Want to experience the best conference organized for the small business finance industry, by the small business finance industry? Here’s your chance! Join fellow funders, brokers, industry thought leaders, and policymakers at the upcoming Funders Forum + Brokers Expo for an exclusive look at what’s in store.
Join us for a conference that will bring together funders, brokers, industry thought leaders and policymakers. We’re excited to extend this industry-leading conference to now include funders, law firms, credit card processors and debt collectors.
Funders Forum + Brokers Expo will feature engaging sessions led by a diverse group of the small business finance industry’s top CEOs, strategists and entrepreneurs on innovative financial technologies, best practices and advocacy. Attendees will also hear firsthand from policymakers and regulators, who will discuss Washington’s impact on small business funders.
The latest on key policy developments and hear directly from the policymakers who are shaping the future of the industry.
While attending the Funders Forum and Brokers Expo, we invite you to make the most of your time by staying at the event venue, the iconic Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, ensuring your experience is nothing short of exceptional. Your room or suite, designed for your comfort and convenience, provides a luxurious haven to unwind or host private meetings. Including poolside gatherings, fine dining, world-class entertainment, and a vibrant nightlife, this venue seamlessly blends business and leisure, promising an unforgettable experience. Book your room by following the link below.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
1 Seminole Way, Hollywood, FL 33314
Phone: 1-866-502-7529
Important Notice About Hotel Reservations
Please be aware that unauthorized third-party companies may contact attendees or sponsors claiming to offer discounted or limited hotel rooms for the Funders Forum + Broker Expo. These solicitations are not affiliated with our event and may be deceptive.
For your security, only use the official hotel booking link or the phone number provided directly by our team. This is the only authorized method to reserve rooms for the event.
If you receive any unsolicited calls or emails from outside vendors, please disregard them and notify us.
Traveling in? We’ve got you covered.
Event attendees can access exclusive discounted rental car rates through Avis, conveniently located just five minutes from the hotel.
3rd Annual
Wednesday March 4, 2026
This year’s Golf Tournament is part of the Funders Forum and Brokers Expo experience. Following the tournament, transportation will be provided back to the hotel for all participants. If you choose to remain at the course after play concludes, please note that return transportation will be your responsibility ahead of the evening events.
Winners will be announced during the Welcome Reception on Wednesday, March 4th at the Hard Rock
Transportation provided to Emerald Hills – pick up is located at the Hard Rock Tower Valet Area.
Service operates from 7:00 AM–2:00 PM, with departures approximately every 20 minutes..
The answer is simple; the future. The future of small business is the backbone of America.
Funders Forum was first held in 2018 and the spirit from that flagship event remains as strong as ever. Now Funders Forum + Brokers Expo has evolved into the most unique conference in its field, supporting the very heart of America, our small business community and the funders and brokers that help them thrive. Each attendee not only has the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals, they have a chance to engage with the brains behind today’s small business funding policies and regulations. Most importantly, the proceeds from the conference go toward the funding community itself to continue fighting for policies that will help make a difference for our funders, brokers, and especially the small business owners impacted by the funding community.
Scott Crockett is the founder and CEO of Everest Business Funding. He is a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience in the finance industry. Mr. Crockett’s track record includes raising more than $500 million in capital and creating thousands of jobs. Scott has founded, built, and managed several finance companies in the consumer and commercial finance sectors.
Dan Gans is the founder and managing principal of Polaris Consulting, LLC. Under Dan’s stewardship, Polaris Government Relations has quickly become one of the most in demand boutique lobbying firms in Washington. Dan in an expert in fintech policy and works closely with the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs.
For more than 25 years, Deveron M. Gibbons has served as a strategic and tactical business leader and an advisor and counselor to governors, legislators, and members of Congress. He has also established himself as a creative force helping to shape the next generation of leaders, serving on the boards of trustees of two institutions of higher learning in his native Florida.
Funders Forum + Brokers Expo is the first conference organized for the small business finance industry, by the small business finance industry. It is an opportunity to engage with and learn from industry thought leaders and policy makers while networking with fellow funders from across the country. The Funders Forum + Brokers Expo will celebrate the small finance business industry and discuss solutions that will ensure a safe and transparent method for the small businesses in this country that need capital the most to access it.
Funders Forum + Brokers Expo is the first conference organized for the small business finance industry, by the small business finance industry. It is an opportunity to engage with and learn from industry thought leaders and policy makers while networking with fellow funders from across the country. The Funders Forum + Brokers Expo will celebrate the small finance business industry and discuss solutions that will ensure a safe and transparent method for the small businesses in this country that need capital the most to access it.
Funders Forum + Brokers Expo welcomes small business financers from across the country to Fort Lauderdale to learn from and network with some of the nation’s top small business industry thought leaders and policy makers.
This two-day program will provide you with the tools, strategies and best practices you need to successfully compete in today’s rapidly changing business environment.
Funders Forum + Brokers Expo will take place from March 4 to March 6, 2026.
Funders Forum + Brokers Expo will be hosted at Seminole Hardrock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Seminole Hardrock Hotel & Casino
1 Seminole Way, Hollywood, FL 33314
The dress code for Funders Forum + Brokers Expo is business casual. This includes the forum sessions as well as the networking events. We recommend bringing a sweater or dressing in layers because the conference room temperatures can fluctuate.
A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are available. For sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities, contact info@thefundersforumbrokerexpo.com as soon as you can.
Please contact info@thefundersforumbrokerexpo.com for more information.
The event has a no-refund policy. However, ticket exchanges and name changes will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The Broker ticket option is exclusively available for those who are employed by a business financing Broker/ISO that is not a bank or those who are independent sales agents.
This option is not available to those who are employed by a direct lender or direct funder.
The Non-Broker option is available for interested parties that do not match the Broker ticket criteria.
A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are available. Please click here to view our sponsorship levels. For sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities, contact info@thefundersforumbrokerexpo.com as soon as you can.
March 2026
The RBFC Golf Tournament will take place at Emerald Hills Golf Club, beginning with breakfast at 7:00 AM followed by an 8:00 AM shotgun start. Participants will enjoy a full morning of play, with both breakfast and lunch included as part of the tournament experience.
Winners will be announced later that evening during the welcome reception for the Funder Forums + Brokers Expo 2026. Sponsorship opportunities and player tickets remain available for those looking to take part in this annual event.
Transportation provided to Emerald Hills – pick up is located at the Hard Rock Tower Valet Area.
Service operates from 7:00 AM–2:00 PM, with departures approximately every 20 minutes.
Bora Bora Cabanas
Registration Opens
Sponsor Zone
Terrace Patio
Sponsor Zone Breakfast
Sponsor Zone Breakfast
Terrace Ballroom
Opening Remarks
Terrace Ballroom
Hear from top funders in the space as they share key insights with conference attendees on current trends in the RBF industry.
Terrace Ballroom
Operations Leaders at top funders share their tips for measurement and reduction of cost per decline so you can grow submissions and reduce time-to-offer without bloating cost.
Sponsor Zone Lunch
Terrace Ballroom
A true, “what do you do” discussion on bankruptcy and what is worth getting involved. This session will address adversary procedures pertaining to preference litigation, fraudulent transfers and usury allegations. In addition, the panel will discuss cash collateral issues and proof of claim objections.
Terrace Ballroom
Hear from top funders in the space as they share key insights with conference attendees on current trends in the RBF industry.
Terrace Ballroom
45 min Fireside Chat
NFL Legend
A first-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins in 1983, Marino became an instant NFL sensation, setting the standard for quarterback excellence. He became the only rookie quarterback ever to start in the Pro Bowl (1983) and was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in his second season (1984). The nine-time Pro Bowler (1983-87, 1991-92, 1994-95) played in 18 playoff games and led the Dolphins to the Super Bowl in 1985 against San Francisco.
Dan won the Dolphins’ MVP Award 12 times, and the team has since named the award after him. In the 1984 season alone, he completed an incredible 48 touchdown passes and had the most prolific season by a passer in NFL history, with 5,084 yards.
Upon retirement, Dan held 25 NFL regular-season quarterback records and was tied for five others, quarterbacked Miami for 17 years, positioning the Dolphins as perennial championship contenders throughout his career. One of three players ever to do so, he twice won the Dolphins’ Community Service Award (1996 and 1998), and was named the NFL Man of the Year in 1998. Dan was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August 2005 and in 2010 he was ranked number 25 on the NFL’s Top 100 Greatest Players list.
Dan Marino continued to stay close to the game and joined CBS Sports as a studio analyst for the CBS Television Network’s NFL pre-game show, The NFL Today for 12 years. Along with CBS Dan has developed equity partnerships in numerous business ventures including Nutrisystem, 3Cinteractive, Anthonys Coal Fired Pizza, Modernizing Medicine, ZiNG Sock Club and Universal Insurance to just to name a few. Upon reaching the milestone, Dan joined AARP as the Men’s Life Ambassador in 2012. Dan currently is an Executive Advisor to the Owner and CEO of the Miami Dolphins.
Dan attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he played football and earned a degree in communications. In 2008, he received an honorary doctorate degree in broadcast journalism from his Alma Mater.
Inspired by experiences in raising his second son, Michael who has autism, Dan and his wife Claire became one of the first families to advocate for children with autism. Founding The Dan Marino Foundation in 1992, they have raised over $45 million to provide services and fund first of their kind initiatives including the Miami Children’s Hospital Dan Marino Center, the Marino Autism Research Institute, the DMF Jobs Development Program and the Marino College. The Marino Campus provides an inclusive, supportive and welcoming atmosphere where young adults can experience success, learn vital life skills and most importantly, gain independence.
Daer Night Club
Sponsor Zone Breakfast
Engaging and impactful content is only as strong as the venue it is presented in, that is why Funders Forum + Brokers Expo creates a full top notch experience down to the very last detail. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is home to over a dozen award-winning restaurants and bars, and expansive serene pool and endless entertainment opportunities. So don’t choose between an impactful conference and a getaway, choose both with our event.
Another year, another industry-leading experience everyone will be talking about. This year we will be heading to an incredible new venue to create incredible new experiences. Funders Forum + Brokers Expo will continue to grow and change the industry, and it will continue to be the event of the year everyone will be talking about. Don’t wait, lock in next year’s event at it’s low super early bird rate.
NFL Legend
A first-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins in 1983, Marino became an instant NFL sensation, setting the standard for quarterback excellence. He became the only rookie quarterback ever to start in the Pro Bowl (1983) and was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in his second season (1984). The nine-time Pro Bowler (1983-87, 1991-92, 1994-95) played in 18 playoff games and led the Dolphins to the Super Bowl in 1985 against San Francisco.
Dan won the Dolphins’ MVP Award 12 times, and the team has since named the award after him. In the 1984 season alone, he completed an incredible 48 touchdown passes and had the most prolific season by a passer in NFL history, with 5,084 yards.
Upon retirement, Dan held 25 NFL regular-season quarterback records and was tied for five others, quarterbacked Miami for 17 years, positioning the Dolphins as perennial championship contenders throughout his career. One of three players ever to do so, he twice won the Dolphins’ Community Service Award (1996 and 1998), and was named the NFL Man of the Year in 1998. Dan was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August 2005 and in 2010 he was ranked number 25 on the NFL’s Top 100 Greatest Players list.
Dan Marino continued to stay close to the game and joined CBS Sports as a studio analyst for the CBS Television Network’s NFL pre-game show, The NFL Today for 12 years. Along with CBS Dan has developed equity partnerships in numerous business ventures including Nutrisystem, 3Cinteractive, Anthonys Coal Fired Pizza, Modernizing Medicine, ZiNG Sock Club and Universal Insurance to just to name a few. Upon reaching the milestone, Dan joined AARP as the Men’s Life Ambassador in 2012. Dan currently is an Executive Advisor to the Owner and CEO of the Miami Dolphins.
Dan attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he played football and earned a degree in communications. In 2008, he received an honorary doctorate degree in broadcast journalism from his Alma Mater.
Inspired by experiences in raising his second son, Michael who has autism, Dan and his wife Claire became one of the first families to advocate for children with autism. Founding The Dan Marino Foundation in 1992, they have raised over $45 million to provide services and fund first of their kind initiatives including the Miami Children’s Hospital Dan Marino Center, the Marino Autism Research Institute, the DMF Jobs Development Program and the Marino College. The Marino Campus provides an inclusive, supportive and welcoming atmosphere where young adults can experience success, learn vital life skills and most importantly, gain independence.
Scott Crockett is the founder and CEO of Everest Business Funding. He is a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience in the finance industry. Mr. Crockett’s track record includes raising more than $500 million in capital and creating thousands of jobs. Scott has founded, built, and managed several finance companies in the consumer and commercial finance sectors.
Mary Donohue is the Executive Director for the Revenue Based Finance Coalition (RBFC). Before joining RBFC, Mary worked as a government relations specialist for CATALYST Government Affairs. At CATALYST, Mary managed various client portfolios in areas ranging from a variety of financial services issues to foster care policy in many states across the country as well as in Washington, DC. Her prior work also consists of developing and managing the federal and state public policy strategies for the small business lending brands within Enova International (NYSE: ENVA) (OnDeck, Headway Capital, The Business Backer), including coordination with Enova SMB’s P&Ls, corporate support groups, third party consultants, and industry organizations. Mary also developed and led public policy promotion campaigns and built networks of trade associations, industry partners, and non-profit groups to support policies that help create and maintain access to credit over the internet for America’s small businesses.
A well-seasoned government affairs professional, Mary lived and worked in Washington, DC for over ten years with a significant amount of time spent at one of DC’s top federal lobbying firms, Polaris Consulting. At Polaris, Mary specialized in financial services and labor client portfolios and implemented various strategic objectives through Congressional outreach and research.
Mary holds a Masters in Public Administration and Policy from American University and graduated magna cum laude from St. Lawrence University with a double major in Government and Psychology. In her free time, Mary enjoys hanging out with her husband, Parker, who is a U.S. Naval Officer and former Fighter Pilot, and their two dogs Cosmo, a Dalmatian, and Comet, an English Setter as well as her off the track Thoroughbred, Mucho.
Prior to joining Covenant Government Affairs, Joshua Novotney served as a Partner at SBL Strategies, LLC. He has worked as an advisor for multiple U.S. Senators and Governors on both the political and official side for over 10 years. Joshua served as a senior advisor for former U.S. Senator and Ranking Member of the Banking Committee Pat Toomey.
Joshua has been in the government relations industry for close to 10 years and focuses his lobbying on FinTech, alternative consumer and commercial lending, debt collection, credit reporting, international finance issues as well as some transportation, health care and immigration issues.
Mr. Novotney stays very politically active as well working on super PAC’s and informally advising campaigns.
Bill Gallagher has been the President of CFGMS since its inception in 2015. Prior to that, Bill was the Chief Credit Officer of CapFlow Funding, CFGMS’s factoring sister company, since 2009. Bill has held various senior-level Capital Markets and Investment Banking positions in the Institutional Fixed Income divisions of Lehman Brothers, and Barclays Capital.
Shane Mahabir is the Founder and President of Funder Intel, a resource, media, and education platform for the business lending industry. Funder Intel offers visitors a way to learn about the industry, network with others, find more providers, grow their brand, and much more.
Shane started in the alternative business lending industry in 2014 by joining a direct funder in Miami Beach. He moved on to other funders working in ISO Management, sales and back into ISO departments in various senior roles. He also worked for a broker company and started his own before the 2020 pandemic. Shane then launched Funder Intel with the mission to make a positive impact and solve problems for the industry.
Shane got his MBA with a focus in Entrepreneurship from LSU and has a BA in Business from UF. He is a native South Floridian who currently resides in Boca Raton, FL.
Kate is a partner in Hudson Cook, LLP’s Maryland office and co-chair of the firm’s Business Funding practice group. Her practice focuses on the areas of Consumer Financial Services and Small Business Financing. Kate represents banks, finance companies, private equity and investment bank investors, revenue-based financing companies, and small business lenders establishing new programs and products, and conducts due diligence and compliance reviews of consumer lending and business financing portfolios.
Noah Mamet served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Argentina from 2014-2017 during President Obama’s second term. Ambassador Mamet was awarded the Medal of San Martin, at the rank of Great Cross, only the third American in over 200 years to receive the distinction
During Ambassador Mamet’s time in Argentina, bi-lateral relations between the U.S. and Argentina improved dramatically by initially focusing on science, technology, renewable energy, and educational exchanges and later adding security cooperation, counter-narcotics and climate change programs. His efforts resulted in a special “Corporate Citizenship Award” from the American Chamber of Commerce and the “Bridges of the Americas” award.
In 2016, Ambassador Mamet hosted President Obama and the First Family’s historic trip to Buenos Aires, the first bi-lateral presidential visit to Argentina in nearly 20 years. Ambassador Mamet also led the first of its kind Argentine delegation of both public and private sector leaders to California to further build economic and cultural ties through technology, innovation and clean energy.
Ambassador Mamet is the founder of a business consulting firm, NMA Partners. The firm has represented numerous business clients including SpaceX, the Wasserman Media Group, Saints Capital, Pan American Energy, Blank Rome law firm and many others.
He is on the advisory boards of Globant, a publicly traded international tech company, DirecTV LatAm, FlyHouse Private Planes and Naoris, a quantum commuting company. In 2023 he was appointed by President Biden to serve on the Kennedy Center advisory board.
Outside the world of business, politics and international affairs, Ambassador Mamet has worked on numerous philanthropic causes and produces wine from his vineyard in Mendoza, Argentina under the label ‘Gran Diplomat.’ In 2023 he opened Canopy Wine Lounge in Palm Springs, CA which received national recognition as a “Top 3” wine lounge restaurant in the country by USA Today in 2025.
Ambassador Mamet has spoken at numerous conferences and conventions for companies such as UBS and the Revenue Based Finance Coalition, as well as made many TV appearances on issues related to international relations, politics, and policy.
A graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles, he delivered the 2020 commencement address to his alma mater.
Alan Hochheiser is a leading practitioner in the areas of creditors’ rights and bankruptcy law. He advises and represents businesses, regional and national banks, credit unions, equipment lessors and other lenders, as well as secured and unsecured creditors. Al has been named to ALM’s list of Cleveland’s Top-Rated Lawyers and is peer-rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the worldwide guide to lawyers.
He is a frequent speaker and author on topics relevant to creditors’ rights and bankruptcy law.
Al earned his Bachelor of Arts cum laude from the State University of New York at Albany and his Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
He is admitted to practice law in Ohio, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Third, Fourth and Sixth Circuits and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, the Western District of Pennsylvania and the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, District of Maryland, and District of Colorado.
Tomo Matsuo is a seasoned fintech and SaaS executive with over a decade of senior executive experience in global lending, payments, and analytics. He is the Founder & CEO of AdvanceIQ.ai, a data intelligence platform delivering portfolio and risk insights for the SMB alternative lending sector. Previously, he co-founded Yardline Capital (acquired by Thrasio) and held executive roles at Bizfi, Paysafe Group (NYSE: PSFE), Thrasio, and Swiftline. He pioneered revenue-based financing in Japan through a joint venture with Credit Saison (TYO: 8253), one of Japan’s largest consumer finance companies.
Outside of business, Tomo serves as Music Director and Conductor of both the World Civic Orchestra and the Doctors’ Orchestra (Doctors’ Orchestral Society of New York). He was previously Music Director of the 92nd Street Y Orchestra, one of New York’s longest-running community ensembles.
Tim Mages is the Chief Executive Officer of Expansion Capital Group (ECG), where he leads the firm’s strategy focused on leveraging technology, data, and analytics to deliver fast, transparent, and efficient access to capital for small businesses. He previously served as ECG’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer, overseeing capital markets, regulatory strategy, business development, and sales.
Before joining ECG, Tim spent seven years as an investment banker covering specialty finance companies and five years with SBA-licensed SBIC funds, providing debt capital to small businesses. Shaped by his experience lending through the post-2008 financial crisis, Tim brings a disciplined, customer-first perspective to small business finance. Under his leadership, ECG has built a technology-enabled underwriting and decisioning platform designed to improve speed, precision, and clarity across the customer experience.
Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Expansion Capital Group has delivered more than $1.5 billion in working capital to over 35,000 small businesses since 2013. ECG has been recognized multiple times on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies and named one of the “Best FinTechs to Work For” by Source Media.
Louis Calderone is the President and co-founder of VOX Funding, a leading fintech company specializing in innovative funding solutions for small businesses. Under Louis’s leadership, VOX has experienced rapid, exponential growth, driven by a strong emphasis on building lasting client partnerships. His vision and expertise continue to shape VOX’s mission of empowering businesses by providing them with the capital needed to fuel their success and growth.
Louis brings over 30 years of industry experience to his role, having navigated diverse sectors of financial services. Louis began his career as an options and equity trader in New York, honing his skills in high-pressure environments. Prior to founding VOX Funding, he spent over two decades at Aegis Capital, eventually rising to the role of President. Louis transformed Aegis from a small player in the industry to a premier, full-service investment firm. He has held various leadership positions at firms such as Converge Media Group, where he guided them to an acquisition by Zealot Networks in 2015.
Dan Gans is the founder and managing principal of Polaris Consulting, LLC. Prior to establishing Polaris, Dan managed the Telecommunications, Technology and Energy practice at a top 20 lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. for three years. Under Dan’s stewardship, Polaris Government Relations has quickly become one of the most in demand boutique lobbying firms in Washington. Dan in an expert in fintech policy and works closely with the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs.
Dan is an eleven-year veteran of Capitol Hill. Most recently, Dan served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Bob Riley (R-AL). In addition to serving as Riley’s Chief of Staff, Gans was also a Senior Advisor (in a volunteer capacity) to Riley’s successful gubernatorial campaign in 2002. Dan worked with the campaign General Consultant to develop and implement a successful media, grass roots, and fundraising plan.
As Chief of Staff, Dan served as Congressman Riley’s principal strategist and advisor on all legislative and political matters including the Congressman’s work on the Financial Services, Armed Services and Agriculture Committees. Dan’s responsibilities included oversight and management of the Washington, D.C. and Alabama offices. Dan also served as the Congressman’s liaison to House leadership and the Republican Study Committee.
During his tenure as Chief of Staff, Gans was recognized by The Wall Street Journal for designing a state-of-the-art interactive Congressional website that implemented an e-video communication platform. Bob Riley was the first Member of Congress to communicate with his constituents using video email technology. It was no surprise that Campaigns and Elections magazine cited Bob Riley’s campaign website as one of the best in the country and critical to his election success in 2002. Dan has been a regular speaker on internet communication and e-strategy for the House Republican Conference. Dan also held a Department of Defense security clearance, which he was required to have in order to handle Riley’s work on the House Armed Services Committee.
Akhilesh is the General Manager for North America at HyperVerge, an AI co-pilot that helps small-business lenders reduce time-to-offer from hours to minutes.
He brings over 15 years of experience building and scaling teams across Bain, Amazon, and global technology startups, spanning strategy, product, and go-to-market roles. At HyperVerge, Akhilesh leads the US business of a bootstrapped, AI-led organization that has processed over 2 billion applications worldwide, with technology certified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
He works closely with small-business lenders to drive step-change improvements in underwriting efficiency, managing risk and scaling operations without adding headcount. Akhilesh holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, one of India’s leading business schools with a strong global reputation.
Alexis Shapiro is the General Counsel of Forward Financing, where she oversees all legal functions of the Company.
Prior to joining Forward Financing in April 2018, Alexis was a partner at the Boston-based law firm Goodwin Procter, where she advised companies and their officers and directors on strategies for avoiding liability and complex business disputes, with a particular emphasis in the financial services industry. Prior to Goodwin, Alexis was an attorney at Skadden Arps in New York City. Alexis is a board member of the Alternative Finance Bar Association (AFBA), an attorney-based organization that serves as a resource to its attorney members concerning current legal issues in the field of alternative finance.
Originally from New Jersey, Alexis graduated from Colgate University with a Bachelor of Arts, and from Boston College Law School with a Juris Doctorate. She currently resides in the Boston area with her family.
Andrew Coon has over thirty years of experience in the financial services industry. Mr. Coon co-founded CapFlow Funding Group® (“CapFlow”) in 2009 and CFG Merchant Solutions® (“CFGMS”) in 2015.
Throughout his career, Mr. Coon has gained a reputation as a seasoned leader, having worked for major financial institutions such as Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, Standard and Poor’s and Salomon Smith Barney. Mr. Coon currently serves as the CEO of CFGMS which provides payment processing and revenue-based funding solutions to small and medium-sized businesses throughout the US.
His commitment to providing innovative solutions to his clients has earned him a reputation as a thought leader in the commercial finance industry.
Mr. Coon holds a BA in International Relations and Economics from Brown University, and an MBA in Finance from Washington University.
David Goldin is considered one of the original pioneers of the merchant cash advance / revenue based finance and alternative business lending industry. He founded AmeriMerchant back in 2002, which later rebranded to Capify and became one of the first alternative finance providers to expand internationally. Today, Capify is an established unsecured and secured small business lender with more than 125 employees in the UK and Australia. In 2006, David played a pivotal role in invalidating a patent that posed a serious threat to the entire MCA / revenue-based finance industry—had he not done so, the industry may not have grown and thrived as it does today.
David is also part of Basepoint Capital, a specialty finance group, where he works within the division that provides capital to MCA, revenue-based finance and other commercial finance companies. In this role, he helps build new originator relationships and contributes over 20 years of hands-on experience globally in the MCA/revenue-based finance and alternative business financing space.
Over the years, David has been featured in numerous media outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg TV, SkyNews, and The Australian Financial Review. He was also one of the original founders and a past President of the Small Business Finance Association (SBFA), a U.S. trade group for the revenue-finance industry.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Reppas is a graduate of The Ohio State University where he double-majored in Modern Greek Studies and Political Science. Mr. Reppas earned his Juris Doctor degree from St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, Florida, and his LL.M. in International Law from the University of Miami School of Law. Mr. Reppas is a member of the Florida, New York and District of Columbia Bar Associations focusing primarily on State, Federal and International business litigation. Mr. Reppas is one of the world’s foremost legal scholars on Cultural Property and the international debate over the Parthenon Sculptures/Elgin Marbles.
Over the past 20 years, Scott envisioned, designed, built, and operated a variety of organizations to successfully achieve public policy objectives.
As the CEO of the Innovative Lending Platform Association, Scott guides the development and expansion of the organization representing online small business lenders. ILPA advances best practices and standards that support responsible innovation and access to capital for small businesses. During the pandemic, Scott lead ILPA member companies to make hundreds of thousands of SBA PPP loans, primarily to low and moderate income small businesses and women and minority owned small businesses.
Previously, as the Senior Director of FinTech Initiatives for the Financial Services Roundtable, Scott developed and implemented collaborative programs between technology companies and financial institutions to find common ground on technical issues and public policy.
He also designed and executed the first FinTech Ideas Festival that featured the world’s leaders at the confluence of finance, innovation and technology and was live streamed by CNBC. The event included 110 CEOs from the financial services and technology industries and top trended on Twitter.
Jamie Parker is Co-Founder and CRO of Heron Data. Heron helps 200+ funders and brokers to reduce their cost-per-decline and speed to offer by automating scrubbing, data entry, bank statement parsing, pricing, and KYB, for north of one million funding submissions every month.
Mark Ross is the CEO of Dragin Technologies and a fintech veteran. He began his career at Morgan Stanley, where he rose from Risk Engineer to VP of Quantitative Development on the Sales & Trading desk, building automation that generated millions in revenue for the Equities division.
As a founding architect of Dragin, Mark designed the company’s core database and infrastructure, helping position Dragin as an industry leader in fast, automated deal processing. Outside of work, he enjoys riding his motorcycle, career coaching young finance professionals, and spending time with his family.
Brian Mullins is a technology executive and career CTO with over 25 years of experience building and scaling fintech platforms and engineering teams. He has served as CTO for multiple lending organizations, leading the development of loan origination systems, underwriting platforms, and risk automation technologies that support high-growth funding operations.
Most recently, Brian served as Founding CTO of VOX Funding, where he built and scaled the company’s core lending technology platform, underwriting systems, and risk automation infrastructure.
As founder of Digsites, Brian leads the design and delivery of scalable platforms and AI-driven automation for modern financial institutions. His work focuses on transforming underwriting, risk decisioning, and lending infrastructure through software architecture, data intelligence, and applied AI.
Alex Shvarts is the founder and CEO of FundKite, a leading Revenue Based Finance provider focused on delivering tailored funding solutions to small and mid-sized businesses nationwide. Since launching FundKite in 2015, Alex has been committed to a clear mission: providing entrepreneurs with fast, flexible, and transparent access to working capital.
Under his leadership, FundKite has grown into a trusted resource for business owners across the U.S., recognized for it’s “boutique funding style” that focuses on a business’s actual performance and revenue rather than just traditional credit scores. Alex’s expertise in fintech, risk management, and small-business growth has earned him industry recognition, including membership in the Forbes Technology Council and features on FOX, CNBC, Reuters and other media outlets,
Shvarts often speaks on the importance of work-life balance for entrepreneurs, emphasizing that a clear mind is essential for making sharp decisions under pressure.
Rachael Schreiber leads CATALYST’s multistate government affairs practice where she draws from more than twenty years of experience in a variety of senior roles. Before joining CATALYST, Rachael led legislative and political affairs for one of the largest consumer specialty finance companies in the United States. She also served at some of the highest level positions in the Texas State Capitol.
Her unique blend of private and public sector experience makes her an effective advocate and strategist for businesses seeking to effectively engage with elected officials and other policymakers. Her invaluable institutional knowledge, broad range of relationships, and appetite for complex public policy issues have resulted in both immediate wins and long-lasting relationships for businesses across the country.
Herk Christie is the Chief Operating Officer at Expansion Capital Group (ECG), where he plays a key role in advancing the company’s mission to provide fast, innovative capital solutions to small businesses.
With over 25 years of experience in consumer and small business lending, Herk has built his career across both banking and alternative finance, focusing on expanding access to capital for underserved markets. He joined ECG in 2016, drawn by the opportunity to apply his operational expertise to a growing platform dedicated to small business success.
Since joining ECG, Herk has helped lead the company through more than 10x growth, building scalable operating models, strengthening operational discipline, and leveraging data and technology to support sustainable expansion. He brings a disciplined, execution-focused approach to operations and is deeply committed to helping small businesses grow and thrive.
Shanna Kaminski is the Principal Attorney and Owner of Kaminski Law, PLLC. Ms. Kaminski has focused her practice on bankruptcy, bankruptcy-related litigation, creditors’ rights and complex commercial litigation for nearly 20 years, representing clients in every bankruptcy court in the country. She has been involved in several well-known bankruptcy cases, including the bankruptcy cases for the City of Detroit, Sears and Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment (Redbox). She is a recognized and award winning attorney and has spoken at numerous webinars, seminars and conferences nationally regarding bankruptcy, creditors’ rights and revenue-based financing.
Ms. Kaminski started Kaminski Law, PLLC five years ago after years of working for boutique bankruptcy law firms followed by a large full-service law firm. Since its formation, Kaminski Law, PLLC has focused on representing revenue-based financing companies in bankruptcy, bankruptcy-related litigation, complex commercial litigation and related matters, such as receiverships and assignments for the benefit of creditors, throughout the United States including Puerto Rico.
Mr. McNierney is an Executive Managing Director of Brean Capital and a member of the firm’s Operating Committee. Mr. McNierney previously was President & Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Gleacher & Company, Inc. Prior to that, he was CEO and Head of Investment Banking for Broadpoint, the predecessor of Gleacher & Company. Earlier in his career, he was a Managing Director in the Healthcare and Communications Technology investment banking groups at Robertson Stephens & Company and a Vice President in the Healthcare investment banking group at Smith Barney, Harris, Upham & Co., Inc. During his 23 year career, Mr. McNierney has been involved in several hundred equity and debt public offerings, private placements and merger & acquisition and strategic advisory assignments for public and private companies in a diverse range of industries. Mr. McNierney obtained his BA and JD/MBA from The University of Texas at Austin. He holds Series 7, 24, 63, 79 & 99 licenses.
