SBA Lending Experts

Bruce Hurta

VP, SBA Business Development Officer
[email protected]

Bruce Hurta is an SBA real estate loan expert, lender, blogger and public speaker committed to helping small business owners achieve affordable financing to build and grow their business. With over 20 years of SBA loan experience, Bruce is a trusted expert in the Houston area. He has been the president of the Houston Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders (HAGGL) and has received the Houston District SBA’s award for Financial Services Champion of the Year. Bruce received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin.

Corey L. Townsend

SBA Business Development Officer
404-888-1932
[email protected]

Corey Townsend provides debt financing to small businesses for acquisitions, expansion, and improvements utilizing SBA guaranteed loans. Prior to joining Ameris Bank, Corey worked for over a decade in wealth management, as a private wealth advisor at Morgan Stanley and later Merrill Lynch, serving ultra-high net worth individuals. He is an attorney by trade, and briefly worked for the IRS office of Chief Counsel, Financial Products and Institutions Division, before transitioning to the private sector. Corey is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. He also holds a master’s in finance from Georgia State University and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston.

Client Testimonials:

“Corey Townsend and all the staff involved in our SBA loan were knowledgeable and provided great customer service. It was a pleasure working with Ameris Bank, mainly because of the personalized service we received.”

• Jennifer Hamlin, Hamlin Psychological Services

“I am a first time business owner. Ameris Bank agreed to fund an SBA loan, walked me through the process, and dialed back potential anxieties.”

• Darlyne Johnson, Co-Owner of Ulfberht LLC / Kale Me Crazy

Gerald Schoffler

GGL SVP National Business Development Officer​
469-666-0845
[email protected]

Gerald is a 29-year veteran of the retail banking, commercial banking and mortgage lending industries who works tirelessly to promote small business growth. He brings nearly a decade of SBA lending experience to small businesses. He specializes in owner-occupied commercial real estate, construction financing, business acquisitions, expansions, partner buyouts and franchise funding. He is passionate about providing unique financing options to help customers fulfill their dreams of becoming small business owners. Gerald is an Accredited Small Business Consultant and Accredited SME Consultant. He is also a Certified Mortgage Planner with the Mortgage Bankers Association and holds a National Business Loan Affiliates of Texas certification with Texas Wide Open for Business.

Janice Bounds

GGL Business Development Officer
904-699-9761
[email protected]

Janice Bounds has 27 years of experience in the financial services industry with 15 years progressive experience in business development. Her vast experiences will afford you the greatest opportunity for securing the right credit solutions for all of your business needs. Janice was acknowledged as an SBA 2017 Financial Advocate of the Year for the North Florida area. Janice is located in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. and serves her clients locally and nationwide.

JERRY PRICE

VP, GGL Business Development Officer
614-327-4374
[email protected]

Jerry Price has helped to deliver financing to healthcare practitioners nationwide for the last 20 years. He is an expert in acquisitions, expansions, construction, commercial real estate, refinancing, working capital and more. He deeply understands the challenges companies face as they grow and can help avoid costly mistakes and close transactions quickly. Jerry is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in Family Financial Management.

John Daniels

GGL Business Development Officer​
847-921-0799
[email protected]

John works closely with businesses nationwide to provide access to popular Government Guaranteed Lending (GGL) programs such as SBA 7(a), USDA (B&I) & SBA 504. Loans backed by federal agencies can come with lower rates, less restrictive credit guidelines and more attractive terms. Business owners who work with him often find his customized lending solutions preserve their capital, lower their monthly payments and deliver them future flexibility and payment certainty positively impacting their bottom line. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and The Lake Forest Graduate School of Management (MBA). He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Lyndsey Blanks

GGL Business Development Officer
(850)-890-3858
[email protected]

Lyndsey Blanks has 15 years of experience in the banking industry. In this time, she has helped her customers with owner-occupied real estate purchases, business acquisitions, partner buyouts, expansions, construction projects, franchises, and has also focused on SBA 7(a) and 504 Loans. Lyndsey is a graduate of Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in communications and is located in the Florida Panhandle. She serves clients locally as well as nationwide to ensure continued success with the programs offered at Ameris Bank.

Michael Green

VP, SBA Business Development Officer
[email protected]

Michael Green has 30 years of experience in the financial services industry working with SBA and Commercial Real Estate transactions.  Michael is based in Atlanta, GA and is heavily involved in the community.  With the Ameris Bank Government Guaranteed Lending platform, Michael can lend anywhere in the United States using the SBA 7(a) or SBA 504 programs.  Michael enjoys working with clients large and small as well as start-ups and experienced small-business owners.  He will share his knowledge with clients and connect them with local and statewide programs that may assist the growth of their small business.  Whether your business is located in Atlanta, Augusta, or Ithaca, NY, he is interested in the success of your business.

Nadika Abeyrama

GGL Business Development Officer
404-272-7063
[email protected]

As a business development officer with more than 19 years of experience in business and retail banking, Nadika Abeyrama has helped corporations and small business owners to grow.  With her expertise as a business loan broker during the pandemic, Nadika was able to help business owners facing hurdles to access capital.  Her passion has earned her the reputation of a fixer and problem solver for small businesses. Nadika is enthusiastic about continuing to help businesses grow with the assistance of the government guaranteed programs available at Ameris Bank. 

Tim Sommers

SBA Business Development Officer
678-644-3172
[email protected]

Tim Sommers is an SBA loan expert with over seven years of 7(a) and 504 lending experience. He is a small business owner himself and strives to help fellow entrepreneurs achieve success in starting and growing their businesses through SBA financing. Tim is located in Atlanta but serves the entire U.S. under Ameris Bank’s preferred lender status with the SBA. He is a graduate of Georgia Southern University and holds a master's in business management.