Winter Park, Florida, United States
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As the President and CEO of Community Bankshares, Inc., the holding company for Community…

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Experience & Education

  • Phoenix Lender Services

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Volunteer Experience

  • YPO Graphic

    Orlando Chapter Board Member

    YPO

    - 2 years 11 months

  • YPO Graphic

    Orlando Chapter Assistant Learning/Education Chair

    YPO

    - 1 year

  • YPO Graphic

    Orlando Chapter Membership Chair

    YPO

    - 1 year 1 month

  • YPO Graphic

    Orlando Chapter Learning Officer

    YPO

    - 11 months

  • Entrepreneurs Alliance of Orlando Graphic

    Leadership Council member

    Entrepreneurs Alliance of Orlando

    - Present 4 years 8 months

    Economic Empowerment

Publications

  • Careless SBA Lending Tells Same Old Story

    Huffington Post

    One of my favorite quotes comes from Spanish philosopher George Santayana who said: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."​ Believe it or not, we can draw a connection between this 110-year-old quotation and small business lending today.

    The U.S. Small Business Administration is allowing history to repeat itself, as it tacitly enables small business lenders to offer government guaranteed 7(a) loans in ever-larger amounts with yet smaller collateral contributions…

    One of my favorite quotes comes from Spanish philosopher George Santayana who said: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."​ Believe it or not, we can draw a connection between this 110-year-old quotation and small business lending today.

    The U.S. Small Business Administration is allowing history to repeat itself, as it tacitly enables small business lenders to offer government guaranteed 7(a) loans in ever-larger amounts with yet smaller collateral contributions from borrowers. Somewhere Alan Greenspan is muttering "irrational exuberance."...

    See publication
  • Wall of Loan Maturities to Challenge Small Business Owners

    the Huffington Post

    If you haven't yet heard about the "Wall of Maturities" in the commercial mortgage market, you will soon. Between now and 2017, more than $300 billion in commercial real estate loans will mature and need to be refinanced. This represents more than 2.5 times the amount that matured from 2012 - 2014. It's significant because while the overall economy has improved, traditional commercial lenders have continued to hold tight reins on lending requirements. These commercial loans coming due were…

    If you haven't yet heard about the "Wall of Maturities" in the commercial mortgage market, you will soon. Between now and 2017, more than $300 billion in commercial real estate loans will mature and need to be refinanced. This represents more than 2.5 times the amount that matured from 2012 - 2014. It's significant because while the overall economy has improved, traditional commercial lenders have continued to hold tight reins on lending requirements. These commercial loans coming due were originated before the real estate bust and Great Recession.

    For more, click on the link...

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  • 12 Ways to Keep Your Competitors At Bay

    Readwrite

    Whether you're starting up in a relatively new industry or entering a crowded market, competition is a fact of life for business owners.

    That said, no matter how good you are at what you do, it doesn't hurt to build more barriers to entry to keep the most threatening competitors at bay—so you focus on dominating your niche.

    Twelve YEC founders offer their best strategies for staying one step ahead.

    See publication
  • 15 Crazy Company Culture Perks That Paid Off

    LinkedIn

    How do you keep your best people off job boards and invested in your company’s future? These 15 entrepreneurs discovered sometimes all it takes to increase productivity and morale is a little outside-of-the-box thinking. Here are the craziest and strangest company culture perks that actually work:

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  • Can You Afford a Small Business Loan? How to Figure It Out

    BusinessNewsDaily

    To demystify the math behind small business loans, Business News Daily spoke with two small business lending experts: Chris Hurn, co-founder and CEO of the small business commercial property financing firm Mercantile Capital Corp., and Ty Kiisel, director of content marketing at Lendio, an online platform that connects small business owners with potential lenders.

    See publication
  • An Open Letter to Maria Contreras-Sweet

    The Huffington Post

    Last July, speculation swirled about who the next SBA Administrator might be. It had been five months since Karen Mills announced that she would step down, and we were all starting to wonder about the future of the post and the agency. I joined the conversation, though not to guess who the nominee might be — instead I put forth a list of qualities the next SBA Administrator should possess and embody. Now that President Obama has nominated Maria Contreras-Sweet, I have a few suggestions for her…

    Last July, speculation swirled about who the next SBA Administrator might be. It had been five months since Karen Mills announced that she would step down, and we were all starting to wonder about the future of the post and the agency. I joined the conversation, though not to guess who the nominee might be — instead I put forth a list of qualities the next SBA Administrator should possess and embody. Now that President Obama has nominated Maria Contreras-Sweet, I have a few suggestions for her to consider.

    See publication
  • And the New SBA Administrator Is...

    The Huffington Post

    It's up to the next SBA Administrator to champion America's small businesses, keep the ball rolling, and make good decisions that will improve the SBA and do more to help small business owners succeed, grow, create jobs, and help our economy continue its recovery. Who will be the new face of the SBA?

    See publication
  • The Entrepreneur’s Secret to Creating Wealth: Feature Interview with Chris Hurn

    (Inc. Small Giants Community

    ISGC Executive Director Raul Candeloro spent some time interviewing me to learn about how taking real ownership of a business can change a company’s course for the positive.

  • Out-of-the-Box Loan Options to Start a Business

    FOX Business

    I was quoted in this FOX Business article about small business lending and shared my advice with small business owners.

    See publication
  • Tips to Boost Business in 2013

    Windsor Buisness

    I suggest five ways small business owners can invest in their business regardless of the economic climate.

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Honors & Awards

  • Inc. Fastest Growing Business #271

    Inc.

    Fountainhead placed #271 with a 2,006% 3-Year Growth, 5th fastest growing firm in metro Orlando and #32 in the Southeast Region

  • #13 Best Companies To Work For In Florida in Small Companies Category

    Florida Trend

  • ACG Orlando SMART Awards Winner

    Association for Corporate Growth Orlando

  • Orlando Inno Fire Award Winner

    Orlando Inno

  • Finalist: EY Entrepreneur of the Year

    Ernst & Young LLP

  • CEO of the Year

    Orlando Business Journal (OBJ)

  • NADCO Banker Of The Year

    NADCO

  • 2019 Best SBA Lender

    Lendver

    Fountainhead Commercial Capital was named 2019 Best SBA Lender by Lendver.com. Fountainhead was rewarded for funding almost $23 billion of commercial real estate and SBA loans. Our founder, Chris Hurn, is also one of the industry’s biggest advocates for small businesses and SBA 504 financing. Fountainhead has a proprietary software, Pronto, enables 2-hour loan approvals for eligible transactions; significantly expediting the SBA loan process. The level of experience and professionalism…

    Fountainhead Commercial Capital was named 2019 Best SBA Lender by Lendver.com. Fountainhead was rewarded for funding almost $23 billion of commercial real estate and SBA loans. Our founder, Chris Hurn, is also one of the industry’s biggest advocates for small businesses and SBA 504 financing. Fountainhead has a proprietary software, Pronto, enables 2-hour loan approvals for eligible transactions; significantly expediting the SBA loan process. The level of experience and professionalism possessed by Fountainhead is essential when you are seeking a long-term partner to help you obtain affordable capital, grow your business and create wealth.

  • CEO of the Year

    Orlando Business Journal

    Fountainhead Commercial Capital’s CEO and founder Chris Hurn was recently named CEO of the Year by Orlando Business Journal. Chris, a dynamic CEO, has built his second successful small business finance company in his 20-year career. He was awarded this honor by OBJ for being a huge supporter of Orlando, entrepreneurs and young people who want to enter the business world. He is truly giving back to the Orlando community.

  • Finalist: 2018 Florida Companies to Watch

    GrowFL

    Fountainhead Commercial Capital was among the first round of 2018 “Florida Companies to Watch” finalists recently announced by GrowFL. The awards event - now in its eighth year - honors 50 select second-stage companies from throughout the state for developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities, and broadening new industries throughout Florida. Chosen from a candidate pool of 134 growing second-stage businesses, the finalists collectively represented…

    Fountainhead Commercial Capital was among the first round of 2018 “Florida Companies to Watch” finalists recently announced by GrowFL. The awards event - now in its eighth year - honors 50 select second-stage companies from throughout the state for developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities, and broadening new industries throughout Florida. Chosen from a candidate pool of 134 growing second-stage businesses, the finalists collectively represented $518 million in annual revenue and employed 2,743 full-time equivalent employees in 2017. Fountainhead specializes in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) “504” loans as well as low loan-to-value commercial real estate loans for entrepreneurs.

  • Top Small Business Influencer of 2018

    FitSmallBusiness.com

    Fountainhead Commercial Capital’s CEO and founder Chris Hurn was recently named one of the Top Small Business Influencers of 2018 by FitSmallBusiness.com. The website selected small business influencers with outstanding credentials, expertise, and skills pertaining to entrepreneurial success, as well as an impressive quantity of social media followers. Fountainhead specializes in SBA “504” loans as well as low loan-to-value commercial real estate loans for entrepreneurs.

  • Real Estate Influencer

    American City Business Journals

    Fountainhead Commercial Capital’s CEO and founder Chris Hurn was recently named by American City Business Journals as one of the nation’s most influential leaders in commercial real estate. Executives name to the list represent both large, nationally recognized firms and smaller, family owned businesses. Some are long-tenured executives while others have found success relatively early in their careers. Hurn has been recognized for his contributions to small business commercial lending by many…

    Fountainhead Commercial Capital’s CEO and founder Chris Hurn was recently named by American City Business Journals as one of the nation’s most influential leaders in commercial real estate. Executives name to the list represent both large, nationally recognized firms and smaller, family owned businesses. Some are long-tenured executives while others have found success relatively early in their careers. Hurn has been recognized for his contributions to small business commercial lending by many organizations including the U.S. Small Business Administration. Fountainhead specializes in SBA “504” loans as well as low loan-to-value commercial real estate loans for entrepreneurs.

  • SBA 504 Lender of the Year

    Coleman Report

    Fountainhead Commercial Capital’s CEO and founder Chris Hurn was recently named an SBA 504 Lender of the Year by the Coleman Report, a leading provider of information to small business bankers. Fountainhead, a non-bank lender founded in 2015, offers SBA 504 and conventional commercial real estate loans to small businesses nationwide. The company’s executive team, led by Hurn, have funded more than $26 billion in commercial loans during the past 25 years.

Organizations

  • Forbes

    Finance Council Member

    - Present
  • Business Force

    Board Member

    - Present
  • NFIB (National Federation of Independent Businesses)

    Florida Leadership Council Member

    - Present
  • YPO (Young Presidents Organization)

    Board Member; Membership Chair; and Learning Officer

    - Present
  • NAPL (National Association of Premier Lenders)

    Board member

    -

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