Small Biz Lenders Recognized by SBA

The U.S. Small Business Administration Alabama District Office held its fifth annual Alabama Lenders Conference. The event, presented by the Alabama Small Business Development Center Network was held at the Hyatt Regency Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, AL August 5th and 6th.  Attendees participated in workshops concerning the latest in SBA loan programs and lender services as well as state loan funds, franchise lending and updates on government guaranteed lending. Exhibitors included financial services, business valuation, micro-lenders and 504 Certified Development Companies.

Opening the conference at a reception sponsored by the Alabama Bankers Association were SBA Regional Administrator, Region 4, Atlanta, Cassius Butts and Alabama State Superintendent of Banks John Harrison. Mr. Butts told the crowd about exciting developments at SBA including SBA One and electronic loan submission all of which he related to the conference theme of “not your father’s (or mother’s) SBA”. Mr. Harrison discussed the state of banking in Alabama and his remarks included his continuing support of the public/private partnership of SBA and the Alabama banking community that is so vital to small business lending in the state. Following his remarks Mr. Harrison was presented with the Director’s Award by SBA Alabama District Director Tom Todt in recognition of his support of SBA lending in Alabama.

Presenters included Linda Reilly, Chief, 504 Program Branch, Office of Financial Assistance, Washington, D.C., Lesley McClure, Regional Executive and Sr. Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Birmingham Branch and Rhonda Fisher, Lead Lender Relations Specialist, SBA Mississippi District Office.

A Small Business Awards Luncheon was held on day two and awards were presented to the outstanding SBA lenders in Alabama for the previous year. The keynote for the luncheon was provided by National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (NAGGL) President and CEO Tony Wilkinson and BBVA Compass Bank Executive Vice President Greg Clarkson. Winners and their categories were:

• Alabama Lender of the Year – Loan Volume

BBVA Compass Bank

• Alabama Lender of the Year – Loan Dollar Volume

ServisFirst Bank

• Community Bank of the Year

First Partners Bank

• Alabama Lender of the Year – Express Lender

BBVA Compass Bank

• Certified Development Company Lender of the Year – 504 Loan Volume

Southern Development Council

• Certified Development Company Lender of the Year – 504 Loan Dollar Volume

Southern Development Council

• Alabama Lender of the Year – 504 Participation: Loan Volume

ServisFirst Bank

• Alabama Lender of the Year – 504 Participation: Loan Dollar Volume

ServisFirst Bank

• Alabama Vanguard Award Lender

Southern States Bank

Alabama Small Business Person of the Year

The award for SBA Small Business Person of the Year was presented to Harvey Nix of Proventix Systems, Inc., a Birmingham-based business that makes hand sanitation systems for medical centers and hospitals.

SBDC Excellence and Innovation Award

A special award was presented to the Small Business Development Center at Jacksonville State University, the Center for Excellence and Innovation Award.  Accepting the award were past and present center Directors Pat Shaddix, Robbie Medders and Ken Grissom. Carmin Industries’ Carolyn Minerich, a past Small Business Person of the Year, gave remarks at the presentation concerning the valuable assistance she received from the SBDC.