About The Commercial Loan Broker Association

Founder

Terry Luker

Terry is a visionary leader in commercial finance and the host of the Deal Talk podcast. As the founder of Alternative Capital Solutions, Commercial Capital BIDCO, and part owner of both Credit Unity and the Commercial Loan Broker Academy, Terry’s wealth of experience and dedication to ethical practices have been foundational to the CLBA’s growth. His goal is to elevate the commercial lending profession by creating a community focused on education, integrity, and success.

Founder

Jeff Luker

Jeff has an extensive background in commercial lending and shares Terry’s commitment to advancing industry standards. Involved in Alternative Capital Solutions, Commercial Capital BIDCO, Credit Unity, and the Commercial Loan Broker Academy, Jeff’s focus on strategic growth and relationship-building drives CLBA’s mission to foster a supportive, growth-oriented environment for brokers at all levels.

Founder Emeritus

Jon Cosentino

There are people who have been in and around our industry for many years, yet there aren’t many who have had as profound of an impact on our industry as Jon Cosentino. 

I first met Jon when he was training new brokers at the Commercial Capital Training Group. I remember talking through a SBA deal with him during our week of training and the different options he shared with me about how to get that deal funded so we could get the client the capital they needed. 

Over the next decade Jon and I stayed in touch, and I’d call him from time to time to discuss a deal or to get information on a new lender. Jon always shot me straight – even if it wasn’t what I wanted to hear about a deal or a lender. 

In 2023 I called Jon to get the straight talk on a lender I was looking to do a deal with. Jon was forthright in his comments like always. He said, “Terry I don’t understand their program, and I am not getting involved in it.” That alone saved me time and money, because I knew if Jon wasn’t involved with that lender, then I didn’t need to be either. As it turns out, that decision probably saved my firm. 

In January 2024 Jon and I, along with Jeff Luker, began to have conversations about purchasing the NACLB together and changing the direction of that company. Jon reached out to the owner to see if there was a deal to be made. On the advice of our legal counsel we decided against the purchase, and instead started a new firm, The Commercial Loan Broker Association. And here we are today. 

Last year our team delivered a convention in just 5 short months, which wouldn’t have happened without a big push from Jon. Jon has been an advocate for brokers for the 12 years that I have known him. 

He has always been willing to stop whatever he’s doing to assist brokers with loans – even when he’s not getting a dime for doing so. Jon has always been a helper to lenders as well- whether it’s pushing the lending platform or giving them counsel on what will and won’t work in the broker community. No matter which side of the house you’re on – lender or broker – Jon has been a force and a voice for our industry for over 25 years. 

When Jon, Jeff and I sat down to discuss the CLBA, all three of us knew that our focus needed to be on educating the commercial loan brokers and providing them with a community that would help them grow and expand their business. 

Without Jon Cosentino, the Commercial Loan Broker Association wouldn’t be here today. Jon’s desire to ensure that commercial loan brokers have a community and network to be part of and draw help from is a driving reason that the Commercial Loan Broker Association exists today. 

Jon has decided that it’s time for him to go at a slower pace at this point in his life. While I’ll miss our almost daily calls and talks, I must respect his decision to slow down. I want all of you to know that Jon is still part of our organization and will be working as much as he desires to going forward. 

Jon, I want to personally thank you for your guidance and counsel over the past 12 years. Most importantly though, I want to thank you for your friendship. Thank you for being there early on when I wasn’t sure where to go with deals and thank you for pushing us to start the CLBA. It exists today because of your dedication to this community. 

Thank you, Jon, for all you’ve done for our community and our industry!

Executive Director

Cristina Darr

Cristina is excited to join the Commercial Loan Broker Association as Executive Director, bringing a powerful combination of strategic organizational expertise and results-driven leadership. A graduate of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, Cristina has cultivated a 25-year track record of success, specializing in project management, marketing, and large-scale event operations across diverse sectors including non-profit and municipal environments.

Throughout a dynamic career that included leading everything from intimate weddings to major city events and fundraisers, Cristina became known as a specialist in organizational revitalization, with a proven ability to put the plans and processes in place to support economic stability and sustained growth.

Cristina’s success is driven by a leadership philosophy rooted in a high sense of urgency, meticulous organization, and a collaborative approach that balances execution with empathy to drive strong outcomes and build high-performing teams. While her background is diverse, Cristina’s core expertise in budgeting, detailed logistics coordination, and strategic execution brings a fresh, results-oriented perspective ensuring the CLBA operates with maximum efficiency and strategic clarity while delivering high-quality, impactful results for its members.

Director of Development & Education

Scott DiBeraRdinis

Scott DiBerardinis is a versatile professional with a rich background in commercial lending and organizational leadership. With extensive experience as a commercial lender at Chase and HSBC, specializing in asset-based commercial real estate, Scott has established himself as a dependable and goal-oriented  professional.

Recognized for his exceptional organizational capabilities, problem-solving skills, and effective communication, Scott has excelled in managing heavy client workloads while maintaining a high degree of integrity and promoting corporate branding. His leadership capabilities shine through his role as the Executive Director of the Commercial Loan Broker Association, where he has dedicated himself to advancing industry standards and best practices.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Scott is an avid athlete with a passion for sports such as CrossFit, golf, and pickleball. His commitment to physical fitness mirrors his disciplined approach and goal-oriented mindset in both his personal and professional life.

Director of Marketing

Leah Waldrop

Leah Waldrop is a two-time graduate of The University of Alabama (2009, 2011) where her areas of study included Public Relations, Political Science and American Studies. Throughout her career, Leah has served across multiple industries in a marketing and public relations role including B2B supply chain and manufacturing, live events management and marketing, tourism marketing, and commercial real estate as well as start-up branding for entrepreneurs and local business owners – giving her an unmatched understanding of marketing strategy for both businesses and consumers. 

Leah is passionate about entrepreneurship and the business owner journey in relation to marketing, building customer relationships, and tracking results – one of the many heartbeats inside TCLBA’s mission statement.

Integrated Operations & Experience Manager

Jenna Seidel

Jenna Seidel is a seasoned marketing, events, and operations professional with a decade of diverse experience in creating impactful campaigns, executing successful events, and empowering teams to perform their best. Jenna’s journey began a decade ago when she entered a fast-paced marketing agency environment and spent the last decade honing marketing skills that drive engagement and results. 

While honing her marketing skills, Jenna discovered she also has a knack for orchestrating memorable experiences. From intimate corporate gatherings to large-scale conferences, she excelled in all aspects of event management – from conceptualization and logistics planning to execution and post-event analysis.

Jenna’s expertise extends beyond marketing and event planning, encompassing a comprehensive understanding of operations management. Through her strategic approach, she has helped teams optimize processes, streamline workflows, and implement innovative solutions to enhance efficiency and productivity. Her strong leadership skills have empowered teams to perform at their best, fostering a collaborative and results-driven work environment.

Looking ahead, Jenna is excited to continue leading marketing and events teams. She aspires to take on new challenges, explore emerging trends, and make a meaningful impact in the ever-evolving landscape of marketing and events. With her wealth of experience, passion for innovation, and commitment to delivering results, Jenna Seidel continues to leave a lasting impact on every project and event she touches.

Chief Origination Officer at New Day

Dain K. Court

As Chief Origination Officer at New Day, a premier nationwide direct commercial real estate lender, Dain K. Court plays a pivotal role in driving the company’s growth and success. Leading a top-tier sales team, he oversees origination efforts that deliver customized financing solutions to investors, business owners, and brokers across the country. Under his leadership, New Day continues to expand its footprint, providing flexible and innovative lending programs that empower clients to achieve their real estate goals.

With over 20 years of experience in commercial and residential mortgage lending, Dain has a track record of success in structuring complex deals and building high-performing sales teams. Before joining New Day, he was the top-ranked Regional Sales Manager at Harvest Small Business Finance, where he led a team that originated $150-200 million annually in SBA 7(a) and small balance commercial loans. He also held leadership roles at Plaza Bank and founded successful mortgage origination firms.

At New Day, Dain’s expertise, strategic vision, and commitment to excellence set the standard in commercial real estate finance, reinforcing the company’s reputation as a trusted direct lender nationwide.

Senior Vice President of Business Development at Rain City Capital

Dalton Elliott

Dalton Elliott is the Senior Vice President of Business Development at Rain City Capital, where he leads the firm’s third-party origination strategy.

Prior to joining Rain City, he built and scaled a national lender’s broker, table funding, and whole loan purchase channels—helping grow the platform to $2.5B in annual volume and through its acquisition by a publicly traded REIT. He also led strategic growth initiatives across inside sales, customer experience, and strategic partnerships.

He is a Furman University graduate and serves on the boards of the Greenville Humane Society and Upstate International.

VP of Partnerships for National Business Capital

Dominic Geraci

Dominic serves as VP of Partnerships for National Business Capital. He boasts 23 years of sales experience, 10 years of managerial experience, and has been with National for over 8 years. His role at National focuses on managing and directing National’s team of Partner Relationship Managers and overseeing all partner accounts.

Dominic is also responsible for Financial Reporting, where he prioritizes results and revenue growth. Dominic is passionate about sharing his expertise and insight with business professionals, and regularly contributes articles on National’s blog.

SVP of Business development at Celtic Bank

Jody Niko

Jody began her journey with Celtic Bank in 2012 and brings over 20 years of experience in commercial lending. Her expertise spans SBA, USDA, Conventional, and BIA lending across the nation, with a focus on financing CRE, business acquisitions, construction, expansions, start-ups, and franchises. Jody’s deep knowledge covers every aspect of the lending process, including loan underwriting, documentation, credit policy, and leadership.

Senior Partnerships Manager at RCN Capital

Stephen Ballard

Stephen Ballard, Senior Partnerships Manager, specializes in building and maintaining customer relationships, and educating potential clients on RCN Capital’s diverse product line. Joining the company in the summer of 2017, Stephen’s mission is to expand RCN’s saturation in local and national markets. His previous experience has been in education and customer relations, which will be used extensively at RCN Capital.  Stephen graduated from the University of Connecticut Business School, with a degree in Finance.

President, Chief Credit Officer, Garrington Group of Companies

Tammy Kemp

Tammy Kemp joined Garrington in 2016. As President, Chief Credit Officer, Tammy is responsible for the overall credit and risk strategy within the overall group. She and her team are responsible for all aspects of portfolio management. Ms. Kemp is a member of all of the firm’s Investment Committees.

With more than 25 years of experience in trade finance, asset-based lending, specialty finance and distressed lending in mid-market commercial lending throughout North America. Working exclusively for entrepreneurial alternative lenders, Tammy has strategically grown portfolios by focusing on curated client centric service balanced with robust risk management delivered by empowered and effective teams. Tammy has led client restructurings, underwritten and managed large debtor-in-possession financings both in Canada and the US.

Tammy has held various board positions within industry organizations including SFNet (Education Committee), IWIRC (Director) and SFNet Canada (Vice President).

President / CEO at Paradigm Equipment Finance

Tyler Deters

Tyler Deters is a seasoned financial professional with over 20 years of experience in commercial finance. He is the Founder and President of Bremen Capital, a commercial finance brokerage bridging lenders, borrowers, and capital across equipment finance, commercial real estate, SBA lending, lines of credit, and working capital. Before launching Bremen Capital, Tyler spent two decades building and running Paradigm Equipment Finance, where he helped businesses secure the resources they needed to grow and thrive. His deep understanding of finance, combined with a strategic mindset, allows him to craft tailored capital solutions for a wide range of industries.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Tyler is deeply committed to community service. As the former President of the Bountiful Rotary Club, he played a vital role in organizing charitable initiatives and fostering connections that drive positive change — a foundation of service and integrity that continues to shape how he leads today.

Tyler also values family above all. He and his wife have three children. They love traveling and spending time in Mexico. Whether in business, community leadership, or family life, Tyler strives to lead with purpose, integrity, and a commitment to excellence.