Thomas E. Stelmar Jr. joined Modern Bank as a Managing Director tasked with heading the launch of the Energy Lending Practice.

The Energy Lending Practice will be dedicated to meeting the needs of the oil and gas sector by providing senior credit facilities, including reserve based and midstream loans, as well as depository services to the middle market segment of the industry.

Mr. Stelmar brings over 25 years of senior level experience in all phases of Energy Finance in Dallas, Texas, including both consulting and commercial lending positions focused in the E&P and Midstream sectors.

Prior to joining Modern Bank, Mr. Stelmar served as a Senior Vice President with West Texas National Bank. He succeeded in expanding the brand by establishing a Dallas / Fort Worth Loan Production Office, significantly growing the Energy Lending Portfolio through origination and syndication efforts.

Before joining West Texas National Bank, Mr. Stelmar was a Senior Vice President and Energy Relationship Manager with BOK Financial. He also served as a Vice President and Energy Portfolio Manager for Wells Fargo Bank.

Mr. Stelmar, the father of two sons, both Eagle Scouts, is a long-time Boy Scouts of America advocate and seasoned Scoutmaster and Venturing Crew Advisor. In this role, he actively volunteers with today’s youth to help instill values and develop skills that will influence their lives.

Ben Harris joins Modern Bank’s Commercial Markets group with more than 16 years of commercial lending and private equity investing experience. Prior to Modern Bank, Mr. Harris spent four years with ORIX Leveraged Finance, originating, executing, and managing senior secured, unitranche, and mezzanine loans. Prior to ORIX, Ben was a Vice President with Prospect Capital responsible for underwriting unitranche, mezzanine, and equity investments and managing portfolio positions. Ben previously worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in the Financial Sponsors group advising private equity sponsors and M&A and leveraged finance transactions. Prior to BAML, Ben spent four years in the European Private Equity team of Arcapita, leading the debt raising process for private equity transactions. Ben also spent five years with Merrill Lynch as an analyst and associate in the Leveraged Finance and TMT investment banking teams. Mr. Harris received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from University College London and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Emanuel is a Vice President in Modern Bank’s Commercial & Industrial Lending Team. Before joining Modern Bank, Mr. Ma spent 12 years at Morgan Stanley underwriting and maintaining high-yield loans across a variety of industries including, but not limited to, General Industrials, Business Services, Gaming and REITs. Mr. Ma graduated from New York University with a B.S. in Business with dual concentrations of Finance and Actuarial Science.

Arlene Santiago is a Vice President at Modern Bank. She is responsible for growing the Bank’s deposit base and helping with business development. Arlene has over 13 years of experience in the Sales and Marketing sector. She spent over 10 years at JPMorgan Chase in the Private Client Division where she managed relationships, and advised high net worth and commercial clients in the North East region and internationally. During her tenure at JPMorgan Chase she was responsible for originating various banking and asset management products, lending solutions, and investment accounts.

Connor is an Assistant Vice President in Modern Bank’s Commercial Markets group. Prior to joining Modern Bank, Connor worked as an analyst at Deutsche Bank in the Leveraged Finance Credit Risk department where he performed transactional credit analysis and portfolio management duties for the Leveraged Finance Origination team. Connor graduated from Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business with a B.S. in Finance.

Ryan is an analyst in Modern Bank’s Commercial Markets Group. Prior to joining Modern Bank, Ryan was a summer analyst at Guggenheim Securities on both the Fixed Income Macro Products desk and Equity Research Sales desk. Prior to that, Ryan worked as a Private Equity Intern at Caledon Capital Partners in London, where he supported the analysis of a real estate development firm. Ryan graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Business with a B.S. in Finance.

Spencer is an analyst in Modern Bank’s Commercial Markets Group. Prior to joining Modern Bank, Spencer was an advisory associate at KPMG in the Securitization Group where he focused on the execution of Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities. Spencer primarily worked across Single Asset, Conduit and CRE CLO transactions. Spencer graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Business with a B.S. in Finance and Certificate in Management Information Systems.

Matt is an analyst in Modern Bank’s Commercial Markets Group. Prior to joining Modern Bank, Matt was an analyst in Citi’s Capital Markets Group where he focused on the origination and syndication of senior debt facilities on behalf of corporate issuers across a variety of industries. Matt graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Business with a B.S. and M.S. in Accounting.

Anthony is an analyst in Modern Bank’s Commercial Markets Group. Prior to joining Modern Bank, Anthony was an analyst in Jefferies’ Direct Lending group, where he specialized in underwriting senior debt facilities for buyouts, acquisitions, and leveraged recapitalizations in sponsor-led transactions. Anthony graduated from Rutgers University with a B.S. in both Finance and Accounting.

Chris is an analyst in Modern Bank’s Commercial Markets Group. Prior to joining Modern Bank, Chris worked in Biz2Credit’s underwriting group, where he focused on originating and structuring high yield credit opportunities syndicated through a network of various debt funds and structured credit investors. Chris graduated from Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business with a B.S. in Finance.