Experience

---

About SmartBiz: 

SmartBiz Bank (formerly SmartBiz Loans) is a leading financial technology and banking institution dedicated to empowering small businesses across the United States with accessible, affordable financial solutions. Established in 2009 and originally headquartered in San Francisco, SmartBiz pioneered a technology-driven lending marketplace, making it easier for small businesses to secure low-cost funding from banks. Over its history, the company has facilitated more than $9 billion in loans for over 230,000 small business owners, specializing in Small Business Administration (SBA) loans and leveraging both marketplace and direct bank relationships.

Recognizing the need to expand its service offerings and deepen its impact, SmartBiz transitioned from a fintech platform to a full-service commercial bank in 2025. This strategic evolution was realized through the acquisition of Centrust Bank, a Chicago-based community bank with a strong legacy in small business lending. The merger, approved by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, established SmartBiz Bank, N.A., with headquarters in Chicago and additional offices in San Francisco and Austin.

Today, SmartBiz Bank combines advanced technology with personalized customer service to deliver a comprehensive suite of banking products-including SBA loans, business lines of credit, deposit accounts, and financial guidance-tailored specifically for entrepreneurs and small businesses. With a mission to fuel the growth and success of the small business community, SmartBiz Bank continues to redefine small business banking by providing transparent, innovative, and customer-centric financial solutions nationwide.

Relevant Experience: 

• Directed the company’s due diligence and reverse due diligence activities in partnership with Centrust Bank to support acquisition objectives.
• Maintained and safeguarded the company’s strategic business plan and regulatory documentation, ensuring readiness and compliance for acquisition approval processes. 
• Worked with the CRO to develop and implement a comprehensive Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) framework, aligning risk appetite statements and risk policies with strategic objectives to enhance organizational resilience and regulatory compliance.
• Led enterprise-wide risk assessments, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative risk analysis to identify, evaluate, and prioritize strategic, operational, financial, compliance, and reputational risks.
• Worked with the CRO to design and maintain risk heat maps, key risk indicators (KRIs), and risk dashboards to monitor risk exposure, track mitigation effectiveness, and support executive decision-making.
• Coordinated scenario analysis and business impact analysis (BIA) to assess inherent and residual risk, ensuring preparedness and business continuity for critical processes and assets.
• Collaborated with Internal Audit and Compliance teams to conduct control assessments, integrate audit findings, and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Directed the delivery of risk management training programs, increasing organizational awareness and fostering a risk-aware culture across all business units.
• Managed the ERM database and reporting, consolidating risk inventories, loss events, and key metrics for quarterly presentations to the Board Risk Committee and senior management.
• Implemented risk mitigation strategies and countermeasures to reduce operational losses.
• Provided risk consulting and process improvement analysis for new product launches, third-party vendor management, and technology initiatives, safeguarding the bank’s assets and reputation.
  

Key Skills: 

Risk Assessment -  Risk Appetite -  Heat Maps -  Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) -  Quantitative & Qualitative Risk Analysis -  Residual Risk -  Inherent Risk -  Compliance -  Regulatory Reporting -  Stress Testing -  Scenario Analysis -  Business Impact Analysis (BIA) -  Risk Mitigation -  Internal Controls -  ERM Framework -  Stakeholder Communication -  Training & Development -  Audit Coordination -  Data Analysis

About Brinks: 

The Brink’s Company is a global leader in cash and valuables management, digital retail solutions, and ATM managed services, serving clients in over 100 countries across financial, retail, and government sectors. With a workforce of more than 68,000 employees and an extensive operational network, Brink’s delivers comprehensive solutions that ensure the secure transport, processing, and management of cash and high-value assets.

Brink’s pioneered the development of Total Cash Management solutions following the acquisition of Balance Innovations. This initiative integrates hardware, software, and managed services to help businesses reduce costs, improve access to capital, automate internal processes, and achieve near real-time visibility into cash flow. Brink’s services enable clients to streamline operations, enhance security, and optimize cash handling, resulting in greater efficiency and financial flexibility.

With a commitment to innovation and operational excellence, Brink’s empowers organizations to focus on their core business while benefiting from industry-leading security, transparency, and cash management expertise.

Relevant Experience: 

• Led cross-functional teams through the entire new product introduction (NPI) lifecycle, proactively identifying and mitigating risks related to market alignment, technical feasibility, supply chain reliability, and manufacturing scalability.
• Developed and maintained comprehensive risk registers, facilitating regular risk review meetings to ensure early identification, ownership assignment, and mitigation of evolving risks throughout product development.
• Leveraged agile methodologies to adapt to changing project scopes and requirements, ensuring product launches remained on schedule and within budget while maintaining compliance with Brink’s rigorous safety and quality standards.
• Orchestrated functional prototyping, early testing, and pilot programs to validate product concepts, reduce market and technical uncertainties, and accelerate speed to market.
• Designed and executed enterprise rollout plans for new products and services, including detailed task execution, stakeholder communication, and real-time progress monitoring using key performance indicators (KPIs) such as adoption rates and customer satisfaction.
• Collaborated with sales, legal, IT, and operations to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and seamless transition from development to operational deployment.
• Monitored project milestones and resource allocation, swiftly addressing bottlenecks and adjusting plans as needed to ensure successful, on-time implementations.

Key Skills: 

Cross-Functional Team Leadership - New Product Introduction (NPI) Management - Risk Identification & Mitigation - Risk Register Development & Maintenance - Change Management - Stakeholder Communication & Management - Prototyping & Early Testing Coordination - Pilot Program Execution -Enterprise Rollout Planning - KPI Development & Performance Monitoring - Resource Allocation & Project Scheduling - Process Improvement - Supply Chain & Manufacturing Scalability Assessment - 

Compliance Management (Safety & Quality Standards) - Cross-Departmental Collaboration (Sales, Legal, IT, Operations) - Bottleneck Identification & Resolution

About Exigo: 

Exigo is a leading provider of direct selling and MLM software solutions, empowering businesses to scale and manage operations globally. With a proven track record of successful implementations in over 120 countries, Exigo supports clients with multi-currency, multi-language capabilities, and robust compliance tools for seamless international expansion. The platform is designed for unparalleled scalability and customizability, enabling clients to manage commissions, CRM, reporting, and distributor performance across diverse markets.

Exigo’s commitment to client success extends beyond software deployment. The company offers comprehensive training resources, including a dedicated support hub with simplified training videos and extensive documentation, ensuring users can maximize the platform’s capabilities and stay up to date with best practices. By combining global implementation expertise with ongoing training and support, Exigo delivers a complete solution for businesses aiming to grow and thrive in the competitive direct selling industry.

Relevant Experience: 

• Led the end-to-end implementation of Exigo’s solutions for enterprise clients, overseeing project scoping, risk identification, and mitigation strategies to ensure secure, compliant, and timely deployments.
• Developed and enforced robust information security policies, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO), to safeguard client data and align with industry best practices for risk management.
• Conducted comprehensive risk assessments for each client implementation, analyzing vendor reliability, data privacy, and compliance requirements, and tailoring risk response strategies to client-specific needs.
• Established and maintained asset management and access control protocols, including role-based access and regular audits, to proactively protect sensitive customer information and ensure operational resilience.
• Implemented continuous monitoring and regular auditing processes for all  deployments, enabling early detection of vulnerabilities, compliance issues, and irregular activities.
• Orchestrated customer enablement programs, including onboarding, training, and self-service resource development, empowering clients to maximize platform adoption and reduce support requests.
• Collaborated cross-functionally with sales, product, and engineering teams to deliver tailored customer solutions, ensuring seamless integration and high post-implementation satisfaction rates.
• Managed incident response and recovery plans, coordinating swift containment and restoration efforts in partnership with cloud service providers, and led post-incident reviews to refine risk management protocols.
• Utilized project management methodologies and tools to track deliverables, manage timelines, and communicate project status to stakeholders.
• Provided ongoing coaching and knowledge sharing within the implementation team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and cybersecurity awareness.

Key Skills: 

End-to-End Project Management - Information Security & Compliance - Risk Assessment & Mitigation - 

Asset Management & Access Control - Continuous Monitoring & Auditing - Customer Enablement & Training - Cross-Functional Collaboration - Project Management Tools & Methodologies - Team Leadership & Coaching

About Exeter: 

Exeter Finance is a leading auto finance company headquartered in Irving, TX, specializing in providing competitive financing solutions to automobile dealers and their customers nationwide. Dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service and innovative financial products, Exeter Finance partners with thousands of dealerships to help consumers secure vehicle financing quickly and efficiently.

In a recent $4M loan originations transformation initiative, Exeter Finance revolutionized its loan underwriting and approval process by transitioning from manual, paper-based workflows to a near real-time, automated system. This strategic overhaul dramatically improved the company’s ability to serve customers promptly, reducing loan approval times from days to minutes. The transformation not only enhanced customer satisfaction but also significantly reduced operational waste, streamlined compliance, and positioned Exeter Finance as an industry leader in digital lending solutions.

Relevant Experience: 

• Directed Risk Mitigation for $4M Loan Origination System Conversion: Oversaw the risk assessment and mitigation strategies during a major system conversion, ensuring data integrity, regulatory compliance, and business continuity throughout the transition.
• Process Optimization and Operational Risk Reduction: Collaborated with strategic partners to streamline origination processes, resulting in reduced operational risk, significant expense reduction, and a dramatic decrease in loan processing time (from hours to seconds).
• Agile Risk Controls Implementation: Utilized a modified Agile methodology to introduce iterative risk controls, enabling continuous process improvement and rapid response to emerging risks in loan origination workflows.
• Stakeholder Negotiation and Risk-Balanced Solutions: Negotiated with cross-functional teams to balance risk tolerance and business objectives, ultimately delivering a robust, customer-focused origination platform with enhanced risk controls.
• Policy Development for Risk and Compliance: Partnered with the SVP of Strategic Originations to define and document procedures that ensured secure, compliant loan origination and servicing for the largest automobile lender in the U.S.

Key Skills: 

Risk Mitigation & Management - System Conversion Oversight - Data Integrity Assurance - Regulatory Compliance - Business Continuity Planning - Process Optimization - Operational Risk Reduction - Expense Reduction Strategies - Agile Methodology (Modified) - Iterative Risk Controls Implementation - 

Continuous Process Improvement - Stakeholder Negotiation - Cross-functional Collaboration - Risk-Balanced Solution Delivery - Policy & Procedure Development - Compliance Documentation - Strategic Partnership - Customer-Focused Platform Development

About Santander: 

Santander Consumer USA Inc. (SCUSA), headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a leading full-service consumer finance company specializing in vehicle finance, third-party servicing, and delivering superior service to over 3 million customers across the full credit spectrum. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Santander Holdings USA, Inc., SCUSA is part of Banco Santander, one of the world’s largest and most respected financial institutions, founded in 1857 and headquartered in Spain.

Around 2010, Santander Consumer USA experienced remarkable growth, driven by strategic acquisitions and expansion in the U.S. market. During this period, SCUSA acquired significant consumer finance portfolios from HSBC and Citi, which substantially increased its market presence and asset base. The company’s attributable profit in its consumer finance division rose by 28.9% in 2010, setting a new record for the unit and marking a strong recovery after the global financial crisis. This growth was supported by a diversified business model and a focus on operational efficiency, risk management, and integration of new portfolios.

Santander’s entry into the U.S. retail and commercial banking sector was further solidified by the acquisition of Sovereign Bank in 2010, which contributed to the group’s solid performance in mature markets and positioned Santander Consumer USA for continued expansion and profitability in the years that followed.

Today, Santander Consumer USA manages an average asset portfolio of approximately $64 billion (as of Q4 2021), reflecting its sustained growth and leadership in the U.S. auto finance industry.

Relevant Experience: 

• Managed a portfolio of cross-functional projects in Accounting, Loan Servicing, and Marketing, with a strong focus on identifying, assessing, and mitigating operational risks during periods of rapid organizational growth and internal process transformation.
• Directed risk-based planning and execution for 7 Agile and 2 Waterfall development teams, ensuring operational risk controls and compliance requirements were integrated into all project phases.
• Developed and implemented a robust onshore/offshore quality assurance model, significantly reducing operational and delivery risks. Introduced daily Scrum meetings via webcast with offshore resources to enhance risk visibility, communication, and incident response.
• Led the end-to-end development of three critical business applications (CM, CQM, EIC), applying comprehensive risk management practices from requirements gathering through deployment. Ensured all projects adhered to internal controls, regulatory standards, and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively identify process gaps, analyze root causes, and implement effective risk mitigation strategies across multiple teams and business units, resulting in improved process reliability and reduced operational losses.
• Fostered a culture of risk awareness and continuous improvement, collaborating with stakeholders to strengthen risk controls, enhance process efficiency, and support sustainable business growth.

Key Skills: 

Project Portfolio Management - Operational Risk Management - Agile & Waterfall Methodologies - Quality Assurance Leadership - Process Improvement - Regulatory Compliance - Stakeholder Collaboration - Change Management - Remote Team Leadership - Business Application Development

About Bank of America: 

Between 2004 and 2010, Bank of America (BofA) pursued an aggressive strategy of growth through major mergers and acquisitions, transforming itself into one of the world’s largest and most diversified financial institutions.

• FleetBoston Financial (2004):

• MBNA Corporation (2006):

• U.S. Trust (2007):

• LaSalle Bank Corporation (2007):

• Countrywide Financial (2008):

• Merrill Lynch (2009):

Through these high-profile deals, Bank of America diversified its business lines, expanded its geographic reach, and solidified its position as a dominant player in retail banking, credit cards, mortgages, wealth management, and investment banking. By 2010, these acquisitions had made BofA the largest bank holding company in the United States by asset value, though they also brought significant challenges, including exposure to mortgage-related losses and integration complexities during the financial crisis.

Bank of America’s acquisition-driven growth during this period marked a defining era in its history, establishing it as a global financial powerhouse with unmatched breadth across the banking sector.

Relevant Experience: 

• Directed strategic planning initiatives to identify, assess, and mitigate operational risks across multiple business lines, including Commercial Lending, Business Banking, Global Wealth and Investment Management, Asset Lending, Dealer Financial Services, Commercial Real Estate, and Private Banking.
• Conducted comprehensive reviews of legacy and acquired systems to evaluate risk exposure and define a risk-based strategic roadmap for system consolidation following mergers and acquisitions.
• Developed and managed project plans and budgets aligned with risk management objectives, ensuring effective resource allocation, progress tracking, and adherence to risk appetite and regulatory requirements.
• Led and participated in end-to-end system conversion projects for major mergers and acquisitions, overseeing risk assessments, control design, and user acceptance testing to ensure seamless integration and minimal disruption to business operations.
• Executed strategic initiatives aimed at optimizing organizational capabilities, enhancing operational efficiency, and improving stakeholder satisfaction, while maintaining a strong control environment and supporting sustainable business growth.
• Successfully spearheaded system consolidation efforts, reducing operational complexity and risk, and facilitating smoother transitions during post-merger integration.

Key Skills: 

Strategic Planning & Execution - Risk Management - Mergers & Acquisitions Integration - Project Management - System Consolidation & Optimization - Operational Efficiency - Change Management -Stakeholder Engagement

About SouthTrust / Wells Fargo: 

Wells Fargo & Company is one of the largest and most recognized financial institutions in the United States, with a history shaped by a series of significant mergers and acquisitions. A key component of its current structure and regional footprint can be traced back to the legacy of SouthTrust Bank.

SouthTrust Bank was founded in 1887 in Birmingham, Alabama, originally as Birmingham Trust and Savings Company. Over the next century, SouthTrust grew into a major regional bank, expanding through acquisitions and establishing branches across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. By 2004, SouthTrust had become Alabama’s largest bank, operating 712 branches and managing $53 billion in assets.

In June 2004, SouthTrust agreed to merge with Wachovia Bank of Charlotte, North Carolina, in a $14.3 billion stock deal. This merger created the largest bank in the Southeast U.S., consolidating SouthTrust’s extensive branch network and customer base under the Wachovia brand. The transition was completed by the end of 2005, with all SouthTrust locations rebranded as Wachovia.

Wachovia itself faced significant challenges during the 2008 financial crisis, leading to its acquisition by Wells Fargo & Co. in a landmark $15.1 billion all-stock deal finalized in early 2009. This acquisition doubled Wells Fargo’s size and established it as one of the nation’s largest banks, integrating Wachovia’s-and by extension, SouthTrust’s-operations, employees, and customer relationships into the Wells Fargo organization.

Today, Wells Fargo’s presence in the Southeast and beyond reflects the longstanding community banking tradition and regional expertise established by SouthTrust Bank. Through these mergers, Wells Fargo continues to serve a broad and diverse customer base, offering a full suite of financial services across the United States.

Relevant Experience: 

• Led cross-functional project management for high-impact development and system conversion initiatives, ensuring robust risk assessment and mitigation throughout project lifecycles.
• Coordinated the comprehensive documentation of business requirements, design specifications, communications strategies, deployment plans, and critical project deliverables to ensure regulatory compliance and operational continuity.
• Served as lead project manager for the successful migration of Letters of Credit from the Morgan System to the AFS platform, proactively identifying and addressing operational risks, minimizing business disruption, and ensuring seamless stakeholder communication.

Key Skills: 

Cross-Functional Project Management - Risk Assessment & Mitigation - System Conversion & Migration - Business Requirements Gathering - Regulatory Compliance - Operational Continuity - Stakeholder Communication & Management - Documentation & Reporting - Change Management - Process Improvement - Project Lifecycle Management - Team Leadership - Strategic Planning - Issue Resolution - Deployment Planning

About AmSouth / Regions: 

Regions Bank, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage products and services. The bank operates across the South, Midwest, and Texas, serving a wide range of customers through an extensive network of branches and ATMs. As of 2023, Regions Bank is ranked among the top U.S. bank holding companies, with over $153 billion in consolidated assets and more than 1,200 branch offices nationwide.

A significant milestone in Regions Bank’s history was the 2006 merger with AmSouth Bancorporation, another Birmingham-based institution. This merger created one of the ten largest banking corporations in the United States at the time, with combined assets of over $140 billion. The headquarters of the merged entity moved to the former AmSouth Center, now known as Regions Center, in downtown Birmingham.

AmSouth Bank’s roots date back to 1872 with the founding of the National Bank of Birmingham. Over the decades, AmSouth grew through a series of mergers and acquisitions, becoming Alabama’s largest banking chain by the 1980s and expanding into Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, and other states in the 1990s and early 2000s. AmSouth was known for its strong focus on business banking and wealth management services. The 2006 merger with Regions Bank unified the strengths of both organizations under the Regions brand, expanding capabilities and reach across the Southeast and beyond.

Regions Bank’s legacy, strengthened by the merger with AmSouth, positions it as a trusted commercial banking partner with deep roots in the communities it serves and a broad array of financial solutions for businesses of all sizes.

Relevant Experience: 

• Completed formal training in Commercial Loan Operations, covering the full lifecycle from application through payoff and collateral release, with a focus on risk mitigation and regulatory compliance.
• Led and developed a team of 12 associates responsible for managing all aspects of paid-out commercial loans, including the perfection and release of liens on collateral, ensuring compliance with regulatory and internal risk standards.
• Collaborated cross-functionally with Paralenders and Loan Officers to proactively identify, assess, and resolve operational risks and process issues related to loan payoff and collateral release.
• Spearheaded a process re-engineering project for the Paid-Out Loans function, resulting in increased operational efficiency, reduced risk exposure, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

Key Skills: 

Commercial Loan Operations - Full Loan Lifecycle Management - Risk Mitigation - Regulatory Compliance - Team Leadership & Development - Process Improvement & Re-engineering - Operational Risk Assessment - Cross-Functional Collaboration - Lien Perfection & Collateral Release - Project Management - Problem Solving - Stakeholder Communication - Customer Satisfaction Enhancement - Internal Controls & Audit Compliance