by Hanover Securities | Feb 10, 2021
Financial Strategist
Steven Shelton joins Hanover Securities with experience in both management and sales. At Banes Capital, he specialized in assisting institutional clients in managing loan-to-deposit ratios through the purchase of SBA and USDA government-guaranteed loans and pools.
Education: B.S. in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting; MBA from Christian Brothers University
Licenses: Series 63, 7
sshelton@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5967
Associate Financial Strategist
Education: University of Memphis, MA of Accounting
wgurkin@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5981
SBA Settlements
Margaret Echols is proud to say she’s “born and raised!" as a native of Memphis, Tennessee. She began her career right out of high school at National Bank of Commerce in 1980 as an Account Information Clerk and learned more about the business every day.
In 1985 she joined Morgan Keegan where she was hired as a data entry clerk. Within a couple of weeks her role switched to an Assistant to the Municipal Trading Desk and, after a few years, became a valuable part of the Secondary Market/Repo Trading Desk. Margaret assisted with establishing the Secondary Market Trading Desk and operating the Secondary Market Operations Department for Stifel Nicolaus and Stifel Bank and Trust in June of 2012.
Margaret is now part of Banes Capital Group as Vice President of SBA Settlements, with 35 plus years of experience in the Fixed Income Capital Market and over 13 years in Banking. Her knowledge of Secondary Market products is widespread, she is versatile, self-motivated, creative, and not afraid of hard work.
Margaret strongly believes that life and family is priceless. She married in November of 1979, and her husband, to this day, is her best friend. They have six children and twenty-one grandchildren; birthdays, anniversaries, school activities, holidays, or any given weekend can turn into a big celebration planned or unplanned before, during and afterwards at their home.
mechols@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5936
Associate Financial Strategist
Mario Ovelar may be a recent addition to our team — but with years of experience in banking and insurance, he's well-versed in sales and the art of relationship-building. A former soccer and basketball player, Mario stays active in Memphis' adult leagues and volunteers his time in the community as a youth basketball coach. He was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, and speaks fluent Spanish.
Education: Psychology, The University of Memphis
movelar@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5976
Digital Marketing Coordinator
Brandon Hamann joined the team as an intern in 2020. Since then, he’s helped us focus our marketing efforts and added a fresh voice to our brand. He spends his time compiling and updating digital and print collateral, and looking for new ways to tell our story.
Before moving to Memphis, Brandon spent more than seven years teaching, training, coaching and managing online organizations for veterans. He was awarded the Campus Compact President’s Student Civic Leader Award for volunteering in Washington State and inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success.
Education: Washington State University, Bachelor's in Integrated Strategic Communication
bhamann@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5935
Financial Strategist
Steven Shelton joins Hanover Securities with experience in both management and sales. At Banes Capital, he specialized in assisting institutional clients in managing loan-to-deposit ratios through the purchase of SBA and USDA government-guaranteed loans and pools.
Education: B.S. in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting; MBA from Christian Brothers University
Licenses: Series 63, 7
sshelton@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5967
Whole Loan Trader
A 24-year capital markets veteran, Stephen Bone has worked with some of the best fixed-income and loan capital markets firms in the country including FTN Financial, Morgan Keegan, Raymond James, Cantor Fitzgerald, and Bear Stearns.
After sensing a need for focused, analytics-based trading advice among his bank and credit union clients, Stephen founded Resi Consulting, LLC, a firm focused on providing fee-based loan capital markets advice to financial institutions across the country, and most recently he teamed with friend and colleague Joel Banes to found BCG Loan Trading, the whole loan trading desk at Banes Capital Group.
Stephen lives in Oxford, MS with his wife and two daughters.
Education: B.S., Finance; M.B.A.; Arkansas State University
sbone@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5927
Managing Director, Socially Responsible Investments
A 35-year history in fixed income sales has been focused for the most recent 20 years by specializing in CRA- Community Reinvestment Act- investments and tax credits. The goal has been to provide banks, insurance companies and mission related investors with unique solutions that complement regulatory guidelines and Socially Responsible Investing.
Rich spent 14 years at Sandler O’Neill + Partners in New York as Director assisting banks with their CRA obligations. He identified community-based ideas and was able to convert them to loans, investments, and tax credit products. He was able to complete many innovative tax credit financings for Low Income, New Market, Historic, and Solar projects.
Education: B. S. Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
Licenses: Series 7 and 63
rfuchs@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5913
Director of Strategist Training and Support
Nancy focuses on developing and implementing our sales and product educational sessions. Her goal is to improve the organization's product knowledge and selling skills and drive better processes and outcomes. As a long-term Marketer, she is focused on delivering positive ROI and an exceptional customer experience. She’s highly collaborative and works across different teams to design and sell plans to key stakeholders and follow up with crisp execution.
She's marketed for quality brands like FedEx, Cooper Lighting, Art.com, Nationwide Insurance, Mimeo.com and IRIS Orchestra. She is an integral part of making your experience working with Banes Capital Group and Hanover Securities a pleasant business experience.
Education: BA, Colgate University
nraileanu@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5970
FRM, Financial Strategist
Matt Ihrke has been a professional in the fixed income markets for 24 years. Beginning his career in Memphis, Tennessee, Matt traded over-the-counter Callable Agencies, and later Corporates, for Morgan Keegan. In 2003, Matt took an opportunity with RBC Dain to trade new-issue Callable Agencies before returning home to Chicago in 2005 to build out the Agency desk at Incapital.
As the business grew, Matt’s role transitioned into Risk Management of fixed income product groups including Agencies, Corporates, CMOs, MBS, and Structured Products, and he earned his Financial Risk Manager Certification (FRM) from the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). Most recently, Matt has been consulting on the lending side of Mergers and Acquisitions in the Registered Investment Advisor space. He lives in Northbrook, Illinois.
Licenses: Series 7
mihrke@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5978
President & CEO
Matt Monaco brings more than 25 years of experience in the government-guaranteed loan sector to his role, which he’s held since 2019. Primarily a trader, Matt has participated in loan settlements, pool securitizations, analytics, loan purchases, and sales. He has been instrumental in three start-up operations.Â
Education: B.A. in Economics and Business Administration from Rhodes College and an M.B.A. from the University of Memphis.​
Licenses: Series 7, 63, 65, 24
mmonaco@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5952
Financial Strategist
Marie Fitts joins us after a long tenure at Morgan Keegan/Raymond James. She advanced quickly from an entry-level operations position to vice president in fixed income sales platforms, using her diverse industry training and a combination of communicative, restorative, and analytical skill sets.
Marie has comprehensive expertise in fixed income securities operations, clearing, trading, management, and sales. Her diverse product knowledge includes US government and agency debt; US-denominated corporate debt, municipal bonds, and small business administration (SBA) pools, with an extensive background in mortgage-backed specified pools, To-Be-Announced (TBA) forward mortgage securities, pool information, and pool allocations.
Education: University of Tennessee – Martin
Licenses: Series 7 and 63
mfitts@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5934
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Associate Financial Strategist
Lee Olswanger joined our team in September 2020. He started his career working as an analyst at UBS Group AG in Nashville, TN, where he assisted client advisors and portfolio managers. After a few years with UBS, Lee moved back home to Memphis, TN, to accept a position as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch.
He is active in the community and serves on the board of several local organizations, including the Memphis Jewish Community Center and the Tennessee Chapter of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation.
Education: University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting
Licenses: Series 7 and 66
lolswanger@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5979
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Director of Compliance
Kevin Bentley has spent most of his 30-year financial career in the securities industry. Prior to working with Hanover Securities, he was with Banes Capital Group as Director of Compliance and at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney as financial advisor and complex risk officer.
Education: B.B.A. in accounting from the University of Memphis, M.B.A. in Finance from Christian Brothers University.
Licenses: Series 7, 23, 10, 9, 31, 3, 65, 63
kbentley@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5975
Programmer
Jonathan has almost 10 years of experience in developing .Net applications for manufacturing, logistics, inventory control systems, and financial reporting. He also has a lifelong passion for software development. Jonathan helps the organization's leadership by understanding and translating business needs into software solutions. He works on critical systems that help the company and customers meet operational and settlement goals, within our high compliance standards.
Education: The University of Memphis: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Managing Director, Financial Strategies
John Hirt leads the Sales team at Banes Capital Group and Hanover Securities, which has tripled in size and gross revenue during his tenure. Committed to product knowledge, John leads a daily sales call where he and traders communicate product knowledge and relevant market conditions. Sales Strategists are expected to act as consultants to bank and credit union C-suite leaders, helping them optimize their portfolio. John leads by example with focus, energy, and excellence. These are traits that John brings to the organization and requires of his organization. John sits on the Leadership Team of Banes Capital & Hanover helping the Company grow to its full potential.
John has over 25 years of industry experience including his time as Managing Director and National Sales Manager for Raymond James. While there, John served on the senior management committee for the Fixed Income Capital Markets group.
Prior to Raymond James, John was a Managing Director and National Sales Manager for Morgan Keegan. During the sale of Morgan Keegan to Raymond James in 2012, John served on the transition and integration team for the two firms. He was Morgan Keegan’s top producer in Institutional Fixed Income in 2011 and was one of the highest producing brokers in the history of the firm. John joined Morgan Keegan in 1996, having worked for two years prior at First Tennessee’s Bond Division, achieving top 20 status in his second year.
Prior to joining First Tennessee Bank’s bond division, John was involved in M&A activity with WSGP and later Aurora Capital Partners in Century City, California.
Education: B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Geneva College; EMBA, Emory University
Licenses: Series 7, 63
jhirt@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5964
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Director
Joel Banes is a seasoned SBA professional in Memphis, Tennessee with over 25 years of industry experience specializing in the management of fixed income securities, specializing in the SBA 7(a) and USDA market. He is the Founder and CEO of Banes Capital Management, LLC, and served as Managing Director of SBA Pooling and Trading for Shay Financial Services, Inc. for a decade.
He launched broker-dealer Hanover Securities in 2016 with long-time friend and business associate, John Hanover of Los Angeles. He trades SBA, USDA and FSA loans, SBA 7a pools, SBA COOFs as well as MBS's and other traditional fixed income products.
Education: B.S. from the University of Tennessee and studied at the Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania.
jbanes@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5951
MBS Trader
Jim Tait is an icon in the MBS world, trading since 1981. Jim spent 27 years of his career as an MBS Trader/ Managing Director at Morgan Keegan before the Raymond James/MK merger.
Jim’s daily Cherry Picks highlight the best of the bonds. His colorful financial commentary serves as a side of perspective for your morning coffee. As a subject matter expert on Mortgage-Backed Securities, he frequently shares his insights with his 2,000 LinkedIn followers. MBS are his main product line, but Jim also traffics in whole loans.
jtait@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5963
Director of Lender Relations
Jennifer maintains client relationships for our clients who bid on SBA and USDA loans. If you need help to originate, buy, sell or service these loans, Jennifer will help you start that process. She has helped facilitate the trade of some of the largest loans in USDA history and wants to help you trade yours.
Jennifer has been in the Finance industry for over 15 years, first at Morgan Keegan, now Raymond James, in Compliance. She learned to understand and work with Regulators and guide others. She transitioned to Branch Management after a while and learned the nuances, the needs, and the wants of Brokers, Banks, and Credit Unions she worked with. She joined Banes Capital Group and Hanover Securities with the drive to serve clients with the utmost professionalism.
Jennifer is a member of Junior League of Memphis and Junior Auxiliary which help guide Women and Children, respectively, in education, becoming leaders, and becoming the best they can be. She also sits on the Memphis Botanical Garden’s Board of Directors. Beyond that, she participates in Memphis in May World Championship Barbeque Cooking Contest with her team and makes great food every single year.
jcoltharp@banescapital.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5961
Financial Strategist
Jack Paratore’s sales experience began with municipal bonds, government agencies, and mortgage-backed securities. During his time at Morgan Keegan/Raymond James, he worked closely with Public Finance and the Investment Banking division selling proprietary CMOs with emphasis on credit tenant transactions. Jack also focused on taxable and tax-exempt municipal bonds for insurance companies and bond funds.
He has supported investment bankers with new proprietary debt deals including CTLs, project finance, and construction-to-permanent deals; and hedge funds and money managers for whole loan packages.
Education: MBA in Finance, Long Island University; BA, Queens College of City College New York (C.C.N.Y.Licenses: Series 7, Series 24, Series 63, Series 3
jparatore@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5933
SBA Trader
Hailey Layrock is Hanover Securities’ senior SBA and USDA Trader. Before joining us at Hanover, she was at MassMutual Financial Group for 9 years in financial reporting, operations, and as a mutual fund accountant. Now, her specialties include government guaranteed loans and pool products. With over 15 years of experience in the financial industry, she brings a unique perspective to each institution. She coordinates with the sales team every day to ensure our clients get the most out of their investment strategies.
Hailey completed her Masters in Business Administration at University of Memphis, and prior a BSBA at Christian Brothers University.
With the current market-focus on socially impactful and CRA-positive accreditations, Hailey has become an expert in what loans and pools meet our investors’ needs. She’s become a vital part of our team with her creation of diverse pools and products. With us, she’s facilitated over $1 Billion in SBA Securitizations. Finance is the family business for Hailey: her father, the late Mark Atwill, was managing director of fixed income trading at SunTrust Bank.
Education: BS, Finance, Christian Brothers University; MBA, University of Memphis
hlayrock@banescapital.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5971
Education: BS, Finance, Christian Brothers University; MBA, University of Memphis
Licenses: Series 7, 63
hlayrock@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5971
Lender Relations Associate
Donna Reed has 25 years of experience in office administration and management. She is a dedicated Settlement Specialist with an eye for detail. Donna handles purchasing, accounts receivable and accounts payable.
Education: BA, Accounting
dreed@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5972
Human Resources
With more than 20 years of experience in the financial industry, Denise Omar brings her diversified knowledge of business to Hanover Securities. Denise contributed at Clayton Brokerage, Morgan Stanley and Banes Capital Group in branch administration and management. Denise is a registered representative and assists in the fixed income sector.
domar@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5916
Director of Operations
As Director of Operations at Hanover Securities, Denice Susen brings a diverse background in international and domestic banking. The experience provides her with a clear understanding of client needs and allows her to provide detailed operational support related to loan settlements.
Education: University of Washington
dsusen@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5974
Associate Financial Strategist
Daniel Gully joined the team in a new role for 2020 after making himself invaluable in the Strategies group. He has a facility with numbers and an ability to unearth opportunities to optimize portfolio value. Daniel discovered an interest in capital markets while participating in the TVA Investment Challenge, a partnership between TVA and Christian Brothers University.
Throughout his college years, Daniel worked for the Salvation Army Kroc Center of Memphis, ultimately growing into a leadership role before joining Banes to continue serving the community. He is interested in personal fitness and wellness.
Education: Bachelor's of Science; Finance, Economics, Christian Brothers University
dgully@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5923
Financial Strategist
Casey Goodwin joined the firm in 2018 and has shown a keen ability for helping banks and credit unions optimize portfolio yield with SBA and USDA government-guaranteed loans.
Casey lives in Memphis and coaches youth football and basketball at Christ Methodist Church. As a retired first baseman at CBU, he keeps his skills sharp playing competitive softball.
Education: B.S. in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting, Christian Brothers University
Licenses: Series 63, 7
cgoodwin@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5980
Associate Financial Strategist
After an unconventional start to 2020, Ben Garvin joined the team as a Strategies Analyst. Through some time on the desk learning loan tapes and so on, he graduated to now be a Financial Strategist, and is now working even closer with his banks and credit unions.
Ben grew up in Nashville and is a recent graduate of Christian Brothers University. Ben was a four-year member of the Buccaneer Men’s Golf Team and served as Treasurer of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Xi-Eta Chapter. He enjoys playing golf, cooking, and almost anything that allows him to appreciate the outdoors.
Education: Christian Brothers University, Bachelor’s in Business Administration
bgarvin@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5932
Chief Operating Officer
Brian Swanson was named Chief Operating Officer in 2020. He has 20 years of experience in information technology and administration. In addition to overseeing the company's business operations, Brian’s responsibilities include platform design, programming management, software and hardware decisions, troubleshooting and heading up all IT initiatives.
Brian is a co-founder and previous board member of Memphis Technology Foundation, as well as co-founder and steering committee chair of GiveCamp Memphis.
bswanson@hanover-securities.com
Direct: +1 (901) 261-5959
Head of Strategies