Head of Small Business Banking
Live Oak Bank
As the Head of Small Business Banking, I’m focused on strengthening the financial backbone of small businesses by building products, services, and teams that help entrepreneurs thrive. I lead with a blend of strategic discipline and customer obsession—working every day to simplify banking, deepen relationships, and deliver real value to business owners. Throughout my career, I’ve been energized by assembling high-performing teams, scaling new business lines, and partnering across the organization to turn good ideas into measurable outcomes. I believe in clarity, accountability, and coaching people to do the best work of their careers. At my core, I’m driven by the mission of helping entrepreneurs succeed. When small businesses win, communities grow—and I’m proud to contribute to that impact every day.
While the SBA has expanded capital access for high-growth businesses, its recent rule changes could present challenges for banks. While SBA borrowers can now combine 7(a) and 504 loan limits for up to $10 million—double the previous limit—banks must now meet more rigorous SBA-specific loan guidelines, reducing underwriting flexibility.
This session explores the specific implications of the SBA’s rule changes and how they will affect national and community banks. Industry practitioners will examine what has changed in underwriting standards, program eligibility, and compliance requirements—and what banks need to do to stay out in front of the wide-ranging implications of the new rules in place. The discussion will address how the most forward-looking lenders are turning regulatory change into a competitive advantage, and what their new small business lending playbook looks like.