Driven by Relationships, Led by Experience

Ed’s strong leadership, strategic and technical skills, combined with a passion to help others, can be seen throughout his 25+ years of successfully leading multi-million-dollar institutions and non-profit organizations. His easy and approachable demeanor, coupled with his determination to help people succeed, shapes United Midwest’s culture and is the cornerstone of the bank’s unique business model.

Driven to excel at what he’s good at, Craig’s 25 years of industry success has been nothing short of incredible. With an enviable SBA lending record, and a little baseball coaching experience on the side, he has built a team of lenders who are experts in the SBA field.  When asked to describe United Midwest's strength, Craig believes it’s simple: we’re focused on key areas of the banking business which allows us to be great at what we do.

Jennifer has always been a planner—a skill that comes in handy as a CFO. With over 12 years of financial experience in banking and prior experience as a corporate controller, she believes planning ahead for those large, more detailed tasks is the key to good performance and results. When she’s not crunching the numbers, Jennifer loves music and discovering the history of jazz here in Ohio and the Midwest. This is a personal interest for her as her grandmother played the saxophone and toured with Ada Leonard’s all girl band during WWII.

A true multi-tasker, Judy brings 36 years of banking experience and powerful acumen to the office every day. Her can-do attitude and ability to handle so many different aspects of the bank’s branches, mortgage department, and CRA compliance is what gives United Midwest a high mark of excellence.

Not many people can say they’ve bowled one perfect game, but Michael can say he’s bowled two! As Community Development Director, Michael is responsible for planning and overseeing the implementation of the outreach and activities within the bank’s cities and neighborhoods. His 30 years of banking experience coupled with his supportive nature allows him to network with key leaders, constituents and partners with ease and stay on top of the latest trends and needs of our communities.

John’s previous experience in the emergency and surgical medical fields, and in the hotel business provides insight that he uses now as an SBA lender specializing in helping business owners in both of these industries.  As a father of six, he is an expert in multi-tasking and maintaining meticulous attention to details, making sure his clients get the financing they need when they need it.

Click here to email or call 559-917-4042

Having financed more hotel purchases than any other lender in the Midwest, Bob is truly an expert with larger SBA loans. With his deep knowledge of all types of financing and enthusiasm for good service it’s no wonder that he has financed over $500 million in business loans in his banking career.

Click here to email or call 216-403-7899

Patrick’s love of sports spills over into his profession as an SBA lender for the last 23 years, specializing in insurance, medical, dental, veterinary and general businesses. He relentlessly pursues ways to build the best financing solutions for his clients, and believes in a team approach for each step so clients understand the process and ultimately close the loan quickly.

Click here to email or call 972-943-8121

Mark Twain once said, “thunder is impressive, but it is lightning that does the work.”  Scott has applied this philosophy to helping businesses, with an emphasis in the healthcare and insurance industries, secure financing for over 20 years so it’s not exactly surprising that he’s actually been struck by lightning! Thorough communication, accessibility, smart solutions, and a good dose of tenacity from application through closing are what Scott’s clients can expect from him. When he’s not working with clients, Scott enjoys boating, golfing, soccer, being a #girldad, and cheering on his Steelers!

Click here to email or call 843-754-5067

As a business owner and lender, Chad brings a unique perspective to the lending process, understanding the challenges that business owners face and providing valuable guidance throughout the lending process. With over 20 years of experience writing SBA loans, he specializes in providing customized financing solutions to insurance agencies, funeral homes, and e-commerce businesses. Chad has proven track record of knowing exactly what deals will get approved and provides valuable insights and guidance to business owners seeking to acquire existing businesses. Whether you're a small business owner or a seasoned entrepreneur seeking capital to fund your next venture, Chad Fondriest has the experience and expertise to help you achieve your goals.

Click here to email or call 614-205-7600

Rebecca’s lending experience is shaped by her multiple banking positions throughout her career, an interest in entrepreneurship, and a few unique adventures. Her 25+ years of experience as a SBA lender, private banker and in loan operations provides a strong understanding of how to get a deal closed, however, it’s her personal exposure to business ownership that brings an extra appreciation for the loan process and how it affects owners. Rebecca’s spirit of volunteerism and curiosity about entrepreneurs have presented her with opportunities such as being a “loaned executive” to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta; training for and completing a marathon as a fundraiser for the Arthritis Foundation; and having a healthy obsession with Shark Tank!

Click here to email or call 404-307-8978

Though Shannon has jumped out of more than his share of moving airborne vehicles, his efforts on the ground are directed toward developing financing opportunities for the acquisition and succession of accounting firms. His years of experience in various lending areas, including special assets, provide a keen level of awareness to details in a deal and an advantage to knowing how to solve issues if they arise. Shannon was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, but has since traded the state (but not the team, Go Bucks!) for the Carolina coast where he enjoys pickleball, boating, and other outdoor adventures with his family.

Click here to email or call 614-648-9199

Tyler is a world traveler, having been to places such as Iceland, Thailand, and parts of Europe. Each time he travels, he learns something new and experiences something different. The same can be said for how he approaches SBA lending. The knowledge and understanding Tyler has gained during almost a decade of SBA lending to various types of business allows him to be creative with deals to help get them passed the finish line. When he’s not helping businesses with financing, you’ll often find Tyler out and about enjoying live music.

Click here to email or call 801-719-4817

Aaron believes in setting the right expectations up front with his clients and providing an open dialogue throughout the entire loan process. With 25 years of experience in commercial and SBA/USDA lending, Aaron’s strength continues to be his dedication to helping small businesses grow and thrive.

Click here to email or call 916-402-9577

Using his previous experience in the hospitality industry and as a business owner, Mitch Jones can strike up conversations and relate to just about anyone. Now, as a lender for the past seven years, he uses this skill to quickly understand borrowers needs and develop the personal connection to accomplish their goals. Mitch is a native of Kansas City, proud dad of four boys, and an avid Chiefs and Royals fan. His love of the Chiefs provided an assist with another love. He proposed on the 50-yard line at Arrowhead Stadium during a game! (Lucky for him, his wife is also a Chiefs’ fan and said yes.)

Click here to email or call 913-972-6700

Daniel has had many roles in the SBA lending space—closer, underwriter and lender. This variety of experience provides him with a deep understanding of SBA lending, allowing him to genuinely dive in with a borrower and find ways to utilize the SBA program to suite their individual needs. Daniel primarily lends in the accounting and tax industry, but as a previous closer and underwriter, his background provides the knowledge to work with a variety of industries. As a North Carolina native, Daniel enjoys partaking in both the mountains and the coast of the state, plus as an East Carolina alumni, he bleeds purple and gold!

Click here to email or call 910-231-9959

Two things that her clients can count on when working with Dolores: her energy and knowledge of both business acquisitions and SBA/USDA lending. Dolores believes it’s vital to listen carefully to the clients’ needs and then structure the financing to fit those needs. Similar to her love of baking and cooking, she believes the right ingredients make the right business loan. 

Click here to email or call 503-939-0172

Though he considers himself a generalist when it comes to the different industries he works with, there is no mistaking the attention to detail that Lance provides to his clients and their business needs. Accessibility, communication and over 15 years of experience are essential to a being strong lending partner, but Lance adds being friendly and supportive as truly the keys to a successful business relationship.  A native Midwesterner now living in the Southwest, he loves the outdoors and it still a huge fan of all sports in his home state of Missouri. Ask him about playing football in Sweden!

Click here to email or call 602-550-7969

As a part-time volunteer basketball coach and full-time basketball dad, Bernard knows there are qualities that parlay into success on the court: patience, persistence, and adaptability. For over 16 years, he has applied these same attributes to financing dental, medical, veterinary, and optometry practices. He believes the addition of United Midwest’s experience and quick solutions to his game plan offer his clients more than the competition. When he’s not working with clients, you’ll find Bernard cheering on the Lakers and serving up his specialty seafood boil!

Click here to email or call 713-858-1651

When it comes to providing ideal lending solutions to medical practitioners, Spencer’s depth of knowledge—from over 22 years’ banking experience—is second to none. His passionate focus on the medical industry, specifically dental, and the bank’s specialized lender programs for these industries, are what put United Midwest in a unique position to effectively handle the medical professional’s lending needs.

Click here to email or call 614-203-4826

Blessing has worked in all areas of SBA lending, making her very knowledgeable of the entire loan process and determined to use her experience to help clients reach their financing goals faster and easier. She believes that United Midwest’s focus on their clients builds a foundation of trust that is essential to a business’s success, and is excited to be part of a team that is quickly becoming one of the top lenders in the country.

Click here to email or call 740-644-9595

When Fred talks about touring the African Safari, you get an idea of his sense of adventure. He applies that same boldness as he helps customers finance their businesses. With over 45 years in SBA lending, his expertise and dynamic personality helps United Midwest excel at SBA loans for under $150,000.

To contact SBA Small Loans, click here to email or call 844-531-9722

With the same methodical approach that awarded him U.S.A.F.A. survival training certification, Terry handles Small Business Administration loans of under $150,000 with military precision. Having nearly 20 years of lending experience and the ability to pull disconnected ideas together, makes Terry the partner you want in the trenches of your SBA loan.   

To contact SBA Small Loans, click here to email or call 844-531-9722

Judd brings over 49 years’ experience and extensive knowledge of Consumer Lending to United Midwest. His intense focus and appreciation for the progressive banking of UMWSB makes Judd one of the top lenders in the industry.

With a commitment to his customers that rivals his love for OSU, Travis is a great addition to the UMWSB team. His ability to objectively view both consumer and retail needs for an optimal outcome gives him the effective edge you won’t find in other lending partners.

As a football coach and father of three under 10 years old, Chris is an expert at blocking, tackling and finding creative ways to get a job done. He believes this same mentality applies to mortgage lending. With over 17 years of experience, Chris is able to look at each loan and its circumstances, develop options, and ultimately help each customer find their best financing solution.

Click here to email Chris for more information about our residential mortgage loans