2014 Great Lakes Lenders Conference July 31 - August 1 - Detroit, Michigan; Kehoe stumps for transportation tax at Columbia, Missouri Chamber meeting; Kansas House Speaker Merrick appoints Kansas Chamber leader O'Neal, KPI president Trabert to school study commission; Former Crystal Lake Illinois Chamber President Gary Reece Named Independence Day Parade Grand Marshall; Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Leadership): Brian Tracy

The Great Lakes Lenders Conference is the premier banking event in the Midwest, hosted by the SBA District offices of Cleveland, Columbus, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan.  In its 16th year, this conference promises to be bigger and better with valuable workshops to keep you up to date on SBA lending programs and other banking topics. Who should attend?

• Commercial and Business Banking Lenders
• Credit Analysts and Underwriters
• Credit Administration, Documentation and Servicing Staff
• Loan Packagers
• Attorneys

2014 Workshop Descriptions

Lending in a Global Market
Presented by John O’Gara,SBA Trade Finance Specialist and US Commerce Dept.Exporting – The Final Frontier!  Take a proactive approach to growing your client’s business.  Did you know the Dept of Commerce can help you client expand into global markets by arranging face to face appointments with potential buyers?  Did you know these trade missions can be paid for by U.S. federal programs?  Did you know you can cover your lending risk with a 90% guarantee?

SBA Basics and Loan Packaging
Presented by SBA Lender Relations Staff (Loan Guaranty Processing Center invited)
An overview of SBA financing programs from start to finish, including eligibility, structure and application.  Perfect for lenders new to SBA or as a refresher for those experienced. SBA’s new application process will be discussed.

Alternatives to Traditional Lending
Presented by Matt Dekutoski, Crestmark Bank
What do you do when the deal does not fit your credit box? Alternative lending solutions to various asset categories and structure exist in the senior debt and junior debt world that had been previously unavailable to the small-to-medium (SME) business. These alternative solutions can lead to relationships for you today and loans outstanding in the future. What, who and where are these solutions will be part of this session.

Secondary Market
Increase profitability and liquidity for your bank!  Learn the basics of selling SBA guaranteed loans on the secondary market.  Session will cover pricing, mechanics, documentation, etc.

Other Sessions:

Recognizing & Preventing Loan Fraud.

1502 Reporting
Closing the SBA Loan
Lender Oversight and Audits

Lending to Franchises
Liquidation Part 1 and 2 

504 Lending Topics
SBA Environmental Policy  

Servicing the SBA Loan 

USDA Rural Development & MEDC Financing Programs
CAPLines
Origination FAQs
Construction Lending 

SBA File Organization. Why It’s Important 

Creating your SBA Department Panel – Best practices and lessons from successful lenders
Advanced Lender – Parts 1 and 2

For more information, please contact Romy Ancog at romualdo.ancog@sba.gov or 313-324-3604.

Kehoe stumps for transportation tax at Columbia, Missouri Chamber meeting

Missouri Senator Mike Kehoe continues to show his support for the Transportation Sales Tax initiative, that goes before voters in August. Kehoe, a Republican from Jefferson City,  spoke on the effort at The Columbia Chamber of Commerce meeting Monday afternoon. Voters will decide whether to increase the state sales tax rate by three quarters of a cent for a 10-year period to help fund MoDOT projects. The tax is expected to produce $480 million annually to the Transportation Safety and Job Creation Fund. Read more: KBIA 91.3

Kansas House Speaker Merrick appoints Kansas Chamber leader O'Neal, KPI president Trabert to school study commission
House Speaker Ray Merrick has appointed two vocal critics of the state public school system to a commission that will make recommendations to the Legislature on how to make schools more efficient. Merrick, R-Stilwell, appointed former House speaker Mike O'Neal, now president and chief executive officer of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, and Dave Trabert, president of the Kansas Policy Institute, a conservative think tank. Read more: Lawrence Journal-World

Former Crystal Lake Illinois Chamber President Gary Reece Named Independence Day Parade Grand Marshall

Gary Reece has been named Grand Marshal for the 2014 Independence Day Parade. Gary is a lifelong resident of Crystal Lake with extensive leadership experience in both volunteer and business environments. Gary founded Heartland Cabinet Supply, Inc. in 1999 and led its growth from zero to a multi-million dollar entity in just over 7 years. In 2002, he purchased a failing countertop shop and brought it in house combining it with his existing cabinet business and set out to expand the total number of countertop products offered. In addition to overseeing Heartland Cabinet, from July 2007 through January 2014, Gary was President of the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce growing the membership to over 960 members and is one of the largest Chambers of Commerce in the State of Illinois. Read more: TribLocal

Famous Chamber of Commerce Quotation: (Leadership)

 
“Become the kind of leader that people would follow voluntarily; even if you had no title or position.” ~ Brian Tracy  

Forbes 20/50