Nov 13, 2025
This week marks the finale of The Art of SBA Lending podcast, and Ray Drew brings it home by reuniting with his original mentors and colleagues from the era that shaped his career: the Mercantile Capital team. Listen as they reminisce about the "good old days" of 2011–2013, an era defined by reinventing business after...
Oct 30, 2025
This week on The Art of SBA Lending, we sit down with Live Oak Bank CEO and founder, Chip Mahan, to discuss the revolutionary ideas that transformed the SBA landscape. Chip Mahan, who started the bank in 2008, disrupted the existing SBA playbook by focusing on nationwide industry vertical lending.
Chip details the...
Oct 16, 2025
This week on The Art of SBA Lending, we go behind the scenes with Heidi Whitesell to unpack the leadership, culture, challenges, and ultimate wind-down of a successful SBA lending division. Ray Drew sits down with Heidi, who he calls one of the best leaders he's ever worked for, to discuss the philosophy that created a...
Oct 2, 2025
This week on The Art of SBA Lending, we explore the world of USDA Business & Industry (B&I) lending, often considered the "last frontier" of government-guaranteed small business finance. Host Ray Drew, who admits to knowing very little about the program, is joined by a panel of USDA experts—Steve Small, Jason Hoerr,...
Sep 25, 2025
This week on The Art of SBA Lending, we're doing something special: a Money Store reunion episode. The Money Store pioneered the Business Development Officer (BDO) model and revolutionized the SBA lending industry, holding the top position for 16 consecutive years. Host Ray Drew brings together four Money Store...