Capital Growth Solutions travels to NAGGL Conference in Huntington Beach, CA

On October 24 through October 27, 2011, Capital Growth Solutions' President Gary Griffin, Chief Credit Officer Liz Eicholtz and Office Manager and CGS Blogger Sue Griffin traveled to Huntington Beach, California to attend the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders 27th Annual Conference on Small Business Lending.

Surrounded by beautiful beaches, and known as a surfer's paradise, Huntington Beach certainly lived up to its name.  With all the beauty outside it was difficult to concentrate on the seminars inside, however NAGGL hosted many informative seminars that kept the attendees busy during the daylight hours.  The CGS crew was here in California to learn and educate themselves, as they continue to keep up to date with the most recent changes in policies and procedures regarding the U. S. Small Business Administration.

SBA Deputy District Director Rachel Baranick and Lender Relations Specialist Stephen Leung were on hand to lend their expert advice.

Advanced SBA Loan Documentation and Closing, Mastering SBA Credit Underwriting, Advanced SOP 50 10 Training, SBA Loan Servicing and Liquidation, the Mechanics of the SBA 7(a) Secondary Market and the Guaranty Purchase Process were some of the training courses offered.

Attendance at the conference numbered over 650 participants.  The largest conference since 2007.  Capital Growth Solutions as a company continues to grow in direct relation to NAGGL and the SBA.

"It was great to see how excited the SBA is to get our feedback to make their products better and more user-friendly," Liz Eicholtz said. "They're not telling us 'this is the way it is', they actually want to make it the best it can be."  Ms. Eicholtz further stated, "and I was really excited to hear that within the next year they (SBA) are excited about the 504 program overhaul they are planning to do.  The program is great it just needs modifications and updates, and the SBA is ready to make these changes," Ms. Eicholtz concluded.


Of course those who work must have some time to play.  This conference provided two evenings of entertainment in keeping with the beach theme.  A beach party in "parrot"dise opening reception brought together friends and colleagues to taste culinary delights including a roasted pig and encouraged attendees to dress in their favorite beach attire and don their parrot head hats.

Lisa Preston (left) President and Karen L.R. Howard (right) Sr. Consultant of The Preston Group, LLC show off their creativity.  The folks from League City, Texas were definitely the crowd favorites.

On the second evening, we again wore our beach clothes and were off to the Riding the Wave party.  Attendees and guests experienced a mouth-watering buffet dinner which was followed by games at the Coastal Casino, great music from an ultimate surf-style, rock-n-roll band and those brave enough tried their balancing techniques on the simulated wave machine.

Capital Growth Solutions' President Gary Griffin relived his surfer youth days and impressed everyone with his skill and technique.  Not to be outdone, CGS' Liz Eicholtz also took to the waves and showed us all how good she is at balancing not only credit scores but the waves too!

"This was a great conference!  With all the changes in the new regulations and SOPs coming down the road, it was critical that we keep up to date and informed with all the new policies and procedures", said Gary Griffin.

CAPITAL GROWTH SOLUTIONS

6650 East Brainerd Road, Suite 212

Chattanooga, TN  37421

423-475-5700

email:  info@capgs.com

http://www.capgs.com/

Capital Growth Solutions Helps Couple Purchase the Southern Belle Riverboat with a Small Business Administration Loan

The Reinert Group Wanted to Buy a Riverboat. With the Help of Community National Bank and Capital Growth Solutions...They DID!

General Manager Joy Reinert has been working on the Southern Belle Riverboat since 1986. 
Today, Joy and her husband Joe own that same Riverboat.

The Reinert Group purchased the Southern Belle with a US Small Business Administration 7(a) loan through the combined efforts of Capital Growth Solutions (“CGS”) and Community National Bank (“CNB”).

CGS submitted the $2.3 million loan application on behalf of CNB to the SBA on May 25, 2011.  The loan was approved by SBA on 6/1/11 and the loan closing took place 9 days later on 6/10/1.  This was a standard 7(a) loan with a 75% SBA guarantee.

(Left to Right)  Gabe Thomas, Community National Bank; Greg Yeoman, Capital Growth;  Joy Reinert,  Joe Reinert, The Reinert Group;  Gary Griffin, Capital Growth; and Stephen Still, Community National Bank.

"The amazing fact is this loan was processed, approved and closed so quickly," said CGS President Gary Griffin.  "We all contributed to get this done in time for the Riverbend Festival.  The boat is docked on the Tennessee River right in the middle of the Festival site and was a tremendous source of revenue for this venture.”  Griffin further stated, “It just had to get done, and we did it!"

CAPITAL GROWTH SOLUTIONS

6650 East Brainerd Road, Suite 212

Chattanooga, TN  37421

423-475-5700

email:  info@capgs.com

http://www.capgs.com/

Capital Growth Solutions Welcomes 2 New Employees

Capital Growth Solutions ("CGS") expands to better serve the small business community with the addition of two employees:  Reed Fransley and Andrew Anderson.

CGS welcomes enthusiastic new employees

Reed began working with CGS in December 1, 2010 as an Assistant Vice President of Loan Servicing.  Reed graduated from University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2009 with a degree in Language World Business with a concentration on Spanish.  Reed studied abroad in 2007 in Madrid, Spain and in 2006 he attended the Universidad de Guanajuato in Mexico.  "Reed is in training to be the servicing and liquidation department head," said Hope Howell, VP of Loan Servicing and Liquidation, "he will walk into my shoes in 2 years when I retire."

"Times indicate that a bilingual employee will be extememly beneficial to our Company," Ms. Howell commented.  In keeping with this thought, both Reed and Andrew are bilingual at an intermediate/advanced level in Spanish.

CGS's most recent addition is Andrew Anderson who joined Capital Growth Solutions in April of this year.  Andrew is the Assistant Credit Officer under the direct supervision of Liz Eicholtz the Chief Credit Officer.  Andrew graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a B.S. in Finance in 2009. Additionally, Andrew received an Advanced Spanish Certification through the Andean Global Studies organization while studying in Ecuador for six months. "His finance background combined with his Spanish language skills made Andrew a stand-out employee prospect", says Gary Griffin, President and CEO of Capital Growth Solutions.

 

Per Liz Eicholtz, "Andrew will assist the credit department with all functions.  He will be responsible for loan submission to SBA and follow-up until approval is received.  He will coordinate receipt of documentation from borrowers and banks, aid in pre-screening prospective loan requests and aid in the formal underwriting process."

Capital Growth Solutions continues to grow to better serve the Community's needs.  We welcome Reed and Andrew to the team!

CAPITAL GROWTH SOLUTIONS

6650 East Brainerd Road, Suite 212

Chattanooga, TN  37421

423-475-5700

email:  info@capgs.com

http://www.capgs.com/

Mike Howard is Vice President of Operations at CAPITAL GROWTH SOLUTIONS, LLC

In 2008, Mike Howard joined Capital Growth Solutions as its Vice President of Operations.  His responsibilities include conducting and supervising the areas of loan processing and closings.  Mr. Howard is a primary liaison between CGS and the U. S. Small Business Administration with respect to loan applications.  He coordinates with all relevant parties to ensure that closings are done in a timely and orderly fashion.

Mr. Howard began his banking career in the loan operations department at Suntrust Bank in 1987. During his 9 years with Suntrust, he learned the many different functions of the bank's loan department. In 1996, he was hired by First Volunteer Bank to manage its loan operations. Mr. Howard and an assigned staff of eight people were responsible for a loan portfolio in excess of $383 million comprised of over 6,000 loans.  Mr. Howard was actively involved in the growth and development of First Volunteer as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee. He was instrumental in streamlining operations during several mergers and also managed the $20,000,000 SBA portfolio of the bank. He then took a position as HMDA and CRA officer for the bank and worked in bank compliance for the next five years.

From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Howard was Vice President of Operations and Loan Closing Manager for a conduit loan origination operation which generated and closed over $300 million in commercial real estate and small business loans.

In his free time, Mr. Howard enjoys volunteering at the Tennessee Aquarium (for over 13 years).  He has also been active as a Chattanooga Jaycee.

For over 22 years, Mike Howard has been a crucial part of the banking and finance world.  He regularly attends workshops and conferences to keep up to date with the most recent developments and changes in banking policies and procedures.

Capital Growth Solutions is proud to have Mike Howard on its team of leaders!

CAPITAL GROWTH SOLUTIONS

6650 East Brainerd Road, Suite 212

Chattanooga, TN  37421

423-475-5700

email:  info@capgs.com

http://www.capgs.com/

Gary E Griffin - CGS President & CEO

Gary E. Griffin has been advising and assisting people with their businesses his entire life.  His first job out of college was with the U. S. Small Business Administration in his hometown of Jacksonville, FL.  "These were great folks.  I couldn't have had a better learning opportunity."

At the age of 22, Gary worked in Washington, DC under President Jimmy Carter to implement the founding of the Office of Alcohol Fuels in the Department of Energy, one of the largest government guaranteed loan programs of its time.  For the next 30 plus years (to the present date), Gary has been using his vast knowledge of finance and business to advise the average person up to millionaires on how to make the most of their business lending.  Mr. Griffin has earned the unofficial title of an expert in SBA Lending.

Currently, Gary E. Griffin is President and Chief Executive Officer of Capital Growth Solutions, LLC, a SBA licensed loan service provider ("LSP"), which assists lenders in managing their small business loan portfolios.

From 2001 to 2007, Mr. Griffin was President and CEO of a conduit loan origination operation which generated and closed over $300 million in commercial real estate and small business loans.  This operation, through an affiliate, was also licensed as a non-bank lender with the capabilities to fund its own commercial loans.

Prior to 2001, Mr. Griffin served as eastern regional vice president of Bank of the West.  He has also represented First Union Small Business Capital (formerly The Money Store) in Tennessee, Georgia and North and South Carolina.  He also was President of Community Financial Corporation (a lender service provider), a subsidiary of Community Group (now First Volunteer Corporation).  In 1996, Mr. Griffin was named Tennessee's Small Business Financial Advocate of the Year.

In the 1980's, Mr. Griffin managed his own CPA firm in Atlanta concentrating on small business finance and taxation.  He also worked as the lead credit analyst of a venture capital firm and was a staff accountant for Arthur Young & Company.

Mr. Griffin is a Certified Public Accountant is both Tennessee and Georgia (inactive) and received a BSBA in Finance from the University of Denver.  He has also performed post-graduate work at Georgia State University and the University of Virginia in both Banking and Accounting.

With his extensive education and prestigious business background, Mr. Griffin leads Capital Growth Solutions with professional, well-practiced hands.  "This is an exciting time in the government guaranteed lending industry, and I am doing my utmost to keep Capital Growth Solutions in the forefront of the commercial lending activity for small businesses nationwide," says Mr. Griffin.

CAPITAL GROWTH SOLUTIONS

6650 East Brainerd Road, Suite 212

Chattanooga, TN  37421

423-475-5700

email:  info@capgs.com

http://www.capgs.com/

CGS Hosts 1st Training Session on SBA Standard Operating Procedures

Capital Growth Solutions held its first training session on April 4, 2011 in Chattanooga, TN.  A very special THANKS goes out to COMMUNITY NATIONAL BANK for providing the spacious facility located in their Rossville Branch, which housed the full day seminar.  The training session was well attended by over 20 participants representing different regional areas such as Nashville, TN, Birmingham, AL, Atlanta, GA and Chattanooga, TN.  "From the feedback I have received," reported Gary Griffin, CGS President and CEO, "the information was both relevant and timely".  Mr. Griffin spoke for about 3 hours on the basics of SBA Standard Operating Procedures ("SOP") 50 10 and SBA Lender Programs and Eligibility.

Bank Source Advisor President Art Freeman who travelled from Birmingham for the training, stated "Gary's SBA seminar ... was immediately impactful.  The day after the training several members of our team were able to apply his and Liz Eicholtz's guidance to projects we are currently working on." 

After Mr. Griffin's presentation, a breakout session was held combined with a box lunch from a local establishment.

Immediately following lunch, CGS Chief Credit Officer Liz Eicholtz trained on the SOP requirements for Loan Processing.  Per Ms. Eicholtz,  "Our intent for this seminar was to provide lenders with two things:

  - A basic understanding of SBA rules and guidelines in order to accurately represent the products available; and
  - The confidence that Capital Growth Solutions is always by their side to provide the necessary detail specific to each lending scenario."

Ms. Eicholtz further stated "the SOP is continually changing in response to these economic times and sometimes it is tough to stay up on all the changes.  We at Capital Growth Solutions make it our priority to make sure that we are current." 

The final session was directed by Matt Eicholtz, Business Development Officer for Georgia Resource Capital.  Mr. Eicholtz gave a brief overview of the SBA 504 program and the new initiatives in place during the recovery period.  "I really appreciate the invitation from Capital Growth Solutions to be a part of this great training day.  With so many changes occurring recently in both the SOP and 504 Programs, this was a great opportunity for me to be in front of these various lenders reviewing the changes," Mr. Eicholtz said,  "I want to especially thank Gary Griffin for allowing me to be a part of this very important training."

Per Mr. Freeman, "CGS consistently puts us in a position where we can be problem solvers and deal makers!"

Mr. Griffin expressed his thanks to all who participated and said "we look forward to a repeat performance in the Birmingham area shortly."

CAPITAL GROWTH SOLUTIONS

6650 East Brainerd Road, Suite 212

Chattanooga, TN  37421

423-475-5700

email:  info@capgs.com

http://www.capgs.com/

CGS - Outsourced SBA Lending

By teaming with Captial Growth Solutions "CGS", Lenders immediately have an experienced and technologically advanced Small Business Administration "SBA" loan processing and servicing operation that allows them to reap the benefits of holding and selling SBA loans, without any additional infrastructure.  In this regard, please note:

   *  In a period of tightening lending margins, participation in the SBA loan programs increases net interest margins and fee income;

    *  SBA commerical loans can reduce the risk both through low LTVs (504 loans) and the guaranty of the federal government (7a loans), Lenders will be making sound commerical loans at improved margins and the expense of originating, processing, underwriting and servicing is borne by CGS.  This is strictly a "pay-as-you-go" proposition.

    *  In a period when some lenders are shrinking their market share, due to additional perceived risk in commerical loans, our clients can actually increase market share by providing SBA loans.

WHAT WE OFFER:

- Preparation of SBA documents
- Augmenting the Lender's existing credit memorandum
-Submitting applications on the Lender's behalf to SBA
-Closing the approved loan
-Sale of the loan (if requested by Lender)
-Preparation of sale documents (SBA form 1086)
-Monthly reporting (SBA form 1502)
-Review of Lender's credit policies regarding SBA loans
-30 day review of closed loan file
-Preparation of SBA liquidation file (30 days after closing)
-Annual review of documentation for compliance (3 months after year-end)
-Any servicing actions over the life of the loan
-Supervision and coordination of collections/liquidation

SBA Loan Advantages

Significant and Immediate Fee Income

Higher Loan Limits

Increased Deposits

Lower Capital Requirements

Reduced Concentrations

Service Fee Income

Variable Rate Pricing



CALL Capital Growth Solutions TODAY...and leave the rest to us!

CAPITAL GROWTH SOLUTIONS

6650 East Brainerd Road, Suite 212

Chattanooga, TN  37421

423-475-5700

email:  info@capgs.com

http://www.capgs.com/