Why Personal Referral Relationships Still Work In the Digital Age

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Digital Age Referral

I started out in the insurance industry, but please do not hold that against me. The insurance industry has a terrible reputation for being a snake oil salesman. That also applies to real estate agents and other overpopulated fields that people do not require training to get into. However, the industry is still full of highly professional people who desire to make money by protecting others. I think that also applies to most industries. I learned that even though most of my production time was spent in front of my computer, I still needed in-person relationships. One of my business mentors said that I had to develop relationships to build my business, and they threw me in front of some people. They looked at me as though I had something helpful to say, so I had no choice but to open my mouth and communicate. It was the beginning of a professional relationship with clients.

While understanding the power of web presence, I must admit that networking or relationship marketing is just as commanding. Nothing is more promising than having a person we trust to recommend a company’s products or services based on their personal experience. If it’s your small business, there is a lot more you can do to help build that trust by establishing goodwill and credibility.

If you feel uncomfortable about meeting in person, as I did in the beginning, prepare for the meeting by having a list of questions ready to ask about their business and showing genuine interest in the other person, giving them a better impression as opposed to talking about yourself the entire visit. I think that questions go a long way to creating a better understanding of what a referral partner can bring to the table. Plus, the better I understand your business, the greater the effect I will have on the people I refer to you.

Don’t hesitate to keep in touch with your new SouthStar Capital Account Executive by emailing an interesting piece of information. If you have a client referral give us as much information as possible on the client. This way, when we write handwritten thank you notes for something they did, it will be well-received. If the person gave you an excellent referral that turned into a sale, sending them a personalized gift is appropriate. It demonstrates your appreciation. Keep your relationship fresh with a phone call when you know it won’t be a disruption. Whenever possible, return the favor by referring potential clients to them.

You have likely heard stories of some of the biggest business deals on the golf course. Remember the adage that “people do business with people they know, like, and trust.” If a business owner sees that you consistently try to promote them, your credibility grows stronger. Whenever you learn of an opportunity that could help your associate, be sure to extend them an invitation. Introduce them to other business people to increase their visibility.

I am involved in several service organizations in my community, and I make a point of inviting new small and medium business owners to make presentations. Social media networks such as Facebook are another way to promote your business associates, but I always carry a few business cards from several other companies to give to people I meet who might require those services. Facebook and LinkedIn cannot accomplish that for you. I believe that when we are willing to help others manage their business finances well, we all succeed.

In closing, if there is any way that SouthStar Capital can help you grow your business, please do not hesitate to call or email us at 843-277-6449 or info@southstarcapital.com. You can also visit our website anytime for more information about our people and products. Until I speak to you again, I wish you great success. Always remember that information + application = transformation.

Charlie Bacon

Assistant Vice President

Mr. Bacon joined SouthStar Capital in 2024 as an Assistant Vice President. He is responsible for the Charleston, SC, and surrounding markets, where his role is to originate and structure commercial lending opportunities for lower middle-market businesses. He brings an investment banking background and experience in originating and executing financial transactions to SouthStar and its clients.

Before joining SouthStar, Mr. Bacon was an investment banker with Sequence Financial, where he led the company’s capital-raising services to alternative investment fund sponsors and provided M&A advisory services to lower middle-market companies. Most recently, he was an investment banker with Align Business Advisory and dedicated his efforts to successfully executing M&A transactions.

Mr. Bacon graduated from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in business with a major in finance and later obtained his MBA from the College of Charleston. He resides in Charleston, SC, with his golden retriever, Cooper.

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Finn Linney

SouthStar Capital Mascot

Finn Linney started at SouthStar Capital in 2016 at just 8 weeks old. As SouthStar’s Mascot, his responsibilities include boosting overall office morale, acting as the official door greeter, and checking to make sure that trash cans are empty.

Finn’s favorite day in the office is when his Chewy package arrives, followed closely by Friday office lunches in the conference room. Finn enjoys swimming in his pool and taking boat rides in his spare time.

He obtained his degree at a puppy training school in Charleston, SC, in 2017.

Contact Information

  • Finn is too young to have his phone but can be reached through his parents, Bernard and Susan Linney.

Bella Linney

SouthStar Capital Mascot

Bella Linney started at SouthStar Capital in 2018 at just 8 weeks old. As SouthStar’s Second Mascot, she has received extensive training and works hand-in-hand with her older brother, Finn.

Bella’s responsibilities include greeting all office guests, keeping the kitchen floor clean at all times, and boosting morale with her one-on-one office visits.

In her free time, she enjoys playing with her brother, Finn, and going for walks.

Contact Information

  • Bella is too young to have her own phone, but can be reached through her parents, Bernard and Susan Linney.

Jon Lunn

Collection Manager

Mr. Lunn joined SouthStar in 2021 as a Collection Manager. He is responsible for coordinating all A/R functions and working with all external and internal departments, including Account Managers. Mr. Lunn provides a value-added function by assisting SouthStar clients in facilitating even cash flow with their customers.

Prior to joining Southstar Capital, Mr. Lunn was Executive vice president and Chief Operating Officer at Sko-Brenner-American, a nationwide debt collection agency. He started his career at Dun & Bradstreet, where he handled debt collection, account management, and outside sales.

Mr. Lunn was a faculty member of the New York Institute of Credit, where he designed and taught the course on “Collection Techniques.” His book, The Consumer and Commercial Collection Desk Book, was published by Prentice-Hall. He was appointed Project Director of the first Federal Government Contract Awards for the collection of $ $1 billion worth of debt.

Mr. Lunn is also a past Chairman of the Commercial Collection Agency Association. He graduated from The City College of New York (CCNY) and the Graduate School of Credit and Financial Management, Dartmouth College. Currently, Mr. Lunn serves as a member of the Standards Board of the Commercial Collection Agencies of America.

In his free time, Mr. Lunn enjoys golf, going to the beach, spending time with family and friends, and binging on Netflix.

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Luis Quinteros

Sales Support/Business Development

Mr. Quinteros joined SouthStar in May 2023. His primary role is to provide support for businesses in need of working capital and help them through the initial onboarding process, closing, and establishing a facility. To achieve this, he works directly with SouthStar’s VPs and the closing team.

Mr. Quinteros graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, with a bachelor’s degree in business management. He has extensive experience in account management, administrative support, banking, and customer service.

Mr. Quinteros lives in Atlanta and loves to spend his free time outdoors with family, playing soccer, and loves the beach and traveling to new places.

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Josiah Balthazar

Software Engineer and Security Specialist

Mr. Balthazar joined SouthStar in January 2021 as a Software Engineer and Security Specialist. He works closely with SouthStar’s Senior Management and provides technical support to all SouthStar Employees. His primary responsibilities include managing all technology-related projects, developing custom software solutions, and building on the Customer Relationship Database to ensure the best client experience.

Prior to joining SouthStar, Mr. Balthazar worked as a Software Engineer and IT specialist for a managed service provider.

Mr. Balthazar enjoys spending time with his family & friends, developing personal passion projects, and keeping up-to-date with exciting, emerging technologies as they are developed.

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Annie Griffin

Account Manager

Mrs. Griffin joined SouthStar in April of 2021 as a Collateral Analyst and has since transitioned into the role of Account Manager. She works directly with SouthStar’s Operation Managers. Her primary responsibilities include verifying invoices, purchase orders, and other items to ensure a smooth funding process for SouthStar’s clients.

Prior to joining SouthStar, Mrs. Griffin was the District Manager for a locally-owned women’s boutique in Charleston. She has over 10 years of Retail Management experience and loves building relationships with customers and making sure they have a great experience in the stores.

Mrs. Griffin has a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing and Management. She lives in Mount Pleasant, SC, with her husband and two daughters, Adelyn and Josephine. They spend most of their free time at the beach and enjoying all the Lowcountry has to offer.

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Gerame Homsany

Account Manager

Mr. Homsany joined SouthStar in August of 2023 as an Account Manager. His primary responsibilities include document verification, risk management, and understanding the needs of SouthStar’s clients to ensure a smooth and timely funding process.

Prior to joining SouthStar, Mr. Homsany worked in Investment Management as a licensed trader and operations manager where he focused on maximizing returns, preserving capital, and providing unique market opportunities for high-net-worth individuals and small businesses. Additionally, Mr. Homsany has experience in Mortgage Lending and Banking where he has worked closely with a wide range of clients, building strong relationships and providing outstanding service.

Mr. Homsany graduated from West Virginia University. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, playing golf, and going to the beach with his wife, their two children, and their dog, Cece.

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Joshua Vest

Account Manager

Mr. Vest joined SouthStar in February of 2022 as an Account Manager. His responsibilities include preparing and completing client funding, providing administrative research support, and clerical services for all internal and external customer accounts.

Before joining SouthStar, Mr. Vest worked as a property management coordinator at Property Management Services, helping communities in the Lowcountry. His primary responsibilities included supervising and coordinating services for Neighborhood Associations and Condominium Regimes. He also worked to promote, establish, and maintain positive relations between owners, management, vendors, and contractors.

Mr. Vest graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in Sports and Entertainment Management. In his free time, he enjoys attending live music and sporting events and spending time with his friends and family.

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Katie Linney

Account Manager

Ms. Linney joined Southstar in January 2022 as an Account Manager and works directly with Southstar’s Operations team. Her primary responsibilities include ensuring clients' daily needs are met, ensuring an optimal funding process, verifying invoices, and providing vital account support.

Before joining Southstar, Ms. Linney worked in the hospitality industry, working her way to upper management. While she enjoyed this career, she was ready for a change of scenery. Ms. Linney attended Southwest College of Tennessee, focusing on marketing, business, and communication courses.

Ms. Linney enjoys spending time with her family and two dogs, Remy and Lacey. She avidly loves anything outdoors, volunteering, baking, and rock climbing!

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David Craig

Account Manager

Mr. Craig joined Southstar in March 2021 as an Account Manager. His primary responsibilities include verifying invoices, purchase orders, and other items to ensure a smooth funding process for Southstar’s clients.

Before joining Southstar, Mr. Craig was a customer service supervisor for one of the country’s premier manufacturing companies, which led employee training and customer support needs. Mr. Craig worked alongside his employees to help them achieve excellent listening skills, empathy, and respect in serving and communicating with their customers. These attributes allow him to understand and navigate current Southstar clients' needs.

Mr. Craig enjoys spending time with his fiancé, Sara, their beautiful daughter, Kinley, and their dog, Bo. He is also an avid baseball card collector and loves sports.

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Lori Wolff

Senior Account Manager

Ms. Wolff joined Southstar in February 2018 as an Account Manager and has since been promoted to Senior Account Manager. She works directly with SouthStar’s Operation Manager and has primary responsibilities including verifying invoices, purchase orders, and other items to ensure a smooth funding process for SouthStar’s clients.

Prior to joining Southstar, Ms. Wolff worked in the Banking industry for 17 years as a Branch Manager, Assistant Manager, and Personal Banker. She worked closely with her customers to build strong relationships and help them meet their financial goals.

Ms. Wolff enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to the beach, golfing, and playing with her two dogs, Rylee and Marley.

Contact Information

  • email: lori@southstar.com
  • phone: 800-763-3021 ext 131
  • direct: 843-972-3870
  • fax: 843-972-3870

Victoria Van Dyke

Assistant Portfolio Manager

Mrs. Van Dyke joined Southstar in January of 2015 as an Account Manager. Since then, she has been promoted to Assistant Portfolio Manager and works directly with SouthStar’s Operations Manager. Her primary responsibilities include reviewing activity reports, approving transactions related to funding and collections, and reviewing and making recommendations for changes to policies and procedures. Victoria works directly with the Senior Account Managers and is responsible for evaluating client needs and challenges to manage risk and enhance client retention.

Mrs. Van Dyke graduated from Clemson University in May of 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a minor in Management.

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Melanie Brown

Assistant Portfolio Manager

Ms. Brown joined SouthStar in September 2014 as an Account Manager. Since then, she has been promoted to Assistant Portfolio Manager and works directly with SouthStar’s Operations Manager. Ms. Brown’s primary responsibilities include ensuring client relationships are managed in compliance with SouthStar’s policies, working with the closing and underwriting teams during the closing process to ensure a seamless transition, and authorizing all daily client funding needs.

Ms. Brown oversees the team of Account Managers within the Operations Department and is responsible for evaluating clients' needs and challenges to manage risk and enhance client satisfaction and retention.

Ms. Brown graduated from the College of Charleston in May 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communications. She enjoys going on the boat, spending time with friends and family, and traveling in her free time.

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Peyton Welsh

Senior Underwriter

Mr. Welsh joined SouthStar Capital in January of 2024 as a Senior Underwriter, reporting to the Chief Executive and Operating Officers. He brings 14 years of experience in the B2B financing sector to the SouthStar team and a well-established network in the space. Mr. Welsh works closely with the underwriting team and the sales, closing, and operations departments to deliver timely, well-informed risk management/mitigation decisions. His involvement helps the SouthStar team ensure successful business decisions for the active client portfolio and newly emerging opportunities. Mr. Welsh’s primary responsibilities include directly reviewing/assessing new loan underwriting packages, assisting the Portfolio Manager in maintaining an acceptable overall risk level for the active portfolio, and transitioning newly acquired customers from sales/closing into the day-to-day funding operations.

Prior to joining SouthStar, Mr. Welsh served as the Chief Credit Officer of AmeriFactors Financial Group, a Gulf Coast Bank & Trust subsidiary, where he also held the title of Senior Vice President.

Mr. Welsh graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s in business administration, majoring in finance. Peyton is originally from Charlotte, NC, and happily relocated to Summerville, SC, with his soon-to-be wife, Megan, and their dog, Blake. He enjoys spending time with Megan & Blake as well as anything on wheels with a motor.

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Adam Gloeckler

Closing Processor

Mr. Gloeckler joined SouthStar in September 2022 as a Closing Processor to support the Closing Department. He works directly with the Closing Manager and Underwriters to support the client’s initial funding and onboarding.

Before joining SouthStar, Mr. Gloeckler was a Relationship Banker with Wells Fargo Bank for 11 years. He worked closely with high-value clients and small businesses to render advice so they could meet their short-term and long-term financial goals. In 2020, he also worked on the Underwriting team to assist with processing PPP Loans for the SBA.

When he is not in the office, Mr. Gloeckler spends a lot of his time playing guitar or singing at restaurants and bars throughout the Charleston area. He also enjoys spending time with his dog, Silas, seeing live music, and going to the beach. He has lived in Charleston for a little over 11 years and originally hails from Cincinnati, Ohio.

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Jimmy Howard

Underwriter

Mr. Howard joined SouthStar Capital in April 2021 as an Underwriter. He works with Operations and the Closing Department, assessing the risk of new deals, analyzing existing clients, and identifying solutions to alleviate risk.

Before SouthStar, Mr. Howard worked as a branch manager in the consumer finance industry, underwriting in South Carolina and Kentucky. This experience gave him a risk-mitigating skill set that he continues to utilize and sharpen to position SouthStar and its clients for increased success.

Mr. Howard is a Charleston native who graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Human Resource Management and Marketing.

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April Dunlap

Closing Manager

Mrs. Berly joined SouthStar in February 2016 as a Closing Coordinator and has since been promoted to Closing Manager. She works directly with SouthStar’s Operations Manager and Account Managers. Her primary responsibilities include interacting with clients and processing funding requests. In addition to the aforementioned, Mrs. Berly assists in coordinating closings for all clients and preparing clients for the initial round of funding.

Prior to joining SouthStar, Mrs. Berly was the manager of a local store, where her responsibilities included building customer relationships, overseeing inventory production, and managing the regional employees.

Mrs. Berly graduated from the College of Charleston in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her puppy, Riggins.

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Sandee Buchwalter

Compliance Manager

Ms. Buchwalter joined SouthStar in 2014 as a Closing Coordinator, working directly with SouthStar’s Portfolio Manager. She has since been promoted to Compliance Manager. Her primary responsibilities include auditing client files and funding, reviewing legal documents, and tracking open STIPS.

Prior to joining Southstar, Ms. Buchwalter worked as an Office Manager for a premier construction company in Charleston, SC. Her primary responsibilities were to schedule jobs and monitor the phases of the construction process to ensure that the new home was completed ahead of the deadline, order materials required for each job, orchestrate payroll, and manage accounts payable and accounts receivable.

Ms. Buchwalter is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management. She enjoys spending time with her three daughters, traveling, camping, and watersports.

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Sara Craig

Project Manager

Mrs. Craig joined the SouthStar Capital team in 2020 as Project Manager, working directly with SouthStar’s executive team. Her responsibilities include managing and directing special projects and goals for SouthStar’s growth and development.

Before joining SouthStar, Mrs. Craig worked 11 years as a registered radiologic technologist in the healthcare industry. She graduated from West Virginia University in May 2006 with a degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Health and Radiographic Sciences from East Tennessee State University.

Mrs. Craig lives in Charleston, SC, with her husband, David, their two beautiful little girls, Kinley and Olivia, and their dog, Bo.

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Sissy Pan

Senior Staff Accountant

Ms. Pan joined SouthStar Capital in March 2022 as a Staff Accountant. She works directly under the corporate controller, assisting with financial reporting and all other accounting tasks.

Ms. Pan holds an MBA from Oklahoma City University and a bachelor’s degree in International Trading from Takushoku University in Tokyo, Japan. Ms. Pan lives in Mount Pleasant with her husband, Jeremy Yu, and three children: Elena, Erick, and Estee. They also have two dogs, Juniper and Bear.

Ms. Pan enjoys spending time with family and friends and indulging in delicious homemade food. She also enjoys reading in her private time. Ms. Pan is actively involved with the local Chinese community and teaches Chinese at the Charleston Chinese Academy.

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Brandon Foster

Senior Staff Accountant

Mr. Foster joined SouthStar Capital in May 2023 as a Senior Staff Accountant. He works directly under the corporate controller, assisting with financial reporting and all other accounting tasks.

Mr. Foster holds a bachelor’s in accounting and has over six years of accounting and finance experience. He most recently worked as a Financial Analyst at a large technology company and as an auditor at two large regional CPA firms.

Mr. Foster enjoys spending time with his wife, playing video games, being active outside, and eating delicious food. He is also very involved in his local church and loves volunteering his time to help others.

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Wesley Basham

Assistant Vice President

Mr. Basham joined SouthStar Capital in 2020 as an Assistant Vice President. His main responsibilities are implementing and funding new businesses within the SouthStar framework, including developing commercial lending opportunities for small—to medium-sized businesses.

Mr. Basham came to SouthStar with over 18 years of experience in the banking and sales industry. His experience ranges from commercial lending to compliance and regulatory oversight during his years working as a Vice President for various institutions. Prior to his banking experience, Mr. Basham worked as an Account Executive at f/n/a Conway Freight, now XPO Logistics. There, he was responsible for over 200 accounts and maintained strong relationships and customer support.

Mr. Basham played college baseball and loves sports in general. He has an 11-year-old daughter, whom he has coached in travel leagues since an early age. He is an avid golfer and loves spending time outdoors.

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Brian Cox

Client Success Manager

Mr. Cox joined SouthStar Capital in 2018 as a Client Success Manager, a newly created role that focused on the client experience and business process improvement. He is responsible for facilitating and expediting client satisfaction needs and enhancing the sales-to-cash workflow process with all external and internal departments.

Bringing to SouthStar and its family of clients a unique background of credit to cash, accounts receivable management, and business process improvement, Mr. Cox adds to our core beliefs that all small—and medium-sized businesses deserve to have access to capital to meet and exceed their growth and revenue goals.

Many progressive companies are now developing their Client Success Manager positions across a broad scope of industries to do a better job of learning from their customers and seeing themselves through their customers’ eyes. Some of the priority touch points of a Client Success Manager are 1. Onboard new users to first value. 2. Proactively engage customers at risk. 3. Grow user adoption. 4. Remove friction from points in the overall client experience. 5. Grow customer lifetime value.

Mr. Cox and his family moved to Charleston, SC, from Chicago, IL. They love the beach, fishing, golfing, and fresh seafood and do not miss the five months of winter in Illinois.

Contact Information

  • email: bcox@southstar.com
  • phone: 800-763-3021 ext 133
  • direct: 843-800-8292
  • fax: 843-800-8292

Brian Cate

Assistant Vice President

Mr. Cate joined SouthStar Capital in 2017 as an Assistant Vice President. His main responsibilities are implementing and funding new businesses within the SouthStar framework, including developing commercial lending opportunities for small—to medium-sized businesses.

Before joining SouthStar, Mr. Cate owned and operated an international trading company and has done business in more than 20 countries worldwide. Before that, Mr. Cate was a mechanical design engineer working on commercial and government projects for NASA, NIST, and the USAF, as well as private companies in the semiconductor, construction, and medical device fields.

Originally from New England, Mr. Cate has lived in Summerville, SC, with his wife for the past 18 years. He has three grown children who also live in the area.

Contact Information

  • email: bcate@southstar.com
  • phone: 800-763-3021 ext 114
  • direct: 843-277-6581
  • fax: 843-800-8414

Jon Shane

VP of Broker Relations

Mr. Shane joined SouthStar Capital in 2021 as Vice President of Broker Relations. His primary responsibilities include growing and maintaining a large, strong network of brokers and financial professionals within the SouthStar framework and developing commercial lending opportunities with small—to medium-sized businesses.

Mr. Shane came to Southstar with over 17 years of business-to-business sales and management experience. Before starting his business career, Mr. Shane was a physical education and health teacher. He also served as Athletic Director for a Christian High School in Milwaukee, along with Varsity head coaching responsibility in multiple sports.

Mr. Shane had a concise minor-league career in the New York Yankees organization. He also loves golf (especially scrambles) and is a lifetime Green Bay Packers fan. He is also a fair-weather Milwaukee Brewer and Bucks fan. He loves hiking, biking, and the outdoors. He lives in Atlanta, GA, with his wife and has four grown children.

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Todd Culbreth

Regional Vice President

Mr. Culbreth joined SouthStar Capital in 2016 as an Assistant Vice President. He is responsible for the Charlotte, NC market, where his role is to create and develop commercial lending opportunities with small—to medium-sized businesses. He brings a background in asset-backed financing and experience in building lines of credit to help businesses grow. In 2017, Mr. Culbreth was promoted to Regional Vice President.

Before joining SouthStar, Mr. Culbreth underwrote and structured commercial financing through equipment leases and loans for Volvo Financial Services. Most recently, he worked as a trader in the energy sector and managed a renewable energy portfolio for XOOM Energy.

Mr. Culbreth graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a bachelor’s degree in business with a double major in finance and economics. He lives in Charlotte, NC, with his wife and their pet hedgehog, Sherman.

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Christina Horton

Controller

Ms. Horton joined SouthStar in 2018 as a Senior Staff Accountant and has since been promoted to Controller. Her responsibilities include assisting SouthStar’s CFO with financial reporting preparation and overseeing the accounting department.

Ms. Horton holds a BSBA with a Finance Concentration, bringing over 20 years of financial and accounting experience. Her most recent 12 years were as a Financial Controller, managing annual budgets of $3M to $5M.

As a member of Seacoast Church, Ms. Horton serves in the Children’s ministry and leads mission teams to serve the beautiful women of Nicaragua. She enjoys time with her husband and son, painting, and at the beach.

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Becca Ripley

Director of Marketing

Ms. Ripley joined SouthStar Capital in February 2024 as the Director of Marketing. With her experience, she leads the marketing department, spearheading marketing campaigns, digital strategies, brand development, market research, and event planning. Before her role at SouthStar, Becca served as the Director of Marketing for Roofing USA, where she excelled in digital strategy, lead generation, campaign execution, and brand awareness initiatives. Before Roofing USA, Becca was the Marketing Coordinator for Xtreme Roofing and Construction, developing campaigns, marketing strategies, and content creation. She also holds a HubSpot Inbound Marketing Certification and a Google Ads Certification.

A former Division One basketball player at the University of Miami and the University of Central Florida, Becca brings her competitive spirit and teamwork ethos to her professional endeavors. She graduated with an undergraduate degree in Human Communications and pursued a Master’s degree in IDS with a focus on Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Outside work, Becca enjoys running, beach days with her Golden Retriever, and cherishing moments with friends and family.

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Scott Norris

Vice President/Portfolio Manager

Mr. Norris joined SouthStar Capital in August of 2022 as Vice President and Portfolio Manager. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Norris works closely with the Assistant Portfolio Managers and Accounts Managers to deliver world-class financial services to established and more recent clients, helping them grow and succeed.

Mr. Norris’s primary responsibilities include managing the overall risk of SouthStar’s client portfolio, reviewing requests for funding modifications, and assisting Account Managers in building and maintaining long-lasting, successful client relationships.

Before joining SouthStar, Mr. Norris served as Portfolio Manager of Paragon Financial Group, an eCapital portfolio company, and brings to SouthStar more than a decade of asset-based financing experience.

Mr. Norris graduated from the University of Massachusetts—Amherst with a bachelor’s in business administration, majoring in business management. He recently relocated to Mount Pleasant, SC, from South Florida and enjoys spending time with his wife Stephanie, their beautiful daughter Mila, and their dog Julie.

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David Von

Executive Vice President

Mr. Von has over 15 years of experience in direct lending and finance. He has had successful careers at BB&T Bank, Emmco Inc., and GMG Inc., where he held a variety of management, operations, and sales positions. Most recently, Mr. Von formed and operated his own private company, Presidio Financial.

Mr. Von joined SouthStar Capital in May of 2008. To establish SSC as the leading specialty business finance company, Mr. Von has sharpened SSC’s strategic focus and concentrated its investments on the following long-term growth opportunities: production capacity development and expansion, technologies for client relationship management, and a transition from a limited funding source provision to a broad base solution across a variety of traditional and non-traditional opportunities in commercial, industrial, and private markets. Mr. Von currently works out of the Atlanta Region of SouthStar and is actively involved in expanding SouthStar’s sales production team nationwide.

Mr. Von holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Bob Jones University and a Master’s from the University of South Carolina.

Contact Information

  • email: dvon@southstar.com
  • phone: 800-763-3021 ext 104
  • direct: 404-602-0174
  • fax: 843-730-5943

Susan Linney

Chief Financial Officer/Operations Manager

Mrs. Linney brings over 20 years of experience in the finance industry to SouthStar Capital. Mrs. Linney has an extensive background in the banking industry, having served as vice president of Huntington National Bank and vice president of First Bank of Marietta. Over her banking career, Mrs. Linney’s responsibilities included Branch Manager, Commercial Loan Portfolio Manager, and Loan Operations Manager. Mrs. Linney was responsible for direct lending for small business products and commercial paper, where she underwrote and booked over $100 million in structured transactions. After leaving the bank, she joined a local Factoring company and managed the Factoring Operations and Invoice Verification divisions.

Mrs. Linney then opened a mortgage banking firm and developed it from a start-up to one of the largest mortgage banking companies in the Southeast, with more than $1 Billion in performing loans sold annually. During the six years she owned and operated the mortgage company, Mrs. Linney developed and managed a $25M banking line of credit and successfully funded all loans booked on the line by the investors. Mrs. Linney also managed the cash, projected cash flow, and the mortgage company's operations division. Mrs. Linney closed the mortgage company in 2008 and joined SouthStar Capital shortly after. Mrs. and Mr. Linney have a substantial portion of their net worth invested in SouthStar Capital, LLC.

Contact Information

  • email: susan@southstar.com
  • phone: 800-763-3021 ext 102
  • direct: 843-277-6411
  • fax: 843-730-5931

Bernard Linney

President

As President of SouthStar Capital, Bernard Linney provides leadership and strategic direction for the company. Mr. Linney began his financial career over twenty-five years ago in Commercial Banking as a loan officer. He was then recruited from the banking industry into the private sector, where he specialized in M&A transactions and specialty finance. While working as a commercial banker and in the private sector, Mr. Linney was involved in numerous factoring and asset-based lending transactions. A Factoring company he worked closely with offered to fund his first Factoring pool, where he was responsible for obtaining clients, underwriting, purchasing A/R, and growing the company. Bernard Linney has built multiple companies throughout his career, two of which have exceeded $20 million a year in revenue in less than five years. Bernard Linney also specializes in turnaround management, providing him a unique vantage point for SouthStar’s clients. Mr. Linney encourages a corporate philosophy of understanding clients' business to help them reach their financial goals.

Bernard Linney was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborn Division of the United States Army for six years. He holds an A.A. in Business Administration and a B.S. in Business Finance. He has also attended the ABA Graduate School of Banking, Six Sigma Quality, ISO 9001, and numerous other Executive Training seminars and designations. Mr. and Mrs. Linney have a substantial portion of their net worth invested in SouthStar Capital, LLC.

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