Live Oak Bank Loves Small Businesses

Drawn to a plot of land with majestic old trees, Mary and Gary Lightfoot knew they’d found the perfect spot for their RV park. Their aim was to create an immersive, authentically Texan experience, built on a foundation of exceptional customer service that makes every visitor feel right at home. Live Oak is proud to support the Lightfoots as they work to transport their vision into a tangible reality, enriching not only their own lives but also the experiences of those they serve.

“If you have a really clear vision and it’s documented, it makes it really easy that when you’re making decisions and you’re going through the day-to-day and you’re putting out fires, you can always gut-check yourself against your vision.”
– Mary and Gary Lightfoot, Owners

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Founded 35 years ago as a family venture, Newport Hospitality Group has grown into a trusted hotel management company defined by its people-first approach. At Newport, treating team members like family isn’t just a saying—it’s how they operate. What sets them apart is their deep commitment to living hospitality—empowering their associates, fostering growth, and creating an environment where guests and team members alike feel truly valued. Newport’s culture emphasizes collaboration, accountability, and long-term success for both their teams and partners. CEO Andrew Carey leads with the belief that in hospitality, empathy and care aren’t soft skills—they’re the foundation of exceptional service and enduring business results.

“Great leadership is knowing where your strengths lie—and building a team that complements and elevates those strengths. Success in hospitality is never a solo effort.” – Andrew Carey, CEO

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At Frisco Emergency Pet Care, compassion drives every business decision in their state-of-the-art 24/7 emergency veterinary hospital. Owner Dr. Mike LoSasso brings over 20 years of emergency veterinary experience to his proudly independent practice. Their holistic approach includes unique elements like an on-staff social worker providing emotional support for pet owners facing difficult decisions, while their focus on employee wellbeing—supporting approximately 50 team members working around the clock—reflects their belief that caring for caregivers ultimately leads to better patient outcomes.

“Compassion for everybody, for patients, for clients, for employees and for ourselves. You’ve got to really nurture all of those areas or you’re not going to succeed.” – Dr. Mike LoSasso, DVM and Co-owner

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Former finance professional Matt Barnes transformed Professional Touch Laundry Services from a temp-heavy operation into a thriving business with 16 dedicated employees. Matt has expanded services beyond traditional hospitality linens to hotels and restaurants while creating stable employment that impacts over 50 lives. His journey exemplifies how small business ownership can be challenging but infinitely more rewarding than corporate life.

“I encourage everyone I know that’s tired of the fluorescent lights and corporate droning emails to jump out of that and get into a small business.” – Matt Barnes, Owner 

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With 20 years of wine industry experience, Noel Arce transformed his expertise into Pacific Bottling Services, a mobile wine bottling company that brings specialized equipment directly to wineries. Growing exclusively through word-of-mouth referrals, Noel outperforms competitors by delivering superior service that keeps clients coming back. His hands-on leadership philosophy means he’s rarely absent when his bottling lines are operating, allowing him to provide immediate support. Noel’s success stems from his courage to “jump out there and try” something new—advice he shares with aspiring entrepreneurs who might hesitate to take the leap.

“It’s hands-on approach and working with everybody and anytime that they have a problem, being able to be there for them and show them how to fix it.” – Noel Arce, Owner

Learn More About Pacific Bottling Services