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Kay A. Anderson
SVP – Small Business Lending
North Carolina
Email Kay | 813.760.2688
Kay A. Anderson
SVP – Small Business Lending
Kay Anderson works with the general lending team and bank leadership to help grow loan production teams based outside of Wilmington. During the early COVID days, Kay oversaw the bank’s effort to support customers impacted by the economic impacts of the COVID-related shutdowns. She previously served as the head of emerging markets at Live Oak Bank. In this role, she and her team were responsible for rolling out lending capabilities to 15 industries, including funeral home and cemetery, agriculture and wine and craft beverage.
Prior to Live Oak Bank, Kay worked for a southern California bank for nine years with a specialty in hospitality lending. Kay has personally funded over 600 small businesses in all parts of the United States and is known for her industry knowledge, particularly on new construction properties. Kay also was the national franchise manager for Transamerica Small Business Capital. She is licensed as a CPA in Florida and her experience includes five years with the national accounting firm, Ernst & Young, where her specialty was taxation.
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John Randall
SVP – Small Business Lending
Indiana
Email John | 317.775.0344
John Randall
SVP – Small Business Lending
John Randall joined Live Oak Bank in 2018 and currently manages the Eastern United States of the general lending team. Since 2001, John has been lending to small businesses. He specializes in financing business acquisitions, partner buyouts, and owner-occupied commercial real estate. His underwriting, portfolio management and credit-decisioning experience give John a unique perspective in the lending business.
John has served numerous community organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross, the Indiana Leadership Forum, Northview Church and Crown Financial. He was recognized with a National Volunteer Award from Wells Fargo, was selected to the Indianapolis Business Journal’s "40 under 40" list and was named one of Indianapolis’s 100 Best and Brightest by Junior Achievement. John lives in McCordsville, Indiana, with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys spending time outdoors, shooting sporting clays and winemaking.
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John Wahl
SVP – Small Business Lending
Colorado
Email John | 303.551.4453
John Wahl
SVP – Small Business Lending
John Wahl joined Live Oak Bank in early 2018 and currently manages the Western United States for the general lending team. With deep SBA lending experience, John helps to acquire new clients in the business acquisition space for loans between $1M-$10MM. These opportunities include partner/manager buyouts, stock purchases and mergers; in addition to owner-occupied real estate and ground-up construction projects. In his most recent role, he worked at one of the nation’s largest banks, where he generated over $215 million in SBA loans and was consistently one of the top SBA lenders.
John is responsible for the cash flow analysis, structuring and initial credit underwriting of all M&A loan requests. He is skilled at guiding his customers through the SBA lending process and maintains strong relationships with leading brokers, exit advisors, CPAs and other industry groups. John received his Bachelor of Science with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Colorado in Boulder. He serves on several community boards in his hometown in Colorado and is an avid skier.
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Marie Askew
VP – Small Business Lending
California
Email Marie | 209.747.0151
Marie Askew
VP – Small Business Lending
With a proven track record in SBA lending, Marie Askew brings extensive experience, drive and enthusiasm to Live Oak Bank. By cultivating strong relationships with her clients and network, she has garnered a robust understanding in owner-occupied real estate, ground up construction, mergers and acquisitions and commercial real estate. Through the course of her career, Marie has successfully navigated complex loans to successful close and has been responsible for increasing SBA production in her home state of California. Marie’s contribution and ambition for helping businesses grow and succeed earned her the top producer award in both 2008 and 2011, as well as recognition in the Circle of Excellence.
Through a passion for learning new environments and exploring diverse cultures, Marie spent eight years abroad where she became fluent in Spanish and earned her BA in Global Studies. A desire to broaden her knowledge and skills as a business professional led her to complete an MBA at Benedictine University in Lisle, IL. Marie currently resides in Central California and proudly serves businesses across the Northern California region.
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David Brindley
VP – Small Business Lending
Georgia
Email David | 336.403.6903
David Brindley
VP – Small Business Lending
David Brindley joined Live Oak Bank in 2019 and serves as vice president of small business lending, specializing in SBA and USDA government guaranteed loan programs.
With extensive experience in all aspects of commercial real estate and small business lending, David is distinguished among the top SBA lenders in the country. Prior to joining Live Oak, David was consistently named top producer and was awarded numerous elite performance awards while working with several of the nation’s largest SBA lenders. His areas of expertise are in mergers & acquisitions, partner buyouts, business expansion, new construction, debt restructuring and owner-occupied commercial real estate transactions. He obtained his formal education at the University of Minnesota where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance.
David currently resides in the Atlanta Metro area and serves the greater Southeastern region with a national footprint.
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Kevin Doyle
SVP – Small Business Lending
Colorado
Email Kevin | 303.374.4839
Kevin Doyle
SVP – Small Business Lending
For over two decades, Kevin Doyle has been a significant leader in SBA lending. With a customer-oriented approach and deep knowledge of SBA lending opportunities, Kevin has originated, structured and processed an extensive number of SBA 7(a) and 504 loans. Kevin’s expertise enables him to create customized financial solutions based on his clients’ unique needs.
Kevin specializes in financing business acquisition and commercial real estate transactions. Throughout his career, he’s cultivated a robust network and established a proven track record of success. Of note, he was given the prestigious SBA Lending Lifetime Achievement award for generating the most SBA loans across the country. Kevin joined Live Oak Bank in 2020 and resides in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance.
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Ryan Furstenau
VP – Small Business Lending
Utah
Email Ryan | 801.949.3595
Ryan Furstenau
VP – Small Business Lending
Ryan Furstenau joined Live Oak Bank in 2018 as vice president of small business lending, focused on SBA financing for mergers and acquisitions and owner-occupied commercial real estate. Beginning his SBA lending career in 2002, Ryan has worked to sharpen his acquisition financing skills and SBA knowledge. His straight-forward, no nonsense approach has allowed him to work efficiently by setting realistic expectations, and delivering for his clients. Ryan became the third largest SBA 7(a) lender in Utah as measured by loan volume in 2006 and 2007. For fiscal year 2019, Ryan and Live Oak Bank were awarded Top Lender (by volume) by the Utah District SBA Office. Ryan attended the United States Air Force Academy on a football scholarship and earned a bachelor's degree in Finance with a minor in Accounting from Northern Illinois University in 2000.
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Jeff Hildebrandt
VP – Small Business Lending
California
Email Jeff | 213.284.4565
Jeff Hildebrandt
VP – Small Business Lending
Jeff Hildebrandt serves as vice president of small business lending, where he supports business owners to solve complex financing problems with SBA, conventional and USDA funding solutions. Jeff has extensive lending experience and is a recognized expert in the SBA financing field. He is an approved SBA Finance instructor by the California Department of Real Estate. As a previous business owner himself, Jeff knows that the correct financing package can help a business grow and succeed. He received a bachelor’s degree in finance from St. Vincent College Pennsylvania. Jeff is based in Los Angeles and is available to help business owners nationwide.
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Paul Moreno
SVP – Small Business Lending
Texas
Email Paul | 214.289.2536
Paul Moreno
SVP – Small Business Lending
Paul Moreno joined Live Oak Bank’s M&A lending team in June 2018 as a senior loan officer. Paul’s primary focus includes business acquisitions, partner buyouts, stock purchases, owner-occupied real estate and ground up construction. Prior to joining Live Oak Bank, he worked for one of the nation’s largest SBA lenders for over 12 years covering the Dallas and Austin markets where he was consistently one of the top SBA lenders.
Paul brings extensive experience in M&A financial analysis and loan structuring, as well as guiding clients through the complexity of ground up construction projects and real-estate purchases. Paul received his bachelor’s degree in International Business from The University of Texas at Arlington. Paul lives in Austin, Texas with his wife Nancy, twin sons Marc and Alexander and their furry canine Macallan. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring the outdoors, hiking the many trails of Austin and road cycling.
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Michelle Orr
VP – Small Business Lending
Connecticut
Email Michelle | 203.461.5097
Michelle Orr
VP – Small Business Lending
With extensive small business lending experience, Michelle Orr joined the Live Oak team in 2021 as vice president of small business lending. She brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise from her previous role with one of the leading SBA lenders in the country. Over the course of her career, Michelle has originated and closed countless SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, specializing in commercial real estate, business acquisitions, partner buyouts, expansion and new construction. She’s deeply passionate about delivering an exceptional lending experience for her customers and is committed to serving as a reliable guide throughout the entire process. Michelle graduated from Johnson & Wales University with an associate degree in marketing. She lives in Monroe, CT with her husband and daughter and serves the entire Connecticut/New York region.
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Mark Pompeo
SVP – Small Business Lending
North Carolina
Email Mark | 704.708.4570
Mark Pompeo
SVP – Small Business Lending
Mark Pompeo serves as vice president of small business lending, where he supports entrepreneurs with financing. Mark helps business owners secure the best loan for their growing business and implement financial solutions based on a comprehensive understanding of their goals.
Mark joined Live Oak in 2019 and brings deep expertise in commercial lending. Prior to Live Oak, he worked at of the nation’s largest SBA lenders where he was consistently one of the top SBA producers. Before that, he spent eight years as a business intermediary, where he consistently placed as one of the top ten national agents. Many of these transactions involved the use of SBA financing. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Potsdam College and lives in Charlotte.
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Jay Steiner
VP – Small Business Lending
Illinois
Email Jay | 847.533.7364
Jay Steiner
VP – Small Business Lending
Jay Steiner joined Live Oak Bank as a vice president in 2019. He has over two decades of experience in small business lending, specializing in SBA lending programs to finance business acquisition, expansion and debt refinance. Prior to joining Live Oak, he was a top producer at regional banks in the Chicago market, with a national lending footprint. He is a graduate of Loyola University and serves the greater Chicago area, where he lives.
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Tammy Teece
VP – Small Business Lending
Florida
Email Tammy | 239.272.8145
Tammy Teece
VP – Small Business Lending
Tammy Teece joined Live Oak Bank as a vice president in 2019. She comes with extensive experience in the financial industry and was most recently a top producer in the West Florida market for originating SBA 7(a) loans for one of the nation’s largest lenders. Her areas of expertise include business acquisitions, partner buyouts, expansion, new construction, debt restructure and commercial real estate. Her underwriting, relationship management, and credit-decision making experience provide Tammy a unique perspective in the lending business. Tammy lives in Fort Myers, Florida, and is involved in the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida, Loan Brokers Association and the Florida Small Business Network.
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Jim Vigna
SVP – Small Business Lending
New Jersey
Email Jim | 973.886.5052
Jim Vigna
SVP – Small Business Lending
Jim Vigna joined Live Oak Bank in April 2019. He has deep expertise in small business lending and has spent his entire career in the New York and New Jersey markets. Prior to joining Live Oak, he worked for one of the largest banks in the country, was the top SBA lender by volume multiple times and broke records for highest SBA production. His area of expertise is in business acquisitions, partner buyouts, expansion, new construction, debt restructure and commercial real estate. Jim received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Lehigh University and lives in New Jersey.
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Mike van Vierzen
VP – Small Business Lending
Indiana
Email Mike | 317.691.5081
Mike van Vierzen
VP – Small Business Lending
Mike joined Live Oak Bank in 2021 and is a seasoned SBA lender. Mike is highly experienced in business acquisitions, commercial real estate, partner buy-outs and franchise financing. Mike lives in Fishers, Indiana with his wife and three children. Outside of Live Oak, he enjoys coaching his kids and spending time on the golf course.
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Brei Silvia
VP – Small Business Lending
Texas
Email Brei | 469.441.8851
Brei Silvia
VP – Small Business Lending
Brei Silvia joined Live Oak Bank in 2021 as vice president of small business lending. Over the course of her career, Brei has worked hand-in-hand with countless business owners, connecting the dots between their long-term goals and the funding they need to get there. She's focused on merger & acquisition, ground-up construction, veterinary and franchise lending. By leveraging her deep knowledge of SBA and conventional loans, Brei is passionate about helping her customers secure the funds they need to build a better business.
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Brian Hunt
VP – Small Business Lending
Texas
Email Brian | 214.802.7411
Brian Hunt
VP – Small Business Lending
Brian J. Hunt joined the bank after over two decades of lending experience in roles with some of the nation’s leading financial institutions. Much of his career has been focused at lending to M&A, owner-occupied Real Estate and franchises. Utilizing both SBA and conventional loan structures, his background includes specializing in financing acquisitions and expansions. Brian graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. In addition, he earned the prestigious designation as a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) in 2010.
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Elyse Gonzales
VP – Small Business Lending
Arizona
Email Elyse | 480.274.4700
Elyse Gonzales
VP – Small Business Lending
Elyse Gonzales joined Live Oak Bank in 2021 with extensive SBA lending experience. She specializes in commercial real estate purchases and refinances, business acquisitions, business expansions and new construction opportunities. She’s passionate about working with every small business customer to gain a deeper understanding of the company’s history, their current position and opportunities and areas for growth. Elyse currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona. She enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters and dog.
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Kalen Foster
VP – Small Business Lending
California
Email Kalen | 619.857.5981
Kalen Foster
VP – Small Business Lending
Kalen Foster joined Live Oak Bank in 2022 as vice president of small business lending, specializing in SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, as well as USDA and conventional financing pathways. A San Diego native, Kalen serves the Southern California region, with a national lending footprint for financing mergers & acquisitions, partner buy-outs, franchises and owner-occupied real estate, expansion and new construction loans. Kalen maintains strong relationships with prominent brokers, CPAs, advisors, and leading industry groups. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from San Diego State University and was distinguished as one of the top SBA lenders year-over-year nationally with one of the nation’s largest banks. Utilizing a focus on strategy, structure, cash flow and speed, Kalen maintains a deep commitment to successfully guiding small business owners through an efficient loan process with an excellent experience.
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Warren Baas
VP - Small Business Lending
Texas
Email Warren | 832.477.2077
Warren Baas
VP - Small Business Lending
Warren Baas joined Live Oak Bank in 2022 as vice president of small business lending. He began his career as a physical commodities trader, while helping friends and family develop business concepts in his free time. He and his wife, Kelsey, funded and started her physical therapy clinic in Waco, TX, prompting a move from Houston, TX. The experience inspired him to make a career change to help business owners succeed and grow. SBA lending was a perfect fit, and a focus on Mergers & Acquisitions financing was a natural extension of Warren’s ability and instincts. His experience as both a small business lender and a small business owner gives him unique insight in meeting the needs of his clients. Warren is a graduate of Baylor University.
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Kristen Spenceley
VP – Small Business Lending
Ohio
Email Kristen | 513.316.4071
Kristen Spenceley
VP – Small Business Lending
With extensive small business lending and credit experience, Kristen joined the Live Oak team in 2022 as vice president of small business lending. Throughout her career, Kristen has originated and closed countless SBA loans, earning recognition for closing over $50 million in SBA loans in a single year. Prior to her role as a lender, Kristen was on the SBA credit and underwriting team. This experience allows her to view each deal holistically, ultimately benefitting the customer. Kristen is a graduate of Miami University of Ohio and currently resides in Liberty Township, Ohio with her husband, stepdaughter and two sons. When she isn’t busy running her kids to all their sports, she enjoys various outdoor activities, including golf and skiing.
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John Thwing
VP – Small Business Lending
Minnesota
Email John | 612.505.9751
John Thwing
VP – Small Business Lending
For over two decades, John Thwing has been a significant leader in SBA lending. With a deep knowledge of SBA lending opportunities, John has closed an extensive number of SBA 7(a) and 504 loans. John specializes in business acquisitions, expansions, commercial real estate and partner buy-outs, helping countless small businesses fund their next step. Throughout his career, he’s earned the nickname "The SBA Guy." John joined Live Oak Bank in 2022 and resides in Minneapolis, MN.
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Blake Cranor
VP - Small Business Lending
North Carolina
Email Blake | 704.519.6541
Blake Cranor
VP - Small Business Lending
Blake is a loan officer with Live Oak’s small business lending team, where he’s passionate about helping entrepreneurs obtain financing to purchase a business or expand their existing one. Since joining the bank in 2017, he’s served in a variety of key roles across the organization. Most recently, Blake worked as an analyst on the small business lending team. Before that, he worked in Live Oak’s underwriting department supporting business acquisition, real estate acquisition/construction and partner buy-out transactions across several industries. Blake graduated from Washington & Lee University with a degree in business administration and accounting. While at W&L, he played on the university's varsity basketball team.
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Jerry Gauthier
VP - Small Business Lending
New Jersey
Email Jerry | 201.919.0281
Jerry Gauthier
VP - Small Business Lending
Jerry Gauthier joined Live Oak Bank in 2022 as a senior loan officer. A lifetime New Jersey resident, Jerry began his banking career in 2000 and has deep expertise in small business lending, specifically SBA, USDA and conventional loan structures. He has also held several financial licenses, including Series 7, 66, Life & Health, Real Estate Sales. Prior to joining Live Oak, Jerry worked for a leading national lender for two decades, where he was a top performer in the bank. He specializes in business acquisitions, partner buyouts, expansion and construction including ground-up construction, debt restructure and commercial real estate. Jerry lives in New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.
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Aaron Riutta
VP - Small Business Lending
Oregon
Email Aaron | 503.260.1799
Aaron Riutta
VP - Small Business Lending
Aaron joined the Live Oak team in 2022 as vice president of small business lending. Throughout his 20-year career at one of the nation’s largest lenders, Aaron has primarily focused on SBA 7(a) and 504 lending, with extensive knowledge surrounding unsecured business acquisitions. Before his banking career, Aaron started and owned the first Two Men and A Truck franchise in Phoenix, Arizona. He successfully operated the business for five years. Aaron graduated from Concordia University and currently resides in Vancouver, Washington.
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Nathan Sahar
VP - Small Business Lending
California
Email Nathan | 415.747.9630
Nathan Sahar
VP - Small Business Lending
Nathan Sahar joined Live Oak Bank as a Senior Loan Officer and brings nearly two decades of unique SBA experience. Prior to joining Live Oak Bank, he was consistently a nationally ranked producer for originating SBA 7(a) and 504 loans. He has won numerous awards during his career and has helped lend out over $350 million in SBA loans. His specialties include business acquisitions and partner buyout as well as commercial real estate and construction. Nathan has dedicated his professional career to helping small business owners navigate through the intricacies of SBA borrowing with his thorough understanding of SBA lending policies and procedures, hands-on service, effective communication and ability to steer and successfully close deals.
Nathan began his career in Minneapolis and then moved to Northern California where he resides with his family of 5. He earned degrees in finance and entrepreneurial management from Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
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Addie Roberge
VP - Small Business Lending
Washington
Email Addie | 360.510.1535
Addie Roberge
VP - Small Business Lending
Addie Roberge joined Live Oak Bank in 2022 as vice president of small business lending, specializing in stock purchases and mergers, partner buyouts, owner-occupied real estate and ground up construction. With her extensive SBA lending experience, Addie understands the importance of educating clients about the SBA process and its attributes to ensure a quick and efficient closing. In 2002, Addie began her career in banking and became an SBA lender in 2009. Before becoming a loan officer, she spent time both processing and underwriting SBA loans, providing her with the foundation to navigate the SBA process. Addie manages the Pacific Northwest, where she is recognized as a top performer in the business community. She received the U.S. Small Business Administrations “Financial Services Advocate of the Year” in 2017 and completed the Washington Banker’s Association Executive Development Program in 2019. Addie graduated from The Evergreen State College and now resides in Snohomish, Washington with her husband, three kids and two dogs.
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Megan Owens
VP - Small Business Lending
Alabama
Email Megan | 251.654.6448
Megan Owens
VP - Small Business Lending
Megan Guillory Owens joined Live Oak Bank in 2022 as vice president of small business lending. Throughout her 15 years in the banking industry, Megan has dedicated herself to helping small businesses. Megan believes that SBA lending is a unique tool to help businesses achieve their growth goals far more quickly and with less risk. She is passionate about educating the market about the availability of SBA loans. Specializing in mergers & acquisitions, Megan finds it exciting to finance the American Dream by giving one entrepreneur a path to business ownership and another a path to retirement at the same time. She graduated from the Mitchell College of Business at the University of South Alabama in 2008, and from the Alabama Banking School program in 2016. Megan was born and raised in Mobile, AL, where she currently resides with her husband and three children.
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Lane Rhodes
VP - Small Business Lending
Tennessee
Email Lane | 615.969.2848
Lane Rhodes
VP - Small Business Lending
Lane Rhodes joined Live Oak in 2022 as vice president of small business lending. For over 20 years, she has been known as the “Go-To Expert” for SBA lending across the state of Tennessee and throughout the Southeast. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions, partner buy-outs, and commercial real estate transactions. With over two decades of commercial banking experience, Lane has helped hundreds of business owners across the country through the SBA loan process. Lane has been featured in the Nashville Business Journal, Nashville Post, Daily Memphian, and the Tennessee CPA Journal for her expertise in government-guaranteed lending. She is passionate about helping Veterans become business owners and advocating on behalf of the military community to gain access to capital. Shortly after her marriage in 1998, Lane and her husband started a nonprofit summer camp called the Barefoot Republic Camp. This camp focuses on diversity by bringing kids from all different backgrounds together and offers scholarship assistance to over 75% of its campers. Lane currently resides in Franklin, TN, with her husband and two children.
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Wendy Ghormley
VP - Small Business Lending
Texas
Email Wendy | 281.901.2222
Wendy Ghormley
VP - Small Business Lending
Wendy Ghormley joined Live Oak Bank in 2022 as vice president of small business lending. Wendy has more than 15 years of experience in small business financing. She has been responsible for originating, underwriting, closing and marketing government-guaranteed loans for commercial real estate, construction and other small business capital needs. She has financed a broad range of projects, including medical offices, urgent care and emergency room clinics, storage facilities, hotels, and manufacturing facilities for singular and multiple guarantors. Prior to joining Live Oak, Wendy spent ten years in the SBA lending department at Texas First Bank and has served in small business lending roles with Trustmark National Bank and Bank of America. In addition, Wendy is an active member of several organizations, including The Economic Alliance Houston Port Region as the 2023 chair of the women’s alliance leadership committee, the Bay Area Houston Commercial Real Estate Network as a sponsoring partner and the Texas C.P.A. society as a member.
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Tim Weinhold
VP - Small Business Lending
Missouri
Email Tim | 636.699.9478
Tim Weinhold
VP - Small Business Lending
Tim Weinhold joined Live Oak Bank in 2022 as vice president of small business lending. Tim has 21 years of experience in SBA lending and has spent the last 15 years specializing in acquisitions and partner buyouts. In addition to his extensive experience, Tim excels at surpassing expectations and follows through on commitments. Tim has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Missouri, and an MBA from Webster’s University.
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Rocco De Celestino
VP - Small Business Lending
Florida
Email Rocco | 954.289.0013
Rocco De Celestino
VP - Small Business Lending
Rocco De Celestino joined Live Oak Bank in February of 2023 as a senior loan officer on the SBA General Lending Team. Prior to joining Live Oak, Rocco worked for some of the nation’s largest SBA lenders, where he was consistently a top SBA producer. He has spent the last two decades helping entrepreneurs obtain customized financing solutions to meet the needs of their businesses. Rocco has expertise in merger & acquisition financing, business expansion, partner buyouts, owner-occupied commercial real estate, ground-up construction and working capital lines of credit. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Saint Thomas Aquinas College in New York. Rocco is based in South Florida and is available to help business owners nationwide.
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Jim Chung
VP - Small Business Lending
California
Email Jim | 949.351.8747
Jim Chung
VP - Small Business Lending
Jim W. Chung joined Live Oak Bank in 2023 as vice president of small business lending. He is a seasoned financial professional with over 20 years of experience within the debt and equity markets. Jim’s expertise spans publicly traded securities, REITs, private equity, and commercial lending. He has served as a managing director of sales and SVP of small business lending for various top-tier commercial real estate firms, banks and securities brokerage houses. Jim has spent the last 11 years specializing in SBA and serving small business owners to find solutions for their financing needs. Throughout Jim’s career, he has deployed and raised over 3 billion dollars in capital.
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Christian Felix
VP - Small Business Lending
Colorado
Email Christian | 720.317.7040
Christian Felix
VP - Small Business Lending
Christian G Felix serves as vice president of small business lending at Live Oak Bank. He has over 20 years of experience in the financial services marketplace and is dedicated to helping businesses that are often overlooked by financial services, specifically in the Latino community. Christian holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and a Masters in Sociology with a focus in Business Organizational Structures from Stanford University. He is an active member of the Stanford Alumni and Stanford Chicano/Latino Alumni Association. He also participates and has held board positions in the Denver Latina Chamber, Escuela Tlatelolco, Mental Health Center of Denver and Mi Casa Resource Center. Christian is also a mentor for Stanford’s Latino Business Leadership Program at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. He resides in Arvada, Colorado (where he is a full-time softball and cheer Dad) with his wife and three children, where they enjoy all that Colorado has to offer.
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Ben VanDerWeide
VP - Small Business Lending
Michigan
Email Ben | 616.884.0431
Ben VanDerWeide
VP - Small Business Lending
Benjamin VanDerWeide III joined Live Oak Bank in 2024 as vice president of small business lending. Benjamin has been involved in commercial, business, and SBA financing since 1995. He has facilitated SBA lending since 2010, working in diverse markets such as New York City, San Francisco, Detroit and Grand Rapids, Michigan. He specializes in financing business acquisitions, partner buyouts, and owner-occupied commercial real estate. Benjamin has served on the Michigan Business Brokers Association (MBBA) and New York Business Brokers Association (NYABB), providing them with his wealth of knowledge and expertise with SBA lending. Interacting with small business owners and making a difference in creating a successful financing solution is extremely gratifying to Benjamin. He lives in Rockford, Michigan, with his wife and triplet daughters. Benjamin graduated from Grand Valley State University with a BBA in Marketing.
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Tom Weikel
VP - Small Business Lending
Pennsylvania
Email Tom | 412.328.4681
Tom Weikel
VP - Small Business Lending
Tom Weikel serves as vice president of small business lending at Live Oak Bank. Prior to joining Live Oak, Tom spent fifteen years as a commercial lender for small businesses and the last nine years as an SBA lender for PNC Bank, where he was the seven-time top SBA business development officer in production. With over 30 years of combined personal and commercial lending experience, Tom has extensive experience as a lender. He specializes in acquisition and CRE lending with a customer-focused approach. Tom lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, son, and daughter.
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Jennifer McKay
Senior Loan Officer – Small Business Banking
Maine
Email Jennifer | 508.244.2309
Jennifer McKay
Senior Loan Officer – Small Business Banking
Jennifer McKay joined Live Oak Bank in 2024 as a Senior Loan Officer on the Small Business Banking Team. Jennifer has over 25 years of industry experience, specializing in SBA loan products for over a decade, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions. She is an active member of The New England Business Brokers Association and York Land Trust. Additionally, Jennifer was a founding member of the USA 500 Hartford 1 Club, serving previous roles as club leader and development director, respectively. Jennifer speaks regularly to educate the community on SBA loan products and access to capital. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL, with a minor in banking and finance, and she obtained her master's degree in business administration from Nichols College in Dudley, MA. She has spent her career lending throughout New England and most of her life living in MA. Her family relocated to Cape Neddick, Maine, two years ago. Jennifer spends most of her free time supporting her daughter's dance rehearsals, performances and competitions. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and grandson at Ogunquit Beach during low tide.
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Xander Hunt
Associate Loan Officer - Small Business Banking
North Carolina
Email Xander | 910.622.7421
Xander Hunt
Associate Loan Officer - Small Business Banking
Xander Hunt has been guiding businesses towards growth at Live Oak Bank since 2019. He has worked in various roles, including servicing and sales, focusing on deposits. In his current role as a loan officer, Xander helps clients unlock the capital they need to thrive. Xander is based out of the Live Oak headquarters in Wilmington, NC. He graduated from UNCW with a degree in business administration and finance. In his spare time, Xander enjoys exploring the Wilmington coast with his wife and golden retriever.
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Jeff Katz
Senior Loan Officer - Small Business Banking
Florida
Email Jeff | 904.521.8037
Jeff Katz
Senior Loan Officer - Small Business Banking
Jeff Katz joined Live Oak Bank in 2024 as a Senior Loan Officer on the Small Business Banking Team. Jeff has been working in SBA lending since 2003. He started his career as an SBA underwriter, where he developed a strong foundation for structuring both SBA 7(a) and 504 loans. Jeff then relocated to Florida into an SBA lending position. During his career, Jeff has helped hundreds of business owners achieve their dreams of acquiring or starting their businesses. His areas of focus are business acquisition and startup franchise financing. Jeff is a member of the International Business Brokers Association and Business Brokers of Florida. He graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in finance. Originally from the Chicago area, Jeff now resides in Jacksonville, Florida, with his wife and two kids. During his free time, Jeffery enjoys traveling, art collecting and reading history books.
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Garcia Dussard
Senior Loan Officer - Small Business Banking
Illinois
Email Garcia | 312.925.0212
Garcia Dussard
Senior Loan Officer - Small Business Banking
Garcia Dussard is a Senior Loan Officer based in Chicago on the Small Business Banking Team at Live Oak Bank. In this role, Garcia is responsible for helping small and medium-sized business owners in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs access capital via the SBA for business acquisitions, partner buyouts, real estate mortgages and equipment loans. Garcia has been in the banking industry for over 25 years and worked at several major US banks prior to his role at Live Oak, serving commercial clients in a diverse range of industries.
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Brandon Sandler
Senior Loan Officer - Small Business Banking
California
Email Brandon | 949.751.8832
Brandon Sandler
Senior Loan Officer - Small Business Banking
Brandon Sandler is a Senior Loan Officer on the Small Business Banking Team at Live Oak Bank. Brandon has worked in lending since 1997, and specifically in SBA lending since 2011. He has a degree in Finance from Michigan State and is highly skilled at problem-solving. Prior to Live Oak, Brandon was the top-tier producer at several top banks. He lives in Mission Viejo, CA, with his son, Jackson. Brandon’s hobbies include hiking, pickleball, playing Fortnite with his son and exploring all shapes and sounds of music.