I am incredibly honored to work alongside an amazing team at NewtekOne, a true leader in supporting independent business owners and our valued partners who use our solutions to serve their clients. NewtekOne offers a wide range of innovative solutions designed to empower businesses to flourish, including various lending options, merchant services, payroll and HR solutions, insurance, IT support, and comprehensive banking services. By providing these essential resources, we help businesses and our partners streamline operations, enhance cash flow, and secure their future.

Once upon a time, I joined a small, ambitious bank in a bustling city. Over the next 30 years, I witness and contribute to its transformation into a large regional powerhouse through organic growth and strategic acquisitions.My path was anything but typical. After leaving one of the world’s largest banks, I start in a modest role at this small community bank, driven by a passion for the banking industry and a knack for understanding client needs. I focused on building a retail wealth investment program, which, within two years, became the number one program in the nation on a pro-rata basis. My journey through the organization was marked by strategic moves and developments that significantly contributed to the bank’s expansion and success. My hands-on approach and involvement in day-to-day operations earn me respect and recognition, leading to my eventual promotion to Executive Vice President.One of my critical skills is my ability to work across various verticals within the bank. With teams of amazing colleagues, I did not merely oversee these departments; we transformed them. Over the years, we have developed or significantly improved areas such as:• Retail Banking• Digital Banking• Premier Banking• Banking as a Service (BaaS)• Payments• Retail Investment and Insurance Services• Alternative Deposits• Treasury Management Solutions• Business Banking Solutions• Third Party Product Solutions (such as credit cards, merchant services, and various lending programs for consumers and businesses)• Digital Asset ActivitiesBy turning these areas into best-in-class solutions, we helped to set industry standards. Our innovative mindset and ability to adapt to changing market dynamics were instrumental in these achievements.

In the hamlet of Elwood, where the pursuit of an exceptional 21st-century education for our children collides with a mounting burden on taxpayers, a formidable challenge presents itself. It is within this crucible that we, the champions of progress, must rise with pragmatic thinking and the audacity of reformists. Our success hinges on unwavering communication, binding us together with every stakeholder on this arduous journey.During my tenure in the service of Elwood, I embarked on a transformative mission, a carefully crafted 10-point plan that unlocked the doors to fiscal efficiency, fostered educational development, and embraced the illuminating power of open governance. With unwavering determination, we steered the ship of progress, guided by the unwavering belief that our children, residents, taxpayers, and employees deserved nothing short of excellence.As the echoes of my service resonate, I continue to serve as a resolute voice of reason, an advocate fighting for the rights and aspirations of every child, resident, taxpayer, and employee within our beloved community of Elwood.

I was part of the original team hired to develop Citibank's retail investment program. In a dual role, I led the training and recruitment of investment consultants while managing personal sales goals and client relationships. My performance consistently earned recognition, achieving top leader status in sales both individually and for the team under my management.

As a Series 7/63 registered broker, I developed a portfolio of clients with a focus on equity, bond, and mutual fund investments.