DENVER, CO—Colorado Lending Source, the state’s not-for-profit small business lender, shared the organization’s economic impact and revealed their small business and top lender awards during the 2016 Annual Meeting on January 26, 2017. Also announced during the luncheon was their 2017 Board of Directors.
Every year, Colorado Lending Source hosts their Annual Meeting to help spread awareness of the importance of small business lending, and to highlight the incredible businesses and partner lenders they have worked with throughout the year. In 2016, the positive impact Colorado Lending Source had on the economy included approving a total of 270 small business loans (across four lending programs), which helped create 1,845 jobs, and inject $345,988,124.21 into the state's economy. Specifically, loans were approved in 15 different industry categories spanning 130 unique types of businesses in 65 Colorado cities and 27 Colorado counties.
Executive Director, Mike O’Donnell expressed the purpose of Colorado Lending Source’s Annual Meeting:
"The Annual Meeting is our celebration of Colorado small businesses, the lenders we partner with, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the USDA, and all the other organizations who assist us in our goal of helping incredible small businesses do so much for our economy. Colorado is the best place in the world to live, work, play and start or grow a small business. Our entrepreneurs are all amazing and we were thrilled to see so many people come out to celebrate our success and all small business achievement in 2016. We can't wait to see what 2017 has in store for us!"
Small Business Excellence Awards were presented to five entrepreneurs that included Clear Intentions, Maria Empanada, Sample Supports, Sweet Action Ice Cream, and Vortic Watch Co. Juana Gonzales from Mile High Delights was awarded the Ice House Entrepreneurship Achievement Award for effectively implementing strategies taught in the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program and for launching her business as a result of the program.
Two banks walked away with awards; FirstBank received the Top SBA 504 Partner Bank Award for having partnered with Colorado Lending Source on 23 SBA 504 loans totaling $45.9 million in financing, while First National Denver received the Top SBA 7(a) Partner Bank Award for their partnership on 10 loans resulting in $9.1 million in financing. Both Rick McMann from U.S. Bank and Chris Cerveny from Citywide Banks received the Top SBA 504 Partner Lender Award, after tying for the most SBA 504 loan approvals in FY 2016.
The event also welcomed the 2017 Board of Directors, which include:
Board Officers:
President
Frank Gray, Castle Rock Economic Development Council
Vice President
Niall Mooney, Commerce Bank N.A.
Treasurer
Erin Beckstein, Crazy Good Marketing
Secretary
Valerie Bromley, Messner Reeves LLP
Past President
Rick Bruno, FirstBank
Board Members:
Yuiry Gorlov, Aurora Economic Development Council
Todd Guymon, Verus Bank of Commerce
Timothy Kraich, Stockmens Bank
Nancy Sheridan, JPMorgan Chase Bank
Greg Boushelle, BBVA Compass Bank
Gil Selinger, Fairfield and Woods, P.C.
Bryan Blakely, Turn Corps
John Adair, Micro-Imaging Solutions, LLC
