For Business

Meet the Veteran Lending Team

First Bank of the Lake
First Bank of the Lake

Veteran Lenders helping Veteran Business Owners

At First Bank of the Lake, we take great pride in our team of veterans who are dedicated to helping our veteran borrowers achieve their business dreams. Allow us to introduce this incredible team.

 

Matt GoersMatt Goers, Senior Vice President
Senior Business Development Officer, SBA Franchise & Veteran Lending

  • USMC 2005-2010: 0351 Anti-Tank Assault man / 0231 Intelligence Specialist
  • Served 2 deployments (Operation Iraqi Freedom Fallujah 2007 & Ramadi 2008-09)
  • Served as battalion Intelligence Section Chief for 2nd Battalion 9th
  • Current VetFran Committee Member

    Matt currently serves on the VetFran board as well as being solely focused SBA Franchise & Veteran lending. He is committed to helping veterans achieve small business success through the SBA lending programs. As a Marine Corps veteran, he understands what veterans bring to the business world and works closely with veteran business owners to realize their lending needs by highlighting their military service and leadership acuity.

Emilio VallejosEmilio Vallejos
Business Development Associate, SBA Franchise & Veteran Lending
  • USMC 1997-2001: Security Force Marine / 0331 Machine Gunner
  • Current Finance Officer for American Legion Post and Board Member of the Northern Colorado Veteran Resource Center

    Emilio is passionate about assisting Veteran Entrepreneurs seeking financing for their franchise businesses. A Marine Corps veteran himself, Emilio is skilled at highlighting veteran borrowers’ prior military service and experience, ensuring their future success. Emilio understands how management is a key component of the lending process, and valuable military service can often be overlooked by lenders when evaluating loan applications.

Ricky ChristieRicky Christie
SBA Sales Specialist
  • Graduate of the US Naval Academy
  • 2020-2022 Submarine Powerplant Supervisor and Assistant Security Manager

Ricky is a key member of the Veteran’s team, ensuring that veteran borrowers’ experience with First Bank of the Lake is seamless from inquiry to funding. He focuses primarily on the unseen side of lending, collecting, and recording lending documentation needs, working on moving the lending process through each stage. He is committed to working with veteran small business owners, providing a smooth transition, and helping them on their way to entrepreneurial success.