PRESIDENT.  Gen Merritt is Vice President of Portfolio & Risk Management for Allied Affiliated Funding, a Dallas-based national factoring company founded in 1992. Gen graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with an Economics and Business degree and has worked in factoring, asset-based lending, traditional banking, and franchise factoring over the past 14 years. She also authors a blog at www.factorguru.com

VICE PRESIDENT/SPONSORSHIP.  Bill Nay leads the business efforts in Texas and the Central Region for Bridge Bank.  Bridge Bank specializes in meeting the needs of technology-related companies through a suite of products that span from early-stage venture lending to Asset-Based and Factoring to lines of credit and term loans.  Mr. Nay has over 15 years of commercial banking experience in the Central Region.  Prior to joining Bridge Bank, Mr. Nay served as Regional Market Manager with Silicon Valley Bank and was a Vice President with Bank of America.
 

EVENT FINANCE DIRECTOR.  Jonathan has been with Whitley Penn since 2003 where he is an Audit Senior Manager.  Prior to that, he worked with Arthur Andersen LLP and with KBA Group, LLP.  His primary industries include oil and gas exploration and production, oilfield services, manufacturing, software and restaurant and entertainment.  He belongs to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies of Dallas.  Jonathan received a BS in Accounting in 1999 from the University of Alabama and subsequently earned his MS in Accounting in 2000.
 

MEMBERSHIP.  Derek is a Vice President for Business Development for Frost Capital Group, a division of Frost Bank, which provides working capital loans and factoring to companies seeking innovative financing not generally available through traditional sources.  Prior to joining Frost Capital two years ago, Derek was a financial planner in Denver and Dallas.  In addition to The Finance Forum, Derek is involved in the Young Risk Management Association, Turnaround Management Association and the Commercial Finance Association.  Derek earned a bachelors degree from Oklahoma State University.

SECRETARY/GOLF CHAIRMAN.  Brandon has been in the commercial finance business for over ten years working for two of the larger accounts receivable finance companies. Brandon recently formed his own business, The Business Group of Brokers, LLC, which was designed to utilize the strengths of different finance companies combined with the expertise of The Business Group of Brokers to best service the working capital needs of a small or mid-size business. Brandon attended Tusculum College in Tennessee.  In addition to the Finance Forum, he is also active in the Commercial Finance Association, Turnaround Management Association, and other industry associations.

TREASURER.  Shawnya has been an associate at VCFO® since Feb 2006. VCFO provides CFOs, Controllers, Staff Accountants and Human Resource professionals on a fractional, interim, and project.   Shawnya has over 16 years of accounting and financial management experience in manufacturing, oil & gas, investment and holding companies, publishing, and banking financial services.  Prior to joining vcfo, Shawnya served as TX Regional Controller for HMSHost, Mgr of Financial Reporting and Tax for LaMadeleine’s, Controller for DFW Suburban Newspapers and Staff Accountant for Arco Oil & Gas.  Shawnya received her BS in Accounting and Finance from Kansas State University.

E-COMMERCE / MARKETING.  Jo Ann Rogers is a free-lance website developer.  She has 10 years experience in website and graphics development.  In addition, she serves as financial manager for Ridium Capital, a company owned and operated by her husband, Kevin Rogers.  Jo Ann earned a Bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University. 

CO-CHAIRMAN GOLF TOURNAMENT.  Francois is currently Senior Vice President with Wells Fargo Business Credit.  Prior to Wells Fargo, Francois worked for Capital TempFunds and Textron Financial Corporation.  He began his career with Citibank in Liberia as an economic advisor and then joined Robert Fleming Merchant Bank in Leeds, U.K. to create a national sales force.  Francois earned a Bachelor's Degree from Middlesex University in London in Business Studies.  He is fluent in 3 languages and is a twice decorated Gulf War Veteran.

 

EMERITUS.  Janette has worked as a Business Development Officer with Vertex Financial for the past 15 years.  Her experience in sales and marketing spans 29 years with more than half in the factoring arena.  Her breadth of knowledge covers all aspects of factoring transactions including operations, marketing, and business development.  In addition to the board of The Finance Forum, Janette's past memberships have included the Garland and Richardson Chambers, IFA, CFA and the Women's Finance Exchange.