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Megan Owens
Alabama
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Megan | 251.654.6448
Megan Owens
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Megan Guillory Owens joined Live Oak Bank in 2022 as a senior loan officer of small business banking. 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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Elyse Gonzales
Arizona
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Elyse | 480.274.4700
Elyse Gonzales
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
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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Josh Hubbard
Arizona
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Josh | 480.628.9818
Josh Hubbard
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Josh Hubbard is a seasoned SBA Loan Officer with over 20 years of experience in small business lending, specializing in SBA 7(a) and 504 loan programs. He is dedicated to helping Arizona entrepreneurs and business owners access the capital they need to grow and succeed. Josh has successfully guided many clients through the lending process, ensuring they have tailored solutions aligning with their business goals. Over the years, Josh has found a passion for building strong relationships with local businesses, financial institutions, and economic development organizations. He takes pride in providing personalized service, from initial consultation to loan closing.
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Marie Askew
California
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Marie | 209.747.0151
Marie Askew
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
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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Jim Chung
California
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Jim | 949.351.8747
Jim Chung
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Jim W. Chung joined Live Oak Bank in 2023 as senior loan officer of small business banking. 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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Kalen Foster
California
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Kalen | 619.857.5981
Kalen Foster
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Kalen Foster joined Live Oak Bank in 2022 as a senior loan officer, 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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Jeff Hildebrandt
California
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Jeff | 213.284.4565
Jeff Hildebrandt
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Jeff Hildebrandt serves as a senior loan officer, 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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Chris Lee
California
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Chris | 213.800.6257
Chris Lee
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Chris Lee is a finance and banking expert with extensive banking experience starting in 1999. He's passionate about helping businesses thrive through strategic SBA lending and connecting entrepreneurs with the right financing solutions. Since 2010, Chris has been focused on SBA loans and has built a reputation for his integrity and top-notch service. Before joining Live Oak Bank, he consistently ranked as a top producer at two reputable banks over the course of 23 years. In his downtime, you can find him on the golf course, hiking trails, or exploring the outdoors with his wife, son, and two Greyhounds in Los Angeles.
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Nathan Sahar
California
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Nathan | 415.747.9630
Nathan Sahar
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
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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Kevin Doyle
Colorado
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Kevin | 303.374.4839
Kevin Doyle
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
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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Christian Felix
Colorado
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Christian | 720.317.7040
Christian Felix
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Christian serves as senior loan officer of small business banking at Live Oak. 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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Andrea Garnett
Colorado
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Andrea | 307.899.3332
Andrea Garnett
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Andrea Garnett joined Live Oak Bank in 2022 as a Loan Analyst on the General Lending team. She brings extensive experience in SBA and commercial real estate lending, and has worked with a leading national SBA lender since 2015. Prior to joining Live Oak, Andrea was part of a national lender’s SBA sales team, where she specialized in commercial real estate financing.
Originally from Wyoming, Andrea has deep roots in the small business community, shaped by her upbringing in a family of entrepreneurs. She now lives in Colorado with her husband and two sons. As a Live Oak Loan Officer, Andrea focuses on acquisition lending and commercial real estate financing, supporting the growth and success of small businesses across the country.
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John Wahl
Colorado
Director, Small Business Banking
Email John | 303.551.4453
John Wahl
Director, Small Business Banking
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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Michelle Orr
Connecticut
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Michelle | 203.461.5097
Michelle Orr
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
With extensive small business lending experience, Michelle Orr joined the Live Oak team in 2021 as a senior loan officer. 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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Rocco De Celestino
Florida
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Rocco | 954.289.0013
Rocco De Celestino
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
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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Jeff Katz
Florida
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
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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Tammy Roberts
Florida
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Tammy | 239.272.8145
Tammy Roberts
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Tammy Roberts joined Live Oak Bank as a senior loan officer 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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David Brindley
Georgia
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email David | 336.403.6903
David Brindley
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
David Brindley joined Live Oak Bank in 2019 and serves as a senior loan officer, 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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Brian King
Georgia
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Brian | 678.644.9761
Brian King
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Brian King is a Senior Loan Officer at Live Oak Bank with over 20 years of experience in SBA lending. He specializes in SBA 7(a) and 504 loans and focuses on providing financing solutions for acquisitions, mergers, partner buyouts, and commercial real estate purchases. Brian's expertise lies in helping business owners secure the capital they need to achieve their growth and expansion goals. He is an expert in the SBA lending processes and regulations, and he works closely with clients to deliver tailored solutions that meet their unique needs.
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Jay Steiner
Illinois
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Jay | 847.533.7364
Jay Steiner
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Jay Steiner joined Live Oak Bank as a senior loan officer 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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John Randall
Indiana
Managing Director, Small Business Banking
Email John | 317.775.0344
John Randall
Managing Director, Small Business Banking
John Randall joined Live Oak Bank in 2018 and currently manages the SBA General Lending, ESOP and Wine and Craft Beverage Lending Teams. Since 2001, John has been lending to small businesses, specializing in financing business acquisitions, partner buyouts and owner-occupied commercial real estate. His experience in underwriting, portfolio management and credit-decisioning gives him a unique perspective in the lending business. John has served numerous community organizations, including Bens Ranch, 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, selected to the Indianapolis Business Journal's "40 under 40" list and 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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Mike van Vierzen
Indiana
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Mike | 317.691.5081
Mike van Vierzen
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
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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Jennifer McKay
Maine
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
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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Ben VanDerWeide
Michigan
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Ben | 616.884.0431
Ben VanDerWeide
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Benjamin VanDerWeide III joined Live Oak Bank in 2024 as a senior loan officer focused on 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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John Thwing
Minnesota
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email John | 612.505.9751
John Thwing
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
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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Danny Lobina
Missouri
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Danny | 816.385.7749
Danny Lobina
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Danny Lobina is a seasoned SBA lender with nearly two decades of experience building and leading high-performing teams that help small businesses access the capital they need to grow and thrive. Prior to working at Live Oak Bank, Danny served as the Senior Vice President and SBA Regional Sales Manager at a reputable bank covering the Kansas City area, where he resides. Danny also has extensive experience as an SBA Division Director, where he led the SBA program for a multi-state institution, creating automated systems and increasing loan profitability. He has a consistent record of exceeding expectations, helping businesses grow, and developing successful SBA lending programs.
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Tim Weinhold
Missouri
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Tim | 636.699.9478
Tim Weinhold
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Tim Weinhold joined Live Oak Bank in 2022 as senior loan officer of small business banking. 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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Joel Johnson
New Hampshire
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Joel | 603.498.9400
Joel Johnson
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Joel Johnson is an accomplished banking expert with an excellent track record of success. He's passionate about helping businesses thrive, bringing over 10 years of experience as a high-producing SBA lender. His extensive expertise in SBA loans allows him to secure the optimal financing solutions for his clients. Prior to his role as an SBA lender, Joel gained valuable experience in equipment financing with a leading company in the industry. His background also includes two decades of leadership roles in the U.S. Navy and the NH Air National Guard. Joel holds a B.S. in Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and an MBA in Finance from the College of William and Mary. He now resides in Stratham, NH, and will conduct business focused in the greater New England area.
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Todd Dobiszweski
New Jersey
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Todd | 908.967.2566
Todd Dobiszweski
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Todd Dobiszweski brings more than 12 years of banking experience to Live Oak Bank, including nine years specializing in SBA lending at a top-five SBA lender nationwide. Throughout his career, Todd has focused on helping business owners navigate complex transactions with confidence, clarity and speed. Todd specializes in working closely with financial advisors and their clients, serving as a trusted lending partner throughout the life of a deal. He has deep expertise in commercial real estate and mergers and acquisitions, with a clear understanding of the strategic and financial considerations that drive successful outcomes. Todd graduated from Roanoke College and lives in New Jersey with his wife, son and daughter. Outside of work, Todd stays active in his community, coaching youth baseball and football and serving as the Police Athletic League baseball commissioner.
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Jerry Gauthier
New Jersey
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Lending
Email Jerry | 201.919.0281
Jerry Gauthier
Senior Loan Officer, 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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Jim Vigna
New Jersey
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Jim | 973.886.5052
Jim Vigna
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
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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Kay A. Anderson
North Carolina
SVP I Director, Emerging Markets
Email Kay | 813.760.2688
Kay A. Anderson
SVP I Director, Emerging Markets
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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Xander Hunt
North Carolina
Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Xander | 910.622.7421
Xander Hunt
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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David Paylor
North Carolina
Loan Officer, General Franchise
Email David | 252.714.0531
David Paylor
Loan Officer, General Franchise
Since joining Live Oak Bank in 2018, David Paylor has supported small business owners through a variety of roles across the bank. He currently serves as a Loan Officer on the franchise lending team, helping entrepreneurs turn their ownership goals into reality. David began his career at Live Oak in the Business Analytics Group on the healthcare team before transitioning into underwriting, where he worked on loans for healthcare and veterinary practices. He later served as an underwriting team manager overseeing loans across multiple industries and guiding deals through the underwriting process. This experience across credit and underwriting gives David a well-rounded perspective as he works with franchise owners and advisors today. David earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from East Carolina University.
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Mark Pompeo
North Carolina
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Mark | 704.708.4570
Mark Pompeo
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Mark Pompeo serves as a senior loan officer, 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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Joe Smith
North Carolina
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Joe | 208.770.9251
Joe Smith
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Over the past 30 years, Joe Smith has dedicated his career to SBA lending, holding national and regional sales positions, as well as credit and operations management positions with SBA lending banks across the country. His experience includes co-founding an SBA non-lender bank in 2006, demonstrating his extensive understanding of small businesses. Joe is a graduate of the University of Knoxville where he earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a major in finance. He is passionate about being active in his community where he's spent over a decade serving on various boards within his city. Joe enjoys spending his leisure time golfing, boating, traveling, and spending time with his two sons.
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Kristen Spenceley
Ohio
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Kristen | 513.316.4071
Kristen Spenceley
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
With extensive small business lending and credit experience, Kristen joined the Live Oak team in 2022 as a senior loan officer. 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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Aaron Riutta
Oregon
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Aaron | 503.260.1799
Aaron Riutta
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Aaron joined the Live Oak team in 2022 as a senior loan officer. 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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Tom Weikel
Pennsylvania
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Tom | 412.328.4681
Tom Weikel
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Tom Weikel serves as senior loan officer 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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Warren Baas
Texas
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Warren | 832.477.2077
Warren Baas
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Warren Baas joined Live Oak Bank in 2022 as a senior loan officer. 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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Eric Bowers
Texas
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Eric | 512.230.6073
Eric Bowers
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Eric Bowers joined Live Oak Bank’s General Lending team in 2026 as a Senior Loan Officer. Eric’s primary focus includes SBA 7(a) and 504 financing for business acquisitions, partner buyouts, stock purchases, owner-occupied real estate, working capital and expansion capital for entrepreneurs nationwide. He works closely with business brokers, real estate brokers, CPAs, wealth advisors and other M&A professionals to deliver fast, reliable financing solutions with an emphasis on clarity, structure and long-term client success. Eric lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, two sons, and their two dachshunds. Outside of work, he is an avid golfer and enjoys spending time with his family on beach vacations.
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Wendy Ghormley
Texas
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Wendy | 281.901.2222
Wendy Ghormley
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Wendy Ghormley joined Live Oak Bank in 2022 as a senior loan officer for small business banking. 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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Paul Moreno
Texas
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Paul | 214.289.2536
Paul Moreno
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
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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Brei Silvia
Texas
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Brei | 469.441.8851
Brei Silvia
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Brei Silvia joined Live Oak Bank in 2021 as a senior loan officer. 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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Ryan Furstenau
Utah
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Ryan | 801.949.3595
Ryan Furstenau
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Ryan Furstenau joined Live Oak Bank in 2018 as a senior loan officer, 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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Addie Roberge
Washington
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Email Addie | 360.510.1535
Addie Roberge
Senior Loan Officer, Small Business Banking
Addie Roberge joined Live Oak Bank in 2022 as a loan officer for small business banking, 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.
