Banking
10 small business lending experts
These ten bankers have led SBA and small business lending programs at banks, in roles covering lending, credit and underwriting. A reader can learn how banks build and run small business lending programs.
Professionals to explore
01—10Brennan Quenneville
LinkedInExperience: Head of SBA Lending · Grasshopper Bank
Head of SBA Lending at Grasshopper Bank since February 2025. The profile also lists Director of Underwriting, Structured Finance (2020–2025) and GGLD Underwriter (2018–2020) at Pathward, Assistant Credit Manager at Milestone Bank (2016–2018) and Credit Analyst at Level One Bank (2012–2016).
George Harrop
LinkedInExperience: Executive Vice President, Head of Small Business Lending · Banc of California
Executive Vice President, Head of Small Business Lending at Banc of California since February 2025, and former Group Head, Managing Director - National Small Business Lending there (2010–2025). The profile also lists Co Founder and CEO at MainStreet Lender LLC (2005–2010).
Jeff Makofski
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President - SBA Chief Credit Officer · United Community
Senior Vice President - SBA Chief Credit Officer at United Community since January 2023, and former Senior Vice President - SBA Underwriting and Construction Manager there (2019–2023). The profile also lists Senior Vice President - SBA Regional Manager (2017–2019) and Vice President - SBA Underwriting Team Leader (2015–2017) at Regions Bank.
Jim Fliss
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President, National SBA Manager · KeyBank
Senior Vice President, National SBA Manager at KeyBank since October 2015, where the profile says the person is responsible for growing SBA revenue and profitability across Key's national footprint, including strategy development, management of the direct sales force and the loan closing department. It also lists Senior Vice President, National Credit Manager, SBA Segment at KeyBank (2013–2015).
John Young
LinkedInExperience: Head of SBA Lending · Atlantic Union Bank
Head of SBA Lending at Atlantic Union Bank since June 2025, and former Group President - Business Banking and SBA Lending there (2023–2025), a role the profile describes as leading the bank's Business Banking line of business. It also lists Regional President - Central Western Virginia (2010–2023) and SVP Commercial Banking Manager (2001–2010) at Atlantic Union Bank.
Jonathan W. Smith
LinkedInExperience: EVP - Head of SBA Lending · Northwest Bank
EVP - Head of SBA Lending at Northwest Bank since January 2024, where the profile says the person leads the bank's National SBA Lending Initiative. It also lists VP- SBA Lending Owner-Occupied Commercial Real Estate, M&A Financing, Nationally at Live Oak Bank (2019–2024) and SVP Director of SBA Lending at Northeast Bank (2014–2018).
Kathy Pleasant
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President & Director of SBA Lending · Republic Bank
Senior Vice President & Director of SBA Lending at Republic Bank since December 2022, and former Vice President & Director of SBA Lending there (2018–2022). The profile says the person oversees SBA lending efforts in Kentucky, southern Indiana, Cincinnati, the Tampa Bay area and Nashville, with responsibilities that include commercial loan production. It also lists Vice President in Commercial & SBA Lending at First Financial Bank (2013–2018).
Kevin Ferryman
LinkedInExperience: Executive Vice President and Head of Small Business Lending · Freedom Bank of Virginia
Former Executive Vice President and Head of Small Business Lending at Freedom Bank of Virginia (2020–2024), and Director of SBA at Flushing Bank since April 2024. The profile also lists Director of SBA Lending at Patriot Bank, N.A. (2018–2020) and SBA Director at Citizens (2013–2018).
Kirk Beason
LinkedInExperience: EVP - Head of SBA Lending · Capital Bank, N.A.
EVP - Head of SBA Lending at Capital Bank, N.A. since November 2025, and former EVP - SBA Managing Director at Veritex Community Bank (2022–2025) and Regional Credit Officer - SBA Government Guaranteed Lending at First Citizens Bank (2017–2019). The profile describes the person as a commercial credit lending specialist with experience in underwriting, credit risk assessment and credit adjudication.
Michael Amon
LinkedInExperience: Managing Director SVP SBA Line of Business Head · F.N.B. Corporation
Managing Director SVP SBA Line of Business Head at F.N.B. Corporation since January 2019, where the profile says the person leads all aspects of the SBA line of business and is responsible for the P&L. It also lists SVP SBA Group Executive (2017–2018) and SVP Credit Executive for SBA Group (2015–2017) at Regions Bank, and SVP Product and P&L Manager - Small Business Lending at PNC (2005–2007).
Choose the right perspective
Decide whether your question is about growing loan volume or about credit quality, and pick someone whose roles sat on the sales or the credit side. Also match the bank's scale and footprint to yours, since a national SBA program runs differently from a community bank's local lending team.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How did you structure SBA loan origination and underwriting so loans closed quickly without weakening credit quality?
- 02Which credit metrics and early warning signs did you track across the small business loan portfolio?
- 03How did you decide when to use an SBA guarantee rather than a conventional small business loan?
Reaching small business lending experts
How can I contact one of these small business lending experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including Grasshopper Bank, Banc of California and United Community, based on profile data retrieved on October 4, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach small business lending experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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