December 2017
Coming in 2018:
The WBD Seminar Series
The annual WBD Seminar Series will make a fourteen-stop tour in February and March of 2018. At each stop, WBD Training Staff and Loan Officers will provide updates and insight on SBA lending and changes to the 504 loan program that will take effect in 2018 (with the implementation of SBA SOP 50-10-5-J.
This year’s agenda will be in the spirit of the traditional morning sessions offered in the past.
Join us for a refresher course in how to utilize the 504 Program to help your customers finance—or refinance—their fixed assets. Locking in low fixed rates, while preserving cash flow with only 10% down, will make them happy customers.
Plus, limiting your bank’s exposure will let you win more projects.
See our updated schedule below. Stay tuned for more information and registration details in early 2018.
Our Way of Saying Thanks:
Customer Appreciation Happy Hours
Pictured: Jeff Sheffler (WBD); Brad Schneider (U.S. Bank); Becky Schneider (WBD); David Kruck (Horicon Bank); and Matt Wilcox (WBD).
Many thanks to all of the friends we have seen at Customer Appreciation events in Delafield and in Little Chute! Our annual “Thank You Tour” will continue across our service areas.
We value all of our partners and hope you will join WBD staff and leadership at an event near you!
We will supply the food and drinks—plus the opportunity to network with local lenders and with economic development professionals in your areas.
Stop by one of our January events:
1.) WBD Customer Appreciation Happy Hour in Wausau
Thrive Foodery | 2105 North 2nd Street | Wausau, WI 54403
(Click link or image to register)
2.) WBD Customer Appreciation Happy Hour in Eau Claire
Monk’s Bar & Grill | 3560 Oakwood Mall Drive | Eau Claire, WI 54701
(Click link or image to register)
Tim Schneider, CEO of Investors Bank, to Lead WBD Board of Directors
Long-time WBD supporter and Investors Community Bank CEO Tim Schneider has been elected Chair of the WBD Board of Directors.
“Tim is a strong and committed leader,” WBD CEO Dan Schneider said. “I look forward to working with him to keep WBD moving forward.”
For more information, read the press release from Investors Bank.
2018 WBD Board of Directors
| Jeff Bowman | Bay Bank |
| Deb Clements | Retired |
| Kim Kindschi | Manitou Associates |
| Tom Mews | First National Community Bank |
| Bill Mitchell | Vrakas |
| Steven Peterson | Venture Bank |
| Dave Provancher | WaterStone Bank |
| Patrick Schloss | City of West Allis |
| Dan Schneider | WBD |
| Tim Schneider (Chairman of the Board) |
Investors Community Bank |
| Steve Shellman | Schenck Business Solutions |
A Sign of Change:
New Remodel and a New Mascot
Recently, we remodeled our office and gave it a fresh, clean overhaul. We love the new look, but something was still missing.
To that end, we would like to welcome the newest addition to the WBD Inc. team. Meet “Debenture,” the official mascot of the WBD Eau Claire office.
Now Hiring in Madison:
Small Business Loan Closer
WBD is seeking a Small Business Loan Closer to work in our Madison office.
We are looking for a quality-focused, detail-oriented team player with an interest in supporting small business growth. WBD Loan Closers interact with borrowers, bankers, and insurance companies as part of the SBA lending process.
To apply, please send a cover letter and a resume to: hr@wbd.org
November 2017
What Did WBD Finance in FY ’17?
To gain insight on SBA financing for fiscal year 2017, let’s take a look at the kinds of projects that were approved. As you might expect, purchases of commercial real estate are the number one use of the SBA 504 Loan Program.
However, take a look above to see other ways the program was used.
Do you have a project that might be a good fit for these or for any other categories? If so, contact a WBD Loan Officer near you.
WBD Goes Digital
In an effort to modernize our marketing, WBD has joined the social media world. We now have a Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube presence in the digital world.
We invite you to stop by our sites and say hello.
Feel free to share your social media sites with me. We are happy to cross-promote and increase the search engine optimization (SEO) results and ranking.
Food, Drinks, & Networking: WBD Happy Hours are Coming to a Venue Near You
Over the next few months, WBD staff and leadership will host Customer Appreciation Happy Hour events throughout our loan officers’ territories.
We will supply the food and drinks—plus the opportunity to network with local lenders and with economic development professionals.
You may have received an email or two about events already. If not, keep an eye out for future events in your area.
Look for a registration link in your email with date, time and location information.
Click below to register for the:
• Waukesha Customer Appreciation Happy Hour (Nov. 29)
• Oshkosh Customer Appreciation Happy Hour (Nov. 30)
These events are a way for us to say THANK YOU for helping make 2017 a successful year.
Favorite Thanksgiving Food? Pumpkin Pie!
We asked our WBD Loan Officers what food or dessert the look forward to the most on Thanksgiving. The overwhelming majority was pumpkin pie.
April Nelson: On any given Thanksgiving Day, there are as many ways to celebrate as there ways to cook a turkey. I traditionally travel somewhere I’ve never been and look for any restaurant that is open. It is always an adventure to see new places and meet new faces. When I find a place that is open, I order my Thanksgiving favorite—pumpkin pie. This year, I will be spending Thanksgiving mountain biking and hiking around Lake of the Ozarks.
Kyle Kuntz: On any given Thanksgiving Day, my favorite dessert is pumpkin pie. I traditionally spend the day with family, eat, and watch football.
Steve Kohl: My favorite Thanksgiving dish is my Grandma’s Pumpkin pie. She had the audacity to make pumpkin bars one year instead. “I was trying out a new recipe,” she said. I haven’t let her hear the end of it since, and hasn’t hasn’t made the mistake again.
Mike Dieckman: For me, Thanksgiving is all about the dressing and the pies. Turkey is overrated. Don’t get me wrong. I’ll eat a lot of it. But if it were up to me, I’d give everyone their own rotisserie chicken.
Hunting for Elk and for that Next 504 Project
Earlier this fall, I traveled to Wyoming for an archery elk hunt. The elk were hard to come by, but here’s a pic of me glassing for that next 504 projects. Eventually, I had to stop horsing around and get back to work.
October 2017
Lending Partners Join WBD to Set Record, Create More Than 1,200 Jobs in FY ’17
WBD ended fiscal year ’17 with record-level loans and with a solid number of jobs created.
In 2017, WBD approved just under $130 million in SBA 504 and SBA 7(a) loans—the second most productive year since the company was formed in 1981. Additionally, we helped in the creation and retention of over 1,200 jobs.
CEO and President Dan Schneider associates these successes with WBD’s continuous mission to offer user-friendly processes and procedures and to become “Your Business Finance Resource.”
“We would not have achieved this level of production without the efforts of the loan officers, analysts, closers, servicing staff, admin, HR, IT, accounting, and marketing,” Schneider said. “This was truly a team effort.”
WBD Expands Training Program to Share 7(a), 504 Expertise with Lenders
WBD is embarking on a new effort to significantly expand our training 
The trainings will draw from WBD’s thirty-five years of SBA experience.
Jeff Sheffler, former Vice President and Loan Officer in Northeast Wisconsin, has been promoted to Vice President of Training & Development to lead WBD’s efforts in this area.
Jeff is excited to share his nearly 20 years of SBA lending experience with financial institutions, with small businesses, and with other economic development organizations.
Becky Schneider, WBD’s Lender Services Manager and one of Wisconsin’s foremost 7(a) subject matter experts, will join Jeff in delivering this expanded training initiative.
In addition to explaining basic SBA lending rules, Jeff and Becky will provide “color commentary” on the black-and-white (and sometimes gray) world of SBA lending.
This initiative is offered through the WBD Service Company, which provides SBA lending services and support to financial institutions.
To learn more about trainings, topics, or times, contact Jeff Sheffler or Becky Schneider.
SBA Issues New SOP for 504 Loan Program
Here’s what we know so far:
- A new version of the SOP was finalized and made public on 10/13/17.
- The new rules will go into effect on January 1, 2018.
- SBA staff will discuss these changes throughout the annual meeting.
Women Venture Hosts “Women Mean Business” Luncheon in Minneapolis
On Friday, Oct. 13th, WBD Vice President and Loan Officer April Nelson (pictured above with WomenVenture Senior Loan Officer Jason Burak) attended the “Women Mean Business Luncheon” hosted by Women Venture.
Over 1,000 business professionals and community leaders attended this event, including U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.
This fall, Women Venture is celebrating 40 years of helping women achieve economic independence and success.
To learn more about their efforts, visit www.womenventure.org
Mike Dieckman and Family Check out the Sites in Spain
Diane Byler’s Son Aims High in the Air Force
September 2017
SBA Offers Loans to Hurricane Victims
The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to businesses, non-profits, homeowner, and renters. These loans help victims repair or replace real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
FEMA addresses immediate needs (food, water, and shelter), but the SBA is a partner for long-term recovery.
Victims may qualify for SBA loan deferment as well. Business owners in Texas and in Florida can apply for assistance at the SBA Disaster Assistance Site.
If you would like to donate to the relief and recovery effort, please visit the American Red Cross or Hand in Hand.
Layering Loans: WBD Experts talk 504 and 7(a) Loans on ‘Biztalk’ Radio Program
Recently, WBD Senior Vice President and Senior Lender Jason Monnett teamed up with WBD Vice President and Loan Officer Matt Wilcox to talk all things 504 and 7(a) on the “BizTalk with SCORE” radio program.
The experts explained how WBD helps small businesses in the Fox Valley grow and create jobs through an SBA 504 or a 7(a) loan—sometimes both by layering loans to support different parts of the process.
SCORE is a non-profit that provides supports small business growth and goals. With over 300 chapters in the U.S., SCORE is supported by the SBA in its mission to foster vibrant small business communities through mentoring and through educational programs.