Professional Qualifications

Bennington Partners’ Management Team and field reviewers bring an extensive level of banking experience to our loan review services. Backgrounds vary from regional and community lending institutions to money center and international banks to regulatory agencies. Individual areas of expertise include SBA lending, compliance, risk management, mortgage/construction lending, lease financing and loan workout. The reviewers have educational backgrounds in a variety of prestigious colleges and universities in the United States.

David J. Etter, Director - Loan Review
has over 25 years experience in financial services and has held credit and lending positions with community, regional and large banks. He has held senior management positions including President of the small business commercial lending subsidiary of one the world’s largest companies, as well as Chief Credit Officer of a large community bank.

Other assignments have included management of commercial loan workout departments, management of commercial lending teams, and the management of underwriting departments. He has experience in small and mid market commercial lending, commercial real estate, SBA lending, commercial finance, leasing and international trade finance. Mr. Etter graduated with a BS in Finance with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Connecticut.

Janet M. Wittmann, Manager - Client Services
has 20 years experience in commercial banking and credit services. She has held various management positions in the Lending and Treasury areas. Ms. Wittmann graduated with a BA in Finance from Western Connecticut State University.

Robert R. Matheu – Founder of Bennington Partners
has over 39 years of commercial banking experience with management positions held at money center and regional banks. His management experience encompasses a variety of positions including Executive Vice President – Deputy Chief Lender, Group Head in charge of Installment Lending, Commercial Real Estate, Residential Mortgage, Asset Based Lending and International as well as Regional Lending manager, Branch Division Head and a number of lending management positions. In addition to his management responsibilities, he has been a member of a variety of Bank committees including Board Loan Committee, ALCO, Strategic Planning, Marketing and Executive Management.

Mr. Matheu graduated with Honors in Economics from San Jose State University and Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University where his thesis was selected for Library Publication. Mr. Matheu has lectured for a number of Banking Organizations and The Consumers Banking Association School at The University of Virginia, as well as serving on various professional and civic boards.

Engagement Managers

William M. Daniels
has over 20 years in the banking industry in Florida, including several years as a Senior Lender. Mr. Daniels received his BS in Business Administration from Florida Southern College.

Bonnie C. English
has over 20 years of commercial banking experience (both money market and community banking), including the design and implementation of the Commercial Loan Review function for a regional bank. Ms. English has a BS in Banking and Finance from University Southern Mississippi and an MBA from New York University.

Jay T. Hostetter
has 30 years experience in financial services and has held senior credit and lending positions with community, regional and large banks. Mr. Hostetter is a graduate of Trinity College with a BA in Economics and is a graduate of the National Commercial Lending Graduate School of the American Bankers Association.

William P. O’Brien
has over 20 years of experience in commercial lending and credit risk management, including senior positions at large regional banks. Mr. O’Brien is a graduate of Providence College, and received an MS in Finance from the University of Baltimore.

Anthony Romano
has over 20 years banking and related experience. He began his career at a regional bank where he developed an expertise in government and specialty lending. He then worked for the FDIC where he analyzed, valued and sold financial assets. Prior to joining Bennington Partners he worked for a division of a major corporation specializing in SBA lending.  Mr. Romano graduated from Sacred Heart University with a BS in Business Administration and an MBA in Finance.

Mark B. Surrusco
has 25 years of domestic and international banking and related experience, including management of the Loan Review Group at a regional bank, and management of the Mexico City office of a major Pennsylvania bank. Mr. Surrusco is a graduate of Fordham University with a BA in History, and received an MS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.

Kent VanScyoc
has approximately 20 years of experience in commercial real estate lending and consulting services. He has held senior positions with credit companies, banks and consulting firms. Mr. VanScyoc graduated with a BS from Purdue University.

David P. Yarger
has 25 years of Commercial Banking experience. He has held a variety of Management positions with regional and money center east coast banks, with the latest being Vice President and Senior Real Estate Officer with a major Connecticut Bank. His lending experience included agricultural lending in both the Mid-West and New England. Mr. Yarger graduated with a BS from the University of Missouri.

Consultants

Francis A. English
has over 30 years of banking experience, including management of both commercial lending and residential mortgage departments. Mr. English has a BS from the University of Connecticut and a degree from the Graduate School of Banking, University of Colorado.

Glenn W. Hayes
has over 30 years of experience in the Bank Examination Division of the Connecticut State Department of Banking, most of that time serving as Assistant Director. Mr. Hayes graduated from the University of New Haven with a BS, and earned an MBA in Finance from the same institution.

Thomas G. Hollinger
has approximately 35 years of experience in commercial lending, commercial loan administration and special asset management with a number of large regional banks. Mr. Hollinger received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Juniata College.

Carol McDonald
has over 30 years of commercial banking experience. Her last assignment, covering eleven years, was as a Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager for a money center bank. Ms. Mc Donald received a BS and MBA from Indiana University.

Edward E. Maloney
has over 30 years of experience, including senior positions with large regional banks and overseas banking assignments for the United States Government. His background includes commercial real estate, SBA lending, and loan workout. Mr. Maloney received a BS from St. John’s University.

Judith Nokes
has over 25 years commercial banking experience, including over 10 years in Credit Risk/Loan Review management positions. Prior to joining Bennington Partners she managed the loan review function for the financial subsidiary of a large multi-national corporation, with a portfolio of both international and domestic government guaranteed loans, as well as ABL and leasing facilities. Ms. Nokes graduated with honors from Central Connecticut State University.

William E. Riseley
has over 20 years of banking and related experience, holding senior positions in commercial lending. His background includes commercial real estate, construction, and loan workout. Mr. Riseley received a BS from Ithaca College.

Fern D. Simmons
has 30 years of banking and related experience, including senior positions in both domestic and international firms. She has expertise in leases, trade agreements, and a broad range of investment products. Ms. Simmons graduated with a BS from New York University.

Thomas E. Whitbread
has more than 20 years of banking and related experience, both domestic and international. His background includes senior positions in community banking, commercial lending, and loan workout. Mr. Whitbread has a BA from the State University of New York, and earned an MBA in Finance from Canisius College.

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Bennington Partners, LLC
74-G Bennett Square, Southbury, CT 06488
Phone (203) 262-4140 |  Fax (203) 262-4144 (888)624-2022