week on The Art of SBA Lending we have a guest who certainly likes to stay busy, Maria Lawson! Maria is the Managing Director of Government Guaranteed Lending at Signature Bank of Georgia and board member of GLQC. Maria sits down with Ray at The Southeastern Small Business Lenders Conference in Asheville, NC, to discuss: -Balancing her impress…

This week on The Art of SBA Lending we have Victor Diaz, Managing Partner of Starfield & Smith, an SBA Law firm you may already know. Kicking off our 5 week in-person interview series from Ashville, Victor is sitting down with Ray for another great episode. Victor talks about his experiences from being a trial attorney to now an SBA attorney, what …

In this weeks episode we are sitting down with Shane Lewis, President and co-founder of Baker Lewis, an SBA advisory firm. If you’ve been following along The Art of SBA, you already know who they are! We all know this shake up in the SBA industry has caused a lot of movement…but nobody knows it as well as Shane does. Listen in to hear what he has t…

This week on The Art of SBA Lending we have a mystery guess with a big announcement…their retirement! Listen in to see who is retiring and what industry they are moving into. We’re also talking BDO experiences and comp plans, post-covid trends, and more. Leave a review if you’ve been loving these episodes and don’t forget to share our channel! This…

This week on The Art of SBA Lending we're honored to be bringing you an interview with one of the few people who have actually run the SBA. Welcome, Jeanne Hulit, former acting SBA administrator and current CEO of Maine Community Bank! Jeanne is here giving us her takes on the 2023 changes of the SBA, and what she thinks about simplifying the SOP. …

Join us for our newest episode with Jim Mueller, BDO at Celtic Bank and highly deserving recipient of last years “BDO of the Year” award. Ray and Jim have a great conversation about achieving success and caring deeply about the process from somebody who has been on both sides of the table. In this episode we discuss: Jim's transition from a CEO to …

In this episode we interview Phil Johnson, Founder and CEO of the Master of Business Leadership program for employees and executives. Listen in as Ray and Phil get into the majorly important topic of emotional intelligence. What it is, why it’s important, and it’s current role in corporate America. Covering the questions of ego-based fears and how …

Serious Episode- Sorry It’s Jared Johnson of First Internet back on the podcast this week! $100+mm years, content creation, closers, authenticity and business acquisitions, we’re talking about it all! Learn what kind of sacrifice, dedication, and value-add is needed to earn the spot of a top producer right here. ____________________________________…

In this episode we bring you a LIVE panel discussion from The BDO Retreat in Miami! Join us for a panel discussion with top producing BDO's: Dennis Wagner, First National Bank, Ryan Kroge, First Internet Bank, Shane Pierson, Grasshopper Bank, and our host, Ray Drew. This episode is all about achieving success, meeting your potential, and maximizing…

Welcome to Part 2 of our State of Small Business Panel on The Art of SBA Lending Podcast with William "Bill" Woodard, Chief Credit Officer at T Bank, Jordan Hallam, Director of Government Guaranteed Lending at SouthState Bank, Nick Roach, President and CEO of Stone Bank. In this episode we cover which industries are hot right now, why you should be…

Welcome to the newest season of The Art of SBA Lending Podcast! This week we are kicking off with part-one of a fan-favorite, panel-style episode discussing the (surprising) state of small business. Our host, Ray Drew welcomes Bill Woodard, Chief Credit Officer at T Bank, Jordan Hallam, Director of Government Guaranteed Lending at SouthState Bank a…

In this episode we welcome our first guest of the new year, Sherry Martin! Sherry is the Director of Client Bank Development at SBA Complete. She's had a life-long passion for the success of small businesses, has worked every role in SBA, started shops from the ground up, and could teach everyone a thing or two about leadership. Listen in as Ray an…

In this weeks can't-miss episode Ray sits down with his former boss, Mark Gibson, National Sales Manager at First Internet Bank . Ray first met Mark while working at Ready Capital- an experience in which Mark gives credit for preparing him for the difficult feat of starting and scaling a national SBA program to the top 10 the way that he did. Mark …

In this weeks episode Ray sits down with Tom Pretty, Head of SBA Lending at TD. From heading up the SBA division at the top bank on the East Coast, to his background as a BDO himself- Tom has great insight to give our listeners when it comes to management and leadership, balancing the peaks and valleys of managing a department, setting yourself up …

For this weeks insightful and inspiring episode, we sat down with the Head of Small Business Banking at Live Oak Bank, Mike McGinley, and got the background of what it's like to be a part of the #1 bank in SBA. Ray and Mike discuss Live Oak's success and what they attribute it to- their work place culture, their training and recruiting process, com…

In this episode of The Art of SBA Lending, we keep the NAGGL interviews going with Kyle Gustafson, National Client Manager at Partner Engineering and Science. Kyle is a former tech-insider with a specialty in SBA software. Ever since Covid, our industry was forced to be more reliant on tech than ever but were we ready to jump into that change so qu…

This week on The Art of SBA Lending Podcast, Ray continues his sit-down interviews from NAGGL in New Orleans with guest Shay Kleinschmidt! Shay is the VP of Funding at FranFund, and has tons of insight on how to be a top-tier lender and get more business from loan brokers, and what first-time borrowers need to be educated on before entering the len…

For this week's episode, we had the chance to sit down with Diane Gallion in NOLA and have a great conversation about her 48 years in banking and decades spent becoming a key player in the SBA industry. Ray and Diane get into details about her career in SBA from the very beginning and leave us with some great takeaways for a successful career, no m…

In this episode we sit down with founder of Distressed Loan Advisors, Jason Milleisen. During one of the worst financial disasters of our time, Jason was a workout specialist at CIT. From being an underwriter, to switching sides of the table and helping distressed borrowers- Jason's here to share his experiences from that time. If you've been enjoy…

It's THE episode you cannot miss, featuring Bob Coleman! This week on The Art of SBA Lending, Bob Coleman, Publisher of The Coleman Report, is interviewed by our host Ray Drew about whether we’ve returned to the loosened credit standards of 2007, how technological advances disrupted Bob’s business multiple times, and the SBA’s new reputation proble…

Gary Henderson, or as you may know him, "SBA Guy", is with us this week! In this candid episode of "The Art of SBA Lending" we share our thought-provoking wisdom, experiences and differences. This week we're diving deep into: - Having vision and playing the long game - Keeping your mind open to process improvements -The importance of meeting with c…

The last time we sat down with Daniel was two years ago as he was closing out a $100,000,000+ year. This week, Daniel Park returns to The Art of SBA Lending Podcast to discuss what's changed in the market over the last two years, and how he's been able to keep up. Ray and Daniel go over where you need to stay consistent, and where you need to pivot…

The SBA industry has long been rooted in traditional banking practices. However, with the advent of new technologies and the rise of alternative lenders, the landscape is starting to change. In this episode, Ray sits down with Andrew Simon, Head of Digital Strategy at Exos Lending. Exos Lending is the newest non-bank lender in the industry and they…

Increased rates. Cash Flow issues. General nervousness in the market. After getting spoiled with doable deals for the past couple years, BDOs are now facing a new reality. In this episode, Ray sits down with Shane Pierson to get into the weeds about who is winning in this market and how. Shane has been in the industry for over 18 years and now serv…

Thank you for tuning in to another episode of the Art of SBA Lending. In this episode, Ray Drew sits down with Shelise Evans, an experienced SBA closer, about her background and approach to closing loans. Shelise shares how she got started in the SBA industry and why she fell in love with the role of a closer. She emphasizes the importance of speed…

Thank you for tuning into another episode of The Art of SBA Lending. This week on the podcast, Ray sits down with Sterling Birdsong. Sterling shares his journey in the lending industry, from starting as an intern at a community bank to becoming a successful SBA lender. He emphasizes the importance of building credibility and trust with the credit c…

This week on the Art of SBA Lending Podcast, Ray welcomes SBA Legend Bruce Marks for a second time. Bruce Marks is a highly experienced and successful business development officer (BDO). With over 35 years of experience, he has closed over 1,300 SBA loans and has a proven track record of success. Bruce is known for his expertise in credit, SBA lend…

On this episode of the Art of SBA Lending, Ray and his guests discuss the new SOP changes and the potential impact of technology on the industry. They explore the challenges and opportunities that lenders face in adapting to new technologies and changing market dynamics. The conversation also touches on the importance of culture, talent, and risk m…

In this episode of the Art of SBA Lending, host Ray Drew moderates a roundtable discussion on the future of SBA lending with Kevin Rafferty, Lynne Singletary, and Javier Jorge. They discuss the changes in SBA lending over the past decade, the impact of technology and remote work, and the importance of human judgment in the lending process. Key Take…

We're turning the tables on this one. In this episode, Bruce Boddie interviews your host, Ray Drew, on his journey to becoming a top-producing SBA lender and podcaster. Ray shares his journey in the lending industry and his philosophy for success. He emphasizes the importance of effective communication, problem-solving skills, and exceptional custo…

📢 We are back and bigger than ever with a brand new season of the 🎙 podcast featuring: new formats and a new cast of characters.By Ray Drew

Since the week after his 16th birthday, Paul Long has been in the banking industry. After working his way from Wells Fargo Bank Teller to a district manager, Paul transitioned to business banking and on to SBA. In this episode, Ray sits down with Paul to discuss how having a strong team helps you build a successful SBA division, how customer servic…

Chemical Engineering, Data Analytics, and SBA. One person ties these three things together and that’s this week’s guest, Brett Caines. Your host, Ray Drew, sits down with Brett to discuss his journey from chemical engineering to banking. Brett spent time as the CFO at Live Oak Bank before starting his own business, Lumos. Lumos is a data company th…

Ray sits down with Lizzie Slaton, newly appointed SBA Credit Manager at Dogwood State Bank. Lizzie shares her background in SBA servicing and underwriting, discusses her credit philosophy and indulges Ray as they share each others pet peeves. https://www.artofsba.com/ ----------------------------------------------------- This episode is brought to …

In this episode, Ray sits down with SBA legend John Handmaker. John is the Co-Founder and Chief SBA Lending Officer at Venturus. Tune in to hear John look back on his 35 year in SBA lending, from the Money Store days, to creating multiple SBA shops - and all the ups and downs along the way. Venturus is a nationwide direct small business lender spec…

Today on the podcast, Ray travels to the NAGGL conference in St. Louis to sit down with Scott Oliver, Partner at Lewis Kappes. Ray and Scott discuss why attorneys are afraid of engaging on social media, the secrets behind his firms outstanding customer service, and some of the major pitfalls in SBA closings. Scott’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.c…

Amber Dorland is the Head of SBA Lending at FFB and this week, she stops by the podcast to discuss her role at the bank. As Head of SBA, she oversees origination, credit, operations, and servicing. Tune in to hear her take on SBA credit philosophy, building a remote team, portfolio management, the importance of character and grit in a small busines…

Matthias returns to the podcast to catch up on what he’s been doing since quitting his w2 job back in May 2022. Matthias was an SBA loan closer for 7 years before making the decision to dive into the deep end of entrepreneurship and founded Pioneer Capital Advisory where he helps fellow entrepreneurs navigate the intricacies of SBA lending, and pro…

In this podcast episode Ray points out 6 “selling points” that you are probably using, and why they are obsolete in today’s market, and shares 3 effective strategies for separating yourself in the market place of SBA 7a lenders.By Ray Drew

Ray sits down the president of VelocitySBA, Charles Rho. VelocitySBA is a non-bank lending company solely focused in 7a lending. They’ve been ramping up steadily, and have built a very solid team and are well-poised to continue to grow in 2023 and beyond. Tune in to hear more about Charles background as a GE capital alum, the story of VelocitySBA, …

Tim McGoff joins Ray to discuss the decisions and strategy that helped lead to Celtic becoming the #4 most active SBA 7a lender in the country - and they aren’t stopping there. Tune in to learn how Tim, a sales professional with a technology/software background, (who’s never been a BDO,) found himself leading Celtic’s SBA sales team. Watch on YouTu…

Ray sits down with Matthew McElveen, President of GGL, Voyager Lending. Matthew is an SBA credit analyst turned BDO turned head of a division all within the last 6 years. Tune in to hear how this all came together, his plans for the shop, and what his #1 challenge is moving forward.By Ray Drew