Republic Business Credit Rising Stars Lead SFNet Professional Association Chapters

Two of Republic Business Credit’s rising stars serve as chapter presidents within The Secured Finance Network.

Eric Dorner, vice president of business development, Chicago, and William Kemp, senior vice president of business development, Houston, both hold the roles of chapter president in their respective cities for SFNet, the premier national association for all organizations and professionals working in secured finance. The network includes nearly 300 member companies and a 20,000-person active community with 22 chapters throughout the United States.

“We have a lot to be proud of at Republic as we grow and help our clients adapt to an ever-changing economic landscape,” Robert Meyers, president of Republic Business Credit, said. “But this accomplishment feels special and personal in that it affirms what I see every day — remarkable talent on the Republic team that is recognized by our industry, our clients and our peers.”

Dorner and Kemp both serve as 2023-chapter presidents within SFNet, helping members network, building chapter sponsorships and volunteer opportunities, and serving as a resource for educational opportunities and professional development in the asset-based lending field. The Midwest chapter overseen by Dorner aims for one to two events per month, some of which raise money for charitable causes. The chapter recently partnered with a therapeutic horse organization that helps children and military veterans deal with challenges and stress in a positive way.

“We are currently supporting Heaven’s Gait Ranch based in Wisconsin, a nonprofit organization that provides therapeutic services to individuals with special needs and veterans with disabilities,” Dorner said.

Kemp’s chapter in Houston has focused on professional development sessions and outings that stimulate networking and keep members up to date on developments in the field. Driving member and sponsorship value of chapter activities is an important function of the group under Kemp’s leadership.

“It’s important to demonstrate the value of our organization to our members and the finance community, and I think we do a good job of that,” Kemp said. “Networking has been tough since the pandemic. We’re here to serve as a support system for our members who are in the trenches, to help them get more established in their careers and to provide a community of like-minded professionals.”

Building community through SFNet’s active chapter organizations can mean webinars that are enlightening and informational — and it can mean wiffle ball tournaments that allow for more social interactions. Both are critical to the “rising tide lifts all boats” philosophy within the industry, Dorner said.

“We have to be creative and plan events that allow colleagues to get to know each other, as well as facilitate deal flow conversation,” Dorner said. “SFNet has given a lot to me, helped me advance in my career and provided more exposure for me in our market.”

“A strong organization benefits everyone,” Kemp said. “Sure, we want to win every deal, but we also want our industry to remain strong and prepared for any uncertainty heading our way.”

As a leader in the Houston chapter, Kemp is also connected to his community. He volunteers at the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Show — and embraces the mandatory cowboy boots required of volunteers. The rodeo is a massive annual celebration of music, food, games and agriculture.

Kemp represents the Texas market for Republic and brings more than 10 years of asset-based lending and factoring experience. Dorner represents the Midwest region for Republic. He brings more than 10 years of experience in the field and serves on the sponsorship committee for the Turnaround Management Association Midwest Chapter.