Eric Guttormson - Tips for a Successful Loan Application
Eric Guttormson serves as the Sr. Lending Officer at First Southwest Bank (FSWB), providing strategic direction for the lending department while ensuring regulatory compliance. He develops lending solutions for businesses and agricultural customers, with a focus on underserved rural communities in Colorado.
Prior to FSWB, Eric spent seven years at Sunrise Banks in Minnesota, a CDFI bank focused on financial empowerment, where he served as Commercial Credit Analyst, Commercial Portfolio Manager, Commercial Loan Officer, and VP Commercial Loan Manager. He began his career as a Commercial Credit Analyst at MinnWest Bank.
Eric is passionate about bringing partners together to foster equitable economic progress in rural Colorado. He finds fulfillment in continued learning and mentoring others to expand their knowledge and skills, aligning with FSWB's mission as one of Colorado's two CDFI banks
AJ Shaikh - Tips for a Successful Loan Application
AJ Shaikh is a dedicated champion for small businesses and entrepreneurs, bringing over a decade of expertise in business banking and commercial lending. With extensive experience at regional and national financial institutions, AJ specializes in SBA 7(a) and 504 lending programs that help small businesses access the capital they need to launch, grow, and thrive. Throughout his career, he has managed multimillion-dollar lending portfolios while maintaining a personal commitment to understanding each entrepreneur's unique vision and challenges. AJ's approach combines deep knowledge of commercial credit and relationship management with a genuine passion for empowering small business owners to achieve their goals and strengthen their communities.
Garrett is a business and technology leader with an MBA and more than 30 years of experience helping organizations use systems and data to grow. His career spans IT leadership, operations, and business strategy, giving him a practical ability to translate complex technology into clear business decisions. Garrett specializes in helping companies use tools like CRM to strengthen customer relationships, improve sales follow-up, and make smarter growth decisions.
Garrett Bruker - Contacts to Clarity: How Businesses Use CRM to Grow Smarter
Audrey Royem - Beyond Wages: Redefining Job Quality for a Resilient Rural Economy
Audrey Royem is a systems facilitator who helps organizations and communities navigate complexity and make better decisions. With a background in international development, regional economic work, and entrepreneurship, she brings a practical, systems-level lens to real-world challenges. Her work focuses on identifying where design and daily life are out of alignment—and creating clearer pathways forward.
Stacy Reuille-Dupont - Nervous System-Savvy Leadership for a Fast-Moving Future
Dr. Stacy Reuille-Dupont, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and founder of Studio B, where she bridges psychology, physiology, and embodiment to transform how people lead and live. Her work teaches high-performing individuals how to access clarity, resilience, and aligned decision-making through the intelligence of the body—redefining leadership from the inside out by bringing the body back into business.