When: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Where: Georgia Association of Realtors, 6065 Barfield Road NE,
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
No registration required.
10:00-10:30 – Networking, with light breakfast sponsored by panelist Kim Eells of Local First Bank
10:30-11:30 – Meeting followed by SBA Lenders Panel featuring Affiliate Members Kim Eells, SBA Business Development Officer, Local First Bank; Susan Kite, SVP, SBA Business Development, Georgia Primary Bank; and Thomas Rockwood, SVP, SBA Relationship Manager, SouthState Bank. The panel will be moderated by Claudia Wilson, VP, SBA Relationship Manager, SouthState Bank.
Presenter Bios
Kim Eells‘ goal is to help borrowers achieve their dreams of opening, acquiring and growing their businesses with the assistance of SBA and/or USDA guaranteed loans. Kim has been in SBA lending since 1996 as a Business Development Officer. Kim is currently serving on the Board of the Georgia Lenders Quality Circle as the Chair and is also the Affiliate Representative on the Board of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers. Kim is located in the Atlanta, GA, market but will assist borrowers nationwide with their SBA loan needs.
Susan Kite has been active in commercial and real estate lending for over 30 years. She has served as Director of the Jacksonville Local Development Company – an SBA approved Certified Development Company that makes real estate owner/user loans via the SBA 504 loan program. She was recruited to join the Real Estate and Commercial lending team at Southeast Bank in Jacksonville before moving to Atlanta’s Bank South commercial lending team. Since 1990, Susan has been active in the Atlanta market, specializing in Business Acquisition financing. She is currently a Senior Business Development Officer with the SBA Lending Department at Georgia Primary Bank. Susan is experienced in lending to developers, shopping centers, manufacturers, distribution companies, restaurants, retail outlets, day care facilities and more. She provides a quick response and close customer attention throughout the loan process. Susan is an affiliate member of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers, and serves as Past-Chairman of the Georgia Lenders Quality Circle, an industry association of SBA professionals.
Thomas Rockwood, Senior Vice President at SouthState Bank, has been serving Georgia’s Small Businesses and the GABB members as an SBA lending expert for over a decade locally and has been working with government guaranteed loan programs for almost 20 years. Based in Buford, GA, Mr. Rockwood focuses on Business Acquisition’s and Partner-Buyouts of existing company’s to help our communities continue to grow and thrive. Thomas helps companies all across the country by providing entrepreneurs access to the capital and the correct loan structures needed to get to the closing table and make their dreams possible.
Claudia Wilson is convinced that the SBA loan program is an excellent financing tool for small businesses. And the Vice President for SouthState Bank practices what she preaches after more than 35 years of administering all facets of SBA lending. After serving in the same capacity as Vice President for four community banks based in Georgia and Florida, Wilson currently serves businesses in the state of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, the Carolina’s and Virginia, concentrating on SBA 7(a) and SBA 504 lending programs for small businesses. In her current position, Wilson focuses on customer service and is able to provide prospective borrowers with SouthState Bank’s full complement of lending options. Wilson is a Founding Member of The Georgia Lenders Quality Circle, an active member of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers, and an active supporter of the U.S. Small Business Administration, having served as Chairman for the Georgia SBA Advisory Council.
ABOUT GABB
The Georgia Association of Business Brokers is the only organization in the state dedicated to improving the level of knowledge and professionalism in our industry through education, mentoring, a code of ethics and networking.
Kim Eells‘ goal is to help borrowers achieve their dreams of opening, acquiring and growing their businesses with the assistance of SBA and/or USDA guaranteed loans. Kim has been in SBA lending since 1996 as a Business Development Officer. Kim is currently serving on the Board of the Georgia Lenders Quality Circle as the Chair and is also the Affiliate Representative on the Board of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers. Kim is located in the Atlanta, GA, market but will assist borrowers nationwide with their SBA loan needs.
Susan Kite has been active in commercial and real estate lending for over 30 years. She has served as Director of the Jacksonville Local Development Company – an SBA approved Certified Development Company that makes real estate owner/user loans via the SBA 504 loan program. She was recruited to join the Real Estate and Commercial lending team at Southeast Bank in Jacksonville before moving to Atlanta’s Bank South commercial lending team. Since 1990, Susan has been active in the Atlanta market, specializing in Business Acquisition financing. She is currently a Senior Business Development Officer with the SBA Lending Department at Georgia Primary Bank. Susan is experienced in lending to developers, shopping centers, manufacturers, distribution companies, restaurants, retail outlets, day care facilities and more. She provides a quick response and close customer attention throughout the loan process. Susan is an affiliate member of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers, and serves as Past-Chairman of the Georgia Lenders Quality Circle, an industry association of SBA professionals.
Thomas Rockwood, Senior Vice President at SouthState Bank, has been serving Georgia’s Small Businesses and the GABB members as an SBA lending expert for over a decade locally and has been working with government guaranteed loan programs for almost 20 years. Based in Buford, GA, Mr. Rockwood focuses on Business Acquisition’s and Partner-Buyouts of existing company’s to help our communities continue to grow and thrive. Thomas helps companies all across the country by providing entrepreneurs access to the capital and the correct loan structures needed to get to the closing table and make their dreams possible.
Claudia Wilson is convinced that the SBA loan program is an excellent financing tool for small businesses. And the Vice President for SouthState Bank practices what she preaches after more than 35 years of administering all facets of SBA lending. After serving in the same capacity as Vice President for four community banks based in Georgia and Florida, Wilson currently serves businesses in the state of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, the Carolina’s and Virginia, concentrating on SBA 7(a) and SBA 504 lending programs for small businesses. In her current position, Wilson focuses on customer service and is able to provide prospective borrowers with SouthState Bank’s full complement of lending options. Wilson is a Founding Member of The Georgia Lenders Quality Circle, an active member of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers, and an active supporter of the U.S. Small Business Administration, having served as Chairman for the Georgia SBA Advisory Council.